[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.She sat across from him and stared at him until he met her eyes.“You know I’m your friend, right Drew? I care about both of you, and not just because Ciaran’s my best employee.” She looked pleased when Drewmustered up a weak grin at her feeble joke.“Will you come over to my place after Ciaran’s shift is over and tell me what’s going on?”All he felt from her was sincerity and an honest desire to help.Since he wasn’t psychic, he couldn’t know if his hunch was right.Now that he had someone else to consider, he couldn’t take the risk—yet, anyway.“I want to tell you, Janie, but not all of the story is mine to tell.I’ll have to talk to Ciaran first.”Janie stood.“Okay.I’ll go get you a glass of strawberry lemonadeso you can quit pretending to drink the coffee.I know you don’t like it.”He gave her a real smile then.“You caught me.Thanks, Janie.Foreverything.”She patted him on the shoulder.“I haven’t done anything yet, hon.But I hope I’ll be able to later.”After Janie left, Drew gazed down at the table, thinking.He lookedup and nodded when she replaced his coffee with lemonade before returning to his deliberation.No other options came to him.Janie was the only person in town he knew well enough to trust, and she knew something about demons, and summoning.Nick had promised to check into the situation for him, but that was when he had believed the humans might be werewolf hunters.And Nick had been in the middle of something.Even if Drew contacted him again he might not be able to getaway from whatever situation he’d landed himself in.Drew had been sitting there thinking for quite a while when Ciaransat in the seat across from him.“Are you all right? Janie sent me over to check on you.”He dredged up a real smile.Seeing his favorite person made it a loteasier to do.“I’m fine.I’m thinking, that’s all.Janie wants me to tell her what’s been going on.”62Claiming Ciaran by Cassandra GoldCiaran’s eyes widened.“Why would we tell her?”Drew leaned forward and waited until Ciaran did the same beforehe continued, keeping his voice low.“I think she’s a witch, Ciaran.She might be able to help us.”Ciaran bit his lush lower lip for a moment, his expression both thoughtful and afraid.“If she’s a witch, she probably doesn’t like demons much…”“She knows you.She likes you.I don’t think she’ll freak out and tryto hex you or anything.” He hoped she wouldn’t.He would hate to haveto cause another werewolf / witch war if Janie did react badly and tried to hurt Ciaran.The half‐demon stared at the table for a long moment, then sat backagainst the booth, nodding.“All right.If you think we should tell her, we’ll tell her.”Looking into those trusting violet eyes, Drew felt a sudden resolve.I will protect you.I swear I will.No matter what happens.63Claiming Ciaran by Cassandra GoldChapter TenA couple of hours later, Janie left April in charge and the three ofthem left the coffee shop.Ciaran followed Drew to the truck, and Janie led the way in her battered Jeep.Her house wasn’t far, so the drive took less than ten minutes.Ciaran spent the short drive looking out the window, his whole body vibrating with tension.What if Janie hated him once sheknew what he really was? He loved working for her, and being friends with her.The thought of her hating him made his heart ache.When they pulled up in front of Janie’s neat little house, Drew shutoff the engine.He turned anxious eyes on Ciaran.“We don’t have to tell her.This is your secret to keep.We can figure out something else.”Ciaran shifted toward him, not meeting his eyes.He knew Drewwas right to want to get help, and about telling Janie everything.Knowing and doing were not the same thing, however.“I think we do have to tellher.We need help.I’m just afraid.” His voice trailed off to a near‐whisper.“What if she hates me once she knows what I am?”Drew took his chin in a gentle grasp and held it until Ciaran lookedat him.“No true friend could ever hate you.I think Janie is a true friend.”Staring into Drew’s loving eyes, he wanted to believe.It was hardto do that when even his own grandfather hated him.He sighed.“But I’ma demon, Drew! That is not something most people would be willing to forgive.”“You’re half demon.So what? You’re a good person, Ciaran.Iknow you are, and so does Janie.No matter what happens in there, we’ll64Claiming Ciaran by Cassandra Golddeal with it together.” Drew pressed a quick kiss against Ciaran’s trembling lips.“I love you.”“And I love you.”Drew gave him an encouraging smile.“Then let’s go.”Together, they walked up the sidewalk to Janie’s porch.Drewknocked.After a couple of minutes, the door opened.Janie stood there, looking a bit breathless.“Sorry, I had to run to the basement to get a couple of things.Comeon in.”They followed her into a small but comfortable living room.Janie motioned for them to sit.Drew went to the flower‐print couch and sat on the end nearest the door.Ciaran trailed after him, envying his confidence.He perched on the cushion next to Drew’s, ready to flee at any moment.Janie watched them, looking concerned at their odd behavior.“Doyou want anything to drink?”When Ciaran said nothing, Drew answered for both of them.“No,thank you.”She still looked concerned, but she sat down in the chair beside thecouch.“So, what’s going on?”Ciaran’s voice had deserted him.A sick, nervous churning in his stomach left him light‐headed.He turned helpless eyes to Drew, who nodded.Drew took a deep breath.“Before we tell the story, I need to ask you a very personal question.Are you a witch?”One of Janie’s eyebrows shot up at the question.She fingered her silver pentacle pendant.“As a matter of fact, I am.Is that a problem?”Drew shook his head.“No, not at all.It may turn out to be very good for us, actually.We need some unusual help.”She grinned.“Unusual is my middle name.If I can help you, I will.If not, I may know someone else who can.”So she was a witch.Drew had been correct.Ciaran wondered howpowerful she was, and what she would do when he revealed his secret.The waiting became intolerable.His vocal chords finally loosened.His face settled into an expressionless mask.When he spoke, his voice was 65Claiming Ciaran by Cassandra Goldflat.“I hope you’ll still be so willing after you hear what I have to say.”Janie’s grin faded, replaced by worry once again [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]