Read Online Heir to the Coven by Melissa Leister - Free Book Online Page A

is something new?”
    “Always. You were just too busy stalking the night to notice,” Mercy said with a smile.
    “I’ll have to do better now that I’m back.”
    *****
    The Sun’s office was not the seedy looking wreck I expected to find; it was a two-story brick building with a lot of glass and a pleasant looking lobby that housed a potted palm. I saw the receptionist’s eyes widen as soon as she noticed me. I could hear several men on the second floor talking about the “icy looking babe in the bustier” as I caught sight of a camera being focused on me from the corner of my eye. Someone was ambitious.
    “Take my picture and it will be the last time you see that camera Skippy.”
    The photographer laughed. “Think that’s the first time I heard that? It’s insured.”
    I swooped over and had him by the shirt before he could blink. “Let me clarify. If you take my picture, that camera will be the last thing you see .” I let my eyes go red at him. I may have entered the proverbial snake pit by coming here, but people should be able to visit without being set upon.
    “Natasha?” Chris said as he came around the corner. “What’s going on?”
    “Your friend here decided to be an opportunist. He learned a valuable lesson. Didn’t you Skippy?”
    “Mike. His name is Mike,” Chris said. “And he knows better than to try to exploit a possible client.”
    “Do you know what she is?” Mike asked.
    Better question, did Mike know what Chris was? I doubted it. “And what am I?”
    “You’re a half-caste, a very strong one from the looks of you. They don’t talk about the ones like you; too scary for the humans to know about. Look at her! She’s practically a day-walking vampire.”
    “I’m not the scariest thing in this town and I’m hardly the scariest thing in this world. Believe me. But that still doesn’t mean you want me as an enemy. I came here to see a friend, not to help sell your little rag with an impromptu photo op.”
    It seemed to dawn on Mike that his co-worker had called me by name because he was staring at Chris. “She’s your friend?”
    “She is and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t harass her.”
    “What’s in it for me?”
    I hauled him off the ground so he dangled in my hands. “Well for starters, you get to keep your eyes. And if you’re lucky you’ll get to keep your life.”
    Chris futilely grabbed my arm. “He’ll leave you alone Natasha. No need for threats. He’s only trying to save face. Aren’t you Mike?”
    Mike finally seemed to catch on that he was in some real danger here. It’s not every day a five foot four inch woman lifted you off your feet and held you in the air like a doll. He might have recognized what I was, but he didn’t understand what I was until he saw Chris’ reaction. Yes, Michael, your life was in some danger here. Mike said, “Yes. I am sorry. It won’t happen again, mam.”
    I put him on his feet. “Good. Now run along little boy.” And he did run. I think he ran right to the bathroom. Chris was scowling at me and I realized my coming here was a bad idea. I knew better than to mix with humans or half-castes who pretended they were human. “Look, I shouldn’t have come here. Our worlds obviously aren’t going to mesh.”
    I began to leave, but he said, “Natasha wait. Don’t go. I’m surprised you showed up here, but I’m glad you came to see me. Mike was out of line and out of his depth.”
    “Are you sure? It’s not going to make you popular to be seen chatting it up with the crazy woman who sent poor little Mikey running to the potty.”
    Chris laughed. “You do have a way with words. Let’s take this to my office.”
    “You have an office? I’m impressed.”
    “Don’t be. I think it used to be a closet before they gave it to me and called it an office.”
    Chris put his hand at the small of my back and guided me towards his office. He was right; it probably had been a closet. He shut the door behind me and then