by Vella Day
When Tory and Greer stopped over at Angelique’s Coffee Shop for lunch, it happened to be Kenton’s day off, which put Tory in a bad mood for the rest of the day. She should have been happy not to have to run into him, but she had wanted to know what he knew about these demons.
Okay, okay. She wanted him to apologize or at least explain his strange behavior last night, but now she’d have to wait. He only lived an hour’s flight away, but none of her siblings had ever spotted any permanent homes nearby, so it might be a waste of time if she went there. If she could be sure they would be dating in the future, she’d buy him a stupid phone and even pay for the monthly service charge. Even if he couldn’t use the phone while in the forest, he could teleport to town and call her. Grr. He was so frustrating.
When five o’clock rolled around, Greer said she’d close up and told Tory to head on over to the Four Sisters Pottery Shop. They both understood how important it was to learn about these demons.
Once Tory landed in front of their shop, she shifted and went inside. Magnolia and Acacia were manning the store. Tory admired both women. They’d just had babies, yet no one would have been able to tell from their trim figures.
Magnolia was checking someone out, so Acacia came over to her. “Tory, this is a pleasant surprise.”
“Thank you.” She looked around. “Could we speak in private?”
“Of course. Follow me.” Acacia looked over at her sister and nodded.
Apparently, all of the sisters had the ability to communicate telepathically with each other. What Tory wouldn’t give to be able to do that with her family.
Acacia showed her into the kiln room in back. While it was rather warm in there, being surrounded by shelves full of glazed and unglazed works of art was cozy and comforting. Acacia motioned they sit at the four-seater table.
“Tell me what troubles you.”
Tory was almost surprised Acacia didn’t already know. “There have been five nearly identical suicides recently.”
“I’ve read about that. They were tragic and meaningless.”
“Yes, they were. We have some evidence that points to someone having helped these people slit their throats.”
Acacia’s brows rose. “Do you know this person’s identity?”
Tory explained what Kenton had said. She noted that as soon as she mentioned the Fey’s name, Acacia seemed to focus on every word. It was almost as if she respected his opinion a lot. “Do you know anything about these Gromley demons?” Tory asked.
She pressed her lips together. “Yes and no. If I recall, there was a group of them who lived on Tarradon quite a long time ago.”
“I thought they were from the realm of Cargonia.”
“Now they are, but how or why they moved, I couldn’t say.”
“Do you have any idea how to chase them off? Or kill them should the need arise?”
A quirky smile lifted Acacia’s lips. “What does Kenton say?”
That was odd. Acacia must be convinced he was the key. Either he’d been lying to her about what he knew, or he really didn’t know—other than if he threw some magical ball at the guy that it would kill him. “He used some magic against them in the past, but that won’t help the Guardians who are out hunting this person.”
She shook her head. “I would ask your family to back off for now.” She tapped a slightly clay encrusted nail on the table. “I might be able to help, but I’ll need time. Can I call you when I know more?”
No Guardian had ever turned down an offer from a powerful sister. “Of course.”
Tory was about to write down her number when Acacia slightly shook her head. “I know it.”
Tory wouldn’t ask how. “Thank you for your help.”
“Of course. I’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Eleven
Tory was nervous. She’d not met the amazing Ophelia, grandmother to the Four Sisters of Fate, but she’d heard stories from both Finn and Chelsea McKinnon about her. They’d both grown up in the town of Silver Lake, Tennessee where Ophelia now resided.
Tory swore every Guardian was crowded around the conference table, including her dad, who wasn’t looking particularly well. Now wasn’t the time to question him about his health, however. Even if she did, he’d just tell her he was fine. It was the Sinclair way.
What concerned her the most was that dragon shifters didn’t get sick, unless it was by the hand of someone evil. When she’d asked her mom about it, she said that Jamison hadn’t been in a fight or anything, and that all he needed was a little rest. Tory wasn’t buying it. He wasn’t that old.
Camden and Ramsey rushed in. Tory had asked her cousins to be there since Camden analyzed the chemical residue, and Ramsey worked with him, but to be honest, she almost expected them to blow her off. She couldn’t remember the last time either of them had been to a meeting of the minds.
