Page 44 of The Bone Witch
“Crap, now I have to figure out how to steal your coffee machine and make it like me, while also relocating this diner across the street from my house. That was so good,” I purr as I sit back and pat my happy food baby.
“It wasjusta grilled cheese,” Rogan points out with a judgmental chuckle.
“Just?Justhe says. Dude, that was exquisite, that’s what that was.”
The waitress drops the check off in front of us with a wide smile. She’s been sneaking peeks at Rogan the whole time, and she gets this adorable blush when he catches her and gives her a toothy grin. It’s a sweet thing to do, but I’m still not falling for his act.
“You know,” I start, catching the waitress’s attention. “There’s an herbal tea that really helps with muscle and joint pain. It’s pretty much just willow bark, turmeric, ginger, and some eucalyptus, but I could bring you some if you’re interested,” I offer. “I can’t imagine it feels good to be on your feet for so many hours out of the day,” I add so I don’t make her feel self-conscious about picking up on her pain.
“It does get harder every year. I’ll try anything as long as it’s legal, doesn’t give me the runs, and keeps my head clear,” she announces, and I crack up at her candor.
“Yep, it’s all legal herbs, with no fuzzy-head side effects or the Hershey squirts,” I reassure her. I don’t mention the bone powder that’s also in it. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, in fact it’ll have her feeling like she’s twenty again. “I can bring some by for you tomorrow if that’s okay. No charge of course.”
“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest. I’ll take all the help I can get at my age,” she teases, patting me on the arm gently before going to tend to another table.
I turn to Rogan, a satisfied smile on my face. His gaze drops to my lips for a fraction of a second before they bounce back up to my eyes.
“Is there anything else we need to do today while we’re waiting to hear back from Marx?”
“No, but as soon as he gives us the green light to check things out, we’ll be headed for a ley line,” he tells me.
My stomach sinks a little at the thought of dissolving into molecules and snapping back together so hard that I pass out. What if I don’t pass out this time, but actually feel it? A shudder runs through me, and I push those thoughts far...far away.
“Fair enough,” I concede with an audible swallow. “In the meantime then, is there anywhere around here that I can get bones? I have a tea to make.”
* * *
My knee bounces with excitement and nervous anticipation as we fly down a winding hilly road.
“So, is there anything I need to know about meeting a lycan clan?” I ask, lifting my thumb to my mouth so I can anxiously bite my nail. Rogan looks over, his eyes dipping to my lips again, and I drop my hand and scold myself for the nervous habit.
“Um, they’re pretty much just like you and me, only their magic gives them four legs and the ability to lick their own balls.”
I almost choke on a laugh, not expecting that answer, and shoot Rogan a sympathetic look. “Are you jealous?” I coo at him. He shakes his head and tries to fight the smile twitching at his lips.
“There’s no rules about eye contact or anything like that?” I question, not wanting to do anything that will cause any trouble.
“I mean, I wouldn’t go challenging anyone to a staring contest or sniff anyone’s ass in greeting. Just be normal, you’ll be fine.”
“No ass sniffing, got it.”
“Elon and I’ve worked with this clan as far back as I can remember. Our uncles procured through them too. A lot of witches around the country hire them to source things; they won’t think anything of us stopping by for some bones. In fact, we’ve picked a good day to drop in; tomorrow is Fall Equinox, and the full moon isn’t too far away. They’re probably celebrating already,” he tells me with a conspiratorial wag of his eyebrows.
I pull in a deep breath. I don’t know which is more concerning, meeting lycans in general or drunk lycans. Guess I’m about to find out.
Rogan slows as he approaches a large iron-barred gate. There’s a house-sized security lodge to the right of us, and he maneuvers the car toward it and rolls the window down. A guard inside walks toward the glass slider separating us. He opens it and proceeds to stare into the car.
“Rogan Kendrick and Lennox Osseous to see Riggs and Viv,” he states to the guard.
“Do you have an appointment?” the guard asks, his nostrils flaring as though he’s scenting us.
“Yes, I called and made one just over an hour ago.”
Another guard walks over and hands the first a tablet. The lycan at the window looks it over and then nods at Rogan once. “Please exit your vehicle so it, and you, can be searched,” the guard declares, and then he shuts the slider and walks away.
“Well, that’s new,” Rogan mumbles as he puts his car in park and unbuckles himself. I do the same, stepping out of the car and onto the damp bracken of the forest floor. I’m surrounded by trees taller than buildings. There’s the smell of rain on the air, and I suspect we must have just missed the storm. I look around at the endless expanse of forest, and it’s exactly what I pictured when Rogan told me where we’d be getting bones.
Two beefy guards tromp out of the lodge and make their way over to us. The one with brown hair and a smattering of freckles on his nose rounds the car toward me. He gives me a Colgate grin as his eyes drop down to my feet and slowly climb back up. “Do you mind if I search you, miss?” he asks politely, and I hold out my arms.
