Page 44 of Captive Hybrid
Jaken steers Jana away from Divina as they exit the café, their arms loaded with coffees and a large white paper bag, hopefully filled with pastries for all of us. Those two might be trouble, but I know they both want to get to Zenna. Hopefully nothing sparks that fight.
As Vale turns to climb back into the truck, he sets a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. ‘No,’ he says, voice low, almost threatening. ‘You shouldn’t have. She has every reason not to trust you. It’s up to you to fix that. But keep in mind, she has every right to not want a damn thing to do with you. Is that going to stop you from going to get her?’
Without hesitation, ‘No.’
Jana stalks up to us and thrusts a coffee in my face.
‘Thank you?’
‘If that witch gets in my face again, I’m going to light her up—’
Vale sets a hand on her shoulder—a much gentler interaction. ‘Jana. We need to get to Zenna. You don’t want anything to delay that, do you?’
Jana gives Divina a filthy look. Then turns back to Vale. ‘No. But leaving her behind will only take a moment.’
‘What is your problem?’ Jaken snaps.
‘She is evil,’ Jana rounds on him. ‘And she is only doing this because there’s something in it for her, I know it. She wants to use Zenna somehow.’
We pile into the truck, and I snap my fingers impatiently until someone hands me a pastry. I rip into it with my teeth. ‘She’s helping me communicate with Zenna and showing her how to use her powers.’ Bits of pastry splutter out of my mouth as I talk.
Divina gives me a look. ‘Charming,’ she drawls, ignoring Jana.
I give her a full pastry-smile. ‘Everyone, shut up and get along or I leave the most annoying person behind, got it?’
‘Well, that’s definitely her,’ Divina says calmly.
Even Vale’s shifter speed isn’t enough to stop the jelly donut splattering the back of Divina’s head.
I snap a hand out, gripping her leg, to keep the Dark Witch in place. It takes a little courage not to draw my hand away at the look she gives me, but I’m an alpha, and I’m not afraid of witches. Even Dark ones. ‘Both of you, quit it,’ I growl. It’s going to be a long, fucking ride.
