Season of the Witch (Claws Clause 2)

Colt could breathe a little easier as soon as he unknotted the tie, sliding it off and balling it up. He tossed it behind him, ignoring Wright’s annoyed scowl. “If we’re not going to a funeral, then where are we going? You didn’t tell me before.”

Wright’s hazel eyes lit up. His scowl transformed into a sly grin as he said, “You’ll see.”

As Wright peeled away from his house, Colt decided that he preferred the scowl.

* * *

Shea rolled over, throwing her hand over her eyes.

Why wouldn’t her phone stop ringing?

She usually slept with her cell tucked next to her pillow. Not only was it her alarm clock, but she kept it within reach in case she received any emergency calls once she closed

her shop down for the evening.

Ever since Colton’s most recent visit to the store, Shea started leaving it on top of her dresser, purposely on the opposite side of her bedroom. Near enough that she would be able to hear it ring and answer it before it went to voicemail, but not so close that she’d give in to her desire to call him if only to hear his voice.

Over the last few days, she’d dialed his number a hundred different times only to delete it before she could press call. When it was a given that he’d start questioning her about the non-progress when it came to breaking their bond, what was the point? And it wasn’t like he’d tried calling her, either.

So, if it wasn’t Colton, who was repeatedly calling her now?

This was the third time the phone buzzed. If she’d turned the ringer on, the personalized ringtones would’ve told her the identity of the caller. Unfortunately, after she turned it from sound to silent that afternoon when Colton was in her shop, she never remembered to switch it back.

Oops.

Now it kept vibrating, the phone buzzing against the top of her dresser as it rang and rang and rang.

Not too many people called her personal line. She didn’t have a home phone and her clients all called her shop number unless it was an emergency; that’s when they called her cell. In the case of her grandmother, she could send a message straight to Shea whenever she wanted to get in touch with her.

Even as she slowly pulled herself out of her muddled, sleepy state, Shea had a hunch who was calling her. However, she couldn’t rule out that one of her regulars didn’t have an emergency. And what kind of healer would she be if she let someone suffer because she didn't feel like climbing out of bed?

Shea groaned and, accepting she’d never be able to go back to sleep if she didn't at least go check, she got up and shuffled toward her dresser.

The call ended. A split second later, it was buzzing again.

Snatching her phone up, she rolled her eyes when she saw her brother’s name.

Of course.

“Hudson?” Her voice came out scratchy. She swallowed. “What’s up?”

Hudson had the nerve to sound surprised as he asked, “Hey. I didn't wake you, did I?”

“Well, yeah.”

“It’s Friday, Shea! Not even eleven o’clock yet. What are you doing sleeping?”

“I’ve got work in the morning, Hud.”

“You have work tomorrow? Really?”

“Got work every day,” she replied dryly. As the only employee of Moonshadow Apothecary, if she wasn’t manning the shop, no one was. To her deadbeat brother, who had never been able to hold down a job, it must be a novel concept. “So, I’ll ask you again, what’s up?”

“Hey, remember when I called you last week?”

“Yeah… you said you might need me to do a healing for a friend of yours. You weren’t sure when—”

“I’m sure now,” Hudson cut in. “I just got a call from one of his guys. He wants to see you tonight.”