Page 76 of The Nowhere Witch

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I was sitting at my desk when Hawk walked out of the back room, Oscar following behind. Hawk kept walking as Oscar stopped in front of my desk.

“You might want to come along for this,” Oscar said.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Hawk was already out the door as I got to my feet.

“You’ll see when you get there,” Oscar said. He followed Hawk out as I ran and grabbed my jacket, hurrying to catch up.

Oscar was squinting, scanning the area as I caught up to him. Hawk was far ahead, and there was an air about him that instinctively said he wanted his space. People on the street noticed too, stopping and watching our procession.

“Where are we going?” I asked Oscar.

“Zark’s.”

“Why?”

Oscar shook his head, his devil-may-care attitude replaced by an expression that made me wonder if there were a demon about to hunt us down. “It’s best if you hear for yourself.”

I swallowed that as well as I would a few stones with a chaser of bad milk, and it all fell into a sour lump in my belly. It wasn’t the fight that I feared we were walking into that rattled me. I’d had enough brawls with enough magical creatures that a few bruises meant nothing. With Oscar and Hawk beside me, I’d probably live. Not to toot our own horn, but the three of us combined were a formidable trio. My fear, the gurgling in my gut, was aboutwhyHawk was heading into a fight.

He didn’t get mad and stalk others down like this. He was more of a kill-them-in-cold-blood type, and nothing about him was cold right now. I could feel the steam coming off him from way back here.

I didn’t beg Oscar for more information, though. He wasn’t going to talk, and I’d know soon enough anyway. With Zark’s already in sight, I needed the next few minutes to gather myself for whatever was about to come.

Hawk disappeared into Zark’s. He was already at the bar, speaking to Zark, when we followed.

Zark glanced at us as we walked in.

“I’m not here about Tippi—or not her job, anyway,” Hawk said, looking my way. He was giving me a feeling like someone had tied cement blocks to my ankles and tried to dump me overboard. What had gone down that was going to screw me so bad that I didn’t know about? I might’ve missed the cinder blocks, but the stones in my stomach were growing in size.

“What is it, then?” Zark asked.

Hawk turned back to Zark. Oscar moved a little closer to my side. He wasn’t touching me, but he seemed to think I might need support.

“I need to talk to your son,” Hawk said.

That was all I needed to hear. Hawk had never liked Gregor, and I was not going to be a party to some witch hunt. Sort of fitting, since I was in Xest, a place filled with witches.

The old man straightened up and lost all of his soft edges. “Why? What business do you have with Gregor?”

Yeah, that was what I’d like to know as well.

“He’s working with the other side,” Hawk said.

“Bull. Not my son.” Zark’s chest puffed up as he turned his head, yelling to the back, “Gregor, get out here.”

Hawk might like to stick it to me out of amusement, but even he wouldn’t go this far to give me a bad day. Hawk wanted to think the worst of Gregor, had since the moment we’d become friends. He might know something, but that didn’t mean it was correct.

No, this was ending now. I wouldn’t let him string up my buddy because he didn’t like others to play with his toys. I stepped away from Oscar and placed myself in between Hawk and the door that led to the back. If Hawk wanted Gregor, he’d have to go through me. I might not be as good at protecting myself, but I could protect others pretty damned well, maybe even from Hawk.

“Step out of the way,” Hawk said.

I didn’t budge. “I know you don’t like him, but you need to leave Gregor alone. He’s done nothing to you, and whatever you might have imagined, it’s not true.”

“I said, step out of the way.”

“No.” Magic was boiling up in me, fizzing though my body like I was going to blow.