Hail to the Queen (Witch For Hire 2)

She nods at me warily. “This is what I don’t miss about being a white witch. You put yourself on the line constantly and get so little back.” She shakes her head.

“The reward is in the helping, Hal.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree,” she says softly.

“What the hell is going on?” Cristobal’s voice comes through the bond. The clarity stuns me. We’re getting better at communicating farther and farther away.

“Séance went wrong.”

“You did what?”

“We had it under control.”

“Obviously not.”

“We’re fine.”

“I’m sending someone.”

“This is witch business, Cristobal. Bringing a vampire will only complicate it.”

“The spike in your fear tells me it got that way regardless. I’m sending someone to you.”

“No. I’m fine.”

“It’s non- negotiable. She’ll have to understand. This is bonded business. That trumps everything.”

It’s amazing how the man can make me want to kiss him and strangle him at the same time.

“What happened at the séance?” he asks gently.

“Whatever it was answered, and it wasn’t happy with being called up.” I quickly relay the story.

“I want you home.

“I can’t leave her like this, she’s too weak, and it might double back. She was doing a favor for me. I owe her.”

“We’ll be talking when you get home.”

Of course, we will be. I roll my eyes, grateful he can’t see my expression.

“I know. I love you.”

“I love you. I need you to understand how important you are now. You have to be careful about the risks you take. You’re too valuable to place yourself in dangerous situations without backup. I know you’re independent, but this comes with your new roles.”

“I’ll do better.”

“I know you will, dove. Be careful?”

“You’ve already deployed people here, haven’t you?”

His laughter is all the answer I need. I’ll never admit it, but having some of my family close is comforting. The court has become more than a group of people I was accidentally linked to. They’re pieces of my heart and soul. I’d kill, die, and fight for each one, no matter how much some of them annoy me. These intense and possessive emotions are a foreign concept. I know they’re people, not property, but the instincts are animalistic. It makes me wonder what quirks and traits they may have inherited from being linked to a witch. As I finish smudging, I sense Lark and Renee drawing near. I send

out my thanks before I move inside. The sage and my prayers go up in every nook and cranny of the house before I return upstairs to find Hal sitting on the bed.

“You look better.”

“I’m getting there. I won’t forget what you did for me.”