What was more stupid than trying to take on an aufhocker? He’d done his quota of dangerous and dumb for the rest of the year, maybe even the next decade.
He glanced at the receptionist, willing her to look up and summon him into the room. She ignored him. The electrical hum of the city was like bees in his ears that prevented him from sleeping. Where once he craved the static, now all he wanted was the peace of the small town and the woods.
His apartment was packed, and he’d already spoken to an agent about renting it out. It wasn’t home. Maybe it never had been. He’d lived there since his win, but it was cool and sterile. All he needed to do was to finish this with the board.
The receptionist typed, her fingers flying over the clacking keys. He wasn’t even temped to screw with her computer—well, maybe only a tiny bit.
She glanced up. “They’ll see you now.”
He would never get used to that. He walked over and opened the doors to the boardroom. As usual, there was one vacant chair for him. He took a moment before stepping inside and shutting the doors. His heart was beating hard. There was a chance they would still want to strip his magic. But even if they did, he hadn’t lost everything. He didn’t fear that possibility. If they took it, they would have no hold over him at all.
With measured steps that tugged at the stitches in his calf, he made his way to the chair and sat. He didn’t fear losing his magic, but he didn’t want to lose it either. He didn’t want to lose the bond he had with Mack, and it had nothing to do with the extra power a shifter could give a witch. It was the connection. He was sure some of his worry was actually Mack’s. But at least he could feel him.
Landstrom pulled a face like he’d swallowed something unpleasant. Tomlin’s thoughts slithered around his mind as she read what he was thinking, and Holling waited quietly. Jude looked at each of them in turn.
They were elected to the Coven, but that didn’t make them the best at what they did. It made them the most popular. Which didn’t explain how Landstrom had gotten the position. No witch ever had someone with the same magic reviewing their case—conflicts of interest and things like that. Who was the electro-mage in the Coven?
“There has been some debate in the Coven about the events at Mercy South. Despite your efforts, someone was killed.”
While he and Mack had been fighting the male, the female had gone hunting for her cubs. Maybe they should’ve stayed closer to town. “The aufhockers were hunting us. We tried to draw them away from town. I explained that in my statement.”
He’d had to write down everything on the trip back to Seattle. He’d left out some of the more intimate details. They really didn’t know how close he was to his shifter, although Tomlin probably knew everything. Warmth rushed up his neck, and there was nothing he could do about it. The urge to fidget coursed through him, but he forced himself to be still. They wanted him to be anything but comfortable.
Holling tilted her head. “Why didn’t you call for assistance when you knew you were dealing with aufhockers?”
“Because you said I’d lose my magic if I failed.” Was not calling for help also considered failure? Was there no way he could’ve succeeded? Probably not.
“Aufhockers are endangered,” Holling added as though he hadn’t spoken.
“That wasn’t on the Coven database.” Also, who actually cared if aufhockers went extinct? But killing an animal, even though it had been attacking him, didn’t feel good. Mack had hated it. Jude was glad they’d been able to trap Mom and the cubs. His lips twitched into an almost smile.
“Would that have stopped you from killing the male?” Holling asked.
“It was trying to kill us.” And it had nearly been successful.
“Everything you do ends badly. Why not surrender your magic and be done with the trouble?” Landstrom’s words were short, as though he was offended that Jude was still a witch. A witch with a familiar.
They hadn’t mentioned the bond yet.
“Because I’m learning, and I will not surrender a part of myself. I wouldn’t cut off my leg because of a few bites and stitches. Nor will I willingly give my magic.” Hope blossomed. It didn’t seem like they were going to strip his magic. “Why do you want to take it so badly?” As much as he wanted to accuse Landstrom of being a collector of magics, he didn’t, as Landstrom still held power over him, and he had no proof that Landstrom wanted his rare and powerful magic.
“Electro-mages have no use. What do you plan on doing for the rest of your life?” This time the sneer was evident in Landstrom’s voice.
“I’m accepting the job of investigator.”
Landstrom’s mouth hung open. Tomlins tried to suppress a smile, and Holling looked far too pleased with herself. This had been a setup from the start, but not in the way he’d thought. It had been a test, to see if he could be an investigator. Although if he had screwed up, they probably would’ve stripped his magic without blinking.
“I’ll be based out of Mercy. I hope that won’t cause any problems? We can talk remuneration today and get it all settled?”
Holling glanced at Tomlin, and something passed between them.
Landstrom glowered. “I still vote for removing his magic. It’s only a matter of time until he ends up back here because he’s exposed us all. Another witch could use his magic.”
Jude drew in a breath. Landstrom knew that magic could be transferred.
Holling glanced at Landstrom. “I vote against.”
“As do I. His thoughts match his words. His bond to his familiar is strong and grounding. I believe he will make an excellent investigator.” Tomlin’s voice
