Hoodoo Woman (Roxie Mathis Book 3) by Sonya Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

examine too closely.

Chapter 8
     
    I promised Ray I’d be in Blythe by the end of the week, after finishing up my open jobs. He’d started to talk about paying me. I cut him off with a glare and told him I’d call as soon as I got to town. He had the good sense not to ask if I’d be staying with my parents.
    Daniel had an old fishing cabin near the lake he’d renovated. It would be perfect for my needs. Just far enough from town but not too far, more than adequate privacy for any magical workings. Plus it had a kitchen so I wouldn’t be stuck eating out all the time. I knew he wouldn’t have a problem letting me stay there. I just needed the key and to let him know I was going out of town.
    When I arrived at Daniel’s shortly after dark I let myself in as usual, calling his name. It was immediately apparent he couldn’t hear me over the screaming match he was having with Shelby.
    “The right thing, my ass. You’re a fucking coward!” The young witch ran from the front parlor, dark ponytail bouncing behind her and tears streaming down her face.
    I tried to grab her as she rushed by. “What’s wrong?”
    Shelby wiped the tears away. “He’s an asshole. I know he’s your best friend and you’ll take his side, but he’s an asshole and a coward.” She swiveled to face the parlor door, screaming. “Coward. That’s what he is. Nothing but a goddamned coward!” Then she fled as more tears erupted.
    I hesitated in the hall, not sure who to go to. She needed a friend but she was right, Daniel was my best friend and if this fight was about what I thought it was about, I would definitely be taking his side. A crash of breaking glass from the parlor made the decision for me.
    Daniel was still throwing decanters when I peeked around the door. I waited, letting him get it out of his system. After he decimated the bar he picked up a lamp. Clearing my throat to announce myself, I stepped inside the room. His shirt hung half unbuttoned, blond hair mussed as if recently run through by eager hands. His fangs were on full display, a volcano of red erupting from his aura. He finally acknowledged my presence, crushing the lamp as he turned to face me. The feral rage in his eyes should have been terrifying, along with the knowledge of his vampire nature. But this was Daniel, my best friend, my ancestor. Bubba. I walked toward him without any hesitation.
    Three steps away his face began to crumple. Two steps. His fangs retracted and he dropped the mangled remains of the lamp. One step and the first tears leaked from his eyes, tinted pink and rolling down his face. I stood on tiptoe and gathered him in my arms. He went to his knees, arms around my waist as if I were the only thing that anchored him to this world, sobbing.
    Later, once Daniel felt more collected, the thick burn of spilled alcohol in the air sent us out of the parlor and into the kitchen. I sat on a counter and watched him impassively as he prepared coffee. Red still stained his aura but for the most part the yellow-gold that represented his self-control had returned.
    “She doesn’t understand,” he said.
    “What did you tell her?”
    “That this ain’t no fairy tale. I’m a fucking vampire and she’s a nineteen-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her.” He stared at the French press full of black liquid. Not for the first time I wondered what he was seeing that he wouldn’t talk about, what memories were haunting him. “Just because you have feelings for someone doesn’t mean you act on them. Sometimes it’s just.” He paused, angrily brushing away a tear. “Sometimes it’s just not right.” He slapped the counter, knocking a chunk of granite from the edge. “God damn it, this shit has made me emo. I’m a fucking emo vampire, crying over a mortal girl.”
    “Poor Bubba. You’ve been so good at avoiding stereotypes.”
    “Please fucking shoot me so I can die for a little while.”
    “No. I hate it when you die.”
    He sighed.