Due to the lack of seats at the main conference table, they had to sit in a row of chairs placed along the wall.
Uncle Laird stood. “I know it is late. I appreciate you all dropping everything at such short notice, but Ophelia’s time here is short. We very much appreciate her coming from Earth. Without further ado, I’ll hand the floor over to her. Ms. Ophelia, if you will?”
She smiled, and she almost looked youthful for a moment. Everyone who’d met the ancient witch claimed she was over ninety, but looks were often deceiving.
“Some of you might not know that I came from Tarradon originally and that I lived here for many years. That was a long time ago, but those days were wonderful. It was where I met my mate and where I had my wonderful children.” She held up a hand. “But I digress. I won’t admit whether I was living here four hundred years ago or not, but I do know my history. The Gromleys were a strange lot.” She inhaled and glanced around as if to let everyone absorb this news.
“Strange how?” Declan asked.
“Whenever they became irate, their appearance changed. I wouldn’t call them shifters, but their body would transform into something that looked like glowing embers, though not as bright. It’s hard to explain. Back then, there were few people on Tarradon, so no one could explain this odd reaction to a change in emotion. It’s not surprising that most who witnessed this transformation were afraid of them. The other locals made up stories to explain this bizarre and unique behavior—from them being devils to being dark witches.”
“That’s similar to what happened to some of the women who lived in Salem—a small town in the United States. They were labeled as witches and burned to death,” Finn said. “While I wasn’t alive back then, I’m not proud of the way we treated our people.”
Ophelia nodded. “I’m glad you understand. As you can imagine, these Gromleys were persecuted. What was misunderstood was feared.”
“How did they end up on Cargonia?” Tory asked.
Ophelia sighed. “That’s the sad part. I don’t recall the details, but apparently the locals decided that the only way to get rid of these pests was to slaughter them. Back then, a simple throat cut would kill them.”
The irony wasn’t lost on her. “But they didn’t all die.”
“No. Many did though. The rest fought back. Again, I don’t know what happened exactly, but a group of white lighters banded together and did a spell to cast them out.”
A spell that clearly worked. Until now. “I know four hundred years is a long time, but do you think they are back for revenge?” Tory asked.
“That I couldn’t say. You’ll have to ask them.”
“Do you know if these demons are able to inhabit a person’s body?” Anderson asked.
All heads swiveled from the detective back to Ophelia.
“Are you asking if they are similar to a dark entity?” He nodded. “Not that I know of. I’m sorry.”
“I think that is enough questions for her,” Acacia said. “She tires easily.”
Tory didn’t get that sense, but maybe Ophelia had telepathed to her granddaughter that she had told them all they needed
to know.
Ophelia pushed back her chair, and Acacia was there to help her up. Uncle Laird stood and rushed over to help the old lady as well. “You’ve been a huge help,” he told her.
“I wish I knew more.”
As soon as Acacia and Ophelia left, the room erupted in chatter. Anderson rapped a knuckle on the table a minute later. “We all need to think about this new development overnight. It’s a lot to take in. We can’t be positive the deaths are some kind of revenge by these Gromleys, but we can’t say they aren’t. We must tread carefully.”
“Revenge makes the most sense,” Uncle Laird said. “I agree with Anderson. We need to come up with a plan.” He looked straight at Tory. “I heard that you and Kenton Forrester are close.”
Heat raced up her face, but she couldn’t point a finger at either of her cousins for blabbing. After all, she had been the one to tell them, yet she hadn’t sworn them to secrecy. “We went out once or twice. I can reach out to him again to see what he knows about what Ophelia said. I believe he and his family have killed a few demons in their day.”
Her uncle’s eyes brightened. “Perhaps we could ask him to help us.”
She bet Kenton would love nothing more than to have her owe him one. However, she couldn’t put her feelings ahead of the lives of many. “I will ask him the next time I see him.”
“Please do.”
The group disbanded. Tory and Greer headed up to the roof to take flight home since it was past closing time. “What are you going to do on your day off tomorrow,” Greer asked with too much cheer. “Try to find Kenton?”
