Page 66 of Twice Bitten

“Regardless, they can both use high magic. You should avoid both,” she warned. “Angels do not like being asked to involve themselves in the petty problems of supernaturals they consider lower than themselves.”

“And demons will ask for your firstborn. They are not inclined to help without requesting a cost so steep your initial problem would seem like peanuts.”

“Demons live in town?” I’d never seen any that I knew of. Angels were few and far between, but I’d seen a few around. Shifters and vamps were a dime a dozen, and I’d seen the occasional incubus and succubus. High-powered supernaturals always flipped theIdentifycharm at the shop, but the spell was simple, warning us only that whoever walked in was dangerous, not what their genetic makeup was.

“Demons live everywhere,” Tiegan said. “They don’t advertise themselves, but they’re almost as prominent as witches.”

There was so much I still needed to learn. As much as I longed to trust these witches and let them help me figure out who I was, Mom had left them. She never told them what my father was or given them any other information about my heritage. Using a high magic ritual, even if I could get it to work, was risky, but I’d be the only one to know once it was done. My secrets would stay with me.

“I’ll email you,” Tiegan promised. Her smile twisted into something sad. “Be cautious, Alex, and consider whether you really need to know before you go down this road. We can help you with the consequences of your attack. If you entangle yourself with angels and demons, we cannot get involved. And there are certain elemental witches who are just as bad as them, all of them with the ability to do the type of magic you’re considering. High magic can have unintended effects.”

Macy grinned. “I say let her go and see what happens.”

“Maybe I’ll hire one to pay you a visit,” I said and smiled sweetly.

Macy blinked and went pale. “Bitch,” she muttered.

Tiegan shook her head and pulled her cell out. “Give me your number so we can stay in touch, and I’ll take you back to the bar.”

I typed my number and email into her phone. She called my cell, ensuring I had her number, then held out her hand. “Ready?”

I nodded. We clasped hands, and a moment later, the world fell out from under my feet.

TWENTY

The visit had left me with more questions than answers. My phone dinged a few minutes later, signaling an email, just as I’d freshened up my lipstick in the bathroom and gone out to find Blaze.

True to her word, Tiegan had sent instructions on how to perform the ritual over. I didn’t open the attachment yet, but I planned to look at it first thing after work tomorrow. My hope was finding out what I was would lead me to figuring out how to stop the effects of the attack, maybe even reverse them.

Blaze was still sitting at the bar, though her smile was long gone and her posture had turned stiff. Jason was oblivious, talking away about something, his hands moving animatedly.

She looked up as I headed toward her, relief flashing in her eyes.

“Ready to go?” I mouthed.

She blinked and nodded enthusiastically. Blaze grabbed her purse and stood up. I walked over as she was making her excuses. At first, Jason looked confused, his gaze moving from her to me andback again.

“We were just getting started!” There was an ugly look in his eyes I didn’t like.

I gently tugged on Blaze’s arm. “Come on,” I murmured.

Blaze slung her purse over her shoulder. “Sorry. I have an early morning tomorrow and Alex offered to drive me home.”

“I can drive you home.” Jason rose and dug his keys from his pocket.

Blaze took a step back. “I’m heading to Alex’s house.” She turned to go, but Jason grabbed her arm.

“I insist.” His lips twisted.

I stepped in front of Blaze. “Let go. She’s already said she’s leaving with me.”

Jason’s eyes blazed with fury. I hated men like him, men who thought they had the right to dictate what a woman could or could not do.

“You got a crush on her or something?” He laughed like he’d told the funniest joke in the world.

“Out of the two of us, I’m the safer option.” With that, I turned and took Blaze by the elbow. “Let’s go,” I said urgently.

I caught the eye of the bartender, who nodded and jerked his head at someone standing off to the side. A massive, barrel-chested man stepped up and crossed his arms.