Free Charmed by the Werewolf by Sandra Sookoo Page B

to replace you with someone possessing more of a personality and a killer instinct, it seems I have a use for you at the present time. ” He tapped the tip of the letter opener against his lips. Lamplight glinted wickedly off the blade that resembled a tiny sword. “Are you hiding someone in your home?” He leaned forward slightly; his jaw set in a hard line, his eyes flat and lifeless, and his voice a silken purr. “I will find out if you are lying to me.”
    Taking a deep breath, Sophia met his gaze without blinking. “I’m telling you the truth. The only paranormal being I have at my home is Mona, and you already know about her. ” When he nodded, she expelled a held breath in relief. “I did come across a renegade pixie, but because she’s so obnoxious, I haven’t brought her in.”
    Sterling nodded again. “I refuse to waste my time trying the likes of an insignificant pixie. Do with her what you will. If you bring her into my court, I ’ll sentence her to work the Mines in Arkadva Realm.” In a flourish of movement, he slammed his feet to the ground then came around his desk to loom over her. “To lift a gypsy curse of any kind, a member of the original family must be procured. Only a true family member can revoke the curse.”
    “And that’s the only way?” Her palms started sweat. He leaned so close she could discern every piece of stubble on his cheeks. “Again, I’m asking in the interest of science.”
    “Of course, I could lift the curse if I were to find the subject worthy. I have the power to override curses, hexes, spells made out of spite, and a myriad of other petty annoyances.”
    When he patted her cheek and retreated to his desk, Sophia’s heart beat frantically. “That’s good to know. ” She always had a healthy respect for Sterling, but now, since she attempted to withhold evidence from the man that respect grew into cold terror at an alarming pace. “I wouldn’t want to get involved in a curse.”
    “A wise decision. ” He twirled the letter opener in his hand again. “If you betray me, I will be forced to withhold your medication.” The smile that crept across his lips was far from pleasant. “And then where would you be?”
    “No need to remind me. ” She glared then scrambled to her feet. “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my own humanity.” Sophia barely gained the door when a flash of movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. The silver letter opener, buried halfway to the hilt in the dark wood of the doorframe, quivered directly above her head.
    “You ’re the most trustworthy person I have on staff, Sophia, so if you did betray me I’d take it as a personal insult. I couldn’t be responsible for my actions of retaliation.” This time his smile was full of mockery. “I might be enticed to sell you to the trolls of the Demon Realm along with the pixie and perhaps Mona. You’d fetch a pretty sum, I’m sure—that is if you managed to keep your human form.”
    “I won’t betray you. ” Panic bubbled within her until she thought she’d gag on it. “I must go.”
    “Have a nice day Miss Raines. ”
     
    *****
     
    Sophia made it as far as the galaxy-corridor before one of the cloying memories of her past caught up to her.
    She’d met Sterling at her father’s funeral. Her parent died during her early twenties from a heart attack brought on by the stress of being a Gatekeeper. They’d no sooner lowered the casket into the ground before Sterling had approached, clad meticulously in a black suit, shirt and shoes, the epitome of dark fashion.
    Other family members drew her mother away, leaving Sophia alone with the black-hearted being.
    “Who are you? ” Never before had she met any of her father’s business acquaintances, probably because her dad wished to protect her as long as he could.
    “Sterling Abbignon. Your father worked for me until he so ungratefully decided to die in order to cut his contract short. ” He bowed from