After a revitalizing run through the jungle, Quick stomped to his office and slammed the door behind him, but it made no sound, no click, no wood on wood sounds of a door closing.

He whirled around to find out why.

Maze had followed him in and caught it before it could close fully.

Maze was the last person Quick wanted to talk to right now; his best friend and second-in-command knew him too well.

“So,” Maze said, “feel better after your meltdown?”

“It was not a meltdown. I had something very important to do.”

Maze snorted. “Yeah, taking a run through the forest is always important.”

“Are you here for a reason, Maze? Except to bug me?”

“Yeah. What do you think of the new boss woman? And why doesn’t she have any luggage? I thought she was coming to stay. She looks like she packed for a weekend. If that.”

Maze crossed arms over a broad chest and leaned against the door.

“Shit. One question at a time.” Quick released a long sigh.

Maze narrowed his eyes, studying him. “You’re not still pissed that you couldn’t inherit the island, are you? It’s not the boss woman’s fault.”

“I know,” Quick snapped. “I’m not pissed. I never was pissed. I just don’t want things to change.” He sat back in his chair behind his tidy desk and ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry, man.”

“You should take some time off,” Maze said. “You can’t work while you grieve. You’ve put everyone on eggshells. I got this.”

That sounded logical, but grief wasn’t logical. “No. I have too much do with—” his tongue stumbled over the words. “—Miss Devereaux.”

He’d never thought of anyone else but Adriana by that name. Plus, if he just sat around, he’d think about how much he’d miss the woman who’d pretty much been his mother figure ever since his own mother was killed.

No, he couldn’t do that. No time for moping.

A thought popped into his mind. “Maze, how many families are on the island? How many from the village work here?”

“Good part of the population now. Adriana hired several to staff the east side. Why?”

Quick shook his head. “No reason, really.”

And then he felt guilty about the bold-faced lie he just told the one person he trusted more than anyone.

There was a very good reason why he asked. If Vivienne Devereaux sold the island, his and everyone else’s lives would drastically change for the worse.

How could she sell it anyway? It’s not like she could put it with a realtor. It would have to go to another paranormal.

Could a non-Devereaux with magic skills handle the enchantments the island needed?

His shoulders slumped with the weight of the responsibility—all these families, all the Devereaux plans.

Should he tell Maze about Vivienne Devereaux mentioning selling? If he did, he’d probably cause undue stress on Maze.

Quick needed Miss Devereaux to fall in love with Skull Point Cay. To never want to leave or sell. The pressure made his head feel like it was going to explode. He just got here, and already he needed to get out again. Rising, he headed for the door he’d just come through.

Maze moved out of his way swiftly, as if knowing his boss had a lot on his mind.

Quick slid out the front door. Outside, he noticed Maze had followed him. He was a best friend, a great help, but sometimes he was a complete pain in the ass.

Quick could take care of that. He whirled to face Maze. “Miss Devereaux needs an escort. Handle that.”

Maze smiled. “That wasn’t a request, was it?”

“You bet your ass it wasn’t.”

A panicked scream split the island’s serene environment.

It came from the trees behind the building.

They both took off in a sprint toward the sound. Reaching the trees, they didn’t know which direction to go.

Quick pointed Maze to the right, while he went left.

Who the hell had just screamed?

Coming around a big tree, a body slammed into him, nearly knocking him to the ground.

Before him, splayed out on the forest’s floor, Vivienne Devereaux looked up with frantic eyes. She scrambled to her feet and made to go around him.

“There’s a wild animal chasing me! Run.”

Unlikely, he thought, but said nothing.

The only animals—of any size on the island, to speak of—were shifters. Quick jumped to grab her arms to keep her from running off. “Lady, it’s all right.”

She flailed and thrashed.

“Hey!” He wrapped his arms around her to stop her wildness. “Miss Devereaux?”

She stilled, each heaving breath pressing her body against his.

“Quick…” She gasped a breath. “Animal…” Another breath, then, “Deadly…”

He looked behind her. “There isn’t anything behind you.”

She whirled around, looking, searching. “But I heard it growl and…”

“I assure you, there are not any wild animals on the island. We would never allow that.”

She pulled away from him, leaned against a tree and wiped her forehead with her hand. “I swear, something was after me. I felt it.”

“No, Miss Devereaux. No such thing. Not on Skull Point.”

“Vivienne. Call me Vivienne.”

“Vivienne, it’s lunchtime. Let’s go.”

Her face was red with the exertion, but beneath it, she’d paled with fear. “But—”

He motioned her in the direction of the buildings.

His nose lifted into the air, smelling for another shifter. She was right, a shifter was nearby. And it wasn’t the scent of one he immediately recognized.

Dammit.

They’d never had a problem with any of the locals.

What the hell was going on? He needed to talk with the village leaders to see if they knew anything.

But now, he had to escort this woman to the restaurant.

A woman who infuriated him while at the same time attracted him.

He whistled, sending a signal to Maze that all was okay. Then a thought dawned on him.

What if she hated shifters? Witches and shifters notoriously did not get along.

Hell.

This would be a fine mess.