Page 7 of Waste (Legendary Shifters #4)

“Make no mistake, I’ve had countless deaths on my hands. Yours would just be one of many,” Ghoul retorted.

Shelley reached out to touch his arm. Stunned at her audacity and bravery, Ghoul looked down at the contrast between their skin colours. He snatched his arm away and gashed his teeth at Shelley’s face. She fell backwards with a muted cry and gazed at him, betrayed.

“Make no mistake, I’m a monster,” Ghoul said. “Now forget about me or die.”

Shelley stared, shocked, for a few moments and then fled back inside her house. Ghoul watched as she locked up, and then he requested that Mary teleport him home.

Shelley

She’d been right. The ghoul called on Mary Worth three times. He’d thought he’d frightened her away, and he’d succeeded in one aspect. He had scared her, but not to the point that she’d lost her capacity for thinking. She’d watched safely as the ghoul summoned Mary and then disappeared.

Pursing her lips, she checked the house was secure and headed up for a bath. This wasn’t over. A part of Shelley asked what she wanted from this. Because there didn’t appear to be an end result, and that made Shelley reconsider her actions.

What did she want? That was a very good question. Honestly, Shelley should be content. Her life had been saved, and she knew the paranormal existed. She realised the ghoul had seemed lonely, and that had touched her soft heart.

But furthermore, she was curious and wanted to understand what else was out there. Did vampires and werewolves exist? What about the Dullahan and Nessie?

Shelley believed the ghoul had answers she wanted, but she also wished to be his…

what? Friend? Could that be possible? And who were these Hunters?

If the ghoul were a real monster, he’d have killed her tonight to keep her silent.

He hadn’t. Instead, the ghoul had seemed worried about her and brought her a warning.

Those actions were at war with his appearance, and Shelley had learned a long time ago that you couldn’t judge people by how they looked.

No, this wasn’t over. She just had to be sneakier.

Drew/Ghoul

He shifted back to human as soon as he exited the mirror. Mary sat in her chair and smiled at him. It was a ghastly image.

“That should stop her nonsense,” Drew said.

“If you say so,” Mary chirped, looking amused.

Drew sent her a scowl and left the room. Mary’s giggles followed him down the stone stairs. What a damn nightmare!

◆◆◆

Drew was reading in his suite when there was a knock. He looked up, surprised. He’d not been expecting a visitor. Drew opened his door and blinked when he saw Pandora standing there.

“Pandora! Are you okay?” he asked, letting her in.

Drew studied the woman who’d caused all this grief. Pandora had been the one to let the Sins escape the jar. She was to blame for their becoming monsters, and Drew still harboured a great deal of resentment.

“I am well,” she murmured as she entered and sat down.

Drew disagreed with that assessment. Pandora was a beautiful girl, forever frozen at eighteen.

Yet she was merely a reflection of her former self.

Pandora had lost a lot of weight, and she was dangerously thin.

When Pandora shifted to her alternative form, Andie, which was rare nowadays, she looked even sicker.

“May I offer you refreshments?” Drew asked, his manners taking over.

“Peppermint tea? You always made that,” Pandora mentioned with a sad smile.

“That, I can do,” Drew said and headed for his small kitchen. Minutes later, he brought two cups out with steam rising from them. Pandora took hers and cupped her hands around it before raising it to sniff.

“It smells amazing, Drew,” she murmured.

“Thank you. How can I help you?” he asked.

Pandora stared at him and chuckled. “Straight to the point. I’m aware you don’t like me, Drew, and I can’t blame you.

But there was a reason for my actions that nobody knows.

I’m not here to explain myself or give excuses, but I’m here to offer a warning.

Shelley has pinged on the radar. Although nothing major yet, Shelley’s name had been flagged as a potential witness,” Pandora said.

“Why are you telling me this?” Drew asked after taking a sip from his cup. He needed a few moments to compose himself.

Even when she’d been human, Pandora had knowing eyes. Now they saw things he couldn’t imagine. Pandora had become more than a mere mortal, and nobody was sure exactly what. But she radiated with power that rivalled Lilith and Bab Yaga.

“You see why, Drew.” “No. I don’t. I warned the silly girl; if she hasn’t listened, then it’s her choice and on her head.”

“And you don’t believe what you’re saying,” Pandora challenged him, and Drew almost pouted. He just withheld himself in time.

Drew was unaware of what he felt. He didn’t feel any weird tug towards Shelley or a bond forming. But he admitted she occupied more of his thoughts than she should. Drew sighed as he stared at Pandora impassively.

“What do you want from me?”

“Me? Nothing, Drew. But I think Shelley might need your protection. As of yet, she’s not a major interest, but should she continue with her enquiries, she will be.”

“Pandora, I warned her, it’s not my issue anymore,” Drew replied, knowing he spoke an untruth.

Pandora gave him a disappointed stare. “Lie to yourself, not me. You need to save this girl.”

“Why?”

“In four weeks, Drew, I’ll ask you that.” Pandora finished her tea and placed the cup and saucer down. She got to her feet and stared at Drew. “Make this right.”

Drew rose, but Pandora saw herself out. “You’re a creepy-ass woman,” he muttered once the door had shut.

Rumours abounded about Pandora lately. It had emerged she was protecting someone, but Pandora refused to say who.

It appeared that what they’d all believed was wrong, and that was concerning.

Pandora wasn’t the type to play mind games, so Drew thought she had genuinely hidden information.

The problem was why? And why was Pandora alluding to it now?

Shelley

She smiled as she gave a customer his order, but the smile faded as soon as his back was turned. It had been a week since the ghoul had warned her to stop searching. Shelley had listened and then dismissed the warning. She wanted more information and planned to get answers.

“Are you okay?” Jo asked.

“Fine.”

“Shelley… I know—”

“Don’t, Jo. Please stop mentioning the attack. I’ve no intention of suing the company, so quit worrying. While the head office messed up our security, lessons have been learned, and hopefully nothing similar will happen again.”

“I’m not asking for that reason, Shelley. Sure, head office was concerned, but I actually care,” Jo replied, and Shelley felt small.

“Sorry,” Shelley apologised, and then she realised she was talking to Jo, and Jo had just played her.

“It’s okay. It’s just I noticed that you’ve been so quiet; the attack harmed you in more ways than one.” “I don’t want to talk about it. I refuse to be a tragic victim. Jo, he tried to kill me, but didn’t. I survived.”

“I understand,” Jo said, and Shelley nodded. She doubted Jo realised what Shelley had suffered. She was rather self-absorbed.

A light lit in Jo’s eyes. “Hey, eye candy coming in.”

Shelley smiled. It was common knowledge that Jo was looking for a rich husband. She was a notorious flirt.

“I fancy a white coffee, please,” a deep voice said, and Jo beamed.

“Sugar and what milk would you like?” she tittered.

Shelley rolled her eyes and caught the gaze of the customer. An amused look appeared in his eyes as he replied to Jo.

“Anything else?” Jo openly flirted, and the guy shook his head.

“No, thank you. How much?” he asked Shelley.

She rang his purchase up, and he gave her a ten-pound note. “Keep the change,” he stated, taking his order and heading to a seat.

“Oh, my God, that was Drew Martin, and I think he likes me!” Jo exclaimed quietly as she grinned brightly at him.

Drew Martin? Not likely. Why on earth would one of the most current, hottest country singers be in a small coffee shop in England?

Despite that, Shelley wondered how Jo had missed him rolling his eyes.

He smiled at Shelley and sipped his drink.

Shelley offered a cool but polite smile in return and served the next customer.