Free Whatnots & Doodads by Stacey Kennedy

souls for a man who didn’t deserve them. Would she run into his arms and return with him? Zeke would not stand for it--he wanted to keep her, refused to let another man touch her again. Plus, he liked the idea of meeting this man who broke her heart. “Let’s go, I’ll handle him.”
    “I figured you would.” Arlo grinned.
    Zeke made it to the gate quickly, considering he wasted no time getting there. Anger led his steps. The more he walked, the more he ground his teeth together. He’d never felt so protective over anyone, but Bryanna, he’d protect with his life.
    Just past 6th Avenue , Layton appeared and sat on the hood of his car. He jumped off at Zeke’s approach and came toward him, yet still didn’t dare to enter Strange Hollow. And how Zeke wished Layton would. He believed in the rules they upheld in their town. That had been put in place to protect them from the likes of the man before him.
    Zeke stopped a few feet away, not daring to get too close to him as he was worried he’d lose his temper. “What have you come here for?”
    “Bryanna,” Layton answered.
    Zeke had to give it to him; he didn’t seem worried that a demon and an ogre stood in front of him. “Your request has officially been denied.”
    Layton took two large steps toward him, anger building in his expression. “Says who?”
    Zeke’s jaw clenched in a silent challenge, this man had hurt someone that he’d begun to care about. He was lucky Zeke didn’t end his life just for that very reason. “It would be in your best interest to turn around, get in your car, and never come back here.” He was nose-to-nose with Layton, and up close he could see how Bryanna had fallen under this man’s spell. The man was good-looking, but the cruel nature of his soul shined clear in his eyes.
    Layton drew in a deep breath, stretching up to appear taller. However, Zeke thought it did nothing but make him appear utterly foolish. “Is she being held captive here?”
    Zeke laughed wickedly. How dare Layton suggest something that he’d done to her for years was happening here. He wanted to lash out, wrap his hand around Layton’s throat and drain his life force for suggesting that they’d done anything of the sort. “She is freer than she has been for years. From here on out, your name will be nothing more than a bad memory to her.”
    Layton’s eyes narrowed, he trembled, and Zeke could feel vibrations in the air around him. Layton began to conjure magic. Warlocks were not gifted with the same abilities as witches and his magic was energy-based.
    Zeke wasn’t worried and he dared Layton to act. The extent of Layton’s magic would cause a tickle at best, but he wondered if the warlock knew that. He suspected he didn’t since the magic began to grow. He waited in hope that he would release it. After that, he could pound the living snot out of this warlock--but not until he acted first.
    “She’s my witch; you have no right to refuse to get her.” Layton’s eyebrows drew in together as a snarl formed on his lips. “If you do not produce her and show me that she is all right, I will report you to a higher authority.”
    “Who?” Arlo laughed, a deep rumble from his large frame. “The supernatural police?”
    Layton’s head whipped toward him, his eyes shining with venom. “We’re a powerful coven and will come after you.”
    Small threats. Strange Hollow had become a force to be reckoned with. If any threat came here, it wouldn’t last long. “Why have you come for her? Is her money worth that much to you?”
    “That is none of your business,” Layton spat.
    Zeke pushed back against his chest. If only the warlock knew how wrong he was. “Everything that involves her is now my business.” Rage burned in his blood. Thoughts of ending this threat filled his mind. To rid Bryanna of this man who’d used her. But he steeled himself with the morals he now enforced. “I will only tell you once more, she no longer belongs to