Starlight Web

by Yasmine Galenorn

  She paused. “I’m meeting Asher—Asher Brant, the mayor—for coffee. Would you like to join us? That way you can tell us both. We’re meeting at Tangier’s Coffee Express in thirty minutes.”

  I hadn’t expected her to introduce me to the mayor. “Hold on one sec,” I said, then muted the call. “Millie’s offered to include me in a meeting with the mayor in half an hour. Think I should go?”

  Tad lit up. “That would be wonderful. I’m still trying to get hold of Jane, the real estate developer. I left a message, but she’s out. Caitlin, you want to type up the official report?”

  “Sure thing.” She glanced at Hank. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you go home?”

  He shook his head. “I am tired, but I’d rather sit here and watch the reports. It’s not that strenuous.” He seemed a little unnerved.

  I gathered my things and headed for the door. “I’ll be back after the meeting. Here’s hoping the mayor can do something.”

  “Good luck,” Tad said, shaking his head. “But don’t expect too much.”

  The streets glistened with ice. Cautiously, I navigated the road into the town square.

  Tangier’s Coffee Express was located in City Central, three doors down from the police station. It occurred to me that the mayor’s office was also in the building, and that if anybody ever wanted to destroy the heart of Moonshadow Bay, all they had to do was bomb the crap out of the complex.

  I managed to make it inside without slipping and—already frozen by the short jaunt from my car to the building—I was grateful for the warm blast of air as I entered the coffee shop. The building was heated, of course, but they kept the hallways on the cool side.

  The coffee shop smelled like coffee, of course, and freshly baked cinnamon buns. I wasn’t hungry, but the smell made my stomach rumble.

  What the hell. I had already had six shots of espresso that day—three in my morning drink and three at lunch—so I ordered a hot cocoa and a cinnamon roll. With pastry and drink in hand, I looked around and finally spotted Millie sitting with a man. I joined them.

  “Hey, January. Let me introduce Asher Brant, the mayor.”

  Millie’s companion was a handsome man who looked far younger than I expected. I seldom used the word “dapper,” but…Asher was dapper, all right. My guess was a metrosexual. His hair was dark and curly, and he was fit and trim, wearing a Calvin Klein suit. Ellison had taught me to read designer labels at first sight.

  “I’m January Jaxson,” I said, offering my hand. “My great-grandfather was one of the founding members of Moonshadow Bay,” I added.

  He shook my hand. “How do you do? Millie told me you have something you wanted to discuss with me?”

  “Yes, actually.” I slid out of my jacket, grateful I was sitting right over a heating vent.

  Asher was smooth, charming, and my guess—as ineffectual as he was gorgeous. I had met far too many like him before. They talked a good game, but seldom came through on promises.

  I glanced at Millie. “We know what’s going on at the old Stellarview asylum. First, the rumors about Psy’s ghost? Not the problem. It’s actually far worse.”

  I told them everything that had happened and what we had found out. “So you see, the best option would be to raze the building and barricade off the land.”

  “Which would cost a fortune,” Millie said, groaning. “All right, I see why you felt that the mayor should know about this.” She turned to Asher. “Any thoughts?”

  He stirred his spoon in his coffee three times before adding milk and sugar. Still, he said nothing. Finally, he shrugged. “I’d like to help, but the city simply can’t afford to do anything. I suppose we could condemn the building, but we can’t barricade off the land.”

  I slumped back in my seat. “Tad figured that would be your answer. Do you have any other ideas?”

  “Not really,” Millie said, frowning. “I can’t post warning signs since I don’t own the property, and I can’t force the owner to do so. We’re a small town, January. We just don’t have the resources to handle this. If we make an announcement about it, the owner could sue us for damaging their property values.”

  “I know,” I mumbled. “Fine, I get it. I really do. But I’m not sure what—” I paused as my phone rang. “Will you excuse me?” I stepped outside into the wide hall. There were people hustling every which way. The library was booming with business, and so were the police station and the town hall. “Hello?”

