Romani Witch (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 2)

by Frances Trilone

  “The new waitress is just running late. She’ll be here soon.” I handed the box to Wendy and gave her a receipt. “Bill talked to her last night when she picked up her apron and name tag.”

  “At least you have help until she gets here.” Wendy watched the two high school students as they walked around refilling the customers’ drinks. Bill had hired them yesterday to clear tables and serve food, but they weren’t to take orders or touch the cash register. “Are you and Kaleb coming to my party this weekend?”

  “I’ll be there, but I’m not sure about Kaleb,” I replied.

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t miss the chance to be alone with you.” She tucked the receipt into the pocket of her jeans. “Make sure you text me after the kris. I want to know what happens.”

  “I will.”

  “Well, I better get home. Mom needs this pie for her women’s luncheon.” She glanced over her shoulder as a tall guy with dark hair entered the café. “Mmmm…who’s that?”

  “Probably another tourist.” I laughed, waving my hand in front of her face. “You do know you’re leaving town soon?”

  “I know.” She pouted, releasing a deep sigh as she tore her gaze away from the guy. “Promise me you’ll call if you need help today. I could use a break from packing.”

  “I promise.”

  Wendy strolled toward the front door, eyeing the tall guy. She managed to casually bump into him and start a conversation.

  Shaking my head at Wendy’s flirtatious laughter, I entered the kitchen to check up on the high school students. They’d done a great job clearing the tables and were hanging out, talking about their summer plans. After asking them to load the dishwasher, I returned to the dining area to find Wendy gone and the tall guy sitting at the front counter. He appeared agitated as he stared down at his cell phone.

  “Today’s special is fish pie.” I slid the menu onto the counter in front of him. “What can I get you to drink?”

  He looked up from his phone with the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. “Sienna?”

  I stared at him. Those familiar blue eyes. That warm, friendly smile. That voice—I’d heard it before.

  “When I heard a Romani was working at the café, I expected someone burly.” He looked me over.

  I crossed my arms, not sure if I should feel insulted or relieved. “I’m much stronger than I look.”

  “I know.” He lowered his voice. “You must be strong to have killed an olden. I can’t believe you’re not missing an arm. How the hell did you do it?”

  My head jerked back at his use of the word olden. Only those familiar with them referred to the purebred wolf shapeshifters as oldens. “How could you…?”

  I couldn’t finish my sentence, not without knowing who he was. He looked nothing like the locals, and if he knew I’d killed Lexi, he couldn’t be a tourist. He had to be a shapeshifter. Maybe a wolf from another pack.

  Glancing over his shoulder, I spotted two Norwood wolves in human form across the street. They were talking to a tourist. One of them stared at the café, watching and probably listening. If this guy was a shapeshifter from another pack, would they have allowed him to enter the café?

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “I’m hurt you don’t remember me,” he teased. “Tell me you’re not dating that jerk, Ethan. You’re way too smart for him.”

  This guy must be a Romani. I chewed at my bottom lip. Maybe we’d met at a party or…

  I gasped. “You’re the witch from the Spring Bash. The one who gave me the lucky handkerchief.”

  “See.” He chuckled. “You do remember me. And the word’s warlock, not witch.”

  “What are you doing here?” I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart. A warlock in Woodlake couldn’t be a good thing. And how did he know my name? Although we’d spoken briefly at the Spring Bash, I couldn’t remember telling him. I hadn’t even known he was a witch until Ethan told me. I certainly had no interest in talking to him now. He needed to leave.

  “I was just passing through town and got hungry.” He glanced at the menu. “How about a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake?”

  “That’s not a good idea.” I looked over at the two Norwood staff members outside. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.” He held out his hand, smiling. “I’m Garrett Sherrard.”

  I stared down at his hand but didn’t move or extend my hand to shake it.

