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Greyson set his fork down onto the plate and wiped his mouth. “One day Julian will. Don’t argue about this point. You’ve been on the run for a long time, Alpha. You ran to protect yourself. Your sister. But your true nature will rise to the surface. Your beast will demand its pack. And your wolves will be called to their Alpha.”
“Perhaps one day.” Julian surprised even himself as he spoke the words. “But they won’t be Acadian wolves. I’m not causing shit down here in New Orleans. We found the owner of the tarot cards. Now I’m only staying down here to see a witch and try and get as much information as we can. Something’s happening to her and me.”
Julian heard her long before she appeared. He stilled as Cassia walked into the room.
“Hey.” Her gaze fell to the table. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Cass.” Julian jumped to his feet and instinctively reached for her hand.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Come sit.” Julian pulled out a chair for her. She hesitated but he gestured to the table. “It’s okay. I’m sure you remember Greyson and this is Rafe.”
“Hello,” she offered.
“Hold on,” Julian rushed over to the cabinet and retrieved a plate for her. “Here. We’ve got, uh, po boys, jumbo. All kinds of food here.”
“Thanks.” She smiled up at him and glanced at the ancient vampire.
“He’s okay. I promise,” Julian assured her.
“I’m a wolf.” Rafe told her. “Technically, I’m part vampire. But don’t worry. We won’t bite you.”
“Speak for yourself,” Greyson said as he took a bite of a beignet.
“Ignore him. He’s grumpy. You know how it gets with the older guys. I mean he looks good on the outside but his cold heart needs a workout.”
“Um…okay.” Cassia laughed.
“No one is biting anyone,” Julian confirmed. He glared at Greyson. “Stop.”
“No-bite zone,” Rafe agreed.
“I’m not an asshole.” Greyson smiled at Cassia. “I always get permission.”
Rafe cocked his head and shot him a look of disbelief.
“Okay, okay. I mostly get permission. Eh. Ninety-five percent of the time.” He shrugged. “The outliers? They deserved it.”
“Thank you very much for not biting me.” She trained her focus on Rafe. “But you … you’re a hybrid shifter.”
Rafe blew out an audible breath, recalling the attack. “Yeah. I was in a fight and almost died. A vampire saved me,” Rafe laughed. “An ancient vampire. Viktor. He’s big man’s brother.” Rafe nodded toward Greyson. “I was so close to being gone. And I guess vamp blood just wasn’t enough. So he brought in a High Priestess. And you know…I can’t lie. She’s not the most righteous woman. In fact, he had to get her ass out of Hell to do it. But it worked.”
“So you’re chameleon like me.” Cassia smiled at Rafe. “Special. Strong. Wild.”
Her smile radiated like a beam of sun. Julian’s heart melted. This creature, full of compassion, understood the wolf’s struggle, his gift.
“Maybe a little more wild than I’d like to be, but yeah. I mean you got more than two animals. Who knows? Maybe in a few hundred years I’ll sprout a witch.”
“No.” Both Julian and Greyson said at once.
“Wow. This witch must be pretty special. Maybe she can help me.”
“No.” Again they both agreed.
“We are seeing a witch though. A better one.” There was no fucking way he was taking her to see Ilsbeth. “We’re seeing Samantha. The good witch. Ilsbeth’s been to Hell one too many times. She’s not an option.”
“I’m sorry,” Cassia said.
