Season of the Witch (Claws Clause 2)

Shea didn’t know what hit her harder: that Colton was on a first name basis with the head witch of Coventry, that Luciana la Sorcière had actually offered a shifter a discount, or that he negotiated for the protective spells with her in mind.

Then she caught on to the strange way he ended his statement. Would’ve been worth it… did that mean she didn’t create the wards?

Then who?

“Luciana wasn’t responsible for the wards?”

Colton shook his head. Then, without an ounce of shame, he told her, “Kallista did them for you. For me. For us.”

The way he said us sent a shiver down her spine. The way he name-dropped his grandmother so casually had her gaping up at him.

Kallista.

Shea’s eyes widened. “My grandmother was here?”

“Of course she was.” Colton shuddered out a shaky breath. “You almost died, Shea. If it wasn’t for you, your brother would have.”

Shea recoiled as it all came back to her at once. How could she have forgotten? She blamed it on the trauma. Not only had she nearly expended the last of her own energy trying to heal Hudson, but she’d also done it because it was her fault that Hudson was so close to death in the first place.

No. Not hers—Julian’s.

A gift for my betrothed…

S

he paled.

Colton leaned forward in his seat. “Shea? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I… where’s Hudson? The last thing I remember was the jolt as his heart started beating on its own. Is he… is he okay?”

A scowl started to form on Colton’s face, but he quickly wiped it away with a swipe of his hand. “He’s alive. Okay? I’ll let you see for yourself.”

His phone was tucked into the side of his seat. Pulling it out, he made a call, telling the other person on the line that he was ready for them.

At her curious look, Colton explained, “Adam Wright. Cop. He’s the Ant they have me working with to take out the Nightwalker gang. He’s alright, for a human.” He let out a gruff exhale, like it pained him to compliment the officer. “Actually, if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I would’ve gotten both of you to the hospital in time. I owe him.”

He climbed up, pocketing his phone. “You can trust him. He’s gonna bring your brother in. As soon as he’s gone, I’ll be right back.”

She was so surprised to discover him sitting in the visitor’s chair that Shea didn’t want to question why he was there; it was easier for her to just accept it. He could leave whenever he wanted to. She knew that.

Still, she had to ask, “You really have to go?”

“Trust me, Shea. It’s probably not a good idea for me and your brother to be in the same room right now. Wright will tell me when I can come back. You need me to grab you anything?”

“Um… no. I’m good. Thanks, though.”

Colton gave her a nod before reminding Shea to be careful once his hand landed on the doorknob. She took a deep breath, more distraught that she was seeing the back of Colton than the rush of injuries and illnesses that slapped at her in the few seconds the wards were broken.

She pushed against it, breathing heavily through her nose as she rode the wave. It wasn’t so bad since she was prepared, and Colton was quick about slipping out of the room.

Hudson would be arriving any second now. Before she faced her brother, there was something else Shea had to do.

Nana? she asked, opening up a way of communication through her thoughts. Can you hear me? Are you there?

It was a witch thing, and not a very well known one. In close witch families, those with the magic were linked together by their powerful blood. It was a bond of sort, like a shifter’s mate-bond or a vampire’s blood-bond, only it connected family members. And, instead of her sending strength and emotion down the line, she could have a full-on conversation with her grandmother.

It was a cellphone in her brain with very few contacts.