Free Stone and Earth by Cindy Spencer Pape

 
    Chapter One
     
     
     
    Damien St. Pierre stared at the key and set of directions in his hand. “You’re sure this woman—”
     
    “Witch,” Mayor Pendleton interjected.
     
    “Witch.” Damien glared at his new boss. Not many humans, mayors or otherwise, had the balls to interrupt Damien when he was talking. Even in human form he stood six feet eight and weighed two hundred and sixty pounds—all of it muscle. “You’re sure this witch can handle having me as a tenant.”
     
    Pendleton waved a hand in dismissal. “Her last roommate was a pixie. Trust me, wings won’t even begin to faze her. Besides, the place is perfect for you. It’s a converted warehouse—industrial-strength elevator, reinforced concrete floors and plenty of open space.”
     
    “That should do.” It did sound just about perfect, he had to admit. And it would be a relief to have somewhere to go where he didn’t constantly have to hide his true nature. But when the Philadelphia mayor had promised free lodging during Damien’s thirty-day trial period on the city’s special paranormal police task force, Damien hadn’t anticipated a live-in landlady. He wasn’t really pleased about the politician giving away his secrets, even if it was to a witch. “So she knows what I am?”
     
    “No. Given the nature of this task force, she’s going to suspect that you’re something . But how much you tell her is entirely up to you.”
     
    Leave it to the professional spin doctor to take away Damien’s only real justification for being pissy. He stuck out his hand. “Then I guess I’ll see you at the office tomorrow night.”
     
    Pendleton shook Damien’s hand without a second of hesitation, which again was rare. Damien couldn’t help feeling a certain degree of respect for the human who had set up a whole police unit full of supernatural beings to keep his city running smoothly. “Seven p.m. sharp. You’ve got my cell number. Call me if you have any problems in the interim.”
     
    Damien agreed, then climbed back on his Harley and gunned the engine. After one last look at the computer-generated map and directions he headed off in the direction of his new abode.
     
    He still wasn’t one hundred percent sure about this job, but the soothsayer for his clan had assured him it was necessary. His people were dying and he would do anything in his power to help. According to the venerable Lady Helene, the belt was here in Philadelphia. And Damien was the only one with the power to find it and return it to the clan, restoring a bit of the magic that had kept them safe for hundreds of years. So here he was, on a January night, riding through the streets of downtown Philly.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Katie Calhoun finished her prayer and released her magic circle. She gathered up her candles, herbs and talismans, hoping the cleansing ritual would help alleviate some of the restlessness she’d been feeling since the beginning of the new year. She laid the items carefully in a cloth-lined basket and poured a little more white wine into the chalice she held. She took a small sip, then stepped over to the rail of her rooftop garden to look out over the sparkling lights of the city below. The Schuylkill River bisected the display of light, a thick black ribbon of darkness undulating through the city.
     
    Tonight might well be the last chance she’d have to be up here skyclad for a while. She wasn’t sure why she’d let the mayor talk her into housing his newest protégé, but she had to admit she’d been lonely since her roommate Twyla had moved out at Samhain. Though the wedding hadn’t been ’til Yule, Twyla had actually moved in with Bram the day after they’d met. Katie had never seen such a case of love at first sight and though she was delighted for her friends, she couldn’t help feeling a little—well—envious, she supposed. Self-pity wasn’t an emotion she was proud of, but it too was part of the restless melancholy she’d been