Male, not man, his black hair and low, growling bass hinting at his panther heritage. This was Gabriel’s familiar, Pan, in his human form. If Gabriel had become a powerful battle mage, it was mainly due to Pan’s wisdom and teaching.
Which meant the panther was going to kick his butt later for being so obvious. But in private.
Casually, almost negligently, Pan slid a foot forward into a fighting stance. He pointed toward the exit. “Leave.”
One by one, the store employees cinched up behind Pan and Gabriel. Gabriel didn’t need to see their expressions to know they were glaring buckets at the wolfman, because the bully paled and fell back a step.
Blustering, “This isn’t over,” the he-wolf spun and marched out.
Pan rolled his golden eyes.
Gabriel jerked his chin at the wolfman, and Pan, reading him flawlessly, followed.
“Thank you, Dr. Light.” Emma appeared in front of Gabriel, her eyes shining up at him. “I could’ve probably handled him, but your solution was much more elegant.”
“It was nothing.” His cheeks heated. Elegant? He’d been fury-driven stupid and clumsy.
But at her words, something male inside him puffed its chest and yodeled.
She took a step closer, placing fingertips on his sweater vest. “You’re being modest.”
The chest-beater started fantasizing, picturing her throwing herself into his arms—and bed—in thanks. His cock rose in anticipation.
Before the fool penis and chest-beater could take over, his phone rang.
Two scoops of damn it.
He’d shunted the store phones to the answering service. Only a few people had his direct line. His thoughts arrowed to his pregnant sister, Sophia. “I need to take this. Excuse me?”
Emma stepped back with a nod and a sigh. His cock sighed and stepped back too.
He tapped the headset he always wore in the store. Most witches had trouble using advanced technology—their connection with the basic quantum uncertainty that was magic interfered with anything electrical—but he’d developed spells to prevent such interference.
After his parents died in a magically triggered plane crash, he’d made it his life’s work.
In case it wasn’t his sister, he spieled off, “Choice Buy, Techie Titan Gabriel Light speaking. How may I help you?”
“Gabriel, it’s Sophia.” His sister’s voice was low and stressed, almost breathless.
His own breath hitched. “What’s wrong? Is it the babies?”
Sophia had married alpha wolf shifter Noah Blackwood in semi-secrecy last month, the forbidden witch/shifter coupling in defiance of the Witches’ Council taboo.
At first Gabriel was happy for his sister. Noah was a fine male and loved Sophia to pieces. Then Gabriel’s familiar Pan had done a bit of research into the Council laws. Gabriel had already known intermagical cavorting was a felony. Life in prison for a witch caught doing the horizontal tango with a shifter.
But a witch princess having children with an alpha wolf? Death sentence.
Sophia said, “The babies are fine.”
He breathed in relief.
“But I’m not. Gabriel, a Council Enforcer is about to jail me, and you’re my one phone call. I’m accused of Coeuntia cum Lupo.”
Mating with a wolf. Gabriel’s worst fears had been realized.
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About Mary Hughes
I write steamy paranormal romances and wickedly fun romantic adventures, stories that crackle with action and love. Challenging, smart alpha men—and women not afraid of a challenge. Oh, do the sparks fly when he meets THE woman guaranteed to infuriate and inflame him most.
In real life I'm a USA Today bestselling author, a spouse and mother, a flutist, a computer geek, and a binge-TV-watcher of The Flash, Elementary, NCIS, and Wynonna Earp.
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Look for these titles by Mary Hughes
Now Available:
The Ancients Series
Night’s Caress
Biting Love Series
Biting Nixie
The Bite of Silence
Biting Me Softly
Biting Oz
Beauty Bites
Downbeat
Assassins Bite
Passion Bites
Biting Love Short Bites
Biting Holiday Honeymoons
Oz Bites
Murder at Chipmunk Lake
Biting Serendipity: April Fools For Love
Biting Love Nibbles (Short Bites collection)
Pull of the Moon
Prophecy Mates
Heart Mates
Hunt Mates
Mind Mates
Romantic Adventure
Edie and the CEO—Crimson Romance
Falling on for the Billionaire
Cin Wikkid: April Fools For Love
Hot Chips and Sand
Billionaire Ever After
Contemporary Fantasy/High Fantasy
Black Diamond Jinn (A Hot SF/Fantasy Novella)
Coming Soon:
The Ancients Series
Night’s Kiss
Night’s Bliss
Pull of the Moon Series
Soul Mates
Lovless Brothers Series
Bad Boy Billionaire’s Lady
The Classic Billionaire’s Newshound
The Genius Billionaire’s Hacker
Romantic Adventure
Untitled Starstruck novella