  “I’m not here to drag you to Dover if that’s what you’re worried about.” He lowered his hand to the counter. “You need to trust me. I could be a valuable friend.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. Had the witches found out about Kaleb and me? What did it matter to them if a Romani girl married a shapeshifter?

  The door opened and the new waitress walked in. Dressed in the required waitress uniform—white blouse, black pants, black apron, she had a name tag with Tessa etched in red font.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the Norwood staff walking toward the café. If they’d overheard my conversation with Garrett, they’d know he was a warlock.

  “You need to leave,” I said.

  He looked over his shoulder at the Norwood staff and stood as they entered the café. Both of them looked our way, glaring at Garrett. “I didn’t realize the wolves came into the café.”

  “Hey,” Tessa said to me as she walked up to the front counter and placed her purse underneath. She looked at Garrett, eyeing him from head to toe.

  “I’ll see you around, Sienna.” Garrett winked at me. As he walked to the front of the café, he showed no fear. To my surprise, he even said hello to the Norwood staff before strolling out the door.

  “Is he a friend of yours?” Tessa asked.

  “No,” I replied. Like Wendy, she clearly found him easy on the eyes. I had to admit, I loved Garrett’s gorgeous blue eyes, but he was a warlock and I planned on staying as far away as possible.

  “It seemed like he knew you.”

  “He was just asking for directions.”

  “I doubt that,” she muttered under her breath.

  I looked at the sour expression on her face, her beautiful long blonde hair, and her hazel eyes. I didn’t trust her. It was just a feeling, and I didn’t know why, but something about her didn’t feel right. I held out my hand. “You must be the new waitress. I’m Sienna.”

  “Hey.” She lowered her gaze to my hand. “I don’t shake hands. I’m a germophobe.”

  “Oh, okay. Have you waitressed before?” I let my hand fall, not sure what to make of her germophobe comment. Wouldn’t working at a café be overwhelming?

  “Yes.” She waved to the Norwood staff as they left. “Are all the customers as hot as them?”

  “I wouldn’t say all.” I rolled my eyes, hoping she didn’t expect me to do all the work while she flirted with the customers. “You should stay away from those guys. They’re not your type.”

  She frowned. “You’re right. I’m more into alpha males. You know the type, right?”

  “Yes.” I nodded, thinking of Kaleb. If he were single, he’d be at the top of her alpha-male list. “Did Bill go over the menu with you?”

  “I can read if that’s what you’re asking.” She grabbed the menu from the counter. “Hamburgers, chicken tenders, fish pie, cobb salad, etc. I’m not stupid like the gypsies.”

  “The Romanies aren’t stupid.” I gritted my teeth as I stared at her hand holding the menu. She couldn’t be germophobic. Maybe a bit, but surely touching that menu was way worse than shaking my hand?

  “Oh, that’s right.” She tilted her head. “You’re a Romani.”

  “How do you know?” I folded my arms.

  “I overheard Bill talking about you last night. A customer had a question about the Romani community, and Bill said he should ask you.” She sounded a little friendlier now. “I thought Romanies stuck to their own kind. Why are you working at the café?”

  “I need
the money.” I took a deep breath, wanting to find some common ground with Tessa. My first impression of her wasn’t a good one. I grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee and cream. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Thanks, but I don’t touch caffeine,” she replied. “So, are you from Woodlake?”

  I shook my head. “We moved here a few months ago. My mom has family here. What about you? What brought you to Woodlake?”

  Usually, people who moved to Woodlake either had family in town or had married someone local. Bill hadn’t said anything about knowing her, and even though she was probably in her mid-twenties, she didn’t have a ring on her finger.

  “I have friends that live nearby. We’re going hiking and there’s a guy…Well, let’s just say, I haven’t seen him in a while, but if things go well, I’ll be living here permanently.” She glanced at me. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  I nodded. “His name’s Kaleb. He works on Norwood Isle.”

  “Is he coming by today? I’d love to meet him.”

