Golden Beauty (Tales of Grimm Hollow Book 2)

by LeAnn Mason

  “Why not?”

  “Because Mister Morgan knocked me out after disconnecting my phone call to emergency services.” I looked at him thoughtfully, my brow creased. I pushed up my wayward spectacles again as I relayed my information. “I assume you have a record of that call?”

  “We do.”

  “Then why are you treating me like a criminal?”

  “Miss Randall, a phone call to report injured people and or fire does not automatically exclude you from questioning. Now, I am not saying that you did anything wrong,” his bloodshot eyes belied the matter-of-fact air he attempted. He was losing sleep over my parents’ murders. He was looking for someone to blame. Hopefully, he cared about the guilt level of said scapegoat.

  Though I held some level of guilt.

  “I think Mister Morgan murdered my parents.” That is the truth.

  “Do you know the whereabouts of Mister Morgan? Of his son, Griffin Morgan?”

  Yes. “No, sir.”

  “But you claim that Seth Morgan was in your house, kept you from completing a nine-one-one call, and carried you out of the house?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what happened? Where did you end up?” It was fiction that cops, especially detectives and the like, wore suits. I had never seen any of Winchester’s police force wear anything other than a t-shirt and jeans. This one wore cowboy boots. The stupid things came to a ridiculous point that no toes could inhabit. He sat in a rickety plastic chair at my side—I guess the table between perp and lawman was wrong, too—so I also noticed that the bottoms of the boots were slick, completely free of tread.

  That is not practical. How does he not slip? The floors in here are begging for a comic-like banana-peel fall…

  “Miss Randall, your pauses lead me to think you are fabricating a lie to tell.” he led.

  “No… I was just distracted by your attire. Your shoes especially,” I countered, again looking at the fashion-only footwear.

  “My shoes?” He uncrossed his foot from across his opposite knee. The relaxed posture dissolving with the façade.

  “How do you not slip? They have zero grip, and these floors are vinyl, I believe. Also, why so pointed? I know there is no way your toes go to the end. I could even see them as being problematic for pursuits.”

  “We're talking about the murder of your parents, the burning of your family home… and you're thinking that my boots are too pointed?” The incredulity in his voice, on his heavily bearded face, made me flush.

  And now you look guilty...er, Mae. Well done.

  I opened my mouth, formulating some plausible but convoluted explanation that I hadn't yet thought of when the door to our little ‘interview room’ burst open. The intruder—or savior, I didn't know yet—was a tall, slender, and very elegant woman. Her red suit shouted her authority and matched the superior look in her eyes. I thought I remembered her from the… aftermath of my kidnapping. She'd been in the clearing when Jason walked me out of the woods.

  “Miss Randall, do not say another word. I am Gloria Grimm, and I represent Miss Randall as well as both the younger and elder Lightseeker women.” Moving further into the room, Gloria's withering stare never veered from her prey; the officer. “Is Miss Randall under arrest?”

  “Not at this ti—”

  “Are either Allya or Elsie Lightseeker under arrest?”

  “Not at this—”

  “Then I am taking them home. Now. Feel free to contact me if your office is ever able to bring charges. Until then, good afternoon, sir.”

  With the cue of Gloria's severe head tilt, I hastily pushed from the plastic chair I’d been glued to. My butt had been so sweat-soaked that the polyester of my borrowed dress had to be peeled away from the gray plastic. I winced at the scraping of the metal legs across the vinyl flooring, my urgency sending the chair careening. It was one sound that seriously gave me the willies, and I tried to shake it off as I followed my now-determined savior back out into the intake and reception area where she proceeded to demand her other clients be released.

  I tried to thank her, but no words escaped. Once again, I'd been struck dumb, the loss of that fundamental piece of self immediately drove my anxiety through the roof.

  Seth did the same when he kidnapped me.

