3. Ezra
THREE
ezra
She was… different.
I couldn’t explain what had drawn me to the witch last night at the bar, only that she intrigued me like no one ever had. There was something about her that made little sense. Different from any witch I’d ever met.
Was that how she could resist my abilities? I wanted to find out. I’d never met a single soul in the century I’d lived who my powers didn’t affect. She was an enigma.
Plus, there was the way she smelled… incredible. Like the most mouthwatering concoction, as if her blood called to me. But… no. It couldn’t be.
I didn’t have a good explanation of why I’d followed her home after she’d left the bar, either, only that I needed to make sure she got back safe. I’d transformed, using my wings to glide along under the darkness of night.
If Barrett knew what I was doing—following the witch who was clearly friends with his mate—he would absolutely scold me, but I was pretty sure he was too besotted with the little redhead to bother worrying about me, partner or not.
We needed to finish our conversation today, though. Needed to figure out what we were doing about the wraiths who were plaguing this town. In all my years, I’d never come across anything like this. The magical signature of the town was familiar, though, almost like… I shook my head.
No good would come from thinking about her. No matter how many years it had been, the memories still soured my mood, putting an even bigger damper on my emotions. I didn’t need the reminder of how much I’d fucked up—my mother liked to do that whenever I saw her.
Fuck, Ezra, I ordered myself. Focus.
Focus on the wraiths.
Not on the brunette witch with the scent I couldn’t get out of my lungs, wondering how she’d taste. I ran my tongue over my canines, trying to figure out where that thought had come from.
No matter how alluring a human’s blood scent was, I’d never wondered what it would be like to sink my teeth into their flesh before.
Blood, as necessary as it was for my survival, had never been anything but nourishment; energy for my body.
Thankfully, it was easier now to access human blood from blood banks, taking the unwitting donor out of the picture.
Still, I would be fine for another day or two before I needed to drink.
Hopefully. I looked up at the sky, looking forward to the sun going down completely.
Gods, where was the witch going, anyway? I’d followed her from a distance as she wound through the endless, idyllic neighborhoods on foot, trying to figure out why I even cared what the witch did.
I didn’t.
So why are you following her? I rolled my eyes at that thought.
I’d spent most of the night—after I left her house—exploring the barrier of the town.
Usually, I preferred to sleep through the day, though I’d had to adjust my schedule while I was here.
Still, I was glad she’d waited to leave until the late afternoon.
Even though the sun wouldn’t kill me, I wanted to save my energy for other things.
Thankfully, it was overcast outside, giving me protection from the harsh rays.
“I know you’re following me.” I stopped in my tracks at the voice.
The indignant witch turned, staring at me with an annoyed expression on her face, her arms crossed over her chest. She’d worn a more practical outfit today—a black top that hugged her breasts, a dark green flannel tied around her waist with jeans that seemed to cling to her every curve, and a pair of black combat boots. Practical, at least.
“You could sense me?” I asked, my voice pacifying—calm, like I was trying not to spook a cat. For whatever reason, I got the idea that she would be one to bolt.
Rina raised an eyebrow. “Obviously. What I can’t figure out is why, vampire. Why you’re following me—or why you’re here.”
“Barrett called me,” I explained, not answering her other question. “I’m here to fix the problems plaguing your town, witch.”
She jutted her chin up. “We can fix it ourselves just fine, thank you very much. It’s the full moon tonight, and we have a plan.”
“A plan?” I laughed. “You don’t even know what you’re up against. How will you defend against these creatures when they are consuming the very magic that keeps you protected, growing stronger every day?”
Her fingers curled into her palms. “I—” Rina’s body drooped, like she realized she didn’t have an answer to that.
“Yeah. Precisely what I thought.” Turning, I kept walking down the sidewalk, noticing how many houses had decorations for Halloween, down to the carved pumpkins on their doorsteps.
It had never been my favorite holiday, but at least it was one where we didn’t have to hide from the world.
One night a year, we could blend in with humanity. Of course, it never lasted.
She rushed to catch up with me. “Where are you going? You don’t even know where I was headed.”
I gave her a smirk, one of my fangs popping out from my lip. “Figured you’d lead me there eventually, sweetheart. You are meeting the rest of your coven, are you not?”
“I—” Rina frowned. “How’d you know that?”