  It was Rowan. “I may have the answer to your problem,” she said. “Drop by tonight at 6:30. I have someone I want you to meet.” Before I could answer, she hung up.

  I stared at the silent screen, then ducked back inside the coffee shop. “I got a phone call that may solve the problem, but I won’t know till tonight,” I told Millie and Asher.

  “Let us know what happens,” Millie said, standing. She started to leave, but Asher hung back.

  “Will you be at the carnival?” he asked me as Millie left the shop.

  Surprised by the question, I stammered a “Yes” and then blurted out, “Why?”

  “I thought we might meet up there. I can show you around. I know you used to live here in Moonshadow Bay, but it’s been a long time and—” He shrugged, smiling.

  I stared at him. Had the mayor just asked me out? Feeling a little confused and not so much interested, I said, “Thanks for the offer, but I have a date.”

  He held my gaze, his expression unreadable. “Well, can’t blame me for trying. I’ll see you around.” And then, his smile was back, but cooler than before. He abruptly left the shop.

  I finished my cinnamon roll, watching him stride down the hall back to town hall. Asher struck me as a man who didn’t like to be crossed. And he also struck me as a man who expected to get whatever he wanted.

  Trust me, you do not want to get involved with him, Esmara whispered in my ear, making me jump.

  “Would you stop doing that? You almost made me take a bath in hot cocoa,” I whispered, hoping nobody would notice I was talking to the air.

  You don’t have to whisper. I can hear you if you direct your thoughts toward me. And trust me, you do want me to talk to you—I can be a great help.

  Is my mother with you? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, in case the answer was no, but the question formed before I could stop it.

  She is, but there’s an adjustment period. I’m stronger magically than your mother is. But you’ll be stronger than both of us put together in time. Now tend to your chores. And be cautious tonight. Rowan is a spitfire, and even though she may not look the part, she can lead you along some very dark paths. But she’s a good ally to have. Just mind your p’s and q’s.

  Feeling duly chastised, I shouldered my purse and headed out of the coffee shop.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Back at the office, I ran over what Millie and Asher had said.

  “I’ll be honest, I don’t care for the mayor. He makes me uncomfortable.” I didn’t tell them why. But I did tell them about Rowan’s call. “I’m not sure what kind of an answer she has, but at this point, anything will help.”

  “I wouldn’t say anything… Are you okay with going alone?” Caitlin asked. “I don’t think Tad or Hank should make the attempt, and I have a family dinner to attend and the only thing that can get me out of it is World War III. My mother is…well…let’s just say she makes Emily Gilmore look like a hippie.”

  I snorted. I had loved The Gilmore Girls too, and that statement told me everything about the dynamics between Caitlin and her mother.

  “Friday night dinners?” I asked, grinning.

  “It’s a very real thing, so never bother inviting me to parties on Friday nights. I won’t take offense.” She shook her head, grimacing.

  “I can go,” Tad said, but Caitlin shook her head.

  “No, you’re still pretty weak, and so is Hank. We won’t let you, will we, January?”

  “She’s right,” I said. “I’ll be fine going alone. Do you want
me to just accept Rowan’s fix or should I wait until—we don’t have work tomorrow, do we? Tomorrow’s the carnival.”

  Tad held up his hand. “If you think it’s good, take it. I called our client and told her not to buy the land. She said she’d look for a different parcel. She was very grateful for our advice.”

  Hank cleared his throat. “What about the story for the site?”

  “I’d be leery,” Tad said. “The owner wants to sell. Our story could really chase off business and I don’t want to get sued. I wish we could warn people, but…”

  “I wish we could, too,” I said. “Let’s see what Rowan has to say tonight.”

  “We’re not even going to decide on our next case until next week, so go home early. This has been a hell of a week. See you Monday,” Tad said, steadying himself on the desk as he slowly stood. “I really am still feeling exhausted. I’m going to go home and just take it easy this weekend.”