  Drawing parallels caused my breath to come heavier and my vision to spot. I vaguely substantiated that I was moving. Suddenly, I burst out into the late afternoon sun's dying rays, the crispness of impending night chasing away the mildness of the day and freeing me from my phobia. My heart rate slowed to normal once I realized the magical gag order had been lifted. A whining keen left my lips of its own accord, cueing me to the return of my faculties.

  “I apologize for the measures, but I couldn't have you say something stupid.”

  That was a crappy apology.

  But I guess I couldn't be mad at her. She'd gotten me out of a vise I'd been tightening myself into. “Thank you, Ms. Grimm.” I realized I didn't know this woman at all though I'd heard the name Gloria tossed around a bit.

  “Excuse me a moment. I need to check on something. Wait here. Don't move. Don't talk.” Gloria gave me a stern glare before turning on her heel and marching right back into the lion's den. Though, maybe living in a place like Grimm Hollow, which housed real lions, the police just weren't that scary.

  Allya and Elsie were led out by officers and headed toward the parking lot. Elsie with poise and grace. Allya and me with… less of each.

  “Holy crap, Mae… they suspect you. They think I helped you hide away after the fact!” Allya whisper shrieked, grasping my shoulders in a grip near crushing. Her eyes blazed with the intensity of her wolf.

  Her fear only enhanced my own. How had I not seen what direction the investigation would take, especially with me out of reach? I rubbed my forehead, trying to work out a solution.

  I didn’t have one.

  A few moments later, Gloria reemerged from the bowels of the precinct but with a very large young man clothed in a white jumpsuit that looked to be jail attire in tow.

  “Omigod, Nick?” Allya screeched, rushing at the giant and throwing relieved arms around his thick neck. The newcomer chuckled heavily, wrapping muscle-laden arms around her back and lifting her off the ground to twirl her. She squealed like a child, and my mouth dropped open. Who was this guy? Did Jason know about him? They looked awfully familiar. “What happened to you? Why are you here?”

  “We need to leave now. You can talk in the car. We only have a short window. In you go, girls, Nick. Thank you again for the extraction, Gloria.” Elsie hurried us into the now-unlocked vehicle.

  “Of course.” Gloria moved her cool gaze to me. “It is best if they have a human to blame instead of a supernatural one. That is a problem for all of Grimm Hollow’s people. This way, it is only a problem for you.”

  I stood, jaw completely unhinged as I processed what she’d said.

  “Seriously? You’re throwing her to the wolves?” Allya, no longer wrapped up by Nick, all but screamed furiously. She squared off with the older woman, not giving one whit that Gloria oozed power. Allya was bleeding her own show of strength. Ebony was high in her blood and showed through every pore, rising in response to Allya’s anger and fear.

  “I am allowing her to find refuge in Grimm Hollow. I very easily could choose to turn her away, essentially serve her up on a silver platter.” Her look, her tone, her posture… everything about her dared us to quibble further.

  “I understand. Thank you, Ms. Grimm, Elsie, for your kindness.” Allya snorted in derision at my words. She clearly didn’t agree.

  “My name is not Grimm. Now, get in the car and back to Grimm Hollow. You go with them, Nick. I can only cloak your vehicle for another one hundred and twenty minutes.”

  Two hours. She meant we had two hours to get away clean, but I could never come back. I could not return to the funeral or explain the scene to my sisters. In one hundred and twenty minutes, I would be wanted for murder.

&nbs
p; CHAPTER 12

  I spent the rest of the night inside my head. I wasn’t much good for conversation or help or company in general. Too many thoughts circled, the prevailing theme being that I would forever be thought of as a murderer. Of my own parents. Gloria and the other ruling bodies of this little supernatural haven I’d found myself in much preferred the police to look in the direction of a falsely accused human than at the guilty “Witchy-wolves” as Allya called them. Elsie told us some of the capable magic-wielders had done what they could to “clean” Seth’s house and property of anything pointing to anything suspicious. In fact, they’d made it appear as though he and Griffin had packed up and left.

  That way, no one looked for them. No one dug into what could have happened. That way, Grimm Hollow kept its secrets. That way, I was the only explanation for the death of my family.

