Bite the Big Heartache (Monstrana Paranormal Romance 2)

“Don’t think you can deceive me so easily, Billy Finley.” Madge’s husky voice grated on his ears as she stuck a finger in his face and chased him back into his home. She hobbled around on her creaky knees, a scowl etched on her face. “This witch can still hold her own against the big boys, let me assure you.”

He retreated behind the couch and held his hands up in surrender. Normally, he wasn’t the type of guy to give into any type of intimidation, but witchy Madge was a different story. Not only did she look frail enough to snap in two, but she’d assisted his mom a time or two over the years, especially during her final days. He couldn’t just bare his teeth and order her to leave.

“I can’t, Madge,” he said, fixing her with a pleading stare. “I can’t date this Mary. I can’t date anyone. I just can’t.”

She stopped her tirade and raised her sparse eyebrows to stare back at him. Her paper-thin lips twisted to one corner of her mouth in thought as they maintained eye contact, until finally she broke into a dreadful sigh.

“Oh, my dear, I can see with my own eyes that you’re not ready to move on,” she exclaimed, nodded her head. “Understandable. I shall take you out of my listings for now. In a few more months, we’ll see how you fair.” She wiggled her fingers over the book in her arms and it disappeared.

Billy didn’t care that he’d only bought himself a few more months of relative peace. He’d take it. Once again, he ushered the woman toward the door. This time, she went willingly and the sound of the screen door slamming made the tension in his shoulders melt away.

He was about to plop down on his couch and scan through the television channels when he heard Madge’s voice again. Sighing, he dropped the remote and headed toward the door.

What now?

“And what can I help you with today, young lady?” Madge had a slight coo in her voice, as if she were a sales rep at a beauty counter.

“Does a William live here, ma’am?”

Billy planted his feet and cocked his head to the side. The woman’s voice sounded awful familiar — like the remnants of a memory long faded. It made a rush of feelings go through his stomach that were at once confusing and warm.

Rushing to the screen door, he peered through to see a beautiful young woman standing on his sidewalk. She had skin the color of caramel, an oval face, and wide eyes. Long, curly brown hair haloed her head and a blue flowery dress fluttered around her knees in the slight breeze. A sleek black Lincoln was parked on the street behind her, with windows tinted so dark he couldn’t tell if any more passengers resided within. Pushing open the door, he squinted his eyes to get a better look.

“Why, yes, I believe so,” Madge was telling the lady. She pointed back at him. “This is Billy Finley. His father named him William, after the great werewolf martyr who led the revolution in France during the sixteen hundreds.”

The woman’s gaze shot up to his and when their eyes met something snapped inside Billy’s chest. Recognition lit up on both their faces and he had to use the door frame for support.

“Billy...Billy Finley?” the woman asked in a trembling voice.

“Princess Stasia.” He’d meant to growl her name, but it came out sounding way more pathetic than he’d intended.

“I didn’t...I didn’t realize William was your real name,” Stasia blurted, her eyes darting to the ground and back up to his face.

“It is.” He leaned his shoulder on the wall and crossed his arms to hide the sudden weakness in his muscles.

A cackling noise drew both their attentions. Madge was looking at them with laughter in her eyes, an age-spotted hand clasped over her mouth.

“So, this is the reason why you had no interest in my Mary. You should’ve just said so, young man,” the witch croaked, shaking a finger at him. Her lips broke into a crooked smile. “Oooh, I’ve got to go consult my sister on this matter. Check with the spirit realms. See if this relationship is meant to be.”

Heat flared in his cheeks. “No, that’s not the reason. I told you...”

But the rest of what he said didn’t matter. For an ancient thing, Madge moved remarkably quick. She’d already hustled down the driveway and was well on her way back to her tiny little house just on the other side of the grove of trees.

Unbidden, his gaze returned to Stasia’s. She was staring at him with her wide-eyes, emotions flashing through them so quickly he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She took a hesitant step forward and then paused.

“Billy, it’s been a long time.”

“Yes, yes it has.” He nodded his head slowly and pursed his lips. “But, not long enough.”

And with that, he closed the door in her face and bolted it.

Chapter Three

Stasia’s whole body shook as she marched back to the town car. She couldn’t tell if it was from anger, shock, or the resurgence of painful memories. Either way, she could barely grasp the handle of the front passenger door. When she finally got it open, she fell into the black leather interior of the vehicle.

“Dude, what’s the deal with you? Did you find him?” Maxim, Stasia’s twenty-year-old brother, peered at her from the driver’s seat. He tossed his shaggy, dishwater blond hair out of his face and pierced her with a quizzical expression.

“Nothing. And yep.”