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  So far the only lead they’d gotten was from a handful of students who said they saw two of the women heading into the park not long before their disappearances were reported. Other than the location, Drake’s team still hadn’t uncovered any solid clues.

  If the college brought in extra security it would cause problems, make his job tougher, alert whoever was behind the disappearances, and make them a lot harder to find. “I’ll keep looking and let you know.” Since being part wolf enabled him to see in the dark, he could traipse around the woods as long as he wanted.

  “Appreciate it.”

  After Mason ended the call and tucked the phone in his back pocket, he decided to head back toward the main campus. He’d taken only a few steps when a bright blue light flashed across the sky near the center of the park. Shortly after that, he heard faint popping noises that sounded a lot like gunshots.

  What the hell? Since the college catered to the offspring of witches and shifters, it was reasonable to assume the light show along with the disturbing noises was a college prank or a magical experiment gone awry, yet somehow, he didn’t think so.

  He switched directions and headed toward the disturbance. A few minutes later, a harsh odor, a combination of sulfur and decaying garbage, filled the air and irritated his nostrils.

  Movement to the left caught his attention, and he froze. A small splash of light followed by a dark shape the size of a person moved through the trees, heading straight for him. The closer the form got, the less he scented the stench and the more he smelled fear. A woman’s fear.

  When Mason moved into her path, he hadn’t meant to startle her, only to offer assistance. He realized his mistake too late when she screamed, then caught the toe of her boot on a root and toppled forward.

  By the way she flailed her arms, he’d expected her to land face-first in the dirt and leaves. Instead, she slid the backpack from her shoulder and dropped the phone she was using as a flashlight. With the same fluid movement, she tucked her body, rolled on her side, and landed on her hands and knees.

  Even more impressive was how she’d managed the maneuver without cutting herself with the four-inch dagger she clutched in her right hand.

  She pushed to her feet, chest heaving, and wielded the blade defensively. “Stay back.” Magical energy surged through the air, flitted across his skin, and let him know the woman was a witch. Her fierce gaze glowed a fiery emerald green. Dark auburn curls danced around her head as if snaking along invisible electric currents.

  He couldn’t blame her for being scared or trying to defend herself. Hell, he’d have partially shifted and had his claws out if someone had jumped out at him from nowhere.

  Mason wanted to know why the woman had been running and what had scared her. Was it because of the blue light? Had she seen what caused it? Or had something else frightened her? Something possibly connected to the disappearances?

  He didn’t want to add to her fear, so he took a small step forward and held up his hands. “Wait, I’m not going to…” he managed to say before she threw the dagger. The blade shot in a straight line, flipped end on end, zigzagged to the right, then the left, stalled out, and landed in the dirt at his feet.

  During his five years as a cop, he’d been in numerous knife fights, bar fights, a couple of shootouts, and dealt with quite a few paranormally inclined people. But in all that time, he’d never witnessed a dagger perform an aerial display, then miss its target. And since the target had been him, and the blade was a shiny silver, he was relieved when it ended up in the dirt.

  Chapter Three

  Panic, fresh and constricting, revved through Alex’s body. Without meaning to, she’d released the dagger, then watched it do some weird flips before the blade ended up buried all the way to the hilt in the dirt inches from the guy’s feet.

  What the heck had she been thinking? She knew better than to react with magic. Even the slightest surge gave her powers an uncontrollable boost. And, in this case, majorly messed with her aim. Well, it was too late to undo her mistake now.

  She returned her attention back to the large man whose dark wardrobe blended with the shadows and made him seem more than a little intimidating. He didn’t move, only gaped at her with a surprised expression on his face.

  When he’d first stepped out from behind the tree, she thought one of the creatures had managed to maneuver in front of her. When she tripped, the extra training she’d been required to take in order to get her private investigator’s license took over, and her reaction kept her from landing on her face. Too bad her pathetic attempt to control her dagger hadn’t gone as well.

  Alex puffed out a frustrated breath. She no longer had her dagger. Her magic was useless. And unless the books and two notebooks in her backpack could be used as a deadly weapon, she had no way to defend herself.

  She didn’t know if the man was dangerous, a serial killer, or the one responsible for abducting the missing witches. And after being chased by creatures who might still be lurking in the shadows, she wasn’t willing to risk her life to find out.

  She snatched the backpack off the ground, slung it over her shoulder, and took off running. Again.

  “Wait, come back.” The man’s deep voice resonated behind her. Her hope that he wouldn’t follow her disappeared with the sound of crunching leaves and snapping twigs. He moved faster than she’d expected, and it wasn’t long before she felt a tug on her backpack, the strap digging into her shoulder and slowing her pace.

  She dropped her shoulder and let the bag slide down her arm and into her hand. She stopped, spun sideways, and slammed the bag into his ribs.

  “What the…” He groaned, reaching forward and grabbing the back of her coat. She turned to push him away, lost her footing, and crashed into him. The momentum knocked them backward, and they landed in a pile of dead leaves and dirt, with her sprawled on top. She shoved against his chest, tried to roll away, and ended up flat on her back. He pinned her wrists above her head and straddled her midsection.

