Evan switched the leg he was leaning on. What was he even doing out there? She wasn't going to leave the shop, not while the store was open. So why was he lurking in the shadows across the street?

Gods, he had been there every day that week. He already knew an ambush wouldn't work, not with the type of magic the witch had possessed. He was driving himself crazy, standing just close enough to inhale the slightest hint of her scent.

"What are you doing out here?" a voice said from behind him.

Evan lurched forward in surprise then straightened himself.

It was that damn succubus again.

"What do you want, succubus?"

She scoffed and passed a carrier with two cups of coffee into her right hand so she could place her left on her hip.

"Half-succubus, thank you very much," she said curtly. "Now, tell me, are you stalking my friend?"

He definitely was, but he wouldn't admit that to her. Instead, he looked back to the store, and watched as the witch moved around inside. She picked at her loose curls, looking as if she was struggling to stay awake.

"She's waiting for that, isn't she?" Evan asked, motioning to the coffee in the succubus's hands. "You should get going."

Her eyes narrowed at him for a moment, then relaxed. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Indeed, I shall," she said with a twirl of her finger. "But just so you know, hiding out here, besides being supremely creepy, isn't going to get you what you want."

Had she found him out? Did the witch tell her his secret? She looked like the sort of girl whose silence could be bought.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

Her lips curled into a sly smile.

"I could feel your desire for her the moment I noticed you in the store. And you've been out here every night, haven't you?"

Shit, he might actually have to kill this one.

"Look, I'll give you some advice. Just be nice to her. Vicki hasn't been treated well in the past. Show her your interest from somewhere other than the shadows, okay? And you'd better hurry up before someone else comes along."

Evan was taken aback by her words. Did she really think he needed help seducing the witch? He could manage that himself, if he actually wanted to go that route. Being out here was just for...reconnaissance. He just needed enough information about her to get her to lower her guard. But maybe having her friend's approval would be useful, especially if she mistook his hunger for romantic interest. Maybe that was the way forward after all.

Evan smiled at the succubus and offered her his hand.

"Thanks for the tip. I'll go in as soon as I work up the nerve."

The succubus shook his hand and sighed heavily.

"You are too good looking to be so shy. If Vicki turns you down, you could always take me out."

He laughed. "What do you think the odds of that are?"

"Gods, if she sees you laugh like that, I'd say zero."

Yeah, he thought so.

Evan continued to wait outside as the night went on. The succubus left after the midnight rush, waving at him from across the street. Other underdwellers had trickled in since then, and Evan noticed that more males had begun visiting the shop. What the hell was a male underdweller doing purchasing warding magic? Where was their pride?

Irritation began to claw at Evan's back, and he tried tamping it down by stomping his foot on the pavement. It was no good, whatever magic the witch had injected into him made him antsy. The minute another male entered the shop, Evan leapt from his place in the shadows and caught the door before it could close.

He took note of the customers in the shop. Only two, one young mixed mortal girl, and the male he had spotted earlier. A small werewolf by the look of it.

The witch hadn't noticed him yet, she was occupied with the girl at the counter. He slid into the nook between the wall of incense and the store window. What was he doing?

Being pathetic, that's what.

The door chime rang again, and Evan watched as the young girl who the witch had just been helping walked down the street. Which meant only he and the werewolf had remained in the store. She still didn't know he was there, she couldn't have. He was well hidden, and because he entered so close to the werewolf, there was only one ring to signal their entry.

And yet the witch's blood scent smelled as fragrant as ever. Was she not the least bit concerned with being isolated with a male that could easily overpower her? Well, she had managed to maim him, which was impressive, but that had been a different scenario entirely. This wolf had to have smelled the same sweet aroma he had. Evan could control his urge since he had recently fed, but he couldn't guarantee the wolf would be the same.

Gods, he was this deep in thought about it all and the witch was none the wiser.

He peered out from his hiding place. The werewolf was at the table set with stuffed animals. Evan saw the wolf's nose twitch.

That sent him over the edge.

Evan strode over to the display and began picking up every handmade creature on the table. He looked at the wolf, who was still holding a frog in his grasp.

"You should hand that over," Evan said.

The air began to go bitter. She had finally noticed him.

"What? Why?" the wolf asked.

Evan growled. "Because I intend to buy it," he said slowly.

The wolf looked Evan up and down, and even went as far as to bare his teeth at him. But Evan just narrowed his eyes at the pup until he folded and placed the stuffed frog on the pile in his arms. The werewolf left the store quickly after that.

Evan approached the counter and dropped the assorted animals on top of it. The witch was frightened, her blood told him that much, but she still managed to give him a searing glare from behind the counter

"Something wrong, Vicki?"

She crossed her arms.

"I've been keeping your secret, why are you here scaring off my customers?"

At least she was keeping his secret. Evan motioned to the stuffed animals on the counter. "Am I not one of your customers? Ring me up, Vicki."

She began pounding on the keys on the register.

"Stop calling me by my first name like we're friends or something," she muttered.

He took note of how the smell shifted from bitter pepper to sour milk. More proof that her emotions were powerful and more potent than anything he had ever encountered.

"I like to think we know each other quite intimately. You did get your magic through my hand, didn't you?"

Instead of apologizing, she narrowed her eyes at him and kept working the register.

Oh, she was pissed, but what right did she have to be that way? He was buying out hundreds of dollars' worth of her merchandise and she still wouldn't even fake civility with him.

"If it's too much trouble, maybe I'll take my business elsewhere," he said. Like he would buy any toys other than these.

The witch perked up and shook her head.

"No, no it's alright," she said quietly.

So, she wanted his money after all. Business must be tight then. That tidbit of information was going to be worth whatever the price of the animals was.

"Glad to hear it, Vicki."

She bit at her lip when he said her name again. Evan had the slightest hope she would draw blood, but apparently, he hadn't perturbed her that much. He handed her the money he owed, and she slid the bag of animals across the counter.

"You could at least tell me your name," she whispered so quietly no mortal would have heard her. Thank the gods for vampiric hearing.

"It's Evan," he said and relished in the look of surprise that spread over her face. "And you could at least let me take you to dinner."

It was his turn to be surprised now, because instead of saying yes or turning him down outright, she smirked at him and said:

"Sure, are you free after sunrise?"

That damn witch!

He was half tempted to throw the bag of animals into the fireplace. Why did he always feel like such a loser when he spoke to her? He was in the position of power here.

Wasn't he?

He turned away from the fireplace and stomped over to his dresser. He opened one of the drawers and dumped the contents of the bag into it. Evan froze and got angry when he realized he was lingering to breathe in the collective scent. He forced himself to push the drawer closed and threw himself on his bed.

Every encounter he had with the witch only left him seething. He needed a new approach. He could try being nice to her like the succubus had suggested, but that wouldn't make him feel any better and she had already turned him down once.

After Sunrise.

If only he could be out during the daylight. It'd be much easier to bite her as she slept. Maybe she was lying down to sleep as well. Weird for a witch to force herself to keep nocturnal hours. That must be why she drank so much coffee.

Nocturnal witch or not, he was not going to let another opportunity pass him by. The next time he had her alone, he'd do what he had to and be done with her.