The Hunted Shifters_A Paranormal Romance Collection_Paranormal Women's Fiction by J. S. Striker

Author:J. S. Striker [Striker, J. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-02T04:00:00+00:00

Dark Magic

Chapter 1

The woman in front of her was short, the type one would probably call petite and gush over being able to fit in one’s pocket. That shortness was accompanied by plain, severe-looking clothes, hardly any makeup on an ordinary face, thick-rimmed glasses over watchful eyes, and hands gripping a white lace handkerchief quite hard. Overall, probably not someone fun to hang out with.

Leila Masters smiled her most winning smile at the woman in the dank, desolate building.

“Watch your step. We have random nails lying around, and they’re not for display. One can never be too cautious when it comes to this world, you know.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“And watch out for those wood spikes at the sides,” Leila added breezily, pointing with a finger. “They’re traps.”

“I understand,” was the short, almost formal response, and the woman didn’t even bat an eyelash. With a casual shrug, Leila led the way to what would’ve been the abandoned building’s fireplace, now just a corner boxed area with even more darkness. She stopped, waiting until the woman stopped beside her, too. “I suppose you know how to cross pocket entrances?”

To her surprise, the woman’s unperturbed expression turned nervous. It was quickly masked before the woman nodded.

“Yes, of course.”

Leila suspected there was a lie somewhere there, but she couldn’t call it out if she didn’t know what it was. Doubt flitted in, telling her not to take the woman inside…then a reminder settled, loud and clear.

Her brother had recommended this woman—and after being duped once before, Edmund Masters was now the most careful man on earth.

Perhaps too careful sometimes.

“Alright, then,” Leila said, easing into another smile. “Take a step into the box space, and it will do the rest. Go on. I’ll cover your flank.”

There was a very distinct gulp, followed by a straightening of shoulders. Leila found herself focusing on the woman’s long hair up in a severe bun before the woman disappeared, the pocket swallowing her in.

Who was Nancy Rose, and why did Edmund feel inclined to hire her as their accountant?

It shook Leila. They hadn’t had a new member in the clan unless it was by accident, and this wasn’t. Edmund had already screened Nancy, and now Leila was doing the escorting over to their home: a pocket, or a hidden realm where their supernatural clan lived away from the humans and other supernaturals.

Why the hell would they need an accountant, anyway?

With a sigh, Leila stepped forward and let the pocket swallow her in, too.

Seconds later, she was on the other side, and the sight that greeted her was one of comfort: marble tiles, old wooden wall panels, and the classical structure of the Victorian-style mansion she’d lived in for years. Sure, there were some dilapidated areas, and the furniture and some structures could use a general reupholstering—or replacement—but it was home. Besides, all the antiques and paintings cluttered here were gorgeous and irreplaceable.

Also, it was all they could afford at the moment.

Unless…

“So,” Leila began, watching as Nancy jumped at her entrance, having been too busy eyeing the mansion’s interior.

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