Witch Risen: A Paranormal Adventure (Bad Tom Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

have to skip poker tonight in favor of hide and seek. When you're dry enough, get dressed and come let us know. Our best test is to see if any of us can find you."
    As it turns out, while I lay on the grass just to the side of the wooden deck off Robert's spacious back living room staring up at the limitless stars, none of the witches are able to catch a magical whiff of me. There's a little spring to my step when I come back into the house after Natalie calls out, "Ollie-ollie-oxen-free". It's not just because I won at hide and seek. Or that her call reminded me of simpler times. Mostly, my heart hasn't stopped singing since Cassie's face appeared over the bowl. She's still there. She's still mine. And I know I'm going to save her.
    I even have a little plan of my own that I'm not sharing with the team right now. They'd come up with some reason I shouldn't go ahead with it, but I'm not waiting any longer than I have to to take Cassie back from that evil witch.

***
    It's nearing midnight when I explore the outside of the shop on Cat's padded feet that slide through the grass without a sound as I look for an open window. Tonight, I'm a panther. Silent, deadly, the very definition of sleek.
    With my head craned upwards, I trip unexpectedly, do a head over heels roll, and look back to see that I'd stumbled over a landscaping stone that's been there for every one of Cat's lives.
    Sure. Right. Tonight I'm a panther. Tiny, harmless, and prone to rolling around adorably in the tensest situations.
    This little caper is starting out great.
    I can't believe Eunice would go away without leaving a window cracked open for Cat. Has she given up? No, no way would she just let me go free. I can't let myself believe that for a minute. It will only make it harder when she snaps a leash onto my collar again.
    I know I shouldn't think that way—Cassie would call me out on it, but I won't let myself go chasing after hope again. I have one thing to focus on: I need to find something that will help get Cassie free. After that, it doesn't matter what happens to me.
    No, if Eunice didn't remember to crack a window, she just wasn't thinking about me when she left. That can only be a good thing. The vise of anxiety I'm wearing around my chest loosens a little.
    Or maybe she doesn't plan to be away as long as she said she would: as soon as I think that, my panic revs up again. It could be a trick to lure me back. She found out about me being in control of the shifting magic and figures I'd need my ID to skip town, so she pretended to go away. If she doesn't know about me and Cassie, she'd have no reason to think I'd stay.
    I take a long breath. This needs to stop. I have to stop imagining scenarios that keep me running scared. There's no evidence for any of it, and even if it is a trick, my head has to be clear to fight her if she turns up.
    Cat's not worried. He's more than sure he could outrun her if she popped out from behind the parlor window like some demonic jack-in-the-box. I take strength from that. He's small, but he's scrappy. I can do this. I can find that box she used against Cassie and take it back to Robert's. And the friendly neighborhood witches? They'll figure out what to do with it if I keep the pressure on. It's only a matter of time.
    There's no way for Cat to get in, that's clear soon enough. I prowl to the back while I think about the best approach to the problem. I don't have tools, and if I shift, I'll be exposed, vulnerable. I'll also be locked outside in the buff.
    I could go wake up Gillian to help with the locks, but I'm so close now. I don't need her trying to talk me out of it.
    Unless Eunice has changed things since she returned, there's no alarm in the shop, only the video cameras to deter shoplifters. No one who lives in this town would have risked her ire by breaking in.
    I shift myself, trying not to make a sound as I experience the pain that always accompanies my transformation. Then, when I'm able, I pick up that