Blood of the Maple

Greer’s hand landed on top of theirs, making it official. “Done.”

A public apology from a man who apparently never gave them would go a long way toward repairing Amara’s image. Added to the fact that she’d fought tirelessly for them during Terri’s attack, and soon his mate would be able to walk down the street surrounded by friendly faces.

It would do.

“My pack wants to assist in hunting down your strega, Mr. Hollis.”

Parker’s brows rose. “That’s a term for witch I haven’t heard in a while.”

Noah smiled. “Would you prefer vomitous mass?”

“It’s about as accurate. Let’s see. Dragos ripped her head off, but the bitch managed to escape.”

Noah shuddered. “Neat trick.”

“She’s fast, she’s got the weeds on her side, she survived being decapitated and the only way we’ll be able to take her out is to chop her up into tiny pieces and burn her to ashes.” He eyed the wolf. “Still want to help me?”

In answer, Noah cracked his knuckles. Six-inch claws slipped from his fingertips, and his eyes shone with feral light.

“All righty, then.” Parker grinned. “Have your boys sniff around the areas where rotten vegetation would grow.”

“Compost heaps would make a great hiding place for someone like Terri,” Greer added cheerfully.

Noah grunted. “Wonderful.”

Chapter Eleven

When she stepped into the all-night cafe, Amara got a wary nod instead of the scowl that usually graced the owner’s face. Amara ignored it and bought a bagel and a large coffee, then headed straight to the table at the back where Rock sat. Things had certainly changed around town since the dryads had opened up to her, but it would take time before the rest of the town followed suit, if they ever did. “Hey, Rock.”

“Amara. Here’s the deal. I’m changing your shift.”

She grimaced. “I don’t blame you. The people will start pulling their kids from the learning program if you keep me there.” She wasn’t happy about it, but she understood.

“Nah, that’s not why I’m doing it. They don’t like you, fuck them.” Rock rarely cursed. “No, I’m moving you to night shift.”

“Wait. Since when do we have a night shift?”

Rock grinned. “It’s mostly vamps and some wolves who prefer the late-night scene. Congratulations, you’re their token dryad.”

“Why would you stick me with them, then?”

Rock’s brows rose. “You’re the mate of a vampire. You think your sleeping habits aren’t going to change?”

Amara wrinkled her nose. “True.” She had been sleeping a lot more during the day. A wolf walked through the door, took one look at Rock and Amara and walked right back out, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as he went. Amara hid her sigh.

Hell, maybe she should dig up her tree and move.

“Don’t let it get to you. I hear Parker was throwing his weight around with the weres. Rumor has it the alpha was going to talk to him.”

“Oh hell.” Amara stood. “Do you know when?”

“Sit down and let Parker handle this.”

“He can’t face Noah by himself!” Noah was the strongest wolf in Maryland, possibly the United States. He’d tear Parker to pieces.

“If Parker can’t face Noah, he’ll lose what respect he’s managed to build in the pack. And frankly Noah could stand to face someone who isn’t intimidated by him. I get the feeling not much bothers your blood mate.”

“There are things that make Parker go eep.” Like duct-taped penises, but Parker wouldn’t appreciate her mentioning that.

Rock shook his head. “Real men don’t say eep.”

“And they don’t scream like little girls when they see spideys either.”

Rock blushed. “That was different.”

“Oh?”

“I was ten years old, and it landed in my lap.”

Amara curled her fingers and wiggled them. “Ooooh. Spiiiideeeys.”

Rock balled up a napkin and threw it at her. “Just for that I’m giving you the graveyard shift, midnight to six.”

“Bastard.”

“I will remind you, again, that my parents were married.”

“Amara?”

Oh hell. She recognized that voice. She glanced down to see if the cream in her coffee had curdled. “Hey, Kate.”

“I understand you’re hunting whatever it was that attacked the town hall the other night.”

Amara stared up into Kate’s icy eyes and wondered what the hell Dragos was doing with her. She was as warm and cuddly as a polar bear. “Yup.”

“Well?”

Amara’s brows rose. “Well, what?”

Rock hid his grin behind his thermal cup.

“How is the hunt going?” Kate’s tone was full of self-righteous, arrogant demand.

She held up her half-eaten breakfast. “So far I’ve managed to kill two packets of sugar and a bagel.”

Kate sniffed. “Maybe we need to get a real hunter to take care of this.”

Amara smiled sweetly. “You go right on ahead and do that, Kate. Hire a hunter to track down a cursed witch in the forest. See how far he or she gets.”

“Is that a threat?”

She snorted, amused. “No. Unless you hire Van Helsings, in which case all bets are off.” Amara allowed some bark to seep over her hands. “You wouldn’t do that, would you, Kate?” Considering how much magic the local witches poured into keeping Maggie’s Grove off the hunters’ radar, it would take a true miracle for them to find out about it accidentally.

Or a resident would have to invite them in.

A resident like Kate.

Kate turned on her four-inch heel and left without another word.

“Man, I hate that bitch.”

“Why is Dragos tapping that, anyway? You’d think he could find someone better to sink his dick into.”

Amara shrugged again. “Don’t know, but whenever I try to ask, he growls at me and refuses to answer.”

“You don’t think she’s got him under some kind of spell, do you?”

“Nah. Selena would have noticed something like that and taken care of it. He’s just got tragically bad taste in women.”

Rock took her hand. “So. This Terri person who’s after Parker.”

“Yeah?”

“Your five days’ vacation are up. Your sole job now that you’re back to work is to hunt that bitch until she’s dead. Got it?” Something about the way Rock was watching her scared her. She’d never seen him so bloodthirsty. “I want the threat to our forest and town gone.”

“You think she’s hiding in the woods.”

Rock shook his head. “She’s on the mountain, off the trails. I can feel her there,