Free Malediction: An Old World Story by Melissa F. Olson Page A

surprise, she stepped forward and threw her arms around him, hugging him close. Her shampoo smelled like evergreen trees and she was surprisingly solid with muscle. Jesse returned the hug, and for just a second he had that feeling again, like he’d helped someone. Done something good.
    Lex stepped back, smiling with embarrassment. “Err … sorry. And thank you.” She clutched the watch to her chest. “I’ll get this to Charlie.” She hesitated for a moment, then added, “Would you tell Scarlett I’m sorry for hitting her?”
    “Of course. And … try not to judge her too harshly, okay?” Jesse said tentatively. “I know what we did was awful, but I swear, we were respectful to Sam. And the others.”
    She nodded. “What I do for the Old World isn’t all that different, it was just … easier to be upset with her than with Lizzy.” She shuddered. “Thank God we don’t have werewolves in Boulder.”

    As he drove out of the LAX traffic juggernaut, Jesse felt exhausted—and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d made a mistake with Lex. He should have corrected her, made her see that not all werewolves were evil any more than all professional football players were womanizers. There was something a little ominous about her attitude, and he had a feeling the next werewolf who crossed her path might pay for it. Then again, he thought, werewolf PR wasn’t his job.
    Of course, that thought only reminded him of his actual job. Jesse sighed, and headed back to work.