Witch Hunt, A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (The Maurin Kincaide Series) Read Online Free Page B

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    4
     
     
    I was already sitting shotgun in Matthison’s car by the time that they caught up to me. Mahalia was on the phone, hopefully with Roul or Agrona. The scowl on Matthison’s face said that he didn’t like the half of the conversation that he was listening to. He got in the car and slammed the door shut. Mahalia ended her call and got in the back seat.
    “If you could drop us off at Toil and Trouble, I would appreciate it,” she said, as her seat belt clicked into place.
    “You’re out of your mind if you think I’m dropping you off alone anywhere. I’m coming with you,” Matthison replied.
    He obviously wasn’t concerned about her emotional state anymore. He was irritated now.
    “The meetings are private. There hasn’t been a Norm at a Council meeting in centuries. Our liaison will be happy to debrief you. Won’t you, Maurin?” Mahalia replied.
    “That’s half your problem, if you ask me. You think that just because we don’t go all furry or drink blood or whip shit up out of thin air, that humans are useless, right? Well let me clue you in to something. We know about you now. All of us. And we notice shit like this, dead bodies and all. And in case you didn’t notice, the media was here tonight. I have people to answer to, Mahalia. I. Am. Coming. With. You,” he said.
    I knew that tone. This conversation was over, as far as he was concerned. He threw the car in reverse and sped off to Toil and Trouble.
    He parked on the street, right in front of the bar. After all, it wasn’t likely that he would get a ticket. Everyone knew his car. The doorman eyed Matthison as we got out. The three of us walked over as a group, behaving as if everything was fine. We behaved as if Matthison hadn’t just handed the High Priestess of the Salem Coven her ass; we acted as if I weren’t still annoyed with her.
    “Good evening, Joe,” Mahalia said as he held the door open for us.
    Joe didn’t look like a typical bouncer. He was my height and probably weighed less than I did. I couldn’t tell what he was, but if I had to guess I’d bet that he was Fae. Not that it mattered. If he was watching the door here, then he was obviously a bad ass.
    “Ladies.” Joe didn’t address Matthison; he just kept watching him. I guess he knew who he was and didn’t much like the fact that the Captain of SPTF was coming into this particular bar.
    Toil and Trouble was one of the few places in town where Others and Norms hung out together. It was a neutral place. The food was good and the alcohol wasn’t watered down. It was packed tonight. Matthison looked around, surprised by how many people were here. Guess he thought it would’ve been emptied out for the Council meeting. I could see the satisfaction on Mahalia’s face as he shivered slightly when the Council’s table came into view.
    “You may know about us Captain, but you don’t understand us.” Mahalia gloated.
    Mahalia shed her cloak and took a seat next to Olwyn at the long rectangular t able.
    “What I don’t understand is why you would have a meeting in the middle of a bar,” he said.
    He dragged one of the wooden chairs over from the empty table next to us, since we were a chair short. He draped his coat over the back of it and sat down.
    “Sometimes it’s easier to hide in plain sight.” All eyes at the table turned to Agrona. “Now, why is the human here? Did you bring me a gift?”
    Mahalia cleared her throat. This was the first time I’d seen her nervous in front of the other Council members.
    “Don’t tease him, Agrona. The answer to that question has two parts. The coven is under attack. Two of my members have been brutally murdered,” Mahalia said.
    “I’m still waiting for you to explain why you brought a human to a Council mee ting,” Agrona snapped.
    Matthison started to say something, like he was going to justify his presence. I clamped a hand down on his shoulder and squeezed hard, holding on