by Cecilia Lane
Ari snorted. “I think the words were ‘you’re as dead to me as your sister.’”
Soon, they were seated on the couch. The sliding glass door was open and they could see Chase and Jonah drinking beer and staring intently at the hamburgers on the grill.
Raina chatted about what she’d been up to since leaving with Jonah. He was head of his bear clan, so there was always some new disagreement that popped up. She taught at the little school they set up for the clan, so the smallest shifters didn’t need to worry about exposing their paranormal side to humans. She had about a hundred hands offering to hold Ryan when she needed a moment of quiet.
The months between Raina’s departure and Chase’s arrival were still difficult to talk about. Ariadne rushed through those with just a couple, quick sentences. She explained how their mother fell into a state and left everything to Ari to run. She had, but it’d given her the anger that fueled the rest of how Chase came to be in her life. Then she launched into the tale of how she’d accidentally summoned demons and Chase’s role. Raina listened quietly and didn’t interrupt. Even little Ryan was a rapt listener, only occasionally cooing softly.
They lulled into silence when she finished telling her story. Raina’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “Ari, first things first. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m sorry for any part I played in what happened. I shouldn’t have left you like that. But Mama was threatening to hex Jonah into a frog and stomp on him.”
Ari nodded. She hadn’t heard the threat, but it was entirely something her mother would have done. She’d gone after Chase with a cast iron skillet. She also knew the pull she felt for him. Raina would have felt the same for her Jonah. “And he’s your mate. I get it, I do. It was a hard choice to make.”
“The most difficult of my life. I still wake up and expect to take at over the front desk. Then I remember where I’m at and instead of a bunch of big babies for guests, I have an actual big baby to care for. And Ryan, too.” She giggled when they saw Jonah stiffen outside and Chase crack a smile. “Eavesdroppers.”
“They’re just curious to hear what intelligent conversation sounds like.” Ari joined her sister’s laughter when Chase’s smile was wiped away into a scowl.
“Honestly, as soon as Mama started speaking, I wish she would be quiet again.” Ari giggled then covered her mouth with her hands. The guilt was still an immediate response whenever she spoke ill of her mother.
“I wanted to call. I had the phone in my hand and the front desk or the house number halfway dialed so many times. Then I thought about if Mama answered. She’d just say all those hurtful things again and threaten to curse my new family. I was scared if you answered, she’d have turned you against me and I didn’t think I could stand it if you hated me.” Raina turned to her and her eyes were misty with the beginnings of tears. “I should have just gathered my courage and called.”
Ari scooted closer and put her arms around her sister’s shoulders. She peeked into the little bundle that held baby Ryan. His mess of hair looked just like his father’s. She wondered if the future children she had with Chase would favor him or her more.
“Raina, I understand. I had a lot of anger after you left. But after going through it myself and seeing just how quickly Mama could turn on her own, I see why you needed to leave. There’s no keeping mates apart.”
Something loosened in her chest and she realized it was the last bit of animosity she felt toward her sister. She did understand, finally, and it hurt even more that their mother was unwilling to try to understand either of her daughters. But even that part of her had softened. She imagined losing her mother to her own stubborn hatred would hurt for a good, long time, but she’d accepted the loss. With that loss, she’d gained so much more in the form of a mate of her own and a renewed relationship with her sister.
After Raina and her family departed with promises of daily phone calls and monthly visits, Ari joined Chase out on the patio for a small cup of coffee and slice of cake for a private dessert. They often liked to watch the stars—what could be seen with the lights of the city so near, she reminded him—come up while they settled in for the night.
But Chase wasn’t through with his surprises for the evening. As soon as they set their forks down and snuggled on the swing, he said, “I can always put in paperwork for a transfer. I’d move to some small, dusty field office if it meant you were closer to the mountains you love. Especially if it meant you were closer to your sister. There’s an opening at an office about an hour from Jonah’s clan.”
She sipped on her coffee. She didn’t have the luxury of the sun rising or setting over a mountaintop or the fresh scent of nature that seemed to seep into everything. She had rooftops and trimmed trees and stores closer than a half hour away. And she had Chase.
