by Brenda Trim
A smile spread over my face when I saw the pink box in her hand as she stood on my stoop. “Aislinn. It’s good to see you this morning. I could use a croissant after the night I had.”
Aislinn let herself in before I reached her and pursed her lips. “Seems like a lot occurred last night. What happened to you?”
I turned and lead her into the kitchen where I grabbed the coffee pot. “Want some?”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, please.”
I got sidetracked by the fact that she was at my house so early in the day. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be asleep right now? Or did you have last night off?”
Her smile vanished and her expression turned somber. “No, I worked last night which is why I need some caffeine. You don’t happen to have an espresso machine, do you?”
I waved my hand through the air before grabbing a mug that Skylar gave me. It said, ‘I’m a Nightmare Before Coffee’ and had Jack Skellington’s face on the front. “I wish. Tim promised to get me one for my birthday as soon as he had regained his strength after his first round of chemo, but he never got a chance to go shopping before he passed away. Now, I just can’t see spending the money on that, especially since I have stopped working.”
Aislinn accepted the mug with a smile. “Are you doing okay? Do you need a job? There are plenty here in town we can arrange. We can’t have you move away. We need you.”
I’d decided to move here to start a new life centered around me taking care of myself. For longer than I wanted to admit, my life had been about the needs of others. First my husband, then my kids and my job, then my husband and job again. Now was all about me, yet when she said that I didn’t feel like my needs were neglected.
“I’m good financially.” Between my husband’s life insurance and the inheritance from my grandmother, I had plenty of money to support myself. “It helps that my bills are minimal, and I have no mortgage or car payment. I just can’t see spending that much money for coffee. Anyway, as much as I enjoy your company, you didn’t stop by just to bring me pastries. What’s up?”
Aislinn sat in one of the chairs at the small table in my breakfast nook. I brought the pink box over and lifted the lid. I was going to need to run an extra ten miles today if I ate all these. I grabbed a pastry and slid the rest to her.
“Please tell me you found something that helped you discover the ins and outs of being Cottlehill Wild’s Guardian.”
I swallowed the bite in my mouth, and it sank to my gut like a stone. “No. Violet even came over last night and helped me. I nearly got her killed, but I didn’t find anything that will help me. Why? What happened?” I hated to ask, but if I learned one thing in life, sticking my head in the sand helped nothing.
“Crap. That was what I was afraid of. You need to fix the ward, and now. Dark Fae are coming through in increasing frequency. If we don’t do something there won’t be anyone left in our town.” Aislinn was picking at her croissant and eating the almond slivers from the top even though her face had gone pale, and she looked sick to her stomach.
“Violet and I discovered that firsthand last night,” I admitted. I gave her a brief rundown of what had happened, leaving out the part where I wanted to throttle Sebastian then kiss him senseless. I didn’t understand what that was about and had far more important things to worry about than some guy I both loathed and lusted after.
When Tim died, I decided that I had experienced enough love for one life and didn’t need the drama finding another man would bring. Someone or something wanted me dead. That outweighed anything else.
“Dammit. I wondered why they risked coming into town last night. Now it makes sense. With Bas helping you, he wasn’t around to catch the evil Elf that had slipped into the bar.” Aislinn wiped a tear from her cheek and lifted grief-stricken green eyes to me.
My chest ached for her. “What happened? What evil Elf?”
She sniffed and resumed the picking of her croissant. “I was closing Phoenix Feathers shortly before midnight and telling Zed it was time to go when the doors burst open. Before I knew what was happening the Elf had buried a knife in Zed’s back and was coming after me.”
“Holy shit. How did you get away?” My heart was pounding in my chest, and I couldn’t catch my breath until I reminded myself that she lived through the ordeal.
She pushed her red curls away from her face, revealing a large purple bruise on the side of her face. “I wouldn’t have gotten out of there if Desmond hadn’t come back to grab the deposit. The Elf was so intent on killing me that he never heard Des sneak up behind him and slice his throat. I’ve never seen so much blood in my life.” She hunched over and sobbed into her hands.
Jumping from my chair, I rounded the table and hunched at her side, and wrapped my arms around her slim shoulders. “You survived, Ais. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you.”
She lifted her tear-streaked face and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. “You were too busy fighting for your life. And someone is trying to stop you from doing your job and discovering how you can protect our town better. We need to get that information, so they don’t take us all out one by one.”
“You, Violet and I were targeted last night. That’s no coincidence. But who? And how?”
Cottlehills was a small town, and I knew almost everyone. It seemed unlikely someone who lived here tried to eliminate me, but I couldn’t rule it out. It was entirely possible the dark King was sending his minions through the portal. I had no idea where it was or how to stop creatures from crossing.
“I have no idea, but there has to be something somewhere to help. Did Violet find anything in her store?” Aislinn asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I tapped my lips as I tried to recall what we’d talked about the other day when I went to see her. It seemed like another lifetime ago when I sought her out to confirm Aislinn’s assertion that I was the new Guardian.
I shook my head. “Not that I know of. When I went to see her, I asked if what you said was true. Nothing else. We came here to look for any information my grandmother might have left to help me in my new role. I didn’t find anything from my grams. Not even a letter.”
