Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (reading diary .TXT) 📗

busy and out of earshot. I faced forward with him and sighed. “Did I lie?” I shrugged, and he shot me a surprised look. “I just mean—I’m cursed. I haven’t been able to shift in years. Sometimes I wonder if I still am one.”

He shook his head. “If it didn’t matter, why’d you keep it from me?”

I scoffed. “I think you know exactly why. Most people hate shifters.”

He sighed through his nose. “I want to trust you, but how can I? Why didn’t you tell me when you told me about your curse? You trickled the truth in. Now I can’t help but wonder what else you’re keeping from me.”

My stomach tightened as I thought of Ludolf and the secret shifter underground. He was right, really. Even if I couldn’t shift anymore, I was still part of the shifter community, whether I liked it or not.

And that came with certain rules and expectations—though I’d broken shifter code to help solve the last case we’d worked together. But I couldn’t tell Peter about the underground community without endangering him, and without knowing about Ludolf, he had no idea what I’d risked to be honest with him and solve that case.

I shrugged. “You know—you didn’t care when I told you I’d been cursed and lost my powers. I’d been ‘lying’ to you about that.” I glanced up at him. “And we’re still getting to know each other—I told you as soon as I felt comfortable enough to.”

I lowered my voice. “It’s not like that’s easy stuff to talk about. You, Heidi, and Will are the only ones who know.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “You might not want to admit it, but you’re more upset about me being a shifter because, like most people, you’re at least a little prejudiced toward us.”

He shook his head and shifted on his feet. “How can I not be? Every single shifter I’ve ever met covers for the others.” He raised his brows at me. “How can I trust you enough to bring you in on cases when you might do the same?”

Anger flared in my chest, but I willed myself to breathe. I really didn’t want to fight with him just then. “Have you ever asked why?” I flashed my eyes at him. “Do you have any idea what it’s like being a shifter?”

His nostrils flared. “I had a tough time growing up too, but you don’t see me asking for special treatment.”

I clenched my hands into fists and grew very still. “It’s totally different, Peter. Hatred against shifters is systemic! Even when you don’t want to get embroiled with—” I stopped myself. I didn’t want to say too much, and I could feel my heart beating fast and hard in my chest.

Peter narrowed his eyes. “Embroiled? With who, or what?”

I looked away. “I’m sorry. I can’t—for your own sake.”

He scoffed. “Oh, that’s some sea salt.”

I spun to face him, chin jutted out. “When a system of justice, your system, abandons a whole group of people, something else moves in to fill that space.”

He turned to face me, eyes blazing. “What does?”

I gritted my teeth and he shook his head. “What does that mean?” He threw a hand at me. “See? This is what I’m talking about. Shifter code, or whatever. You all say you ‘can’t’ give each other up, but if you want it to be different, how do you expect that to happen when you toe the line?”

I opened my mouth but thought of my last encounter with Ludolf. He’d used one of his lion shifters to threaten me. He’d threatened to hurt Peter. He had no idea what he, or I, was up against. I pressed my lips tight together and shook my head.

Peter huffed. “I want to help, Jolene, I really do. But every time I think you’ve let me in, I realize we’re further apart than I knew. I don’t know how to trust you.”

My stomach sank and churned, grief mixing with anger and hurt. I swallowed against the tight lump in my throat. “I don’t know what to say.”

He nodded. “Well… I’m here if you ever figure that out.”

I stalked off, dressed, and dragged myself back up a few tiers to the Darkmoon District. Day businesses had their open signs out, and human tourists mingled with magical folk. I ignored their stares and dragged my wet, aching body home. I wasn’t usually up this late and longed to throw myself in bed.

When I got to my door, I found Ludolf’s summons, an askew t, magically carved into the metal. Which meant I had to get myself down to the sewers and his secret headquarters—now. I groaned and thunked my head against the door.

32

Hexmakers

Since I had a throbbing head (probably from being awake for the last twenty hours), I decided to share and give Neo a headache, too. He and his two hench goons, Viktor and Sacha, escorted me through the stone underground tunnels to Ludolf’s lair.

“So what’s the deal with the sewers?” I curled my lip at the slimy round walls and the cockroaches that scuttled at the edges of the black water under our feet. “Is Ludolf a rat shifter or something?”

Viktor, who skipped ahead, giggled maniacally, the torchlight illuminating the tattoos that wound around both arms and up his neck and throat.

Neo, his black hair slicked back, turned around and glared at me. “No. He’s not a rat shifter.”

Behind me, Sacha, an enormous bald brute of a man, grunted. “Huh. He’s not?”

I glanced back at him, then raised my brows at Neo. “Is he an alligator then? Come on. Just tell me, or I’ll have to keep pestering you until you do.”

Neo rolled his dark eyes. “It’s not for us to speculate about.”

“Oh, yeah.” It was my turn to roll my eyes, though they ached. “I forgot how much of a kiss ass you are.”

He spun around and scowled. “Show some respect. He’s head of the shifters.”

I crossed my arms and huffed. “Not