Chapter Twenty-Six-Jaxson
I squinted at the swirling black cloud twisting above us like a pissed-off god had dropped his laundry and decided to weaponize it.
The red eyes lurking within glowed hotter, hungrier. I felt Evie step forward before I saw it—and not just with my eyes.
I have to do this.
Her voice wasn’t spoken.
It echoed in my mind like a whisper in the dark, warm and brave and stubborn as hell.
“Evelyn?” I called out, worry sharpening my voice as the wind tore around us, flinging leaves like they were shrapnel.
“I have to do this,” she shouted back aloud, steady against the chaos.
The leaves spiraled, the air crackled, but she didn’t flinch.
My mate—my mate, even if I hadn’t sunk my teeth into her yet—stood at the heart of the storm like she was the storm.
Donny and Maribella rushed to her side.
“We want to help!” Donny called out, her golden curls whipping like streamers.
“No! It’s too dangerous,” Evie warned.
“Hush up now, Madam Mayor!” Bella snapped, already taking her place beside her. “You just focus and do your thing, ‘cause we aren’t going anywhere.”
The two Witches stood shoulder to shoulder with her, hips cocked, ready for war in the cemetery like it was just another Saturday.
I stayed quiet.
Watching. Waiting.
Holding back the urge to run to her and yank her behind me.
That would’ve been easier—safer.
But it would’ve insulted the fire I saw in her eyes.
And the truth was, I trusted her. More than anyone.
He trusts me to do this. All of them do.
No one’s ever put that kind of trust in me before.
I heard that too.
Every word, raw and reverberating through our matebond like she’d carved them into my chest.
I didn’t choose to be mayor, she continued, but it’s my destiny. Just like he is.
My breath caught.
I’m going to mate the big Wolf man the second this is over.
A growl nearly escaped me, low and possessive and mine, but I held it in.
Barely.
Gaia help me, I was going to make her keep that promise.
First things first. I have some kids to save. And some windy-ass to kick.
Oh, fuck me—I loved her.
She stepped forward, chin raised high, power snapping around her like the air before a lightning strike.
Her magic shimmered like aquamarine fire around her shoulders.
“Hey, Shit Storm!” she yelled at the funnel cloud. “You took our kids, and I want them back!”
The tornado spasmed mid-air like a broken-down engine about to die.
Then it morphed.
I blinked.
It grew arms and legs.
It stomped toward us in a shiny-ass sharkskin suit so tight I could count the number of veins on its tiny little prick.
“Gaia’s tits,” I muttered as Evie’s overactive gag reflex gagged loudly enough for all of us to hear.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” the thing screeched—and then I realized it wasn’t a thing.
It really was a prick. As in Dick.
Dick Daniels.
Somehow, the most annoying Wizard in town had transformed into the human equivalent of mildew and ego with an actual face.
He waved his wand and used magic to expand his clothing.
Thank Gaia.
“Too bad he can’t use that spell to make his ding-a-ling bigger,” Donny snorted under her breath.
“Shh!” Bella hissed—but I saw the corners of her mouth twitch.
I was this close to laughing too, but Evie’s sharp gasp snapped me back to focus.
I followed her line of sight.
There. Two little Red Fox Shifter kids.
Bound and caged like goddamn pets. Rage surged inside me.
Hell no.
A low snarl built in my throat. My Wolf was ready to rip and tear.
“That’s better,” Dick said, dusting off his stupid suit. “Now, Evelyn, removing me as Fire Chief was not your brightest move—but you’re just a woman. We all know a man would be a better fit as mayor of Castor’s Corner.”
My fists clenched.
I stepped forward, but Evie raised a hand—not yet.
“I was even thinking a name change,” Dick continued. “We could call it Daniels’ Square.”
“Dick, what the ever-living fuck are you talking about?” Evie growled.
I nearly cheered. That was my girl.
My fingers are itching to zap this asshole into next week. Can I do that? I’m a Seer Witch. I have no fucking idea what I can do, but I’m willing to try, Evie’s voice sounded in my head.
Oh yes, please, I wanted to shout.
Dick went on with his monologue of douchebaggery.
“I’m talking about the mistake I made wasting time trying to date you. I should’ve just done this back then.”
“Done what exactly?” she demanded.
Ignore the growl. Oh, but I really do like when he gets possessive. Super turn-on. We will talk about my Wolfman’s sexy growls later—focus.
I choked.
But inside? I agreed.
We were definitely talking about that later.
Also later, I was going to show my Witchy mate just how much I liked her, too.
I was going to find everyone of her pleasure buttons, and I was going to press press press away.
Dick sneered.
“Do I have to spell it out? I’m going to kill these mongrels unless you step down. Castor’s Corner is a joke! A town for Witches and Wizards only. Your family polluted it by letting everyone in. Now, I’m taking over—and I’m going to clean up.”
“You know what, Dick?” Evie raised her hands, her magic coiling like a tidal wave behind her. “I don’t fucking think so.”
Her aura exploded, blinding aqua light blazing as her hair lifted on the wind and her eyes glowed with Seer fire.
The storm paused.
So did my heartbeat.
She was a vision. A goddess. My mate.
And Castor’s Corner had no idea how lucky it was to have her.
But that bastard Wizard was about to find out.