Free Wanted: Hexed or Alive by Charity Parkerson Page B

to meet his eyes. The dark-haired giant with black wings, which marked him as a warrior in the heavens, seemed more like a guilty child at the moment.
    “Which Fate?” Tam expounded. “There’s three of them, now, isn’t there?”
    Randall switched his gaze back to the pixie. “Rowena,” he answered, and her green eyes twinkled in humor.
    “Samuel wouldn’t have done that,” Tam said with a dismissive wave. “Those two can’t stand each other.”
    “I don’t understand,” Randall mused aloud. He’d been so sure.
    “Oh, well, he said something about her sneaking away to see some guy who one-hands his cock, making it hard to guard her,” Tam explained, but Thomas cut her off.
    “For the love of the Gods, Tam. It wasn’t some guy who one-hands his cock. It was a one-handed guy with a cockney accent, sheesh. Not that it matters anyhow, because Samuel didn’t send Rowena to Randall. I did.”
    Whereas Randall had been only slightly more than curious before, now he was beyond suspicious.
    “I think it’s time you invite me and tell what the hell is going on,” Randall said through clenched teeth, and Thomas finally relented, stepping aside so Randall could enter.
     
    While Randall settled himself on the couch, Tam sat cross-legged on the coffee table. Her green and white leggings clashed vividly against her bright orange bustier and purple tutu, but she’d always had a style that was all her own. Thomas paced back and forth in front of them and seemed to have a silent argument with himself. Between Tam’s bright outfit and the angel’s pacing, Randall felt his head begin to spin.
    “For the love of the Gods, Thomas, just spit it out already,” Tam said after his fifth turn.
    He wrung his hands as he spoke. “It is very difficult to get past a millennium of service. I know that Samuel tells me that I am a free angel now, but I kept the Fates’ secrets for a very long time. I do not like parting with them now,” he admitted.
    “I don’t want to get you into any trouble,” Randall reassured him. “I only want to make sure that I’m not getting pulled into the middle of something. I’ve worked very hard to be a wizard who keeps his head down, and I’ve catered only to the Wiccan society for many years now.”
    Thomas stopped pacing at Randall’s words and held his stare.
    “Rowena was seduced by the ghost pirate Red Count and now he’s using her powers to cut the life thread of his enemies.”
    Anger twisted in Randall’s gut at Thomas’ confession. Not only was a beautiful woman being exploited by a rogue—something that he hated—but he also knew that it was only a matter of time before he’d find himself stuck in the center of it all. It seemed things were always the same with every gorgeous woman that he met. They were all trouble.
     
    ***
     
    Randall dropped down onto the settee in exhaustion. He hated Mardi Gras. It was a great day for business, but he spent so much time answering asinine questions and dealing with so-called wiccans that he was left completely spent. When the bell jingled above the door for the thousandth time, he barely worked up the energy to turn his head.
    She was wearing a green tank top and jeans this time and he nearly swallowed his tongue.
    “Nice to see you again, Rowena,” he said, and he wanted to chuckle at the look of surprise that crossed her face. She obviously hadn’t expected him to remember her name.
    “Hello,” she said, returning his greeting. “I find myself in need of your services once again.” At her words, he felt his energy restored and he jumped to his feet.
    “Of course. What can I help you with today?”
    She twisted her fingers nervously as she admitted, “I was hoping you could get the things together for me once more for the pirate removal spell. I think one or two of the items might have gone bad by now.”
    Crossing the room, he began pulling the items from the shelf. “So, no luck finding a spellcaster, huh?” he asked,