Season of the Witch (Claws Clause 2)

She couldn’t stop herself. It was foolish. Reckless. This was the last place she should do it—but she did it anyway.

Shea lowered her shields.

/> Not enough that he would pick up on it, or for her to be overwhelmed by the crowd in the club behind her. But the right amount for her to focus solely on the shifter in front of her.

He was angry. Sure he was. Something had definitely set him off. Only, he wasn’t just angry.

Without her shields in place, Shea could pick up on pain. But that wasn’t all she could do. Her healing came from her innate empathic abilities.

He was scared.

Jealous.

Confused.

And, okay, angry.

On the outside, she never would’ve been able to tell. She’d heard stories from Evangeline, from Maddox, even from Dodge about Colton’s legendary temper. Apart from that afternoon in his bedroom after she finished healing him, she’d never seen him lose it so badly. Around her, he was more like the Iceman. He kept her at arms-length, his manner as cold and aloof as his glacial expression and icy eyes.

Until now.

She didn’t even know how she managed it, but she’d lit a fuse and was finally seeing sparks. If she wasn’t careful, it could lead to an explosion.

Goddess, just once she wanted to see Colton lose control.

Why did it have to happen now?

She made a decision—and, with Julian’s cool voice echoing in her ears, she knew it was even more reckless. Dangerous, too.

She didn’t care.

All she’d wanted for months was for this male to want her. She’d fallen so hard, so fast, and she’d spent the time since wondering what she’d done wrong, even if Colton insisted it was all on him. Now, for the first time, he was showing her a side of him she’d ached to see.

Sure, it was too late. The vow was made. Her word given. There was no going back to what things were like before tonight—not for Shea, at least. And while Colton’s jealousy might be ruling him now, she was sure he’d get over it by morning.

For as long as she had him acting like he gave a shit about her, though, she was going to keep him. She wouldn’t have much time to revel in having him near.

It would have to be enough.

First things first. He wanted to know about Hudson? Fine. She’d be careful to tell him the truth so that she didn’t trip off his lie-detecting nose again, but when it came to what happened with Julian… she’d keep that to herself.

Shea didn’t know what would be worse: that Colton would actually care that they couldn’t ever be bonded mates, or that he wouldn’t.

“Okay, Colton. You win. You want to know where my brother is? You’re right. He didn’t want to leave with me. He said he’d rather hang out with the vamps who own that club. Happy now?”

“Vamps,” Colton echoed. “Nightwalkers?“

A hint of surprise colored his tone. Considering Nightwalkers were a solitary breed who rarely socialized, his surprise made sense. Even Shea had been taken aback by the sheer number of turned vampires inside of the club.

It was definitely unusual.

Every Para knew that about the Nightwalkers. It was just one of those things that was accepted. Don’t get between a shifter and its mate, a witch could be bought with diamonds, and Nightwalkers were universally despised.

Then again, she admitted, there was an exception to every rule, wasn’t there?

Colton didn’t actually want her.

Shea preferred cash to diamonds.