The Witch's Desire Read Online Free Page A

nodded at the two men moving toward the rear door. They opened it and stood back. A beautiful blonde stepped down. She wore a white diaphanous dress that hugged her body and swirled out like feathers in the wind around her long, lithe legs.
    â€œI don’t understand. Does she have the package?” Demi asked.
    The chief smiled at the woman and held out his hand. “No. She
is
the package.”
    Demi groaned. “I
knew
it was too good to be true.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell us we’d be transporting a person?” Cal asked.
    â€œThe fewer people who knew about her movements the better. Apparently, she’s the witness to a big Paranormal Council meeting taking place tomorrow in New York City.”
    â€œAnd?”
    Warner shrugged. “And that’s all I got. She has to get there on time and safely. Her testimony in a trial is key to putting away one of the most dangerous paranorms of this and other centuries.”
    His words sent a chill across Demi’s nerves. “What do you mean other centuries?”
    â€œThey finally caught Alexei Zhurov, one of the most infamous and elusive vampires in the world. Supposedly, he’s over three hundred years old and has been causing problems for all three hundred years of that time.”
    â€œWhy now? Why hasn’t the Council dealt with him before?”
    â€œFrom what I’ve been told by the Regional Council here in Chicago, they never could pin the crimes against humanity and other paranorms on him. He has a gift of manipulating others to do his dirty work. Until recently. He had a member of the high council killed. They’re finally ready to put him out of their misery.”
    Demi shook her head. “Wait. Regional Council? Here in Chicago? I didn’t know there was such a thing. What else have you been holding back on?”
    Warner’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I tell you what you need to know,
when
you need to know it.”
    â€œNot good enough.” Cal gave his boss a hard look. “We need to know all the factions we’re dealing with in the city in order to provide the best protection to its inhabitants.”
    The chief raised a hand. “I promise that when you get back, I’ll lay it all out for you. For now, get the package to New York City alive, however you have to do it.”
    The woman walked toward them with smooth, deliberate steps, crossing one foot in front of the other like a model on a runway, her predatory gaze on Cal.
    Demi wanted to slap the face of the
package
and tell her hands off the cop. She bit down hard on her tongue to keep from doing just that.
    â€œUrsula Rusu, meet Demi Chattox and Calais Black, two of Chicago’s finest of the Special Investigations Division. They will be your escorts to New York City.”
    Cal held out his hand and Ursula took it, a smile curling her lips like a lover’s caress. “This trip won’t be as boring as I thought.”
    â€œMs. Rusu. If you’ll follow me, we’ll get you settled in.” He waved a hand toward the hangar.
    Instead of following him, she took his arm and settled against his side as if taking possession of the man.
    As he walked away with the beauty, Cal cast an apologetic frown back at Demi where she steamed on the tarmac.
    The van driver set a small suitcase on the ground beside Demi and walked away.
    â€œThis is
not
how I pictured my mini-vacation.” She piled Ursula’s case on top of hers, grabbed her handle and glared at Chief Warner. “Thanks a lot.”
    He patted Demi’s shoulder and walked with her toward the structure. “How hard can it be? If all goes well, you’ll pass Ms. Rusu off to the council tomorrow morning.”
    â€œ
If
all goes well.” Demi cast a skeptical glance at the chief. “What else are you not telling us?”
    Chief Warner looked away. “Watch your backs. Zhurov has minions around the world willing to do his