“Why?” He followed her, frowning as the array of scents saturated the air.
She spun around on her heel. “Don’t think I’m stupid. These ingredients”— she waved his note in the air—“are for a specific spell.”
She grabbed his arm and tugged him toward a small room near the back of the store. She motioned for him to step inside.
He scowled and shook his head.
“Look, you are going to get me into a whole lot of trouble if you don’t get your big ass inside that room.” She glanced back at the window.
“Fine.” Grudgingly he stepped inside the room so no one passing by could see him.
“Who do you work for?” She narrowed her eyes. “I can tell you’re not a witch. But you’re not exactly human either.”
“How did…” He fisted his hands.
“I can sense things.” She shook her head. “And this… this list has trouble written all over it. It reeks of death.”
His skin crawled at her words. It was going to mean death if he didn’t get the ingredients.
“But somehow I sense you’re not going to take no for an answer. Stay here and let me get all this together,” she groused.
He stayed in the shadows of the small room and peered out, making sure she was doing what she promised.
She moved from shelf to shelf, sticking items in a small brown bag. She stopped in front of the candles and bit her lip. Hesitantly she reached for three red candles and popped them in the bag.
“Candles are not on the list.” He’d carefully gone back over the list to make sure he wouldn’t forget something.
“They are just in case.”
“In case what?” He frowned.
“Look, wolf, accept help when its offered.”
He bristled and growled. She knew what he was. Did he have a fucking sign on his forehead that said “werewolf”?
“Easy.” She stepped inside the room with him and shoved the bag at his chest. “I’ve lived in New Orleans all my life. I’ve come to accept there is more supernatural shit that happens here than in any other place.” She hesitated. “Well, except for Charleston.”
“South Carolina?” He arched a brow.
She waved away his question and continued on. “I’m assuming the person you are delivering those ingredients to knows exactly how dangerous this spell is.”
“Apparently.” The real question was, how dangerous was Ella?
“Be careful with this spell. You probably should ask yourself whether this is really worth even attempting it.” She licked her lips nervously.
“It is.” He had no choice. He had to find out who was behind the torture of the Guardians.
She nodded once. The expression, one of knowing -something -bad -is- about -to -happen -and -wanting -nothing -to- do -with -it, spread across her face. “You need to go out the back way. I can’t have anyone seeing you leave my place.”
“Thank you.” He followed her through another room to the exit, which led out into the alley.
She opened the door and poked her head out, looking both ways. Stepping back, she nodded for him to take his leave.
“Here, you didn’t take my money.” He shoved a wad of money at her.
She waved it away. “No. I’m not accepting money.”
“But I can’t…”
“I don’t want anything traced back to me when you open that can of worms you are determined to open.” She shot him a glare. “Just so you know, the spell can’t be done tonight. It has to be done tomorrow.”
“Why is that?”
“Because tomorrow is a full moon. You need the energy for the spell.” She slammed the door behind him. The click of the lock settled into place.
He frowned and glanced down at the bag. Living in New Orleans, the shop owner probably knew a few witches and actual spells. But he hadn’t missed the fear etched into her expression as she’d hurried to retrieve all the items he needed.
Whatever had her scared was bigger than he’d imagined. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same person responsible for the missing Guardians.
Chapter Nineteen
“It’s like a sauna out here.” Catty stepped out of her apartment and into the steamy night. She sucked in a hot breath and hiked her bag higher on her shoulder as she made her way down the sidewalk. Darkness descended upon the city like a blanket, covering the sins and secrets of those it met in the shadows.
She plucked her sweaty shirt away from her sweaty body. Even in the dark, the humidity was still wicked.
After Big Mike’s visit, she made an effort to stay away from Lucien. He’d come by her place, and when he’d knocked, she’d hidden in the bathroom. She didn’t care what happened to her, but she wasn’t going to let Lucien get hurt because of her.