  I returned to my desk, where I tidied up. As I leaned back in my chair, I realized that I fully intended to keep the job. Yes, it was dangerous, but it was also interesting and I liked Tad, Caitlin, and Hank. And we were actually doing something helpful, not just critiquing artists and their work. As I headed back out into the frigid afternoon, I looked up at the sky. The air here felt clearer and freer than back in Seattle. And that was a priceless gift.

  Rowan was waiting for me in her parlor, along with a man I had never seen before. He immediately put me on edge. Oh, he looked normal enough—moderately tall, trim, straight shiny hair slicked back into a ponytail. But he was wearing sunglasses at night, and he was wearing a Tom Ford suit that must have run him at least three grand. I couldn’t guess his age, he looked like he could be anywhere between thirty to sixty, but he gave me the creeps and I didn’t offer my hand when she introduced us.

  “January Jaxson, meet Val Slater. Val, this is January.” She paused, then added, “She’s a Fam-Trad.”

  “Yes, I knew your great-grandfather,” Val said, his voice soft and seductive. That did surprise me. I had expected him to sound gruff, for some reason.

  Then what he said hit me and I stared at him.

  “You knew my great-grandfather?” I asked. He had to either be a witch or a shifter.

  “Yes, I did. We…exchanged words several times, but he was an upright gentleman and we finally found a meeting place.” He leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, and then he removed his glasses.

  I shrank into the chair behind me. His eyes were cold stone-black, with red-ringed white irises. And that meant he was a vampire.

  I trembled. I had never met a vampire before, and I had expected to go through life without meeting one. They weren’t common, but they had a strong community that worked its way through the UnderLife. And they were dangerous—volatile and prone to sudden attack.

  “I…” I wasn’t sure what to say.

  “Val and I are old acquaintances,” Rowan said. “I met Val through your great-grandfather, January.”

  “So…you’re a vampire.” I cleared my throat. Vampires weren’t generally the best of companions. While they were technically considered part of the Otherkin Community, it was in an out in left field, behind the barn type of way.

  Val laughed. “Yes, I am. And you’re a witch. And a strong one at that—or at least, you have the potential, Rowan tells me. So, she told me about your little problem,” he said. “You need someone to buy a plot of land and basically bury it. No pun intended.”

  I tried to focus. Everything seemed so surreal. “That’s about the size of it. We’re talking about the land the old Stellarview asylum sits on. We need to raze the building and barricade that patch of land as best as we can. While it won’t ensure the safety of the community, it will help.”

  “What you’re saying is that you would like me to become the landlord of the elemental creature that lives there?” Val fixed his gaze on me and I found myself staring back, unable to look away, or to even think. My heart was beginning to race. He was gorgeous, far more than I had thought when I first saw him.

  “January? January!” Rowan poked my arm.

  I jumped. I’d been sitting there staring at Val like he was mashed potatoes and gravy—which I couldn’t resist either. I groaned, then blushed.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” I wasn’t sure what to say.

  Val laughed, his lip curling in a most beguiling way. “I’m flattered, but let’s leave it at business right now.”

  Oh, great. I was digging myself a deep hole. I turned my gaze away, trying to compose myself. He put his shades back on, and the pull began to fade. So sunglasses could interfere with a vampire’s magnetism. I’d have to remember that.

  “I talked to the city and they can’t take it on. If they could turn the land into a park or something, that would be different, but they don’t have the funds to spend on acreage they can’t make use of.” I glanced at Rowan. I had a good mind to smack her a good one. She could have warned me that I’d be meeting a vampire. Then again, I might not have come.

  “Hmm,” Val said. “If I do this, what’s in it for me? I won’t be able to use the land either.”

  Just wanting the conversation to end, I shrugged. “I don’t know. Civic pride at helping out your town? The excitement of tearing down a building? I can’t offer you much in return.”

  Rowan frowned, turning to Val. “Don’t toy. She’s not a mouse.”

