One Bad Witch

by Danielle Garrett

  It also meant she wasn’t out with Nick.

  Tonight, there was a canvas bag hanging beside her coat. The zipper was undone and I scooted closer, leaning in to see the contents. A thick hardcover book dominated the majority of the bag and I had to tug the side of the bag aside to see the title.

  Unleash the Beast: A guide to authenticity in a filtered world

  Len Whitaker

  “Len Whitaker? Why does that name sound—”

  I stopped and when I placed the name, goosebumps skittered down my arms.

  Len Whitaker was the werewolf tech tycoon Lacey had told us about the night we called about the Brackens.

  Why was Narissa carrying around a self-help book for werewolves? Was it meant to be a gift for Nick?

  Without thinking, I started up the stairs and then tiptoed down the hall to Narissa’s door.

  She was apparently talking on the phone. Her voice was muffled by the door and I leaned in, nearly pressing my ear against it to try to hear what she was saying. When that didn’t work, I dug around in my pockets and found a bobby pin. I spelled it with the listening charm and slipped it under her door. With a tap to my ear, her voice became crystal clear.

  “Even if they find him, I don’t think he’ll say anything. He knows the risks.”

  I frowned. Risks? And who was she talking about?

  There was a pause. The spell wasn’t finely-tuned enough for me to hear the voice of whoever she was speaking to on the phone.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary,” Narissa said after a moment, this time, her voice was rattled. “Len, please, let’s just—”

  She stopped abruptly and listened.

  Then, she said, “Yes, I know where he is. I’ll handle it.”

  Footsteps sounded and I scrambled back to get away from the door. I ducked into the bathroom just as Narissa’s door opened, and she stepped out into the hallway. She jogged down the stairs and a few moments later, I heard the manor’s front door shut.

  Chapter 20

  I knew I shouldn’t do it, but the next thing I knew, my hand was on the knob to Narissa’s room and I pushed into the room, inch by inch. Logically, I knew she’d left the manor, but I still had the feeling I could get busted at any minute that always comes with doing something you know you aren’t supposed to. I tiptoed inside, holding my breath. The room looked the same as the day she’d moved in. She hadn’t added so much as an alarm clock, picture frame, or knick-knack to it. A suitcase sat in the bottom of the closet, but other than that, the room looked uninhabited.

  Moving further into the room, I tried to decide what it was I was looking for, but it was apparent from the lack of belongings that it was going to be impossible to gather any clues as to who she might have been talking to on the phone. I opened the bedside table and found another book by Len Whitaker.

  “What is your deal with this guy?” I whispered to myself, lifting the book from the drawer. I flipped it over and blinked at the dazzling man staring back at me from the back of the dust jacket. Len Whitaker looked to be in his mid-to late-forties, with a brilliant white smile, clear, aquamarine eyes, and a full head of thick hair. He was tanned and looked like he was in good shape.

  “Guess that solves that mystery,” I said, flipping the book back over. “Narissa and Len sitting in a tree.”

  Something slipped from between the pages and fluttered to the bed. It was a picture of the man from the cover, dressed in a black tie, seated at a fancy banquet table beside Narissa.

  “Whoa.”

  So, her affection for the man was less obsession and more relationship.

  Past or present?

  The only other thing in the bedside drawer was a comb. A few silver strands clung to it, and I set the book back the way it was and plucked a strand from it. Smiling, I knew what to do. I took one more quick look around and then hurried back downstairs. I slipped my shoes on and conjured up a new tracking spell, this time, set to follow Narissa.

  She was a shifter like Adam, and he hadn’t seen the tracking spell when we’d used it on Nick. I’d be able to follow her from a safe distance and figure out just what she was doing. I dialed Tyson’s number as I left the manor. He picked up on the second ring. “Agent Blair.”

  “Tyson, it’s Holly. Listen, I think I have a lead. Are you still looking for Pierce?”