  A hard pill to swallow. One I had no choice but to.

  Murderer.

  Parricide.

  Allowed to send one message to my sisters, it read simply: I love you. Be safe.

  A tear leaked from my eye to be caught by the frames of my glasses as they’d slid down my nose again.

  I’d woken with a renewed sense of purpose and had found my way back to the Archives and Marie early the morning after being formally exiled from my human life. Marie had indeed hired me on the spot, like she said she would, and had declared that I should start by familiarizing myself with the layout of the sections.

  Divided into distinct areas, the Archives were very much like a library. Each species had a dedicated section and more detailed segregation within themselves. It was fascinating… and a welcome distraction from my troubles outside this magical pocket of land.

  I’d been drawn to the Shifter alcove and continued to work my way through some of the introductory topics. I'd been coming back for a week now. Settling into a routine, I made my way to work in the morning, making sure not to stray back onto Leone property no matter the lure. I met Allya for lunch some days and brought lunch others then headed back to Elsie's for the evening. I didn't stray from my schedule. I hadn't met many new people except in passing, and for the time being, it suited me. I needed to settle before I could relax.

  On the second floor of the archives, an alcove was furnished with a table and chairs. A settee tucked into the back corner was a great place to get lost in some history. I'd run my fingers gently—reverently—along the spines of every book in the sanctuary. The books varied in so many ways: color, age, adornments, smell, height, thickness, weight.

  I could live here and never want to leave. Books always had a grounding effect on my psyche, ever since I could remember. They were my refuge when I didn't understand the world around me or the people in it. Allya seemed to be the only one interested in pursuing me for a friendship though she had plenty here. Even the newcomer, Nick, who I'd learned was a Sentinel and Jason's best friend. Oh, and he was a bear Shifter who had apparently gone missing after the fight with Seth's cronies. I hadn't gotten that story though.

  Everyone back home, except for my parents, had been perfectly content to let me keep my nose in the pages of whatever my latest inquisition happened to be. That trend seemed to be repeating.

  I had chosen to learn what I could about those who shared themselves with an honest-to-God animal. It was remarkable, fascinating… unbelievable.

  “Mae.” A gentle hand on my shoulder spooked me out of my complete immersion, jolting me enough that the large tome toppled from atop my crossed legs, landing on the carpeted floor with a solid thump.

  “Oh no, I'm so sorry,” I apologized, reaching to gently retrieve the chronicle from its landing spot. Thankfully, it had fallen closed and not open, faced down. I couldn't bear to think of these pages being mangled even if accidentally. I hugged the retrieved weight to my chest as I stood to face Marie. My finger came up to push at the black plastic again too low on my nose. I fidgeted nervously as I waited for the scolding, I was sure, to come.

  “There is someone here to speak with you. If you wouldn't mind accompanying me to my office?” Marie turned and began making her way back through the arched entry and through the alcove previous, which appeared to be lineages of various Shifter families.

  That section had been a tad invasive for a newcomer like me, so I'd stuck to the basics. General Shifter knowledge that would, hopefully, help me navigate what I figured to be the most volatile class of supernaturals. Again… they literally had animals that could dictate their thoughts, actions, and even physical appearance!

  Rory.

  His name came upon me unbidden—often—though I'd be lying if I said that Allya's newfound Shifter status was my only catalyst for picking such a subject.

  My wayward thoughts were smashed when my nose impacted Marie’s back. Her pause at the threshold to her office had taken me by surprise, mainly because I’d been thinking about broody, spontaneously shifting lion-men. “Mae, I’d like to introduce you to Missus Leone. I do believe you already know Elsie Lightseeker. Please, take a seat.”

  It’s like my thoughts had been heard and summoned the mother of my infatuation. Perfect. She already hated me. “Ma’am,” I nodded briskly. “I-I mean, Your Highness. Uh, Your Majesty?” My research hadn’t told me how to address royalty, or at least, I hadn’t gotten to that part yet. I offered a wan smile as a non-verbal apology for my lack of etiquette… and rambling.

