He nodded. “Let’s take a break,” he called. “Could half of you come with me?” He pointed to a few of the coven, including Bevan and the twins. “I need help with something in the barn.
I wiped imaginary sweat off my brow. “I’m going to rest a minute and we’ll try again when you get back.”
Relief flowed in my veins when no one in the group complained, much. Bevan did glare at me as he walked away.
When they disappeared into the barn, I sighed and looked at the shed. “Come on, let’s give it a shot,” I said. “Maybe we loosened it the first time.”
Olivia, standing behind me, snorted. “It’s not a jar of pickles.”
I shot her a quieting glare and put my hands on the door. “Come on, give it your all,” I called.
Almost as soon as we began, the padlock sprang open, then hit the dirt with a thud. The door creaked open, the shadowy interior of the shed too dark for me to tell what was inside. “Holy freaking crap,” Olivia muttered.
“Find a way to tell Owen that one of the witches in the barn was trying to stop us from opening this shed,” I said.
She nodded and hurried away.
“Ava wait,” Drew said when I went to open the door the rest of the way. “Let me.”
I hid my amusement and stood back. Sure, he was the law, but he was also not magical. “If you get caught in any magical booby traps, I don’t want to hear it,” I teased.
He chuckled and switched on his flashlight before he leaned into me until our faces were inches apart. “Hunter, remember?” I shivered and it wasn’t from the fact he was a hunter, but from the seductive edge in his voice. He put some space between us and said louder, “Wait here.”
Seconds after disappearing inside, he called for me. “You need to see this. Don’t touch anything.”
I hurried in and gasped when I saw what his flashlight illuminated. “Is that a coin press?”
Indeed, it was. “Is it possible to melt down silver with magic?” he asked.
“Absolutely.” There was nothing in the shed to indicate they’d been melting it here the human way, anyway. “It’s more than possible.”
“Then whoever has been leading this ring is likely also our murderer,” he said darkly. “And it could be any of the people out there.”
“Drew,” I hissed. “It’s one of the people in the barn with Owen. Only when they left were we able to open this shed.”
He nodded. “Any way to tell?”
I shook my head. “No, and we’re still days away from having a truth serum.”
“Okay. Get everyone out of here. We’ll comb the place for fingerprints. I’ll call you in the morning.” As I turned to step outside, He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. I stumbled then gasped as he claimed my mouth. When he broke the kiss, much too soon for my liking, he said, “Be careful.”
“I will.” I stood on my toes and gave him another quick kiss on the lips, then darted out of the shed.
Outside, I met Olivia’s stare. She pinched the sleeve of my shirt and tugged. “Did you two make out in the shed?”
“What? No!” My cheeks colored and I struggled to not giggle like a third-grader. “Who do you think I am?
She opened her mouth, and I held up my hand. “Don’t answer that.” Sucking in a deep breath, I calmed myself. Even though I was so nervous I was giggly, this wasn’t a happy chore.
Turning to the witches, I lied. “It was empty except for a few old tools. If there was once something here, it’s gone. Sorry I wasted your time.”
A few of them muttered as they got back in the vehicle they’d ridden in on the way out here. Bevan glared as he walked to his SUV. I glared back and added a smirk for good measure.
I was sure someone would mention that we got the shed open. In fact, I was counting on it. It’d make the killer nervous knowing that I knew the fighting ring and the murders were connected. Nervous criminals made mistakes.
So, I’d let whoever-it-was sweat it out until the truth serum was ready. Then we could have a little show-and-tell party.
After the coven left, Drew replaced the padlock with one of his own and Owen spelled it surreptitiously while I announced, “I’m coming back here tomorrow to work on bringing the dead shifters to me and then getting them to their families.”
Drew walked me to my car and opened the door for me. Then he caged me in with his arms against the hood. “Should I come over?”
The corners of my lips lifted. “Should you?”
Wickedness flashed in his eyes. Even though we weren’t at the point in our relationship to have sex, I wasn’t totally against the thought. But I did want to take it slow. Something was still holding me back.
He cupped my chin and lifted it. “What are you thinking?”
I crinkled my nose. “Overthinking. Again. Are we moving too fast?”
“I don’t think so. Do you?”
I shook my head but said, “Yes…I don’t know.”
“I told you I want exclusive, and since we’ve been on three dates, it’s time to make it public that we’re dating.” There was that seductive edginess I’d caught before. I knew from the first time I met Drew he was the alpha male type. I guessed he’d been giving me some time. And my time to decide was up.
“We’re a couple, huh?”
He pressed his body into mine and dipped his head until his lips brushed my ear. “Definitely. I don’t want any other man thinking you’re available or anything.”
Yep, the alpha male had woken. And I liked it.
I threw my arms around his neck. “I might embarrass you from time to time. Like going up to the station and staking my claim on you.” I nipped at his ear. “I don’t want any other woman thinking you’re available.”
He chuckled and pulled back a little. “I look forward to it.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
As promised, way too early the next morning, Owen and I began our work. I was working on my third cup of coffee as Olivia had shown up before it was even light outside with a large thermos of coffee and a sleepy Sam in tow.
“Come on,” she said. “We can’t help with the kids, but we can help keep you hydrated. I’ve got a cooler in the car.”
Alfred ran out as we exited the house with a big plastic bag. I peeked inside. “Sandwiches?”
Grunt.
“Thank you, Alfie. You take good care of me.” I touched his hand and instantly had a flash of a familiar scent. But it was gone as fast as it appeared.
I shook off the feeling the memory, or whatever it was, stirring deep in my core. Waving at Alfred, I climbed in one of the county’s police SUVs with Drew. Olivia and Sam took her 4-Runner, and we were off.
Drew and I rode to the cursed site in solemn silence. Today was going to be somber work and neither of us looked forward to it. When we pulled up beside the barn, Drew reached over and held my hand and gave it a little squeeze.
I smiled at him. “I’m dreading this, but the families need to put their kids to rest properly.”
He kissed my forehead. “You got this.”
His faith in me touched a deep place in my soul that I didn’t think anyone, except for Clay, ever had. Maybe it was time to move on. Keep my promise to Clay that I’d live and find love again.