I was about to tell him to stay here and watch my family, but he was right.He was my security, and I’d promised Declan I’d be safer.“Okay.Hang back, though.”
Carter squinted at me.“You agreed to that faster than I thought you would.I had a whole argument ready.”
I patted his arm.“Save it for next time.I promised Declan I’d be more careful, and I’m trying.”I leaned in and whispered, “Pregnant.”
Brow furrowed, he sniffed and shook his head.“I should have caught that.”Glaring at my hair, he added, “It’s all the stuff you put in there.It covers your scent.”
“Okay, but look at it.”My hair was a mélange of colors in long curls to my waist.“Totally worth it, right?”
He shook his head but gave me a quick smile before putting on his snarly expression.“Let’s go, but don’t get too close to her.She smells weird.”
“That weird smell is black magic.”
He put his arm out, blocking me from the door.“Why the hell are you going out there then?”
“Her grandson is the one who poisoned the food here.Her granddaughter tried to curse me last night.”
His expression turned furious.
I patted his arm again.“They think I’m half human and a magical dud.She’s expecting to ensnare me.If nothing else, this should be entertaining.”
Shaking his head, he opened the door for me.“I want to go on record as hating this idea, especially if your Alpha boyfriend has a problem with it.”
“I don’t get why everyone is afraid of him.He’s a sweetheart.”
“You’ve clearly never seen him tear a body apart,” he grumbled.
I had, actually, as much as he would have wished I hadn’t.I also knew they had it coming.Clearly, I was the one they should all be afraid of.
Catherine Swan waited near the bottom of the steps to the porch that ran in front of the gallery.I went to the top of the stairs, with Carter hanging back near the door.
“Hello.I was told you wanted to speak with me.I’m afraid I’m not giving any interviews today.”I gave her my fakest, most condescending smile and watched her turn red.Carter huffed a quiet laugh behind me.
Standing straight, her shoulders back, she forced a chuckle.“No, no.I’m not a reporter.I’m CatherineSwan.”She emphasized her last name, her gaze darting to Carter.
I had no idea if she’d picked up on him being a shifter or if she only knew he wasn’t a wicche.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”I was doing nothing to help move this conversation along.
Frustration flitted across her features before she smiled again.“I was a good friend of your grandmother’s.”
I laughed at that.“Um, no.”
“Yes,” she said, ignoring my tone.“Mary and I were old friends.We worked together quite a lot over the years.”
“Oh, honey.”I looked up and down the road.“Is there someone here with you?I don’t think you should be out on your own.”I glanced over my shoulder at Carter.“Maybe we should call her people to come get her.I think she wandered away.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot.Her right hand fisted at her side.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” I whispered, staring straight into her eyes.
Blinking, she recovered her façade of superiority, trying desperately to look down on me while I stood a few feet above her.
She waved me forward, her hand sporting an ugly, antique ring.
I went down two steps, still within my wards.“Yes?”
She gestured me forward again, her annoyance coming through.“I need to discuss my grandson with you.”