  “Yes, well, I am here to offer you a position within my household, Miss Randall,” the queen said disinterestedly. She smoothed her hands across the front of her dress, picking a spot of invisible lint from its surface before deigning to give me her attention. She looked bored.

  “Oh! Well, I’m flattered… Your Highness, but I’ve accepted a job here, at the Archives.” I made a point to find Marie within the room.

  My boss cleared her throat as she moved to stand behind the large desk that dominated the room. “You can still have hours on a part-time basis, and I’d welcome you back when your task is completed with the Leone family.”

  “What task? What is it you’d like me to do? I warn you, I’m no housekeeper and positively not a chef.” I had zero clue what they’d need my help with. They could get anyone they wanted to do anything they wanted. Probably.

  “My son is in need of tutoring. I’ve been told you are exceptionally bright and could help with this.”

  Well, I was flattered. “Tutoring?”

  “Yes. Rory has always had a hard time at school…” the prim woman cut a sharp look at Marie as she trailed off the sentence.

  She wasn’t giving me the whole story.

  “We are very generous to those in our employ. You would be well compensated for your time and efforts within our home,” she continued blithely.

  At least I had taken the proffered chair when suggested. I looked to be floundering less in a seated position than I would have just standing there with mouth agape.

  “My dear, I believe you could be of benefit to the younger Leone. You will always have a place at my home much like you have a standing invitation to work here when you are able. I know how much you’re dealing with, but I also believe that you function best when you have a—let’s call it ‘project’ to work out. Allya seems to think so, anyway,” Elsie put in gently as was her way.

  I trusted Elsie’s opinion, and there was something I hadn’t yet unraveled about Marie that made me comfortable with her. I hadn’t yet figured out whether she was like Allya and saw my aura or maybe telepathic or empathic? Pre-cognition? One day, I would find the fortitude to ask her directly. I relaxed as I mulled over some of the possibilities.

  Elsie was right. I needed to keep my mind occupied or I would continue to dwell on all that I had lost. Instead, I needed to focus on all that I had gained.

  I’d opened the door on a whole new world. One that just might want me. One where it would take my lifetime to learn its secrets. Longer even. Many lifetimes. But I could be a pioneer…

  “What are you proposing? If it’s tutorin
g, that can be done with a few hours every week. At your home or elsewhere.” I spread my arms to encompass the room. “Here for example. Call it two birds and one stone?” My voice might have squeaked at the closing. Mrs. Leone’s face had taken on a look that soured further with each word.

  “Our home is the only place fit for Rory at this time.” Short and to the point, her refusal piqued my interest, but I wasn’t sure if a mother was babying her little boy or if there was something underlying her words. I’d witnessed Rory change into his lion at the drop of a hat. Maybe that wasn’t so unusual for him…

  “Will I be in danger?” I figured the smart-girl thing to do would be to ask plenty of questions. And they were playing the smarts card, so I’d show them what came with the label. “I am only human. I have no innate ability to protect myself from much of anything, especially in a place teeming with extra-strength supernaturals. What assurances do I have that I will not come to harm?”

  “None.”

  I blinked. Well, that's not the answer I expected.

  “Nothing is guaranteed in life, even less so among Shifters. I will guarantee my protection, my family’s protection, while under our employ.”

  Well, that made me feel a little better.

  “I cannot, however, guarantee that no one will go outside my authority. Again, Shifters are… moody.”

  And that tanked my burgeoning optimism.

  Yet… the thought of spending time with the beautiful boy who spent his time alone in a garden? A boy which a little songbird felt comfortable using as a perch?

  My arm shot out and was taken by the queen faster than my brain could object. “When do you need me?”

  “Now.” She turned on her heel, striding for the door with complete confidence I would follow. So much for being the smart girl. I looked helplessly between my boss and the woman who was letting me stay in her home, both of whom I liked and respected. Each gave small encouragement.