“I saw you coming.” The woman tapped her temple with one finger. “So I scanned back to see why and found myself fascinated. I’ve rewound to August so far. This is better than a soap opera.”
“Are you the Witch of Endor?”
Hey, I just wanted to make sure.
“Nah, I’m only an apprentice.” She stood up and set the crystal ball in a golden stand on the counter next to her. “I’m Naomi Glace, but everyone calls me Mimi. My grandma is the current Endor. When she dies, it will pass to me. For now, though, I watch the shop every afternoon while she plays bridge with her cronies.”
“How long do witches live?” Gigi went right up to her.
“Endor witcheslive about five hundred years, the same as a first-generation nephilim.” Raising her left hand, she wiggled her finger and the diamond ring on it caught the light. “Which is one of the many reasons I said yes when my neph First boyfriend proposed. He won’t up and die on me like all my grandma’s human husbands. And speaking of my man, here he comes!”
Coming through the door, the bells jingling like crazy, were two guys I recognized immediately.
Well, today just went in the crapper. There’s no way I’m getting out of here without a fight now.
For a second, I actually considered ducking behind Rome and slinking out before they saw me. We needed information and my being here could interfere with that. But I couldn’t do it. I’d never run from anything in my life, even when I should have. And I had the scars to prove it.
Besides, they would smell me—well, the taint anyway—in minutes. Mira’s, too.
Sighing, I stood my ground and waited for it to happen.
Dark-haired, hazel-eyed, and quiet, Josef Krall was Jax’s height, and his build was slender but not scrawny. He had that same worn ball cap pulled down far enough to hide his eyes.
And, of course, where there was one, there was the other.
The only thing that had changed about Titus Wray was his blond hair. The last time I’d seen him, it had been in a long,thick braid down his back. Now, with it cut short, he seemed older. More mature.
Imagine that.
Looking at them, I wondered how the two could be such tight friends.
Yeah, well, look at me and Jax.Or Rome and Spin. Probably looks like a bad combination of grapefruit and ketchup to an outsider, but it works for us.
“Excuse me.” Wray slid past Jax to reach Mimi so he could hand her a white paper bag. He also gave her a warm smile. “Hey, love. Brought you a donut.”
I glanced at Krall, who was looking us over, and knew the instant he recognized me. He seemed stunned, and I half-wondered why he didn’t attack me.
Might as well get the drama outta the way now.
“Krall.” I jerked my chin up a little.
“Harker.”
Titus’ head whipped up and his gray eyes turned silver the instant they zeroed in on me.
I hate being right.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” I said, but it didn’t make a difference.
He was nose-to-nose with me in a heartbeat, ignoring Mimi’s loud yelp.
I forced myself to stand still and not react. I understood where he was coming from, but it was always hard to tolerate someone in my space. Especially when that someone vibrated with power and anger.
“Mimi, are you okay?” he snarled, his hands bunched in fists. “Did he hurt you? Did hetouchyou?”
“I’m fine! Of course he didn’t! Back off, Titus! They’re customers!”
“Friend of yours?” Jax murmured.
