A Shifter's Curse, Raven Steele [the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT] 📗

did have information I could use. If he didn't like Dominic, he would probably spill all their secrets. He might even know something about Dominic’s schedule that would allow me to get closer to him and end this once and for all.

Just the thought of it brought a smile to my face. This was the beginning of the end. And with the discovery of my uncle, it could also be the beginning of my redemption.

I rolled over onto my side wondering what it would be like to not have revenge fuel my very existence. Would I even be the same person? Would it be possible to live a normal life?? And love? Children? Would my uncle play with my kids as he had played with me?

Those things were on the same level as fairytales to me and yet, with Dominic and Silas so close, the chance for a normal life actually seemed attainable.

These thoughts warmed me as I drifted into a sleep.

I slept for exactly six hours. My internal clock was as accurate as Big Ben. I rose from bed, listening closely to the sounds of the house. Empty. I placed my hands behind my head, reveling in the feeling.

Ahh, peace. And no cockroaches, unlike the many motels I’d stayed at. After a minute, I jumped up and threw open the curtains. I undressed, throwing my clothes onto the floor as I studied the woods behind me. It seemed private enough, a good place to run when I needed to burn off excess energy.

The deep sleep had helped my body heal and, while I waited for the shower to warm, I stretched my tight muscles. My wrists were just as perfect as before. I raised my eyebrows at them, impressed with Lynx’s abilities. No one at work would ever know.

I slapped my hand to my forehead. Shit! I had left the bar without completing the paperwork for Eddie. Again.

I should probably go back in. He had seemed especially anxious about it, as if he might lose his business if I didn’t. I sighed. Too dramatic for my taste, but I needed to keep my job.

After I dressed and ate, I booked an Uber to take me into the club. I considered calling Roma, but she’d had a late night just like me. I'd give my new witchy friend a break.

It was early afternoon when I arrived. And locked. I should've figured it would be closed this early in the afternoon. Eddie just seemed like the type of guy who was married to his job.

I sucked in a breath and released it. I guess I was wrong. Having nothing else to do, I headed toward Main Street a few blocks over. Maybe I could go shopping where Lynx worked. It had been several months since I bought any clothes and being a wolf wasn’t good for keeping them intact.

The streets were lined with old brick stores, probably the originals built when the city was settled. The air was humid and smelled liked fish and spicy jambalaya. Humans walked the streets, smiling and chatting, completely unaware of the supernatural community.

I shivered.

The ignorance could be blissfully amazing and scary at the same time. You’d never knew what hit you if a supernatural decided to eat you for lunch, which didn’t happen too often unless it was a total douchebag. Humans were off limits.

I passed a shop that smelled like incense and paused for a moment to take in a deep breath. A chill ran through my blood, and I scurried forward. Black magic. Best to stay away from that shit.

A few doors down, I found the boutique shop I thought Lynx might work at. A bell above the glass door jingled as I walked inside. It had looked small from the outside, but my eyebrows lifted when I realized how big it was inside. It was a two-story shop that went much farther back than I expected. Happy pop music blared through the speakers, and I frowned, sure that Lynx had picked the station.

I wandered through the store, dragging my fingers across all the soft and fancy-looking clothing. I checked the tag of a cute top, but dropped it when I saw the price.

A pretty brunette approached me. "Can I help you?"

I grimaced. ”I have deer in headlights look on my face, don't I?"

She giggled. "You do seem a little overwhelmed."

"There's too much to look at. I'm getting a headache." I glanced around the store, waffling on whether I should stay or bolt. "I'm looking for Lynx."

"Are you a friend of hers?"

"I’m her new roommate.”

She flinched.

I frowned. “What was that face for?"

She quickly collected herself and smiled. "Nothing."

"No way. I saw it. Do you think it's a bad idea to be Lynx’s roommate?"

"Of course not. Lynx is a super nice girl. It’s just that her family—”

I waved my hand to dismiss her. “I’ve heard. But I'm not living with them. So, is she here?"

She nodded toward the back. "She's in the office, but her mother is there, too. I would wait until they are done."

My mouth dropped open. "No way! I want to see what all the fuss is about."

Walking away, I pretended I didn't hear the girl whisper at my back. "Your funeral."

I found the office easy enough and knocked on the closed door. It flung open wide, startling me.

"What?" A shorter woman stood in the doorway, her face twisted in a snarl. Her dark red hair was pulled back into a bun wrapped so tight it stretched the skin on her face. She might've been beautiful, with ivory skin and amber eyes, but her expression was darkened with malice.

It only took a second to understand why Lynx might need liquid courage to face her mother.

I glanced over the older woman’s shoulder. Lynx sat behind a desk, blood draining from her face.

The woman snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Are you going to say something or just stand there looking like an ass?"

Lynx jumped to her feet. "Mother, this is my roommate, Briar. She’s new in town, so please be polite. And, Briar, this is Cassandra Morgan.”

Cassandra looked me up and down, wrinkling her nose in disgust as if she could smell the shit on me from the night before. I was half-tempted to smell myself. I’m pretty sure I washed everything.

I raised my eyebrow. “How long are you going to check me out? Because I’m straight, in case you have any ideas."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I said I'm straight."

She glanced back at Lynx in surprise. When she looked back at me, her face was red with angry blotches. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

I slipped past her into the room. "Nope and I don't give a rat’s ass." I rapped my knuckles on Lynx’s desk. "Do you want to go on a late lunch? I have some time to kill."

Lynx’s jaw nearly fell off.

"Now listen here.” Cassandra turned to face me. "My daughter has work to do, something you probably know nothing about. I suggest you leave this place before I call the police."

Lynx’s pale cheeks tinged pink. "Mother, that's hardly necessary."

"Oh, I think it is. We should probably search her too. There are nice things in this store, and it wouldn't surprise me if she's taken something."

I took three steps toward her. "Now see here, old lady. No one accuses me of being a thief."

She lifted her hand and flicked her fingers. An invisible force slammed into me, and I crashed into the wall.

Rage burst through me, making my blood boil. I was going to kill this witch just as soon as I could get up, which I seemed to be having trouble doing. Before I could steady my feet, Lynx stepped between us, holding her hands out as if to shield me.

“Leave her alone, mother!”

I stared at Lynx’s backside in wonder. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had stood up for me.

Her mother sidestepped her to scowl at me. “Listen to me, shifter bitch. If you ever talk to me like that again, I will put you in your place in a painful way. Do you understand?"

A thousand insults flooded my mind, but I was still trying to catch my breath to spout any of them. Damnit.

Lynx pointed at the open door. "Please leave."

"We’ll discuss this incident later. As for you,” Cassandra’s gaze slowly lowered to me, “you’re in over your head. It’s best you give your loyalty to the Silver Claws’ Alpha as soon as possible. It’s in everyone’s best interest.”

She disappeared before I could respond. Whose interest had she been talking about? And why was she talking to me as if she knew me?

The sudden ache fermenting in my gut told me something was off with that woman. And not off in the sense that she forgot to take her Prozac that morning, but off like she was secretly a demon wearing a flesh suit.

I’d have to keep an eye on her.