  “No sign of him yet,” Tyson said. “What’s the lead?”

  “I just overheard Narissa on the phone with someone. I don’t know who she was talking to, but I have a feeling she was discussing Pierce. She didn’t mention his name, but she said I know where he is, and that even if they find him, she didn’t think he’d say anything and that he knows the risks. I mean, who else could she be talking about?”

  “But how would she know what happened at the bar?” Tyson asked.

  I frowned. “Nick.”

  “You think he called her?”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me. They’ve been together every night this week. Apparently he doesn’t subscribe to that whole play it cool approach to dating.”

  “Where are you now?” Tyson asked.

  “I put a tracking spell on Narissa. I’m going to follow it and see where it leads.”

  “Alone?”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said, starting down the front steps.

  Tyson paused, but then agreed. “All right, but call me if you need backup.”

  “I will.” I followed the line of light down the hill. “Let me ask you, do you know anything about Len Whitaker?”

  Tyson groaned. “I’m not sure what there is to know. He’s an arrogant tycoon who thinks he’s God’s gift to the universe.”

  “Is it true that he’s a registered werewolf?” I asked.

  “He’s not registered with the SPA, but the rumors are that he is in fact a wolf. The problem is he has deep pockets and manages to weasel his way out of any kind of investigation.”

  “I found a picture of him and Narissa together. It looked like they were at some kind of formal event together.”

  “Together, as in, a couple?” Tyson asked.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. They were leaning in, but they weren’t touching. She has a copy of his book in her bag and another in her bedside table. Same book. How weird is that?”

  “Strange, sure, but not criminal.”

  “My friend, Lacey Vaughn, she said that Len is using his speaking platform and books to recruit wolves, and that he wants them to go public. You’ve never heard anything about that?”

  “No,” Tyson answered, sounding more alarmed.

  “Listen, I’ll call you as soon as I know where Narissa is.”

  “Okay.”

  I hung up and hurried to chase the twinkling light. When I reached the edge of town, my heart sank. She’d left Beechwood Harbor. Chasing after her on foot wasn’t going to work. I thought about calling Tyson back and asking for a ride, but I didn’t want to risk him missing Pierce.

  Instead, I called Nick, hoping he wasn’t sleeping off his headache following the attack at the bar.

  “I’m fine, Holly. I made it home without crashing into anything,” he said.

  “Nick, where are you?” I asked.

  “Just leaving Siren’s Song. Why?”

  “I don’t have time to explain. I’m heading your way. I need to borrow your car.”

  He groaned. “I know I’m on painkillers, but I thought we decided you weren’t going to drive my car.”

  “Evangeline isn’t home and I don’t know anyone else with a car.”

  “Where are you trying to go?” he asked.

  I chewed my lip for a moment. “Did you call Narissa after the thing at the bar?”

  “She called me, actually. She had to cancel our date tonight.”

  “Did you tell her about Pierce?”

  Nick paused.

  “Nick, I think she knows where he is. I heard her talking on the phone with someone.”

  “Holly!”

  “I know, I know
, but please, Nick, just trust me on this. Something is going on! She knows something!”

  “This is insane.”

  I rounded the corner and spotted him standing outside Siren’s Song, coffee cup in hand. I hung up the phone and hurried across the lot to meet him. “Nick, please, just go with me on this. If I’m wrong, I swear, I’ll never say another word about her.”

  His pressed his mouth into a tense line, but after a moment he nodded. “Only because I have a massive headache and don’t want to argue with you.” He took a swig of coffee. “Oh, and I’m driving.”

  Nick couldn’t see the tracking spell either, so I rattled off directions as he drove us out of town. The golden line was starting to fade right before it veered off the main road and streaked through the parking lot of an apartment complex.

  “Here! Here! Turn left.”

  Nick peeled the sedan in a tight corner and we pulled into the lot. “Geez, and I thought my GPS was bad,” he muttered under his breath.

