by Milly Taiden
Donovan read: Stop your investigation now. Next time, it will be you that gets smashed in.
“Well, that is short and to the point. I’ll call Reno and have him watch her.” Donovan turned and walked a few steps away.
Quinn walked around the car inspecting it again. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a local mechanic he used when he needed work done. “Hey, Ryan, it’s Quinn from the Beary Comfortable B & B. Listen, man, one of my guests had their car vandalized today. Can you do a super-fast turnaround and bill me for the work, please?” Quinn paced around the car and waited for Ryan to respond. “Thanks, man. Talk to you later.”
Donovan walked over. “Reno’s on his way. He’s going to Summer’s place and if they aren’t there, he will check Winter’s. He said he googled their addresses and got their business address, too.” Quinn nodded and walked into the B & B.
“Did you see Dad today?” Quinn really didn’t want to ask, but he had to know how he was doing.
“Yeah, no difference today.” Donovan clapped Quinn on the shoulder. “I did some research about shifters and fevers yesterday after we talked.”
Quinn nodded and looked around. “Let’s go to the back porch. No one should be out there this time of the day.”
Quinn walked through the building. He greeted the staff as he passed them. When Quinn and Donovan got to the porch, he took a seat at a table in the farthest corner. “Before you tell me what you found, let me tell you what I found out. After you left yesterday, Dad reverted back to his usual confused state. I told him about finding my mate and he said he couldn’t wait until Mom and my brother came home to tell them.”
Quinn sighed and stared out at the woods behind the house. “I called a meeting of the elders and explained what Dad said. They didn’t recall me being sick, but they said the only way it could happen was by black magic or a potion. Donovan, has our clan gone crazy? Have you ever heard of magic actually existing before?” Quinn let his head fall back onto his chair.
“Actually, that’s what I found too. Everything I learned from research and other shifters points to a witch or black magic. Dude, I didn’t know it was a thing either, but too many are saying it. Now the question is why you were targeted?” Donovan leaned forward in his chair and braced his elbows on his knees.
“I guess it’s time to dig into my family history. Dad never really mentioned my mom’s family before. Yesterday he said Mom was a black bear. Did you ever hear anyone mention that before?” Quinn bit his lip and thought about witches and magic. There was so much he didn’t understand about this world, apparently.
Donovan shifted in his chair and the creaking drew Quinn’s attention. “No, I can’t recall anyone ever mentioning it specifically. No one ever said she was a brown bear either, though. Most just avoid talking about her after they disappeared. But if she was a black bear, that means you and your brother could have been either, right?”
“Exactly. We don’t shift until we are older, so no one would know what he was when he went missing, right? I mean, I shifted for the first time and remember my dad saying I was just like him. I never realized he wondered which I would be.” The door opened to the porch and the housekeeper, Ms. Grendel, walked out.
“Hello, Quinn, Donovan. I heard your voices out here and wanted to check in. We are fully booked this weekend but should be just fine. Your mate’s car was towed away. Will she be coming back to stay?”
Donovan grinned at Quinn and he rolled his eyes. “Hi, Ms. Grendel. Yes, she will be back. I gave her the key to my room for her use. Word travels fast, I see.”
Ms. Grendel chuckled. “You can’t hide much from shifters. You know that. I’ll be at your father’s in the morning to make breakfast and clean up.” She paused and looked away. “Also, I heard what you were talking about earlier. You may not remember, but there was a rumor of a witch living in Blisstown the year before you were born. I mean, of course, you wouldn’t remember. Sorry, forgive an old bear. Anyway, there were a lot of rumors about her, but she moved away not long after you were born.”
Quinn watched her walk back inside and turned to Donovan. “Our elders didn’t mention her. Maybe they forgot about her or don’t concern themselves with humans. Either way, we need more information. Go to the library, check out newspapers. Hell, even microfiche. Shit, we used that on projects for school when we were young. How did we survive before the internet?”