  “True enough,” Val said, suddenly back to business. “All right, I’ll buy the land for a fair price. We’ll destroy the building, and then I’ll pay to have the parcel fenced. That’s all I can do, but I gather that will be good enough. And in return…” he paused.

  “Yes?” I dreaded hearing what he expected in return. I had no clue what he would ask and yet I dreaded it.

  “In return, in the future, I may ask for your help. I hear you work for Conjure Ink, and that you’re starting your own paranormal consulting business as a side line.”

  I didn’t want anything more to do with him, but it seemed like a fair-enough trade.

  “All right. We owe you one.”

  He was on his feet the next moment. “I’ll have my lawyer contact the property owner tomorrow morning and expedite the purchase. Give me your phone number and I’ll let you know when the transaction is made.”

  Reluctantly, I gave him my phone number and took his in return. He left almost immediately after that, leaving me alone with Rowan.

  She turned to me after shutting the door behind him. “Val happens to be one of the better vamps around, but don’t trust any of them. They’ll always go for their best advantage.”

  “Why do you think he agreed to the deal?” I wanted to know what he was getting out of it, because I knew he wasn’t doing this out of the goodness of his heart.

  “He owed me a rather large favor. A very large favor, actually. I cashed in my marker.” Rowan put the kettle on for tea.

  “You mean, you did this—”

  “For the good of the town, yes. Moonshadow Bay is my home. I love this town and even though I tend to keep out of sight, I care about the people here,” Rowan said. “I need to tell you something. I belong to a coven. We’re called the Crystal Cauldron, and we guard over Moonshadow Bay. We drive out trouble the best we can. We can’t always prevent it, but we’ve managed several cleanups over the years.”

  This was all new to me. “I was told that dark magicians built SICI. Are they still around?”

  Rowan nodded, her face serious. “They’re known as the Covenant of Chaos. They’re a bunch of self-serving greedmongers. They aren’t as strong as they used to be, but one of our members foresees a resurgence coming, so we intend to be ready for them.”

  Rowan poured our tea. Her kitchen was one of those huge old country kitchens where the women of the house ruled supreme. Fresh loaves of bread filled the air with their yeasty scent, and bundles of herbs hung drying on an old-fashioned clothes rack. A huge wreath decorated the back door, woven of holly and ivy
and trimmed with a huge burgundy ribbon.

  Her range was modern in function, but retro, looking like a wood cookstove. The walls were a cheerful yellow with rich pecan trim. As we sat down at the huge old oak table, I felt like I had been transported back in time.

  Rowan handed me a plate of freshly baked cookies. “Snickerdoodles,” she said.

  I sipped the tea, pleased to find it was peppermint. I wasn’t a tea drinker, but I hadn’t wanted to be rude. “Can I trust Val to keep up his end of the bargain?”

  She frowned. “Vampires are unpredictable. But I think he’ll honor the agreement. He owed me such a huge debt that if he doesn’t, he’ll be persona non grata among his own people.”

  “You must have something pretty dirty on him,” I said.

  Rowan merely smiled. “That’s the beauty of being known as someone who will absolutely keep a secret—it can be very useful to have ammunition.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly eight—I have an appointment at nine. Here’s hoping everything works out for the best. I just hope when that building comes down, it doesn’t unleash a lot of psychic backlash.”

  At that, she wrapped up the rest of the batch of cookies and handed me the bag. Then, walking me silently to the door, she waved good-bye.

  I called Ari and asked her to meet me for coffee. I had so much to process that I felt like I’d be mulling over things for years.

  Ari met me at 9:30 at the Mad Dog Coffee House, several blocks from my house, and even closer to hers.

  “So tell me what the hell’s happening? I was so tired last night that I couldn’t stay, but I want to hear everything.”

  I summoned up a deep breath and in a rush of words, told her everything that had happened yesterday, including the fact that Killian had almost stayed the night.

  “So, you guys are really into each other? I’m so happy. I think he’s cool,” she said, cupping her decaf latte. “And you’re going to the carnival together.”