  “Not today.” I sipped my coffee as I studied her. With her perfectly manicured nails and styled hair, she didn’t look the hiking type. “Are you planning on visiting Norwood Isle?”

  “Definitely.” She took a blue hair tie from her apron pocket and quickly pulled her hair up. “What’s your favorite part of Norwood Isle?”

  “I haven’t been there yet.” I set my mug down on the counter, hoping to change the subject. A normal person wouldn’t understand why I was dating Kaleb but hadn’t been to Norwood Isle.

  “Then how do you know Kaleb?”

  “He used to come by the café a lot, but you probably won’t see him much. Summer’s their busiest time with tourists.” Three wolf trackers entered the café and sat near the front window. I grabbed several menus. “We should get to work. Let me know if you have any questions.”

  “You’re not what I expected.” She shifted her weight to one side as she appraised me. “You must be a charmer to convince Kaleb to date you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. The way she said his name made it sound like she knew him. “Do you know Kaleb?”

  “Not really. My friends told me about him, so I know of his reputation. I hear he likes to keep his relationships short.” Tessa smirked. “What I don’t understand is how you’re dating him. Aren’t you supposed to date other gypsies?”

  I clenched my fists. Tessa definitely had a problem with Romanies. “You can’t go around using the word gypsy. It’s a racial slur and—”

  “Whatever. It’s not like we’re friends.” She yanked the menus out of my hand and sashayed over to the wolf trackers.

  “Miss, can we get more water?” a customer called to me.

  I nodded and grabbed the water pitcher, determined not to let Tessa ruin my day. It’s not like I needed a new friend, and I could ask Bill to limit how often we worked together. He’d talked about hiring another waitress next month, so I just had to suck it up until then.

  Besides, I had more important things to worry about than a pain-in-the-butt waitress. Like the kris tomorrow.

  Chapter 5

  “They’re here!” Mom yelled from the kitchen when the doorbell rang. She’d made chicken soup and had filled a large bowl to take over to Aunt Norma. She wasn’t feeling well, so she and Mom were staying home from the kris. “I’ll be back later. Love you.”

  “Love you too,” I said. As I heard the front door open and voices fill the house, I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Its large digital numbers read 6:30 p.m.

  Victor and Drina were on time, which didn’t surprise me. They were always on time unless Kaleb and I had plans to hang out. Then they’d show up early, but that hadn’t happened this week. In fact, I hadn’t seen Kaleb since the other night, when he and Victor got into that disagreement.

  Yesterday, Markus had stopped by the café to confirm that Kaleb was busy and would come by after the kris. I tried not to let his absence bother me, but with each passing day, I grew angrier. We were supposed to be dating, not two people who hardly saw each other.

  After slipping on my black sandals, I studied myself in the mirror. It was a warm evening, so I’d put on black capris and a blue shirt. Mom had insisted I wear something less casual than my usual jeans and black boots. It felt strange not having my hunting knife tucked away and readily available.

  “Are you ready?” Drina appeared in my bedroom doorway, wearing a black skirt, pink blouse, and pink sandals.

  “I’m coming.” I grabbed my purse off the dresser and followed Drina into the hallway. “How’s your mom?”

  “She’s feeling better, but Dad still wants her to stay home,” she replied as the front door opened and Victor walked in with Markus following close behind.

  I smiled, noticing they both wore black jeans and blue polo shirts. For a Romani and a shapeshifter that hadn’t liked each other two months ago, they now looked like best friends. “Do you guys realize you’re dressed the same?”

  “No, we’re…” Victor glanced over his shoulder at Markus and frowned. “Are you kidding me?”

  “It’s just a coincidence.” Markus shook his head. “It’s not like we planned it.”

  “Sure,” Drina said, struggling to suppress a smile.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked Markus. The Elders had been adamant there were to be no wolves at the kris. There was no reason for him to be here.

