Free Witch Hunter Olivia by T.A. Kunz Page A

aware of them, since you were a Hunter.”
    If this lady is Angelica’s keeper, what was she doing out on a date with some guy and not here?
    “It figures the one time I decide to have some me time that something like this would happen. Angelica was the one who pushed me to go out. I refused for days, since I knew going on this date would mean I’d have to ignore my obligations for a few hours. I’ll be lucky if I’m not banished for this,” she sighs. “I did take extra precaution last night and had Angelica wear a bangle of protection, even though she complained that it didn’t really go with her outfit. But it was my stipulation for going out. She had to wear it.”
    That must’ve been why the bolt didn’t hit her last night. The bangle also explains why I was in so much pain yesterday when I touched her and not when I hugged her today.
    “Why was she so intent on you going out?”
    “Why do most young people not want their elders around? Because she didn’t want me here cramping her style. Plus, she’s been on me about needing to take a day for myself anyway, so I did.”
    “Can you think of anyone who’d want to hurt her?” I ask, trying to find out anything that may help clear my brother.
    “Not really,” she replies.
    “Are you sure? If there’s something you’re not telling me, now would be the time to spill it since, you know, Angelica’s life is on the line here.”
    She looks to be struggling with herself over what she wants to say. I can tell she has some information, but she isn’t sharing. Finally, a heavy breath escapes her lips.
    “The High Priestess is going to string me up for sure over this,” she murmurs. “There is one person who might want something to do with her. You may actually know him. Tobias Young. I believe you used to call him Elder. He has past ties to Angelica’s mother. But you can’t say where you got this info, because then I’ll surely be exiled by the High Priestesses.”
    Tobias Young was the same name Jack gave me.
    “Sounds like I need to pay a visit to Tobias.” I notice Hattie’s uneasy expression. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to say anything about you. I just want to get this whole thing resolved, and get back to my new life.”
    “May I ask you a question, Olivia?” she inquires as I’m about to slide open the doors to leave.
    “Sure.”
    “Why are you so interested in this matter? It’s not every day a Hunter actually helps the very thing they’re sworn to keep under control.”
    In my head, I’m saying to help my brother, but out loud I answer, “First of all, I’m an ex-Hunter, so everyone is on the same playing field now in my eyes. And second, that person shot at me too, and I don’t know about you, but when someone shoots at me, I tend to take it personally.”
    “Fair enough,” she replies, and motions to me that I’m free to go.
    Sliding open the doors, I almost crash right into Tara. “Don’t be irked with me,” she whispers with puppy-dog eyes.
    I quickly shut the doors behind me and grab her by the arm before pulling her off to the side so we can talk without prying ears. “I’m not irked.”
    “You are, too, irked. I could tell the moment you saw me here,” she replies, shaking off my grip on her forearm.
    “Okay, maybe I’m a bit irked. What the frick are you doing here?” I murmur.
    “I bumped into Angelica while walking back to our dorm from our Intro to Crim class, and we got to talking about last night. Before I knew it, we were here.”
    “Like by magic?”
    “No, she drove,” Tara answers, and then cuts me off when I’m about to speak. “Look, I clearly have an in here, so maybe I can help you with collecting some info.”
    “Out of the question,” I mutter.
    “I’m not made of glass, Livie. Stop treating me like I am. I’m a part of this paranormal world now, whether or not you like it. So let me be a part of it and help you,” she pleads.
    I knew this would happen sooner or later. Why is