Otherworld 02 - Stolen Read Online Free PDF Page B

thanks," I said.
    "Why?" Paige asked. "Because you don't believe? Or because you don't want to?"
    "I did what I said I'd do. I stayed. I listened. Now I'm leaving."
    As I stood, Ruth touched my arm. "At least tell your leader what we've said. We're meeting in two days. Delegates from the major races will be there to discuss the problem. We'd like your pack to join us. Here's my card."
    She handed me a business card. I half-expected to see "Ruth Winterbourne, Spells and Potions." Instead, it was a card for "Winterbourne Designs, Custom Apparel for Women." The address listed was in Massachusetts, though disappointingly not Salem.
    "Yes," Ruth said with a smile. "It's a real business card for a real business. Not much money in hexes these days."
    "I don't-"
    "Put it in your pocket and we'll pretend you're going to throw it away once I'm out of sight. If you call, use my cell phone number. We're heading straight from here to the meeting in Vermont. It wouldn't be a long drive from New York if you decide to come out. I hope you do."
    I mumbled something noncommittal, pocketed the card, and left.
     
    ***
     
    Afterward, I spent more time thinking about witches than billionaire conspiracy theories. The thought of other "supernatural" beings intrigued me, though I found it hard to believe. Okay, skepticism from someone who routinely morphed into a wolf may sound hypocritical, but I couldn't help it. I'd been a werewolf for nearly six months before I believed they existed. I'd changed forms, I'd seen Jeremy change forms, yet I still managed to convince myself that it wasn't real. Serious denial. Maybe it was easier to believe werewolves were a onetime aberration of nature, the way some people-myself included-think the universe contains only one populated planet. The thought of zombies and vampires wandering the earth was just too weird. But Ruth hadn't mentioned zombies or vampires. She'd only said witches and… other things. I could believe in witches. The idea that some people could harness the earth's powers was much easier to accept than the idea that, say, some people could transform into wolves.
     
    ***
     
    When I walked into my hotel room, the phone was ringing. I stood in the doorway, contemplated a quick about-face, then resigned myself to answering it. Besides, it might not be who I expected.
    "What the hell are you doing in Pittsburgh?!" the caller roared before I even got the receiver to my ear. I looked for a volume button on the phone, couldn't find one, and considered "accidentally" hitting the plunger.
    "Nice to hear from you, too, Clayton. My flight was fine, thanks. How's Detroit?"
    "Hotter than Hades," he muttered, his Southern drawl resurrected as his voice dropped to non-eardrum-shattering decibels. "Smells worse, too. Why didn't you call and tell me you were going to Pittsburgh?"
    "Because you would have insisted on meeting me here. I don't need-"
    "Too late. I'm already packing."
    "I don't need your help, and I don't need your protection."
    "And my company, darling? I suppose you don't need that either."
    "Give it a rest. You only left yesterday, and I'll be joining you on Monday."
    "Then I can save you two flights. I'll drive down tonight, and when you're done there, I can bring you back to Detroit-"
    "No."
    "I'm just trying to be-"
    "Controlling, possessive, overprotective."
    "I miss you."
    "Nice try. The answer's still no. I can handle this."
    "So what exactly are you handling?"
    "I'll tell you tomorrow," I said. "After I speak to Jeremy."
    "Anything good?"
    "Maybe."
    "Fun?" he asked.
    "Definite mayhem possibilities."
    "Come on. Tell me."
    "Later."
    "Tease," he growled.
    "You want to hear teasing?" I asked.
    "Sure, if you want me in Pittsburgh in an hour."
    "It's a six-hour drive."
    "Wanna bet?"
    We went on like this for a while, forty-five minutes actually. Before we ended the conversation Clay had agreed-most grudgingly-not to follow me to Pittsburgh. I had to admit that since we'd been back together, he