  “I invited him,” Victor replied. “The Elders wanted no wolves in town tonight. Henry said it wasn’t a big deal, but Markus and I agree it’s strange. He won’t come to the kris, but he’ll hang around outside and stay hidden.”

  I glanced at Victor, shocked to hear he’d asked for Markus’ help. Normally, they fought over who was more qualified to keep an eye on me. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine.” Victor touched my shoulder. “We’re just being cautious.”

  “What about Kaleb?” I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping Asher didn’t have more pack stuff for Kaleb to do. He’d promised to come by after the kris, and I’d been looking forward to it all week. Had Victor asked for Kaleb’s help too?

  “He’ll be here later.” Markus strolled into the living room and grabbed the remote control from the coffee table. He turned on the television and flipped through the channels as he sat on the sofa. “You guys should get going. I’ll follow in fifteen minutes, so no one sees me.”

  “He’s right.” Victor glanced at his watch. “We’d better go, or we’ll be late. Don’t forget, we’ll meet back here after it’s over.”

  “That’s the plan.” Markus waved nonchalantly as I followed Victor to the front door, where Drina stood waiting for us.

  We walked outside and got into Victor’s car. Romani meetings, including a kris, were held at the Woodlake Hotel on Main Street. Their ballroom was the only place in town large enough to accommodate everyone if all the local Romanies showed up. Normally around half would show, depending on what was being discussed.

  Tonight’s meeting would probably be small. Uncle Henry had assured me there was nothing to worry about and that the kris was little more than a formality. The Elders had to address all accusations, as favoritism was frowned upon in the community.

  “There are a lot more cars than I expected,” I said as Victor parked in the hotel’s parking lot. Many of the cars had out-of-town license plates. Probably tourists who were staying at the hotel and a few Romanies who’d come into town to discuss other business with the Elders.

  “Looks like the usual crowd.” Victor turned off the car and we got out.

  “Isn’t that Ethan’s car?” I pointed to a black SUV with Ohio license plates as we walked toward the hotel.

  No doubt Ethan was here to support Nadya and her false accusations. This mess was all her fault. Because of her, I’d missed work tonight and had to stand in front of everyone to convince them I was still a virgin.

  “Yes. The Elders wanted Ethan at the kris.” Victor reached for Drina’s hand and led
the way to the hotel’s front entrance.

  Woodlake’s only hotel was three stories high, with balconies off each room that faced Lake Sweeney or Main Street. There was a swimming pool, free cable, and Wi-Fi for guests, but beyond that, no other amenities existed. The hotel staff consisted of five employees—a manager, two desk clerks, and two maids. They were okay with the Romanies using their ballroom when we needed a large space and only charged a small fee.

  As Victor held one of the hotel’s doors open, I followed Drina into the lobby. A clerk sat behind the front desk, talking on a phone and typing on a computer keyboard. Across from him was a sitting area with a couch, two oversized chairs, a coffee table, and a fireplace.

  Uncle Henry and two other Elders stood by a complimentary beverage table to the left of the seating area. They nodded in our direction then continued greeting other Romanies as they entered. Victor stopped to talk to Uncle Henry while Drina and I walked down a narrow hallway. We stopped outside open doors that led to the ballroom.

  “How long’s this gonna take?” I crossed my arms, shifting my weight to the side as I tried not to fidget.

  Drina grinned. “Are you nervous? It’s only a—”

  “Ow,” I muttered, touching the side of my head. Squeezing my eyes shut, I held my breath, releasing it when the sharp pain subsided.

  “Are you getting another headache?”

  “No.” I opened my eyes, doing my best to look perfectly fine. This was worse than a headache, but at least the pain had faded quickly.

  “You don’t look so great,” she said. She touched my shoulder as a maid walked by, carrying a stack of white towels. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m just nervous. It’s my first kris, and I’m not sure what to expect.” I forced a smile so Drina wouldn’t worry.

  “You’ll be fine,” Victor said as he joined us. He looked at Drina. “You should go inside.”