  Alex hadn’t thought anything could force her blood to pump faster than being chased by the beady-eyed monsters.

  Boy, was she wrong.

  “Get off me.” She forced the harsh words from her dry throat. She tugged and squirmed, wondering how much more adrenaline-infused fear her poor heart could stand.

  He spoke in a low, irritated voice. “Stop fighting. I’m not going to hurt you.” The grip on her wrists loosened. “I’ll get off if you promise not to run or try to attack me again.”

  “Attack you?” She should have been afraid, but she’d spent most of her life being mocked about her magic, and reacted with anger. "You’re the one skulking around in the dark, jumping out at people from behind trees.”

  “Skulking? I wasn’t skulking.” His grin contradicted his defensive response, and the amused glint in his dark cinnamon eyes put her at ease.

  Alex wasn’t totally convinced of his sincerity but assumed if he’d wanted to hurt her, he’d have done it already. Once she stopped struggling, took a deep breath, and allowed her muscles to relax, she was able to concentrate better and put her detecting skills to work.

  The first thing she noticed was the way he smelled: all male, a tempting combination of spicy and sweet. Being a witch gave her the ability to recognize other supernatural beings, and this guy’s body pulsed with the power of an alpha predator. Short facial hair covered the skin above his lips and along the sharp contour of his jaw. It gave him an enhanced animalistic appeal. An appeal rolling off him in waves, signifying that he was a shifter. If she had to guess, she’d say a shifter of the wolf variety.

  Her internal furnace notched up several degrees, a warmth she knew had nothing to do with her recent marathon and everything to do with the man pinning her to the ground.

  She wiggled her fingers. “You said something about letting me go.”

  He held her gaze a moment longer, then slid his long leg over her body, pulling her off the ground as he stood. He kept his hand on her waist
longer than necessary before releasing her.

  “Thanks, um…” Alex stepped back and dusted the leaves and dirt off her pants.

  “Mason. And you are?”

  “Alex.”

  “Nice to meet you, Alex.” He picked up the dagger with the handle between his thumb and index finger, careful not to touch the sharp blade or give her the impression he might use it on her. “Would you like to tell me why you were running and what had you so spooked?”

  They were good questions. Ones she didn’t feel comfortable answering. “What makes you think I was spooked?” She sounded more defensive than she’d intended.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Because most people don’t race through a forest wielding a knife.” He smiled and handed her the dagger. “Nice throw, by the way.” If he was trying for sarcasm, it wasn’t apparent in the rich timbre of his complimentary words.

  Alex winced, a flush of heat creeping along her throat and cheeks. She leaned forward, tucked the blade inside her boot, then walked over to retrieve her phone. “I don’t suppose you’d believe I was late for class?”

  Skepticism flashed in his eyes. “That explains the running, not the dagger.”

  There was no way she was going to tell him about the creatures. She didn’t know him, and she wasn’t sure if she could trust him. Besides, she was late and didn’t have time for a lengthy discussion. “I don’t want to be rude, but I really do need to get to my class.”

  He held on to her backpack. “Why don’t I walk with you?”

  She cast him a dubious look and tugged her bag out of his hand. “I’m pretty sure I can make it on my own.”

  “I have no doubt that you can, but I’d feel better if you let me walk with you. You know, in case someone else is out here skulking around.”

  She laughed and slipped the bag on her shoulder. “Well, if you put it that way.”

  He raised a hand, motioning for her to take the lead.

  #

  The way Alex kept glancing at the trees, as if someone or something might jump out at them, made Mason suspect there was more to her story than being late for class. He didn’t press her for more information. She already had a tight grip on the strap of her backpack, and he didn’t want to scare her or cause her to bolt.

  It was a good thing her magical powers weren’t finely honed, or right now he’d be a corpse. When he’d picked up her dagger, he’d noticed it wasn’t ordinary. Not one you could purchase at a local store. The blade was crafted out of silver, a special design for use on otherworldly beings. A lethal weapon in the hands of someone who knew how to use it, and an alarmingly dangerous one for someone who didn’t, which made him wonder why Alex had one in her possession.

  They walked through the trees until they reached a small concrete courtyard bordered by several two and three-story buildings, including the coven’s museum. Old-fashioned cast-iron lampposts were strategically placed along the edges and provided adequate lighting. Other than a few students milling about or entering buildings, the place seemed empty.

  “How long have you been attending the college?” Mason asked, hoping a change in subject would get her to relax enough that she might be willing to tell him what happened in the park.

  “About three months. I’m taking a couple of night classes.” She flashed him a nervous smile. “And you?”

  He couldn’t tell Alex the real reason he was on campus, so he stuck to the details he and Drake had worked out for his undercover identity. “I just transferred in.”

  “Really.” She eyed me skeptically. “From where?”

  “Florida.”

  “It’s kind of late, so what were you doing in the park?”

  He slid his hands in his jacket pockets. “I was checking out the campus.” Not a lie. “I must have gotten turned around when you, err…found me.”