Donovan chuckled and stood. “I’ll call you if I find anything. This is the most information we’ve ever had. This is good.”
Quinn walked into the kitchen with Donovan, then listened as his beta walked out of the house. He leaned on the kitchen counter and debated what to do. He should go home, check on his dad, his clan.
He needed to let his bear out to wander the woods. After a few minutes of deliberation, he went back to the porch and out to the woods. It was time to let his bear roam and be free. Maybe he could come back with a clear mind and things would start to make sense.
Chapter Fifteen
Quinn shifted back and dressed just out of view of the bed and breakfast. His bear was content for the most part. He wanted his mate close, but the run through the woods helped him calm down. He pulled on his jeans and heard a couple of beeps indicating a missed call.
When he pulled the phone from his pants, he saw two calls from Donovan and one from Reno. There were also several texts from Donovan. He figured Donovan’s was urgent based on the number of calls and texts. He hit the call button and waited for Donovan to pick up.
“Dude, where have you been? I found some interesting news on the suspected witch. This town speculated a lot about the woman in the gossip column. There’s no actual proof, but the police were sent to her house frequently.
“Apparently, anyone who crossed her, hell, even upset her according to the statements, fell into financial, marital or even criminal trouble. There were even a few cases of murders she was questioned about.”
Quinn walked through the bed and breakfast and out to his car while listening to Donovan. “But like I said, no proof. Just allegations and suspicions. The thing is, though, she just up and disappeared the same day as your mom and brother.”
Quinn drew in a sharp breath. “Holy shit.” That was too coincidental. “Did you get any information we can use to track her?”
“Just a name. If it’s even her real one. I mean, do witches age and die like humans or do they have extended lives? Some lore says they are hundreds of years old. She could have gone through several names.” Donovan took a deep breath and Quinn jumped in before he continued.
“We’ve learned a lot of information in the last couple of days. More than the last thirty-odd years. I will find the truth, Donovan. No matter how long it takes.”
Quinn hung up and slammed his car door shut. His hands clenched on the steering wheel for a few minutes, then he started the car. He wanted to check on his dad and see if he was needed at home. Then he wanted his mate. He had to see her and share what Donovan found.
The drive to his home flew by. He was pulling in before he realized he had arrived. The front door sat wide open. Sometimes the cubs in the clan ran through his house to see his dad and left the door open. Quinn wasn’t concerned. Annoyed, but not concerned. He climbed out of the car and walked up the steps.
“Dad! Which of the cubs came by today? Or are they still here and I get to make cub soup for leaving the door open again…” He chuckled, he loved teasing the kids. One day, he wanted a house full of them. His mind was full of gorgeous little girls with red hair and their momma’s gorgeous eyes. Yeah, that was exactly what his bear wanted to see, too.
“Dad?” No answer from his dad or any kids. He searched through the house as he walked and kept calling. His dad wasn’t anywhere. There were no signs he had just walked out or that a struggle happened. Quinn walked out back to see if his dad was sitting outside. Nothing there either. Now he was worried about the front door being open. Where had his dad wandered off to?
His phone rang and he
absently pulled it out of his jeans pocket and answered, while looking around to see if he spotted his dad.
“Hello?”
“Alpha—”
Quinn interrupted and barked out, “Reno, what’s going on? Is Summer safe?” He turned and walked through the house, out to his car. He needed Summer safe so he could concentrate on finding his dad.
“Yes, Alpha, or I think so. But your dad just walked into the house where Summer is. Did you know he left?”
Quinn growled. “Reno, focus. Where is Summer? Her place? Her sister’s? Somewhere else?”
“No, Alpha. Summer left her sister’s, went to an apartment complex, and then to this house.”
“Send me the address now. I’m on my way.”
Quinn wasn’t sure what was going on or why they were together, but they shouldn’t be, and his bear was pacing in his head. He wanted their mate found now. Something wasn’t right.