“I pay attention. Keep up.” I chuckled as she grumbled beside me, thankful for my exceptional hearing that allowed me to listen in last night.
Finally, we came to a stop. “This is it.” She looked up at me. “I don’t know what everyone is going to say when they meet you. We don’t…” Rina shook her head. “There’s a lot of things we never knew, and we’re only just finding out about them now. I should probably warn you about—”
“Let me worry about it,” I cut her off. “I can handle myself.” I wasn’t afraid of some witches who didn’t even know what was happening to their town under their noses.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Don’t know why I even tried. You’re on your own, vampire.”
“I do have a name, you know.”
“I’m aware.”
“Just wanted to check. You haven’t used it yet, so I thought you might have forgotten.”
“Ugh. You’re such an asshole.” She stomped her foot, heading up the path to the large, wraparound porch. Rina opened the door to the large, old Victorian house before turning back to look at me. “Aren’t you coming in?”
I shrugged, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Can’t.”
“What do you mean?”
I pointed at my teeth. “Vampire, remember?”
“Uh-huh.” Rina raised an eyebrow.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I stared at her. “Have to be invited in.”
“You’re fucking with me, right?” She looked… incredulous. It might have been my favorite expression of hers yet.
I smirked, walking past her. My lips brushed against her ear as I breathed out, “Maybe.”
Then I was inside, surrounded by the scent of pumpkins and herbs and a dozen bodies, all mixing in a heady concoction that made my head spin.
And then there was that scent behind me—one to which I was already addicted.
I took a deep breath of Rina’s perfume—roses and berries and something uniquely her—wishing I could bury my face in it directly.
A growl distracted me from my thoughts of the witch, and I looked up into a pair of red eyes, so similar to mine, and yet so different.
The male must have been six and a half feet tall, considering how he towered over the room, an additional few inches over me, designed to intimidate.
I could almost see through his facade—the human-like skin he wore to blend in with this world.
It was obvious I wasn’t the only one pretending to be something I was not.
He moved like a predator, eyes pinned on me with a deathly intent.
It was only when I realized why—the witch behind him, one hand on her pregnant belly—that I understood his actions. He was protecting his female. She smelled like him, and if the mark on her shoulder didn’t indicate their mate bond, I wasn’t sure what would.
“Demon.” I dipped my head in acknowledgement. This wasn’t the time to antagonize him—not when he was protecting her.
He gritted his teeth. “Vampire.”
The witch behind him looked back at Rina, who only shrugged, as if she’d already accepted my presence.
The demon held out his hand. “Damien.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised at the gesture. “Ezra Darkmire. I’m assuming Barrett told you about me.”
A few blinks, and then, “You’re his partner?” That came from another witch, one with orange hair and a pair of fishnet tights.
“Yes.”
The pregnant one frowned, bright green eyes curious. “How’d you find out about our meeting? Barrett isn’t even here yet.”
“Sabrina invited me,” I said, cocking my head towards Rina, not explaining that we’d met last night.
The witch furrowed her brow. “I did not. You followed me, remember? Also, it’s Rina.”
I shrugged, knowing it would rile her up. “Semantics.”
“I’m Willow Clarke,” the demon’s mate introduced herself, ignoring Rina’s scowl, brushing her light brown hair back over her shoulder.
“Welcome to Pleasant Grove.” She gestured to the rest of the faces in the room.
“This is the rest of our coven. Cait—my cousin.” She gestured to the orange-haired witch at her side.
“Wendy was there last night,” Rina rushed to say, pointing out the blonde she’d been with at the bar.
There were more of them than I could ever keep straight—two identical twins with brown hair, introduced as Tammy and Talley.
Iris, with light blue hair, whom I recognized as last night’s bartender.
Constance, a witch with silver hair and a magic radiating off of her that warned me to stay clear.
Sophie, with green hair, who was coaxing vines through her fingers, and Olive, who apparently excelled in animal communication.
Gretchen, a small lick of a thing with hair that reminded me of ages gone past, who apparently specialized in magical objects.
Names I wouldn’t need to remember, since I’d be gone soon enough.
Damien narrowed his eyes at me as all the witches flitted back into the kitchen. “I don’t care if you’re Barrett’s partner, I still don’t trust you.”