  I ignored him, focusing on the tracking spell. It wound up the staircase, leading to a second-floor apartment. I glanced at Nick. “Do you know who lives here? One of the pack?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve never been here before, but I guess maybe someone from the pack lives here.”

  “Well, the spell is showing that she’s in the first apartment on the left. That building,” I told him, gesturing up the stairs.

  Nick whipped into a parking spot and killed the engine. Without waiting, he threw open his door and took off, leaving me scrambling behind. “Nick!” I hissed, catching up to him. “What are you doing? We can’t just go barging up there!”

  “Sure we can,” he said. “You want to know what’s going on, and I’m tired of playing games. After I told Narissa about the fight with Pierce at the bar, she canceled our date and told me she was too busy working on her book. Obviously that was a lie. So, now it’s time to see what else she’s been lying about.”

  I blinked. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”

  “Because, I didn’t want to believe it. Okay? I didn’t want to entertain the possibility that you might be right, and I’m getting played like a sucker.”

  “Nick, I—”

  “Come on,” he interrupted. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  He stalked up the stairs and gestured at the door when we reached the top. “This one?”

  I studied the faded light and nodded. “Looks like it.”

  Nick pounded on the door. “Narissa, are you in there? It’s Nick. Can we talk?”

  “Nick!” I hissed. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  A stunning spell tingled at my fingertip, anxiety fueling the surge of magic.

  “Holly, my head is throbbing. I’m hungry. All I want to do is get home. The sooner we get this over, the better. I don’t have the patience for an all-night stakeout.”

  The door swung open before I could object further, and Narissa stood in the doorway. “Nick? What are you doing here?” she asked. She looked flushed with a twinge of pink in her cheeks. Her hair was tied back in a long ponytail that hung nearly to the middle of her back. “How did you—”

  She stopped when her eyes landed on me. “What did you do?”

  “Simple tracking spell,” I said. I took a step forward but kept my hands at my sides. “Now, care to tell us what you’re doing here? Whose apartment is this?”

  Narissa folded her arms. “I’m sorry, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

  “What about mine?” Nick interjected. “It seems to me it might be my business, seeing as you blew off our date to work on your book.”

  A genuinely contrite look flashed in her eyes. “Nick, I—”

  A muffled cry sounded from inside the apartment, and Narissa stopped short, every muscle going taut.

  Nick leaned forward, peering past her shoulder. “What was that?”

  Narissa took a step back. “Nothing. I’ll call you later.”

  Nick raised a hand to block her from closing the door. “Narissa, are you—”

  “Help!” a male voice called out. “Someone help me!”

  Narissa moved to slam the door, but I was a split-second ahead of her and used the stunning spell to blast her back a few steps. Nick used the opportunity to shove into the apartment and I followed close on his heels, summoning another spell as I went.

  “Who’s here?” Nick demanded, storming through the living room.

  It was reminiscent of Narissa’s room back at the manor; no personal touches or knick-knacks, no art or throw pillows on the couch. Even corporate rentals had more character than this dive.

  “Get out of here!” Narissa snarled, all niceness vanished. “You have no right to barge in here!”

  The voice cried out again. “Help, in here, please!”

  Narissa grabbed for me but I shrugged her off.

  “Holly! Get in here!” Nick bellowed from the end of the short hallway.

  I hurled another stunning spell at Narissa and hurried to catch up to him.

  Nick was in the room already, a small bedroom, and he knelt beside a man tied to a chair with bungee cords. Nick worked at the restraints and the man raised his head. “Bruno?” I exclaimed. “What in the Otherworld is going—”

  My breath caught when a pair of claws slashed across my back.” I screamed in pain and whirled around to find Narissa, still human, but wielding a pair of huge paws instead of hands.

  “You’re a half-shift?”

  Narissa flashed a wicked smile. “Kitty has claws, as they say.”

