Free A Witch's Fury by Kim Schubert Page A

Lawrence’s grave,
but here I was again, seeking comfort from Logan and Darren’s
grandfather. Stephen, the Puppet Master, had reanimated him,
bringing my life info full frontal contact with the shifters.
    Rubbing a hand over my face, I leaned against
the cold stone, wiling my heart to grow cold as well, but my damn
brain wouldn’t shut off. Blake’s final words were on repeat inside
my head: I love you, but I can’t do this.

Chapter 7
    My
phone ringing relentlessly finally pulled me from my despondent
stupor.
    I glared at the screen. “What?” I muttered to
Logan.
    “You are needed,” he said, his words clipped
in anger. “NOW.”
    I looked at the screen, seeing that he had
hung up on me. I couldn’t bring myself to care.
    Sure would be nice to know where I was
needed.
    I pushed myself up and worked the kinks out
on my way back to the SUV.
    Kass called next, sobbing, “Olie, where are
you?”
    “On my way.” So that’s where I was
needed.
    …
    I parked in front of Darren and Kass’s home.
It was in a newly built neighborhood with pristine landscaping and
green shaded parks. Before rising from the driver’s seat, I had to
take a moment to center my emotions as best as I could.
    This distraction helped, but my misery was
still threatening to crush me.
    Blowing out a breath, I opened the SUV’s
door, then slammed it loudly behind me before striding to the front
door. Logan yanked it open before I could even knock. He took a
deep breath as I walked by, a soft chuckle on his lips.
    “So soon?” he questioned, irritated, why I
have no idea. Who I slept with wasn’t any of his business.
    I turned, my blood running cold. He smelled
Blake on me. For one painful moment my guards broke, pain lacing my
heart and trying to push tears from my eyes.
    Anger fast followed. “Leave it,” I warned
him.
    Voices in the kitchen drew me.
    “This is not up for debate,” Kass hissed at
Darren, her mocha eyes narrowed at him, a half-eaten cookie
dangling forgotten in her fingers. She must be pissed.
    Darren tried not to back away from the venom
in her stare, but his jaw tightened as he watched her. “I do not
need a babysitter.”
    Kass threw up her hands, the cookie spraying
crumbs and her anger rapidly switching to tears. “This isn’t about
you! This is about the fact that every female shifter has been
throwing herself at you, even when I am present!” Her face fell as
her voice broke. “Olivia can keep them off you better than I can,
just please take her.”
    I wasn’t sure if it was the tears or the
pleading that did it, but I watched Darren reach out and fold her
into his arms, “Okay, okay,” he whispered.
    Hannah looked at me with a raised eyebrow,
“Yeah, you keep them harlots off my Daddy.”
    I smiled, patting her head, “As you
command.”
    “Who taught you that word?” Kass asked,
coming in with Darren to the living room.
    “Olie,” Hannah stated proudly.
    I ducked my head, with a small grin.
    “I’ll deal with you later,” she informed me.
“In the meantime, do what the kid says.”
    I smiled at them; I needed a good fight.
    …
    We met Lorraine, Logan and Alec outside in
the dusty parking lot of The Were. It was a local bar for shifters
and shifters only, a place to indulge their primal instincts of
fighting and fucking. Judging from the grunts and groans in the
dark parking lot, not to mention the lust and desire seeping from
the cracked wood, it was more the latter.
    We had driven separately to the seedy
establishment so Logan could get the pain in the ass fiancée and
his own security. I felt right at home. I hadn’t wanted details of
their meeting, even though they were offered. I honestly couldn’t
bring myself to care.
    As we headed toward the front door, a group
of smokers loitering on the open porch, dressed in cut off tops,
leather skirts, and tight jeans, watched our approach with clear
interest. I surveyed the group, hoping for trouble.
    I inhaled deeply. This was just the