Page 77 of Rejected By the Winter Wolf

She grins. “It’s always fun to burn a witch.”

I narrow my eyes.

“There’s another coven that we’re going to track down,” she continues. “We detected traces of magic on our way over here, so it’s worth investigating. Those things shouldn’t be allowed to fester, don’t you agree? Better to just… exterminate the issue.”

“Careful, Jessie, or one day you’ll hunt something that hunts you back.” I raise my hand and pretend to examine my palm. “How’s your face, by the way? Still looks a little melted.”

Fury crosses her expression, and she steps forward.

Tries to step forward.

The vines are going to get me in trouble one day. But we’re in the desert, so it isn’t too much of an ask for the sagebrush to put a few knots over her ankles. They seem grateful for any drop of magic, and it seeps out of me before I can stop it.

She falls forward and catches herself on her hands and knees. When she realizes what I did, she rips at the sage with impressive strength.

“You bitch,” she growls. “You’re going to pay for that⁠—”

I cross my legs. My magic itches under my skin. “I have a feeling I’ll be doing a lot of penance soon. Should I add your name to the list?”

She finally gets free and takes a quick step backward. Then another.

“Just don’t get in my way,” she snaps.

I sigh.

A rumbling down the street draws my attention. A familiar black truck coasts to a stop in front of the house, and the window closest to me rolls down. Kian leans over, shoving open the passenger door.

I brush the dust from my legs and walk slowly toward him. I eye the truck, then him.

“What, no more bike?”

“Not this time. Get in.”

I sigh. “You’re so bossy.”

Still, I climb into the cab without further argument. My bag, which had been abandoned in his bike, sits in the backseat next to his. He pulls away from the curb, and the only sound in the truck is the low rumbling engine.

Immediately, the silence is overwhelming.

“I learned something.” I pick at my nails and peek at him.

“Okay…”

“I was scrying my mother, right? Well, that’s how the demon got through.”

He grunts. “You’re telling me the demon who attacked you had come through your little looking glass?”

“It was water, but yeah.” I stifle a yawn. “I think it was also trying to possess me.”

He tenses. His hands flex on the wheel. “I’ve seen that before.”

“Demons possessing witches?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not good.”

That has to be new, right? My mother never mentioned anything like that happening. It was never in any of the lessons. She taught me how to guard my mind—if I had to know how to fend off a demon from taking my body, she would’ve included it.