  “Yeah? Well, in case you hadn’t heard, I can be a real witch when I want to be.” I whipped a stunning spell at her but she swerved at the last moment and it blasted the wall, leaving a divot in the drywall. “Nick, get Bruno out of here. I can handle Miss Kitty.”

  Narissa dove out of the way and I blinked a few times, thinking I was seeing things, as her body morphed from human, to a huge grey cat in midair. I’d seen Adam shift dozens of times and it looked nothing like the graceful swan dive the Manx took.

  The cat twisted around and lunged for me, claws and teeth bared.

  I waited until the last possible second and then threw a shield spell up in front of me. Narissa, in cat form, hit the invisible wall and slid down slowly, like something out of a cartoon movie. She crumpled to the floor and for a moment, went motionless.

  “Can you toss me some of that rope!” I called down the hallway.

  Nick threw a section out to me and I went to work restraining the cat. It felt all kinds of wrong to hog-tie a feline, but I reminded myself that this particular cat would be happy clawing my eyes out if it got the chance.

  “Bruno, what happened?” Nick asked. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was ambushed,” Bruno replied. “Pierce called me, all in a panic, after that whole thing at the bar. I was at the hospital with Christopher, but he said he needed help. He texted me this address, but when I got here, that crazy witch answered and knocked me out. When I came to, I was tied up and she was yelling at me, telling me she was going to call Len and have him personally come and deal with me.”

  “Len?” I repeated.

  Nick and Bruno stepped into the hallway and considered the cat lying unconscious on the floor. “Did you kill her?” Nick asked, a grimace on his face.

  I shook my head. “No, just knocked her out. She hit my shield spell pretty hard.”

  Bruno moved toward her, murder in her eyes. “You two leave, I’ll take care of her.”

  Nick grabbed Bruno’s arm and surprise registered in the alpha’s eyes. “No! We’re doing this the right way. Holly, call Agent Blair.”

  Bruno’s eyes narrowed at me. “Oh, that’s right. As if it’s not bad enough you’re friends with a witch, she’s also a snitch for the SPA.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Nick snarled. “Holly just saved your life.”

  Bruno didn’t reply, but the anger lingered in his eyes.

  I turned awa
y and called Tyson.

  He sounded breathless when he answered. “Holly! I was just about to call you. We just got Pierce into custody. You can’t go after Narissa. Wherever you are, stand down!”

  I cringed over my shoulder at the trussed up cat. “Um, little late for that.”

  “What? Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. I’m not entirely sure what happened yet, but we have Narissa and she’s not going to hurt anyone else.”

  “Give me the address. I’ll be there ASAP.”

  I gave him the complex’s name and the apartment number and we hung up.

  “SPA is on their way,” I said, more to Bruno than Nick.

  “I don’t think you understand,” Bruno said, still glaring at the Manx. “She killed Breanne!”

  “What happened? Start at the beginning,” I said, keeping a spell trained on Narissa in case she roused.

  “I—I don’t know where to start,” Bruno said, dragging a hand through his hair. “Okay, see, she works for this crazy wolf, Len Whitaker. I met Narissa at a convention in Seattle over a year ago. She introduced me to Len, and we’ve been working together. When this pack was on the brink of disbanding, I stepped in, with Len’s help, and became the alpha. He was going to make me the alpha of the entire Pacific Northwest when the time came for him to take over all of the western packs. And then he—”

  Bruno stopped short when the Manx cat stirred. He took a half step back, placing Nick between him and Narissa.

  Some alpha, I thought.

  Narissa’s form changed again, this time back to the human version. She remained clothes post-shift, another testament to the impressive power she held over her beast form. Not many shifters in the world could carry objects or clothing in their beast form, let alone manipulate a half-shift.

  She remained tied at the wrists and ankles but did a strange crab-walk to put some distance between us. As soon as her back bumped against the couch, she went to work on the ropes with her sharp, feline teeth.