Chapter Sixteen
Winter pulled up to the bed and breakfast and Summer jumped off the swing and practically sprinted to her sister’s car. Winter was leaned forward over the steering wheel, staring at Donovan and Quinn with her mouth wide open. Summer opened the passenger side and dropped into the seat.
“Yes, that’s Quinn staring at me with a frown. Donovan, his beta and best friend, is laughing. Quinn says I’m his mate and someone vandalized my car. Please take me to your place.”
Summer knew she was spewing information at Winter, but she was relieved to have her sister there. And to have someone to share all the news with who wouldn’t judge. Well, Winter may judge her, but she would do it with love. That was what family did after all.
Winter gaped at her from the driver’s side of the car.
Summer added, “Oh, and we had sex…twice.”
Winter turned back to stare at Quinn. After a moment, she closed her mouth and put the car in drive.
“Win, say something. I need your thoughts. In twenty-four hours, my life has gotten really complicated.”
Summer fidgeted in her seat. She couldn’t sit still.
“All right, sis, one thing at a time. First, mate?”
Summer nodded then spoke when she realized Winter couldn’t see her. “Yeah, he said he knew yesterday. He promised we would take things really slow.”
“So, of course, you jump him…twice.” Winter grinned and Summer rolled her eyes. “Next, tell me about your car and how that fits into this.”
Summer turned to stare out the car window. “I’m not really sure, honestly. Quinn told me why he visits Gerri Wilder, then asked me to look into the disappearance of his mom and twin brother. We had amazing sex, took a bath, had sex again, and then went downstairs where Donovan waited to tell us about my car.” Summer’s voice trailed off as she thought about everything that had happened earlier in the day.
“Quinn had a piece of paper in his hand. Someone must have left me a note. That bastard kept it from me.” Summer glanced at Winter to see if she shared Summer’s anger.
Her poor sister only looked confused. “So, it’s related to his mom and brother’s disappearance?”
“No, it couldn’t be. He just asked me to look into that situation today. I think it was a spur of the moment decision. I think the note has to do with Gerri Wilder. None of my other cases are anything big enough to cause this kind of reaction.”
Summer glanced out the window to see how close they were to Winter’s house.
“That reminds me! I had a meeting with Gerri today. I can’t wait to tell you about that.” Winter parked the car and turned it off. She leaned over the seat to grab the brownie container on the back seat. “Come on, I’ll make cocoa and we can gossip.”
Summer climbed out of the car and followed her sister inside. They went straight to the kitchen where Winter filled the kettle with water then placed it on the burner. Summer took a seat at the island in the center of the room and watched her sister. “What did you think about Gerri?”
Winter turned to a cabinet and pulled out two mugs, then turned to Summer. “She was different. Told me to take you the brownies she made.” Winter pointed to the container she had placed on the counter when they walked in. “How she knew I was going to rush to get you I don’t know, but she said you would need them.”
Winter shrugged and walked to the pantry to grab the cocoa.
“That was really sweet. I’m sorry you had to cut the meeting short.” Summer glanced at the container of brownies and licked her lips. “Quinn was visiting Gerri trying to get her recipes or her permission to use her baked goods in his chain of bed and breakfasts.”
Winter filled the two mugs with the hot water and added the cocoa then sat next to Summer, carrying the mugs. “The brownies were heavenly so I can understand why he would fight so hard for them. Gerri is gorgeous, but she’s a bit special. Not bad special, just unique. Otherworldly, I guess. I mean, she knew you were upset. You met your mate by chance outside her apartment. She has a one hundred percent success rate with matches, so yeah, special fits.”
Summer pushed off her stool and snatched the brownies off the counter and brought them back to their seats. “Well, if she wanted me to have them…I’m going to! Now before I tell you anything else, what did you decide for her party?”
Winter snagged a brownie and Summer gave her the evil eye. “Nope, finish your story, then I’ll share.”
