Moonlit Feathers by Sarah Makela

wanted to admit. I wanted to be with her, but my quick temper was taking over.
    Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. For a moment, I recognized that the woman I'd admired for her strength and kick-ass nature was weak, and didn't need to be kicked any further. Maybe she was reacting because of the call. Maybe it wasn't what I thought it was. But I couldn't know unless I let her get the words out.
    "I'm sorry."
    She closed her mouth and lifted her chin a little, the brick wall around her heart slamming back into place. "No, you're right. You shouldn't have come over. It's really just best you leave." She stepped out of my way and crossed her arms over her chest.
    My heart dropped into my stomach, and I felt even worse about myself than I'd thought possible. I'd truly hurt her, and now I was really doubting my knee-jerk reaction. She was a treasure hunter who dealt with plenty of dangerous things, more than other people knew existed. How could I know she hadn't gotten a work-related call? Except... I couldn't see her reacting like this when it came to work.
    Maybe she'd come around in a day or two. Maybe all she needed was some time. She was still working my job and trying to find the talisman. Besides, I'd done enough.
    "Fine. I'll talk to you later, I guess." I turned and walked away. As I got closer to the door, I had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, but my emotions were raging. I couldn't zero in on what was wrong, let alone find the energy to care. My coyote had tried talking with me about things before that didn’t make sense, and I'd always listened to him. Right now, he needed to shut up and mind his own business. Until I got out of her house and away from her property, I wasn't in the mood to hear it.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    Morgana
    I watched Cody stalk off into the darkness. He held his shoulders back, and his haughty stride made me want to punch him in the face. How could he have just blown up at me like that, when he didn't even know what the hell was going on? I couldn't believe that I'd almost let him into my life. That we'd been making out. God, how stupid was I?
    I was about to close the door when my raven krawed at me in warning. I glanced back outside in time to see a bulky man, all in black, running at me. I slammed it shut just as he got to me, but his momentum and size made the door explode off its hinges. I flew back, sliding across the floor a couple feet, more than a little dazed. But I couldn't just lie down and let him do whatever it was he wanted to do to me. Maybe we could talk this out, and avoid violence.
    "What do you want?" I yelled at him as he charged me again like a bull. I leapt out of the way, and he crashed into an end table, shattering the table and the lamp on top of it. I screamed, but I hoped Cody was far enough away that he wouldn't hear me. The last thing I needed was for him to be wrapped up in something this dangerous.
    The big guy turned and looked back at me, grunting and shaking off the glass from his black suit. The only part of his face I could see well were his eyes, and what I saw in them was rage and hatred. This wasn't good at all. I looked to the files I'd had about Cody's family's talisman. Usually I locked all my files in my safe, but now I had to make the choice of leaving my house with all my things for some rhino of a man to ransack, or staying and trying to fight him.
    My raven flapped her wings, wanting to go. That was the best idea, anyway. Even if I wanted to stay and fight, I couldn't go up against this guy. I was pretty good at defending myself, but a guy like him? I doubted I would even hurt him, much less do enough damage to drive him away from me and my home.
    "Answer me! I don't even know what you want!" I leapt over the back of the couch as he barreled toward me again. At this rate, he was going to destroy everything in my house.
    "You shouldn't have rejected my boss. He doesn't take that well, especially not from little ladies." He