Read Online Shifty Magic by Judy Teel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Judy Teel
Tags: Urban Fantasy, Witches, Action, Vampires, Werewolves, Mystery & Suspense, judy teel, dystopian world, tough heroine
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vampire.
He watched me, curiosity and speculation
seeping back into his sharp gaze. "You are a wildcard, Ms. Kittner.
The Church does not encourage the continued existence of
wildcards."
No kidding.
"Your history includes abandonment on the
steps of a cathedral as an infant, no known parents or family, and
several arrests as an adolescent, though you were never convicted.
You associate with questionable criminal elements and regularly
engage in dangerously impulsive acts. My research also shows that
you have an almost magical knack for finding what you're looking
for, probably because of your foolish determination to never give
up."
A satisfied smile tightened his lips. "In
other words, you are the perfect hunter: inventive, resolute and no
one would miss you if termination became necessary."
"You sure know how to...turn a girl's head."
I swallowed down the stinging pain in my throat and the dull ache
his walk down memory lane had spawned in the middle of my chest.
Palming the needle-like dart, I slouched against the back of the
chair and pretended to relax. "Lucky for me, I don't work for
you."
"When you accepted payment for the
renegades, you became part of an exclusive group, Miss Kittner. My
personal hunters are the best in the world, and their pay reflects
that."
"I didn't accept your money. I rejec—"
"What you choose to do with your earnings is
none of my concern. You took the money and a bargain was
struck."
A burning knot of fury clenched my stomach.
"You're not going to force any of this crap down my throat,
Bellmonte. I am not your—"
He slammed his palms down onto his desk and
despite myself, I jumped. The crystal vase of flowers on the corner
of the desk teetered and crashed to the floor. Water and flowers
scattered in an uneven sprawl across the thick, gray carpet.
"Please feel free to accept a long and
unpleasant death, Ms. Kittner," he said in a calm, authoritative
voice.
I narrowed my eyes at him and ground my
teeth to keep my anger from exploding into words I might
regret.
"The standard compensation
has been deposited into your credit account. Bring me those
responsible for the assault on my nephew, and I might forgive your long list of
insulting behavior. Bring them to me alive, and it will be as if
those insults had never happened."
Fisting my hand around the dart, I shot to
my feet. I'd had enough of this arrogant jackass messing with me.
The temptation to close the distance between us and show him
exactly how much he was not my boss fired along my nerves.
"My deepest regrets, my lord ," I said with a
snarl. "I've just remembered that I need to be elsewhere." Keeping
my gaze on him, I backed toward the door.
"Do not make the mistake of throwing away my
money again," he said in a tone no different than "please have a
nice day".
I kept my teeth clamped on the words
fighting to get out of me. Pushing down on the cold, thick brass of
the handle, I pulled the door open and got the hell out of
Hell.
* * *
I came out of the building feeling a little more in control
of myself now that I had my gun back. I was also carrying two
take-out boxes, which I had mixed feelings about accepting. After
my quality time with the great and mighty Bellmonte, I hadn't
wanted anything more to do with vamp hospitality, but Ms. Fairview
had talked me into it. More like frantically insisted.
As furious as I was at her boss, I didn't
blame her for his behavior, and she seemed so nervous about me not
taking the meals that I'd finally given in. Maybe the jerk charged
her every time food was wasted.
Night was in full swing and the stars brave
enough to fight with the ambient glow of the city twinkled
overhead. Pulling in a deep breath of relief should have cleared my
mind. Instead, it brought me the unwelcome scent of moonlight and
forest. I tensed and turned toward Cooper. He was still wearing his
FBI uniform, which meant that he was still working. I noticed he'd
loosened his tie, at least.
From inside the
He watched me, curiosity and speculation
seeping back into his sharp gaze. "You are a wildcard, Ms. Kittner.
The Church does not encourage the continued existence of
wildcards."
No kidding.
"Your history includes abandonment on the
steps of a cathedral as an infant, no known parents or family, and
several arrests as an adolescent, though you were never convicted.
You associate with questionable criminal elements and regularly
engage in dangerously impulsive acts. My research also shows that
you have an almost magical knack for finding what you're looking
for, probably because of your foolish determination to never give
up."
A satisfied smile tightened his lips. "In
other words, you are the perfect hunter: inventive, resolute and no
one would miss you if termination became necessary."
"You sure know how to...turn a girl's head."
I swallowed down the stinging pain in my throat and the dull ache
his walk down memory lane had spawned in the middle of my chest.
Palming the needle-like dart, I slouched against the back of the
chair and pretended to relax. "Lucky for me, I don't work for
you."
"When you accepted payment for the
renegades, you became part of an exclusive group, Miss Kittner. My
personal hunters are the best in the world, and their pay reflects
that."
"I didn't accept your money. I rejec—"
"What you choose to do with your earnings is
none of my concern. You took the money and a bargain was
struck."
A burning knot of fury clenched my stomach.
"You're not going to force any of this crap down my throat,
Bellmonte. I am not your—"
He slammed his palms down onto his desk and
despite myself, I jumped. The crystal vase of flowers on the corner
of the desk teetered and crashed to the floor. Water and flowers
scattered in an uneven sprawl across the thick, gray carpet.
"Please feel free to accept a long and
unpleasant death, Ms. Kittner," he said in a calm, authoritative
voice.
I narrowed my eyes at him and ground my
teeth to keep my anger from exploding into words I might
regret.
"The standard compensation
has been deposited into your credit account. Bring me those
responsible for the assault on my nephew, and I might forgive your long list of
insulting behavior. Bring them to me alive, and it will be as if
those insults had never happened."
Fisting my hand around the dart, I shot to
my feet. I'd had enough of this arrogant jackass messing with me.
The temptation to close the distance between us and show him
exactly how much he was not my boss fired along my nerves.
"My deepest regrets, my lord ," I said with a
snarl. "I've just remembered that I need to be elsewhere." Keeping
my gaze on him, I backed toward the door.
"Do not make the mistake of throwing away my
money again," he said in a tone no different than "please have a
nice day".
I kept my teeth clamped on the words
fighting to get out of me. Pushing down on the cold, thick brass of
the handle, I pulled the door open and got the hell out of
Hell.
* * *
I came out of the building feeling a little more in control
of myself now that I had my gun back. I was also carrying two
take-out boxes, which I had mixed feelings about accepting. After
my quality time with the great and mighty Bellmonte, I hadn't
wanted anything more to do with vamp hospitality, but Ms. Fairview
had talked me into it. More like frantically insisted.
As furious as I was at her boss, I didn't
blame her for his behavior, and she seemed so nervous about me not
taking the meals that I'd finally given in. Maybe the jerk charged
her every time food was wasted.
Night was in full swing and the stars brave
enough to fight with the ambient glow of the city twinkled
overhead. Pulling in a deep breath of relief should have cleared my
mind. Instead, it brought me the unwelcome scent of moonlight and
forest. I tensed and turned toward Cooper. He was still wearing his
FBI uniform, which meant that he was still working. I noticed he'd
loosened his tie, at least.
From inside the
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