Chapter 18 #2
“Um, I’m not sure. She has white hair and sometimes comes to the bar with Craig,” Kierston explained, her green eyes flitting back down to her phone when she couldn’t hold my brother’s intense gaze any longer.
Mad Dog’s hackles rose at this admission. “That male witch that keeps asking you out and won’t take no for an answer? That Craig?” He angrily demanded.
Pulling a face, Kierston sent Mad Dog a censoring glare. “They’re called warlocks, not “male witches” Nathaniel. I keep telling you that.”
“I don’t care what you call ‘em, Kay,” My Brother returned, “a man that can’t back off when a woman tells them no is just a fucking creep as far as I’m concerned. Plus, I know the impotent bastard hates being called that, so that’s what I’ll indefinitely be calling him.”
“That’s so mature,” Kierston sarcastically returned.
“Has he been back here?” Mad Dog demanded then. “He has, hasn’t he! I thought I told his ass—,”
Kierston pressed the contact button and held a finger in the air to silence Mad Dog’s rant as she waited for her friend to answer. Luckily, though I’m not sure my brother was happy to be ignored, the older witch finally picked up on the fourth ring.
After Kierston had exchanged pleasantries with the woman, she put the phone on speaker so that everyone could hear the conversation.
Catching the older witch up to speed with our problem without divulging any names, Kierston asked Maggie what she knew about triggering a sleeper omega into a shifter.
“They’re rare,” Maggie explained, her voice switching from friendly banter to that of a studious teacher.
“I know that not much is written about them, as the ware community is woefully neglectful about cataloging such things. They’re more concerned about keeping their precious secrets than preserving knowledge for the betterment of the supernatural community,” she heatedly critiqued.
It was no secret that the supernatural community had a lot of infighting.
Wares and witches typically squabbled like stepchildren at a family reunion whenever they came into contact with one another.
Both races kept their distance from vamps.
And demons, well, everyone did their best to stay away from those evil bastards.
“And don’t get me started about their antiquated views on child rearing!” Maggie prattled on, unaware that we were listening to every judgmental word she was spewing. “It’s downright barbaric!”
Kierston mouthed, “Sorry,” before redirecting the woman’s tangent. “I’m kind of in a rush, Maggie. Can you give me the cliff notes version of what could trigger a sleeper omega’s shift?”
Maggie collected herself before she lowered her voice conspiratorially and divulged, “Like most things with wares, it requires sex. From my studies, I’ve learned a handful of things that can be done.
This formula, though not absolute,” she warned, “will garner the best chance of success. A rough mating, followed by a bite, and then a brutal knotting of their primitive penises should do the trick. You know they’re significantly larger than human males, don’t you?
” Maggie blustered, as though that was the scandalous take away from everything she’d just shared.
“That seems to be the consensus, yes,” Kierston replied humorously, trying not to turn beet-red again, and failing.
Maggie paused. “And just how do you know that information, young lady?”
Cheeks flushed, Kierston hurriedly stammered, “You told us about it the other night at book club. Remember?”
“I don’t, but if you say so,” the older witch accepted with a sniff.
“Is there anything else I should know about the process?” Kierston pressed, her green gaze glued intently on the phone set in the center of the table.
Maggie made a humming noise. “I seem to recall something about the Blood Moon having the ability to super charge the entire situation. Seeing as though we have one coming up, that too could play a big role in triggering a sleeper omega. However, I can’t be certain, as, like I’ve said, wares don’t make great scholars and rarely chronicle anything of import. ”
“Well, I appreciate how thorough you were with your response,” Kierston replied. “I knew if anyone had information on this topic, it would be you.”
I could hear the witch practically preening over the line at the compliment.
“Thank you, Kierston. I really appreciate that. Not many people understand the importance of my area of study. They think it’s simply interspecies gossip.
But these issues are important to our communities’ longevity and prosperity. If I don’t do it, who will?”
“Uh huh,” Kierston agreed, angling to get off the phone now.
“Anyways, I’m so glad you called. I was going to reach out to you about this Saturday evening. Craig and I were planning on attending an outdoor Wicca festival, and he was hoping you’d join us. The two of you would just make the most precious couple. Don’t you think?”
Kierston winced and intentionally ignored Mad Dog’s heated stare. “I’m working at the bar on Saturday but thank you for thinking of me. I’ll see you at book club next month, okay?”
Hanging up before the older witch could further discuss her and Craig’s future marriage potential, Kierston let out a pent-up breath.
“So, it looks like it’s going to take more than sex to change, Cat,” she stated, trying not to flush any more than she already was. “It seems like it’s going to take sex, a bite, a knotting, and the upcoming Blood Moon to seal the deal.”
That wasn’t going to be a problem. We’d be having a hunt the night of the Blood Moon. It was a way for the pack to burn off some steam and mingle during a very hormonally charged time. And now, Cat was going to be our guest of honor.
Thanking Kierston for her help, my brothers and I left the bar for the parking lot. As I was putting on my helmet, Blitz said, “How do you think Cat’s going to take finding out she’s a shifter?”
Swinging my long leg over my bike, I sighed. “Like you told me earlier today, only one way to find out.”