  “Skulking.” She laughed, and the rigid muscles along her shoulders slackened. She glanced away and pointed to the right. “It’s this building over here.” Her pace quickened as she turned the corner of a brown brick building.

  The interior lights were still on but when Alex pulled on the handle, the glass door wouldn’t budge. “Unbelievable. The doors are locked.”

  “Important class?”

  She released an exasperated sigh. “You have no idea.”

  He gently touched her arm. “Anything I can do to help?”

  “No. I wish there was.” She gripped the strap of her backpack. “Thanks for walking me to class, but I should go.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay from here?” Neither Mason nor his wolf were happy to see her leave, and apart from seeming like a stalker, there was nothing else he could do to get her to stay.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Alex. Maybe I’ll see you around campus.” He wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to add the last part. The chances of ever seeing her again were slim.

  “Maybe.” She gave him a little wave and headed toward the main parking lot.

  Mason didn’t think the circumstances surrounding the unusual way they’d met were a coincidence, especially since she’d been afraid of something in the park. Was it possible she’d been targeted as the next victim? The thought had his wolf growling, and urging him to go after her, to watch over her, to keep her safe.

  The reason he listened had nothing to do with how attractive Alex was or the connection he’d felt from the moment she’d thrown her dagger at him. At least that was what he told himself the entire time he skirted the buildings, followed her to the parking lot, and watched until she got in her car and drove off.

  Not only did the woman handle herself well in the face of danger, she had a sense of humor and intrigued him. He’d tried to ignore the memories of his rock-hard reaction to her squirming body when he’d pinned her beneath him. At the time, he’d struggled with his wolf’s urging and his own temptation to steal a kiss, to taste her full lips.

  Mason headed back toward the park, determined to investigate the matter of the mysterious blue lights and find the source of the unpleasant smell. He’d call Drake later to share his suspicions, once he had more to report.

  #

  An unnatural silence stilled the night and settled over the wooded area. Mason tracked Alex’s lingering scent back through the park. She smelled like orange slices dipped in dark chocolate.

  So far the search had proved fruitless. The longer he walked, the more frustrated he became. He hadn’t found anything to help him find the missing witches. Or anything to explain what had frightened Alex.

  He had an overwhelming feeling he was running out of time. The disappearances couldn’t be explained, and they didn’t follow the normal patterns of a kidnapping. None of the families had received ransom demands. The women had simply vanished. In his experience, the missing didn’t stay missing long. They eventually showed up…dead.

  He ended up in the middle of the park and in close proximity to the origination point of the light display. When he’d walked through this area earlier in the day he hadn’t noticed anything strange.

  He couldn’t say the same thing now. All the lights along the walkway were gone, the bulbs were shattered, the glass scattered everywhere. If the bulbs had exploded, it would explain the strange popping noises he’d heard. What he couldn’t explain was the how and why.

  There was also the matter of the strange smell. He suspected magic was involved, but without doing some research first, he had no idea what type of spell would produce such an awful stench.

  Mason pulled out his phone and took several flash photos of the glass on the sidewalk and the lampposts. Maybe what happened to the lights was a coincidence and didn’t have anything to do with his case. Somehow, he didn’t think so. He’d forward the pictures to Drake and have his team take a look at them to make sure there weren’t any possible connections.

  As Mason turned to leave, he caught a whiff of a familiar metallic odor. He inhaled a little deeper, confirming the scent of fresh blood an
d making his wolf a little crazy. With the help of his animal, he locked in on the scent immediately and tracked it to a nearby tree.

  There were four long, deep gashes in the wood that looked as if an animal larger than a bear had taken a swipe at the bark. Several of the marks were coated with blood, and judging by the iridescent glow, he was certain it was witch’s blood.

  The smell of blood was overpowering. Even though Mason couldn’t scent of whatever had carved up the tree, it didn’t mean the creature was gone or that he should stop paying attention to his surroundings.

  His search produced two more trees with similar claw marks and more blood. He also found the broken tip of a long, thick fingernail or talon embedded in one of the grooves. After snapping several more pictures, he tapped in a brief text and pressed the Send button.

  A minute later, the phone rang and Drake’s name appeared on the screen. “Got your pictures,” he said with noticeable strain. “Is that blood on the trees?”

  Mason winced. “Yeah, witch’s blood by the smell of it.”

  “Any idea what we’re dealing with?”

  “Nothing I’ve ever seen before.” Mason rubbed his nape. “I’ll keep looking and see if I can find anything else.”

  “Sounds good. In the meantime, I’ll contact the team and share what you’ve sent so far.”

  “I’ll check in when I’ve finished.”

  “And Mason…” Drake said.

  Mason paused with his thumb over the disconnect button. “Yeah?”

  “Be careful.”

  “Always.” He ended the call and tucked the phone in his jacket pocket.

  Mason knelt by the last tree he’d found marked with claws. When he examined the ground, he found a partial animal print in the dirt. There were several paw prints—an animal he didn’t recognize—that led deeper into the woods. He followed the tracks until he reached an area where most of the ground was covered with dead leaves and the prints gradually disappeared.