The Sorceress Screams by Anya Breton Page A

hearing distance to call them. Just don’t let him into Wipuk .”
    “Just don’t
let Nadir Kahn into Wipuk .” He shook his head and
gave a bitter laugh. “How easy you make it sound. As if we
can fortify our borders to keep him out when we couldn’t stop a human from invading.”
    That was my
cue. I turned on my heel, stalking back to the van and then spoke to the
ladies. “This is Desmond Marino. He’s going to introduce you to the heads of
your covens. If for some horrible reason they deny you assistance, call me with
the number I gave you this morning. I’ll find some way to help you.”
    Desmond called
after me. “Ms. Walsh.”
    “I’ve got to
go drop the van off before they charge me extra.” It was a lie. I needed the
excuse to leave. Besides, Desmond had probably never reduced himself to renting
a car in his life. He wouldn’t know better.
    “Ms. Walsh,
unless you want your new Dark witch friend to become part of Eamonn Cary’s harem, you should take her with you.”
    “Harem?” Jacqueline’s jaw dropped
open. “I’m happily married! I need to get home to my husband!”
    I shot a glare
at Desmond. But I wasn’t certain he was wrong. That made me
hesitate . “Can you persuade him to take responsibility for her without
her being present?”
    “I can do my
best, Ms. Walsh.” He paused, rubbing his fingers along his knuckles. “Provided you owe me another favor.”
    My teeth ground. “Fine. Jacqueline, you’ll need to put your luggage back in the car.”
    I started down
the driveway to help.
    Desmond called
out another disturbing statement. “That’s three favors now, Ms. Walsh.”
    “Three? It’s
two!”
    He lifted a
single finger. “One for calling the coalition together and providing a safe
house for the ladies until their covens take responsibility for them.” Desmond
lifted a second finger. “One for persuading Eamonn to take responsibility for Jacqueline despite her
absence.” A third finger joined the other two. “And
one for holding this afternoon’s meeting in spite of your absence.”
    “You are such a dick,” I said as I slipped into the
driver’s seat.
    This would
probably come back to haunt me three times as badly as normal. What choice did
I have? I couldn’t answer any of the questions the coalition would ask. It was
best if I weren’t present to hear them.
    I’d have to
owe the dick three favors.
    Jacqueline’s
petite body settled into the passenger seat beside me. I put the van in
reverse, shooting one last glare at Desmond before backing out of the driveway
and away from the mound of Veronika’s suitcases.
    The blonde’s
bright blue eyes were already fixed hungrily on him. My only consolation was
that she’d nullify one of my favors.

Chapter Eight
     
    Jacqueline was
as exhausted as I was by the time we reached my apartment. Bringing the rental
van back had taken a half hour I hadn’t wanted to give up. Perhaps that was why
she was more than willing to stretch out on the futon in the living room. I got
her fresh sheets, a pillow, and a blanket in my last minutes of lucidity. Then
I dropped onto my bed. We both slept until my alarm went off at six in the
evening.
    I took a quick
shower and readied in the bedroom while Jacqueline took hers. She’d leveled
only one perplexed look at my cerulean hair and pale skin and then muttered, “ weird ass white girl.”
    While I waited
for her to finish arranging her curled hair just so, I listened to my voicemail
messages. I’d set the phone to silent this morning. Nothing would have been
Earth-shattering enough to merit my waking to answer a call.
    The first
message had been from Nell demanding to know what had happened in Vegas and if
I’d make it to the planned party tonight. I sent her a quick text message
letting her know it was still on. However, the second recording waiting for me
was as disturbing as it was irritating. Would it have been better to answer
Desmond’s call so I could shout at him then or