Summer glanced into the brownie box to see how many were left and slowly moved it closer to herself. Winter glared at her.
Summer continued. “I’ll share the story, but not the brownies. When Quinn was six months old, his mom and twin brother went into town to get him some medicine. Apparently, he was running a fever, something he just found out. I didn’t know this but shifters don’t get sick, so he shouldn’t have been able to run a fever.
“For some reason, no one thought it odd at the time. It’s really strange to me, so something is missing there. Anyway, his dad has slowly lost his mind, literally, over the years. I guess it’s having to do with his mate being gone so long.”
Summer paused and thought about her and Quinn. “Winter, do you think that would happen to me now that I’ve met Quinn? Or is it only the shifters who would suffer?”
Winter leaned forward and hugged her. “I don’t know, sis, but we will find out and make sure it never does.” Summer pushed her away.
“I know you were trying to grab my brownies and not console me, bitch.” Winter laughed and sat back down, waving her hand through the air.
“As I was saying. Over the years, his dad has reported seeing his lost mate and son. I don’t know if they investigated and found nothing. But yesterday was different. He was lucid and that’s how they got more of the events leading up to the disappearance.” Summer picked up a brownie, took a bite, then groaned. “Chocolate overload!”
She took a sip of the cocoa and sighed.
“I can’t imagine not having that twin bond with you, Summer. I wonder if Quinn notices or realizes what he was missing since he was so young when he lost it.”
Summer’s heart broke for them. That had to be incredibly hard for Quinn and his family.
Chapter Seventeen
Summer would do whatever she could to help. She reached out to take her sister’s hand. “Yesterday, his dad swore he saw them. When Quinn sent one of his bears to check, they scented bears in the area.”
Winter leaned on the island and stared at Summer. “I’m not even sure what to say to all that. It sounds crazy and scary. Why would his mom disappear and leave one child behind? Why leave her mate?”
Summer shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know, but I want to change the subject for a few minutes. Something less depressing. Tell me about your meeting.”
Winter picked up her mug of cocoa and took a sip. “Well, she gave me free rein to do whatever I wanted. I could pick the location, the theme, everything. The only thing she asked was that I use the security company she recommended. But now I’m worried about contacting them.” Winter shook
her head, worry creased her face.
“Why?” Summer knew her sister wouldn’t want a match, that’s why she’d been sneaky about talking to Gerri.
“She was specific on who I should speak with. What if she is matching me with someone? I don’t want to meet anyone! My company is taking off and I don’t have time or the interest to invest in a relationship with anyone.”
Winter’s voice went shrill toward the end of her mini-rant and Summer could only smile. She didn’t want to laugh at her sister or say she was nuts because, like Winter said earlier, Gerri was special. And who was to say she wasn’t trying to match Winter? “Do you really think Gerri set it up so I would run into Quinn yesterday?”
Winter arched an eyebrow. “He comes at the same time every week and you happen to get a meeting with the most elusive matchmaker with short notice? And you just happen to leave within minutes of his normal arrival time?”
Summer thought about that for a moment. “She couldn’t have known I would leave just before he arrived.”
Winter rolled her eyes. “Then he would have knocked on the door for his meeting and you would have met. Probably less stress than the way you did, too. You would have gotten his name at least when she introduced you to each other.”
Summer groaned. “Fuck, she is one strange bird! For the record, I would have figured that out on my own. I’ve just got a lot going on today.”
“Oh! I forgot to tell you a doorman at Gerri’s building stopped me. When he’d been told to expect Ms. Delgado, he thought it would be you. He wants to talk to you. I told him I would pass on the message. It was strange. Hell, he was strange.”
“Barry? He was so helpful and nice when I spoke with him. I wonder why he seemed weird to you or what happened to cause his changed demeanor.” Summer debated the best way to get in touch with the man. She didn’t have his number. She could drive by the apartment complex and see if he was working today.