Aislinn pushed back and stood up. “Sounds like we need to pay Violet a visit. Perhaps there’s something there that can give us some information.”
I shook my head but stood and grabbed the pink box before I followed her to the door. “She told me she didn’t have anything that would give me information on my job or anything.”
Aislinn opened the driver’s side door to her car and gestured for me to climb in. “That might be the case, but there’s more now it seems. More often than not our focus is narrow. There’s never been a reason to look too deep or consider alternatives. We’ve lived a life of relative safety while Isidora was alive. Now that we’re facing unknown threats.”
I latched my seat belt as she turned the key then took off down my dirt road. “Fair enough. I’m still struggling to wrap my mind around all of this, so I guess I should keep my mouth shut and leave it to the more experienced. Unless it’s Sebastian making the suggestion. Then I’ll seek a second opinion.”
Aislinn snickered as she turned down Main Street. “Bas has always been moody, but he seems to have a little extra for you.”
“Understatement. The question is why? I’ve never done anything to him.” I could hear how petulant I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. He unsettled me and brought up every doubt I’ve ever had in my life.
Aislinn lifted her shoulders as she pulled into a parking spot close to Pleasure Bound, Violet’s bookstore. “He’s a hard Fae to crack.”
I got out of the car clutching the pink box while considering a muffin. “He’s as hard as a macadamia nutshell. I wonder if I apply three hundred pounds of pressure if he’d crack, too.”
Aislinn chuckled as we entered Pleasure Bound. Violet lifted a hand as she finished checking out a customer. When the young woman was gone, we approached the register, and I set the pastries
in front of Violet.
“How are you feeling? You were gone before I woke up this morning, and I didn’t want to call and interrupt your morning routine.”
Violet sighed and lifted the lid. “Thank you. I’m starving. I didn’t have time to grab anything when I went home and showered, and the store has been slammed all morning.”
I waved to Aislinn. “Thank her, she brought them to my place.”
Violet turned to Aislinn, and her smile died. “What happened?”
Aislinn managed to tell her what happened at the bar last night without devolving into sobs. “This is getting dangerous. We need to find something that will help Fiona.”
Violet set the tart down and rubbed her hands together. “Gods, sometimes I hate living at a crossroads. I should have moved away when Trent first suggested it. It would have saved me a painful divorce, and my kids wouldn’t have grown up without their dad.”
Aislinn thrust her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “Nonsense. Trent was an asshole just like Bodin. And leaving was the best thing he ever did for you. He didn’t deserve you or Bailey or Ben.”
“Trent made a promise to you. And, he broke that promise. You both need to reclaim your soul.”
Both women tilted their heads and looked at me then said, “What?” practically in unison.
One corner of my mouth lifted. “When you give yourself to someone who doesn’t respect you, you surrender pieces of your soul. They don’t deserve that much of you. It’s time you start to expect something extraordinary to happen and realize the past no longer holds you captive. While you will never truly get what you lost back, you can forge something new. It’s why I’m here to start my life over. I wanted something for me.”
Violet smiled and picked up her tart then took a bite. “You’re right. And, I’m starting with this pastry. Now, let’s see if we have anything here on portals or Fae magic.”
“Or, reinforcing boundaries. The one around town is faltering.” Aislinn tossed out before she grabbed a scone.
Violet typed into her computer and read the screen. Leaning against the counter, I scanned the street through the large glass window.
“Did my grandmother fight these things like we did last night?” I blurted into the silence.
Violet’s fingers stopped and she looked up from her computer. “I have no idea. She never mentioned anything of the sort.”
Aislinn’s head bobbed up and down. “She would have told everyone if she’d been attacked.”
“Maybe that’s why she gave that small slice of land to Bas,” Violet blurted.
“What? She gave him his land?” I couldn’t believe he was such an asshole when he’d been given such a significant gift.
“I’m not exactly sure. It was before my time, but I’ve heard they had some kind of arrangement. Unless you find your Grimoire and Isidora wrote about it, you’ll have to ask Bas,” Violet informed me then went back to typing on the computer.
A sigh left me as I pushed the fatigue away that threatened to drown me once again. “I don’t care that much. I have more important shit to worry about, like figuring out who’s trying to kill us.”
“You, I understand, but why us?” I gaped at Aislinn thinking she didn’t like me after all. Why would she understand someone wanting to kill me?
Her hands flew to her mouth and she shook her head from side to side. “I didn’t mean it like you’re malicious or something. It’s because you’re the Guardian here. That makes you a target, but I’m nothing but a waitress.”
“And, I’m a bookstore owner that can’t seem to find a book to help us. I carry several books on spells, potions and cooking with magic, but nothing on portals or Fae magic.” Violet looked defeated.
“I’ll take everything you have on magic. I have no idea how to cast a spell or brew a potion.”
Violet popped the last of her tart into her mouth and came out from behind the counter. “One crucial thing to remember is that these books will give you the basics but being a halfling, they won’t work quite the same for you as they do for me.”
