Caleb smirked. "I am no moral high ground."
Jeff nearly choked at Caleb's words. "Crude. Like all shifters. No wonder, so few of you ever do anything with your lives. Seriously, Marci. You've gotten your revenge. I forgive you. Now get your ass in my car."
His shoulders tightened, he fisted his hands.
"You think that she could go back to someone like you? Do you have any idea what kind of woman she is? Do you have any idea the power surging through her?"
Caleb didn't dare turn away. The guy, Jeff apparently, started towards them pausing to shake off his shoes as he stepped in snow.
"I don't care about your thoughts, animal. But yes, I am aware of her power." He looked away from Caleb. "Marci. My father demands you come back."
Caleb hated the soft tone he took. He reminded Caleb of a snake.
"Marci, my dear. My father is not happy with my actions. I promise that I won't ever do that again. The business needs you."
Static in the air swirled about, the bear in him recognizing it as her magic.
"I should have known. This has nothing to do with me. You don't miss me. You miss what i could do. You miss me knowing where to invest. You miss me being able to tell you what risks weren't worthwhile," Marci stomped forward.
She moved unlike any human he'd ever seen as she approached Jeff. A faint cloud of magic surrounded her, crackling in the wind. "You screwed up. Not me. I am more than just a dollar sign. I am a woman, you ass."
She pressed a finger against his black wool coat. "And, even if you came here groveling, crawling across the snow I still wouldn't come back. Yes. Jeff, in-case you're wondering, you can't even compete with Caleb in this realm or another. Leave."
Jeff sputtered, and Caleb reveled in it. Sure she hadn't said that his dick was probably about three times the size of the little warlock's, but what she had said would do.
"What? You want me to leave? I can't leave. This car barely made it here, and it's starting to snow again."
Caleb's ears perked up. This wasn't going to be good.
"I'm sure that car will do fine -" Caleb said.
"Caleb, shut it. Jeff, I run an inn. You pay the nightly rate, and you can stay here. But you leave the second this snow lets up. I will not be returning with you. If this is some ploy it won't work. You hear me?"
Caleb turned to her. "What the hell?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Caleb. Do not test me." She stepped closer. " I need the money, and I won't be the reason he dies trying to get back to the airport."
"He will not stay with you where I can't watch him."
Her hands flew to her hips. "I don't think this is your choice, Caleb."
His heart sank.
"Jeff. Go inside. You touch me, and you will die. There, are you happy?" she asked.
Caleb and his bear stood confused. Did they follow? Could he sleep outside her door to ensure the warlock didn't step near her?
"Caleb. Go home or come. I don't care. Just don't say anything."
His face burned. His nails cut sharp across his palms. "I think I have every right to say something." He stormed after her. She didn't slow.
"Go home, creature. She doesn't need you any longer," said Jeff. Caleb stopped in front of the car.
Clenching his jaw, he tried to bite the next words back. "She is mine. Take your parlor tricks elsewhere. You won't win her back."
Jeff chuckled. "Win her back? I wasn't aware there was even a competition. My family has money and our families have a contract. She has little choice. She might have had her fun with you, but in the end, it's my bed that she will be warming come this time next week."
Caleb's bear reared up. Before he could stop the anger surging through him, his fist connected with Jeff's face.
"You son of a bitch," Jeff sputtered between a spot of blood blooming against the white snow.
"Caleb!"
He closed his eyes.
"What did you do?"
He rolled his head back on his shoulders. "I shut him up." His words sounded more like a wounded kid to his ears. He knew he'd gone too far. But damn, it had felt good for a split second.
Caleb kept his eyes shut, but he could sense her approaching, her flowery scent around him as she came to care for him.
"Jeff? Are you okay."
Her spicy scent of anger overpowered the calm that was her perfume.
"Caleb! Why did you hit him?"
What was he supposed to say? The truth? Probably. "He said you were his."
A growl even his bear was proud of echoed off the trees. "You hit him because he's stupid?"
He stood straight and opened his eyes. With a shrug, he said, "No. I hit him because he has a big mouth."
She crouched over Jeff as he made his home on the snow. The blood wasn't flowing nearly fast enough for a broken nose.
Great. I missed.
He scowled.
"Caleb. I can't believe you. Go home. Go home, sit in the snow, I don't really care what you do but do not come back here tonight. I can't deal with my crappy past and an angry - my - whatever you are - a bear. Take your testosterone and go."
His eyes flew open. "I will not. I am sleeping next to you tonight."
She helped up Jeff, who dared to smile behind the crusty red smearing his mouth.
"Caleb. No one. I repeat, no one is sleeping next to me except a ridiculous chicken. I don't need you to protect me."
Jeff snorted.
"Oh, and you. I don't need you or your family either. Just shut it. I won't be going back with you. So, you better figure out how to break the news to your daddy. Maybe
