My heart hammered in my chest. “A werewolf?” My voice reached an embarrassingly high register.
What the frick?How did she know what they were?
Don’t panic. It’s a joke. It has to be a joke.
She grinned, pulling her wrist to my nose. “I’m a witch.”
I wanted to stagger backward, but instead I inhaled again and this time it was like a fizzy soda hit the back of my throat.
“Now you know what we smell like. Holy crap, Ronan is going to lose his mind.” She turned and cupped her hands around her mouth. “RONAN, GET OUT HERE! AVERLY’S A WEREWOLF!”
I smacked her arm but then braced myself. “Is Ronan… a warlock too?”
Clara nodded. “We’re in the same coven.”
I was going to get whiplash from that. My head swiveled and I reached for a stool. “I need to sit down.” Thank God we hadn’t opened yet. I needed to process this.
Clara grinned. “You’re a newly changed werewolf and you need to sit down because I’m a witch?”
I nodded. “I’ve never met a… magical person before.”
Clara grinned as if she was loving this conversation. Ronan appeared and peeked his big bushy bearded face over the bar, flaring his nostrils. “Well, I’ll be damned, Averly, yer a werewolf!”
I nodded, and then a mild panic consumed me. “Wait. Do werewolves and witches get along? Am I going to get fired for this?”
Ronan and Clara both burst into deep belly laughter at the same time. “No. Heavens no. If anything, I should give you a raise. Now you can help out with some magical aspects of the job.” He winked.
Okay, whatever that meant. But a raise sounded nice.
I sighed in relief. “So werewolves and witches…?”
“Thick as thieves. My coven is friendly with all of the local packs,” Ronan said. “Who bit ya?”
I bristled at his direct question. “Well, technically Silas, but I’m Brayden’s wolf.”
My cheeks warmed even as I said it and they both seemed to grin, casting knowing glances at each other. “He’s a good lad. Felt bad last year when he lost his pack to that lazy hole Silas,” Ronan said.
My eyes widened. “You know about that?”
He nodded. “I’ve been around a long time. Everyone knows about Brayden and Silas’ rivalry.”
I gulped.
“So all of the magical races just get along? That’s a relief. I was worried I’d have to watch my back.” I relaxed and stood.
Ronan and Clara shared a weary look.
“I wouldn’t say we all ‘get along.’” Clara used air quotes. “You should definitely still watch your back.”
I bristled at that and Ronan nodded. “Especially with the fae and vampires. Dirty gobshites they are, though they mainly stick to the Ether Realm. We only have a few fae clans out here in the mountains, and one vampire coven.”
I gulped.
Okay. There was a vampire coven in Sandpoint.Good to know.
“Cool. Cool.” I nodded nervously. “So a vampire coven is like… five people?”
Clara and Ronan laughed again, and then there was a bang on the front door.
