Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1) by Barb Shuler (free ereaders .TXT) 📕

busy with work and I’ll call you later. Saturday night is a busy night for us and I am needed here.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jayden leave when he turned his back to her. I put my desk between us. I was about to pick up my phone when he stepped closer.

“I’m. Not. Leaving.”

“Oh, yes, you are!” Dalton growled. He stood at my door, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Sylvester. It took all I had not to run over to him. I wasn’t using my powers because that would lead to questions that I couldn’t answer. Not just about me, but about Dalton and Jayden.

“Dalton, can you please escort Sylvester out of the bar? Have the guys make sure that he doesn’t come back?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Sylvester just looked at me.

“You heard me, it’s time to leave. I don’t welcome people who can’t take no for an answer in my establishment.” I let out a sigh of relief when he finally turned and left, followed by Dalton and Liam. Sitting down in my chair, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back.

“Mia, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Jay, thank you for coming in when you did. I don’t want to think about what would have happened.”

“I got you, babe, you know that.” She moved over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. Running my hand along her arm, I leaned into her.

“Can you take the change out? It’s in the safe. Code is my age and yours when we met.”

“Sure thing, babe.” She let me go and moved over to the painting on the wall. Pulling it back, she opened the safe and pulled out the change she and the girls needed and left me alone. I opened my eyes when Dalton stepped back into the room.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. The only thing hurt was my pride. Jay and Dalton tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I thought I knew better. Dalton moved into the room, shutting the door. He sat down on my desk, and I shifted my chair so that I was closer to him and laid my head in his lap.

“I don’t want him here again. If he steps foot through that door, I will light him on fire.”

“I won’t stop you.”

I let out a sigh and lifted my head. Turning back to my computer, I pulled up the cameras outside the bar. Before I knew what was happening, I was up and out of my chair, Dalton moving to sit where I had just been. He wrapped his arms around me. “Don’t torture yourself. The boys were making sure that he left, and Ty was going to keep an eye on him until I drop you home.”

“You should go be with him.”

“No, I’m staying here. They can deal for a minute.” Deciding not to fight him on it, I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

“I have work I need to finish.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

“No, you aren’t, but you are making me want to stay right here.”

“Nothing stopping you.” His lips pressed against my head. I let myself relax in his warmth, trying to push what happened out of my head.

“Any updates on the guy that attacked me?”

“Liam is still tracking his movements. He isn’t staying in one place too long, so he knows what he is doing. Don’t worry, we won’t let him hurt anyone again.”

“I trust you.”

He moved his hand to rest on my neck, squeezing it softly before he moved to massage my shoulders. “Just relax, I’ve got you.”

17

Dalton

The perimeter of the club’s property had two new cameras, one on the back parking lot and one in the alley. It may have been overkill when there were shifters about, but after Sy’s little visit the other night I had a niggling feeling this may be needed. I always listened to my instincts. Always.

Following Liam back inside, I cut through the building, gave the bar one last spot check, and went through the front doors. Ty and Kody were all on the way in. They’d gone for a run this morning and were tracing down some tracks around two more kills that were just left out in the open.

I really wanted to find out who or what was doing that. Was it someone messing with us or was it a new shifter that had no control? Neither were good options.

“Boss,” Max said with a salute. I chuckled as he shoved a donut in his mouth before coming over and holding the box open to me.

“Why are you buttering me up with fresh donuts, Maximus? What did you do?” I asked as I took two from the box.

“He wants inside to have a better look at the drunk girls,” Liam supplied. His hand dipped in to grab some donuts.

“Don’t you have a hair ball to cough up or something?” Max growled.

“Children,” I shook my head and grabbed another donut.

“It’s not my fault that Mia has gorgeous employees.” He shrugged and set the box on the small table by the door. “But that’s not why I got the sugar rush. I promised Kody I’d bring some, I just didn’t tell him there wouldn’t be any left by the time he got here.”

I let my head fall back and laughed, hard.

“Why’re you bringing him donuts? What did you do?”

Max turned and sighed. “Fucking poker, man.”

“You can’t play that game for shit, why do you even try?” Liam asked.

Max shrugged. “One day I’m going to beat him.”

“Good luck with that,” I chuckled. “If you need anything, text me. I’ve got some work to do for the new office.”

“I’m good, boss. Go do your stuff. I’ll be around until Yogi and Tony come back.”

“Maximus, you do know if Ty hears you call him Tony the Tiger, he’s gonna skin you, right?” My brow rose as my question finished.

Max, being Max, just smirked. I shook my head and rubbed the