The Lying, the Witch, and the Werewolf (Down & Dirty Supernatural Cleaning Services Book 4) by Kate Quinn (uplifting books for women .txt) 📗

“You guys are focusing on the wrong thing,” I say, yanking my wrist away from him. “I’ve got the proof of what Together We Come has in mind. We’ve got to get to that rally—like now. Also, I’m kind of on the Most Wanted list around here, so the sooner we leave, the better.”

“I’m sorry,” Cassie says, her head dropping, but not before I see tears forming in her eyes. Shit. Not only did I not get laid at the sex cult, I also managed to offend the one friend I made.

“No, I’m sorry,” I say, stepping forward and taking her hand. “I didn’t mean to ignore you, or your prophecy.”

“It’s okay,” Cassie says, her voice tremulous. “I’m kind of used to it.” She looks up at Nico, eyes shining. “Do you remember what my prophecies used to be like?”

“Yeah,” he says, smiling back. “You always knew what was for lunch at Mount Olympus Academy.”

“Super useful, that’s me!” Cassie says, but there’s an edge in her voice. Nice. I think I just opened a vast well of insecurities within this sweet little psychic. Great job, Paige Harper. My motto should be—Save the World, Destroy A Friend.

I plop down beside Cassie on the cot and give her a big hug. “I’m just overwhelmed,” I tell her. “It’s been a long weekend, and now we’re trying to stop this chocolate bar plan…”

“I get it,” Cassie says quietly. “You have more important things on your mind.”

“No! That’s not what I’m saying,” I insist. “I love that you gave me a prophecy, I mean, sure I wish it was more of the ‘you’ll take come into money’ variety of fortune—”

“Oh no,” Cassie interrupts. “I definitely did not get any indicators of wealth for you. Like nothing at all. Zip. Zilch. Ze—”

I hold up a hand. “Yep, okay, got it. That definitely tracks with how my life has been going. But then again, so does being ‘taken’. I have a crazy fae roommate, my ex-husband could possibly put me up as payment in a poker game, and then there’s this guy…” I jerk my head in Nico’s direction. “Sending me into undercover jobs. Plus, I clean a supernatural brothel, my ex-boyfriend is a newly turned vampire—”

“Oh crap,” Nico says, interrupting my recitation, Actually, I’m kinda glad, because the reminder of my real life was making me consider throwing myself on Adorra’s mercy and begging to stay at the sex cult.

“What?” I ask Nico.

He winces. “I forgot. Shauna wanted me to tell you that Liam disappeared and nobody can find any trace of him.”

I shoot to my feet. “You conveniently forgot to tell me that?”

Nico rolls his eyes. “Sorry if Liam isn’t my number one concern right now. Why do you have Shauna watching him anyway? He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

“Because…” Tears fill my eyes and I sink back onto the cot next to Cassie. “I turned him into a vampire.”

Cassie takes my hand and pats it between her own. “It happens,” she says in her accepting way.

“He hates me now,” I add.

“It can be a difficult transition,” she says. “I bet he comes around.”

I sit up hopefully. “Did you see that, in one of your visions?”

“Um, well...no.” Cassie gives me an apologetic shrug. “I was just being optimistic.”

“Right,” I say, sagging back down. As thoughts of Liam come back, so too does VSK. Wow, amazingly, I actually forgot about my stalker for a few days. Here in the middle of the sex cult I felt safe for the first time in a long time.

“You know, even though I wasn’t super into all the sex stuff,” I say to Cassie, “I’m really going to miss it here.”

“Then stay!” she exclaims. “I’m going to! We can be Together We Come besties!”

I sigh. “I can’t. I have work and friends and…” I shake my head. “My dad always said when you try to run away from your problems they always eventually find ya anyway.” The thought of my dad puts some steel back into my spine. I wasn’t raised to mope. “So if someone wants to take me, they better watch out, because Paige Harper goes down swinging.”

Cassie claps her hands, obviously impressed. “You are so spunky for someone with absolutely no special abilities at all,” she says admiringly.

“Uh, thanks.” I frown at her and then Mac, who gazes down at Cassie adoringly. “Are you sure about staying here?”

She nods without any hesitation at all. “I am all into it.”

I’m about to correct Cassie that the phrases are “all in” or “into it”—but then I decide that her combo phrase is perfect just the way she said it.

I move to stand, but Cassie grabs at my hand once more. “Paige, I know you’re as tough as any mortal creature can be, but if you ever need me...I have ESPN.”

“Great,” I say, not sure how to take this. “Well, I do sometimes like to catch a baseball game.”

“Baseball?” Cassie giggles. “I don’t think you understand. If you get in trouble, close your eyes and think of me as hard as you can. I try to always keep the channel open so I can hear close friends when they’re in need.”

I swallow hard. “Are we close friends?”

“Of course!” she exclaims, throwing her arms around me for a gigantic hug. “I told you, we’re commune besties!”

By the time I pull back from the hug, I’m not the only one crying. “Cassie, listen, I know you think you want to become a permanent member here at Together We Come, but please think about it before you make any commitments.”

“I will, I promise,” Cassie says, but her eyes slide off me and over to Mac. I have a feeling that if he’s all in, she will be, too.

But if Together We Come has taught me anything, it’s that I can’t control other people. Also, don’t suck magic candy off a hot werewolf’s finger.

Even the memory of Nico’s finger between my lips gets me flushed, but the