She missed the quiet, but not enough to take Chase away from the action in the city he enjoyed. She was just starting a new chapter in her life at the magic shop and with her magically infused baked goods. Who knew where they would end up, but she didn’t have any need to make a move right then.
She smiled over the rim of her mug and tucked her head into his chest. He wrapped an arm around her. Together, they watched the sky change from its evening glow to the nighttime deep blue. Ari sighed contentedly and said, “I’m happy as long as I have you.”
THE END
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Arcane Affairs Agency
Arcane Affairs Agency is a series of standalone books written by the hottest authors in the Paranormal Romance genre. Starting October 5, 2016, there will be one release every week through the end of December.
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More Books in the Arcane Affairs Agency Series:
Alpha’s Feisty Mate by Cara Wylde
Released October 5, 2016
Curvy Skye Watson is through with bad boys. For once in her life, she wants to meet a nice guy and have a serious, probably boring relationship. After three months of waiting for said nice guy, she can’t take it anymore. Out in the club with her sister, Nina, and their friends, she sets eyes on Aiden Ashwood, the new hunk in town. He’s tall, bulky in all the right places, covered in Norse tats, and his whole demeanor screams “danger!”. How could she possibly resist? A one-night stand never hurt anyone, right?
Alpha wolf Aiden Ashwood is on a mission. The quiet town of Misty Falls is being terrorized by a rogue werewolf, and the townspeople aren’t even aware of the threat lurking in the shadows. The Arcane Affairs Agency sent him to investigate the three “animal attacks” in the past two weeks, and find the killer. Aiden has always been an efficient and focused agent. He closed all his cases without so much as breaking a sweat, and he expects this one to be no different. But then, hot, feisty Skye ends up in his bed, rocks his world, and leaves in the morning. He should have claimed her as his mate when he had the chance… Now he’s not even sure he’ll find her again.
Soon, Aiden realizes the “animal attacks” are not the town’s only problem. Witches seem to be involved, and where there are witches, there’s always trouble. When he finds out one of the Watson girls might be a witch, he prays it’s not Skye.
Alpha’s Feisty Mate is a full, standalone story. What to expect: a sassy, curvy beauty who might be lying about a couple of things, a hot Alpha who will do a
nything to protect her, and a sneaky villain who’s set on ruining them both.
Fated to the Warlock by Ava Glass
Released October 12, 2016
A short, steamy romp in the Arcane Affairs Agency shared world.
Agent Renee Lowe's mission is simple: banish a troublesome ghost. This should be a slam-dunk, but the owners of Moorwolf Hall are holding back the truth about this powerful spirit. What's worse is she cannot stop thinking about her temporary warlock partner--a warlock suddenly too distracted to cast spells. Is his problem her fault? Renee is only a quarter-shifter. This warlock, Gavin, cannot be her fated mate, can he? Is her sense not working right? Is she prepared if it is?
Bear My Soul by Sophia Barron
Released October 26, 2016
When Michaela’s sister, Sam, shows up with her boys in tow asking to spend the weekend, Michaela is more than happy to have company. The weekend rapidly becomes a week and then some after Sam vanishes without a trace. Michaela calls the Arcane Affairs Agency for help and gets more help than she bargains for in Special Agent Devlin Quinn.
Can Michaela and Devlin keep the boys safe and save Sam from herself without falling for each other? Because falling for a shifter spells disaster for witches in general, and Michaela in particular…
Want more? Check out the Arcane Affairs website for new releases!
About the Author
Cecilia grew up in a what most call paradise, but she insists is humid hell. She escaped the heat with weekly journeys to the library, where she learned the basics of slaying dragons, magical abilities, and grand adventures.
When it became apparent she wouldn’t be able to travel the high seas with princes or party with rock star vampires, Cecilia hunkered down to create her own worlds filled with sexy people in complicated situations. She now writes with the support of her own sexy man and many interruptions from her goofy dog.
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