Page 20 of Kat Bethel

The invisible gaze narrowed on the side of my face, as if daring me to give that man any attention. My heart pounded in my chest. Fingers on my chin dragged me to focus on him, even though there was nothing there.

But I could feel him.

A sick flutter tickled low in my stomach. Had my husband ever looked at me so hard I could sense him? No. Not once. My face grew hot.

Wait.

I shook the traitorous thought out of my head.

I didn’t comply with the demands of monsters. I killed them.

On principle, I should have walked up to the man, just to prove a point. I moved a foot to do just that, but shame sent my heart into overdrive. Like my aunt was watching me put my hand in the cookie jar after she told me, twice, no.

The kind of feeling that made me halt in my tracks to think twice about my actions. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me or even what he was.

Best not to play chicken with a force that I knew could squash me.

So instead, I opened the door for the diner, picked a booth, and sat down. The small space felt too narrow, like there wasn’t enough room. Until I scooted all the way against the wall. Maybe I should have chosen a table. It felt like I was trapped.

Nothing on the menu sitting on the worn table, popped out as special or delicious enough to try forcing something down my gullet.

“What can I get for you, miss?” A kind older waitress with a name tag that said Myrtle smiled at me.

But that wasn’t what I focused on, it was her eyes.

The sky blue that bordered on inhuman yet still drew people in. The same ones I’d seen in my reflection. The same ones every Rinah witch was born with.

I hummed to myself considering whether to make myself known or not. It was possible she just happened to have blue eyes.

It happened.

Yet it had that captivating edge, a lure that called to the darkness.

But a Rinah witch would have recognition in her eyes. This woman was looking at me like I was just another customer.

“Just coffee. Please,” I finally answered.

She walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sighed, turning my phone back on, knowing Willow would be looking for me soon, if she wasn’t already.

I tapped my fingers on the table to the rhythm of the song playing softly on the speaker system. Cool air poured over my side.

Damn it. I would choose the seat under a vent.

My eyes went up to confirm my assumption only to find an overhead light. My fingers froze, and black scorch marks burned into the wood as the rhythm continued beside me. The light flickered for one quick moment that I could pretend didn’t even happen.

What did he want from me?

Myrtle came back, putting coffee and a generous amount of cream in front of me. “Are you ready to order dinner?”

I pushed the menu over to her. “I’m okay with this. Thank you.”

“Dear, I don’t want to overstep, but you look like you could use a good meal.” Her eyes were so genuine and kind I couldn’t scrounge up enough umph to be offended.

“I’m sure I do.” I ran my finger along the rim of my mug. “This will keep my sugar from completely crashing.”

Her mouth twisted with disapproval. She put up a finger and walked away. The next thing I knew she put a plate in front of me with a sandwich and fries on it. Then she sat across from me.

“Try that.” Her smile grew.