“Of course not. That would be too easy. I don’t know the first thing, so it will be a beginning.” I followed her down an aisle and fought the urge to run my fingers over the spines.
Aislinn bumped me with her shoulder. “I’ll help in any way I can. It wasn’t until Bodin left that I asked Isidora to teach me. I can’t brew potions as powerful as Violet, but I can create basic ones.”
“Here we are,” Violet announced and picked two books from the shelves then handed them to me.
I flipped one open and smiled when I saw drawings of herbs. This would come in handy while learning what was in my garden. A big black pot was on the first page of the second book. “I need a cauldron? I would never have guessed Hollywood got that right.”
Violet laughed. “Where do you think they got the idea? Many myths are fairly accurate because supernaturals leak information either to entertain or frighten others. Those stories are beyond anything most can comprehend and capture their imaginations.”
“My kids will love this stuff. Skylar especially.”
Aislinn’s head snapped in my direction and her curls went flying around her face. “Are you going to tell them?”
I paused and considered her question. “Eventually, I will have to tell them. They’re the ones who will have to take over after me and I refuse to leave them in the dark.”
Violet started back to the front of the store. “That makes sense. You can always start a diary. Doing that will alleviate a lot of the pressure to do it in a certain timeframe. It’ll be there for them when they need it.”
My head was bobbing up and down. “That’s a great idea, but I think I’ll type it into the notes app on my tablet. That way I can easily add and correct information. What do you guys say to dinner and wine one night soon so you can help me make sense of these books?”
“I have Thursday night off. I’ll bring the wine. Anything in particular you like?”
“Wino,” Violet teased Aislinn. “That Chilean blend you brought to my house last month was delicious.”
“Chilean wine is the best. Do you guys like curry?” I hadn’t spent enough time with them to know their food preferences, and there were only three restaurants in town. The Sapphire Clam was a fancy seafood place while Fire and Ice was more casual and served various foods. Salutation was probably my favorite. It served sandwiches and burgers.
Aislinn’s face lit up. “I love curry. I usually have to go into the city when I’m in the mood for it.”
Violet paused in ringing me up. “And, I tag along. I’d love your recipe. It never turns out when I make it.”
“It’s all in the paste. I brought some with me from the States.” We devolved into laughter at that, and I enjoyed the brief respite from the world of magic. I hadn’t hung out with friends like this since I had Emmie. Life had taken over everything, hence the reason I was now living in England, starting a new magical phase. And, while I loved my children, there was nothing like spending time with people my age. Especially, ones that understood my hot flashes, bad-knee and need for reading glasses.
Chapter 7
“Incoming!” I ducked as I shouted the warning, then devolved into a fit of laughter.
Violet’s shriek was shrill. “What was that?”
Aislinn’s laughter joined mine. “What spell did you try that time?”
I lifted my head as I was bent over, bracing myself on my knees. “Apparently, I’m like that kid in Harry Potter who blows up every spell he tries.”
Violet started laughing then. “It’s leviosa not leviosa. What were you trying to do and what did you say?”
That sparked another fit of giggles. Wiping my eyes, I reached for my wine. Thankfully, I hadn’t sent that flying across the room, too. “I was trying to make the book levitate.”
Aislinn and Violet shared a look before Aislinn turned to me. “Let me guess. You didn’t think the translation was correct, so you used
the terminology from the popular movie?”
My cheeks immediately heated. I expected a foreign word, not the actual word. “Maybe? Okay, I see that was wrong, but that’s not the biggest issue here. My magic doesn’t work right. I’m all over the place, and nothing happens like it’s supposed to. I mean, I created fire in the forest without even trying and just a minute ago water dribbled from my fingers when I actually called on the element.”
Violet patted my shoulder in sympathy. “I’m not the best teacher. And you’re unique. I’ve never actually met another hybrid quite like you. I think we need to find better books. It might be time to…”
Aislinn threw out her hand, cutting Violet off. “No. Don’t say it. Having her negotiate with Filarion is a mistake.”
Violet thrust her hand on her hips. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Who is this Filarion and why is going to him a bad idea?” Both women just stared at me for several seconds. I clutched the wine to my chest, fighting the racing of my heart and the desire to fidget under their scrutiny.
“He’s Violet’s main competition where our kind is concerned. He has a table at Staves and Stoves and is a known scoundrel.” Aislinn’s wine nearly spilled as she gestured wildly with the full glass she was holding.
I wracked my brain to recall the store name. Unfortunately, I had no idea what she was talking about. “What is Staves and Stoves? I would have guessed a tobacco store, but if he’s in competition with Violet, I’d say he’s into books.”
Violet sighed and sat on the arm of the nearby chair. “It’s not a store precisely. It’s more like an open-air market. Only it’s hidden from humans, accessible to supernaturals.”
“It’s more of a bazaar,” Aislinn added. “There isn’t much you can’t find there.”
I was hurt for a split second. Why hadn’t anyone taken me there before? It sounded fascinating and I suddenly wanted to go right now. Then I recalled my grams had kept my true identity from me, and it hadn’t been all that long since I discovered who I really am. Violet and Aislinn had been going out of their way to help me learn and adjust.
