Her head bobs awkwardly. “Um, yeah. You too.”
The poor woman is confused again.
She pulls her hands to her face and groans. Perhaps she realized thanking me for assisting her made no sense.
Oathkeeper finishes harvesting the troll’s soul, and I pull a foot up, connecting with his hip. His body goes flying, and I release my sword to return to the ether.
“Are you okay? Any injuries?”
Hazel whimpers.
The sound claws at my heart. She’s clearly terrified from the heinous encounter she just endured.
I’m still confused who the dead shifter is, and how he relates to this mess. I approach slowly with my palms raised to let her know I’m not a threat, but her hands still cover her face, so I doubt she can see me. When I’m directly in front of her, she finally pulls her arms down.
Her eyes are glassy, like maybe she’s about to cry. It would be a very human reaction for a witch, but they are closer in their constitution to humans than they are angels or demons.
“I’ve got you, little witch. They’re gone. They can’t hurt you,” I murmur, trying to keep my tone soft and soothing.
“T-Thanks.” Her dark hair falls over her face, and the backs of my fingers brush her cheek as I tuck the wave behind her ear. Her long locks were straighter last time, indicating she must have curled it for a night out.
I can’t help myself, and my thumb runs over her cheek, producing the same electric sizzle that occurred in Spellbound the other day. There’s no clear explanation for what causes the reaction, but my system aches to put her at ease.
“You’re safe now. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Hazel?” The voice is familiar, belonging to Novak, the vampire owner of the club. It comes from behind me, and a cascade of stomping feet accompanies him, indicating he has several others with him.
“What the fuck happened, baby doll?”
Oh, goody.
Another voice I recognize. That fucking incubus who interrupted my time with Hazel in Spellbound.
I dislike the way the little witch gasps, flinging herself at the sex demon. “Annex.”
I spin around, watching as the deviant incubus squats down to accommodate her as she climbs him.
My nose wrinkles.
That practically confirms they have some preexisting relationship. I can’t see her wanting to be that close to him while he’s in full demon form otherwise.
His name must be Annex.
I greatly despise the way he cradles her to his chest with one hand on her ass and the other on her cheek, where my fingers were only moments ago.
“What the fuck happened?” Novak growls, coming to a stop at my side.
I take a step back and fight my natural instinct to put more distance between us. Angels might not despise vampires to the level of demons, but they’ll never be my preferred supernatural creature.
“Someone fill me in on what occurred,” he says, drawing me out of my thoughts.
“I harvested their souls. They had ill intentions.” I shake out my wings. “But I sensed something else. I believe they had a creature egging them on. I need to search for it before it can get away. Have the witch give you the specifics.”
“The paranormal council is going to want your statement.” Novak’s eyes narrow as I crouch to push off.
“That’s not my problem. My gifts supersede their purview. Harvesters, much like reapers, fall outside of their jurisdiction. I answer to no one in this realm.” My eyes meet Annex’s as I take off. “Take care of her. She’s quite shaken up.”
Chapter Ten
