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Bram was suddenly at my sister’s side. I hadn’t even seen him move, but now his dark eyes sliced to me, waiting for my answer.

He didn’t say anything, he rarely did, but he didn’t need to, not in this. It was all there in his stare. Ren and Bram were alike in a lot of ways. Bram didn’t want Mags to put herself in danger, and if she did, anyway, he was going to be right there with her. But then that was most familiars.

“Don’t freak out, B,” Mags said without looking at him, sensing his movement, knowing what he would be thinking and feeling it without him saying a word.

And of course, my sisters were worried about me. I hated this. “I wish you could, but you know that’s not allowed.” A witch could get help, but only outside their family and coven. Things got messy when family got involved, so the mother had forbidden it a very long time ago.

Her jaw tightened. “It’s a fucking stupid rule.”

“I know, but I promise I have help.” I held up my phone. “I was just about to call Warrick.” As much as I didn’t want to, Edric had tracked his alpha to that ball, so it was only logical that it could happen again, and I’d do anything, even spend time with Warrick, if it helped my family and Ren not to worry.

Mags crossed her arms. “Go on then, call him.”

My baby sister didn’t believe me. I held up the phone, showed her the number, and hit call. Yes, I could fight. I’d slayed demons, lots of them, but that didn’t stop me from being scared every time I went out there. Every fight I risked my life. One of these nights, I might not make it home. And I kinda liked living. My family counted on me, they needed me, so safety first, always, and yeah, backup was always welcome…even from a possessive, dominant alpha hellhound who wanted me in his bed.

My sister smirked and moved to the counter, Bram following, and they got back to making their snack, sandwiches by the look. The phone rang several times and kept on ringing. Maybe he saw it was me and wasn’t going to answer—

“Yeah.”

I paused at the harsh note to his voice.

“It’s me.”

“I know.”

Okay.

Usually, he’d answer with a growly, “Dove.” Yep, I was right, he was seriously pissed off with me. Awesome. He was totally going to make me beg for this.

I pushed on. “So, time’s running out for me, and I really need to finish this. I’m heading out tonight, looking for Edric. I thought maybe you’d want to tag along?” Ugh. I sounded like an idiot.

“Not your fucking lap dog, Willow.”

This was worse than I thought. And Willow. He rarely called me that. Was he…had I actually hurt him? Don’t be stupid. He didn’t have a soul, he’d told me that himself. He wasn’t capable of love, didn’t believe in it, or even deep feelings, something else he’d shared with me, so how could my rejection hurt him? His male ego was bruised, that’s all this pouting was about.

“I know that, Warrick, but we had a deal, right?”

“Yeah, we had a deal. Doesn’t mean I’ll just let you lead me around by the dick because you finally decide to call. You sure as fuck haven’t worried about our deal the last few nights.”

“I knew you were there.”

“And yet you pretended that I wasn’t.”

“Okay, just…”

“Not in the fucking mood to chase your ass around all night.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly.”

“You think I’m leading you around by…I’m not doing that—”

“Do not leave your fucking house, female.”

I glanced at my sister and Bram, who were both watching me while eating their sandwiches. I smiled and rolled my eyes, giving them a thumbs-up, pretending that Warrick was just being Warrick and all was well, so Mags didn’t worry. Then I swiped my keys off the small table by the door and hustled down the hall and out of the house. “I can’t believe you’re throwing a tantrum over…what happened between us,” I said.

Silence.