Tory turned to face her. “Yes. I will stop by Angelique’s and hope to speak with him, just like I was asked to.”
“Are you saying you won’t ask him what happened the other night?”
Tory didn’t want to lie. “The topic might come up.”
“If you think I am being too pushy, it’s because I want you to be as happy as I am with Blake. Having a mate is the most wonderful experience in the world.”
Tory leaned back. “Whoa. Stop there. What makes you think Kenton and I are mates?” Greer had hinted she thought they were, but she’d never come out and stated it.
“Just saying. Your scales flash whenever he is around. And when have you ever heard of a Forrester having a job in Edendale?”
“I figured he was either bored or he needed the money. I doubt he’s here because of me. He doesn’t even know me very well.”
“You’d be surprised what the Forresters know about the Guardians. It’s almost creepy how intuitive they are.” Greer sighed. “All I’m saying is keep an open mind and give the guy a chance. Maybe he was scared that the sex was too good.”
Tory chuckled. “A guy scared? I doubt that.”
“What if he’s worried that since he’s a Fey and you aren’t, that you won’t accept him? Face it. The guy lives in a freaking forest, doesn’t own a car, and only now has a job.”
Tory had been so absorbed in what was going on around her that she hadn’t thought about what he was dealing with. “You might be right.” She hugged her cousin. “I’ll try to keep an open mind.”
Greer grinned. “Let me know how it works out.”
They headed up to the rooftop. Greer shifted and took off, and Tory followed suit. As she neared her house, she was tempted to continue flying until she landed in the middle of the realm. Even if she were able to find the eternal flame though, there was no guarantee she’d find Kenton.
No, it would be better to have a soak in the tub and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, she’d figure out the next step.
After doing a lot of thinking last night, Kenton decided he was going to face Tory and confess everything to her. They’d made love, which meant she found him an acceptable partner—or so he wanted to believe. Bevon was not home when Kenton awoke, but in a way, he was glad. He didn’t need his brother giving him relationship advice.
After changing into his Angelique’s Coffee Shop shirt and jeans, he teleported to the alley behind the shop and remained invisible until he was certain no one was watching. After dropping his cloak, he stepped into the kitchen.
“Hello, Donald. How goes it?” Kenton was quite pleased with his ability to absorb the slang of the region.
“Good. Yourself? The customers treating you well?”
Kenton wasn’t used to people asking him how he was doing. It was usually his job to make sure others were okay. “A few are impatient, but most are grateful. If they are cranky, a good cup of coffee and a pastry usually cures their ills.” He smiled.
“Good to hear.” Donald waved a spatula at him, nodded, and then went back to work.
Kenton passed through the swinging kitchen doors, rushed down the hallway, and then stepped behind the counter. He started his morning ritual of checking the level of the coffee grounds in each of the machines and then made sure the condiments were all topped off. Lastly, he wiped down all of the tables in his section, getting ready for the morning rush. He couldn’t imagine what his parents would say if they saw him doing menial chores. If they’d asked, he would have told them that it actually relaxed him since it gave him time to think.
Angelique clapped her hands, signaling the doors were about to open. Within a minute, half the seats were taken. While he knew it was Tory’s day off, he doubted she’d stop in, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d made a huge mistake by teleporting out of her house after they’d made love, but he had his reasons for leaving, which hopefully she would understand.
If he had stayed after their amazing lovemaking, he might have told her he was really good at reading people. From the way she rushed down the hallway, it was evident that Tory wasn’t quite sure about him, and he wanted to give her time to think things through. It was for the best—or so he wanted to believe. Kenton rarely doubted himself, but he’d never made love to his mate before either.
If she didn’t stop into the shop today, he’d seek her out after work. Kenton mentally tried to be ready for every kind of reaction. He hadn’t been around her enough to know how she’d deal with his disappearing act or the flowers.
“Kenton?” Angelique called.
He jerked back to reality. “Coming!”
As he approached his boss, she nodded to a booth in back. “Someone has requested your presence.” From the slight smile, he could guess who it was, though he couldn’t believe he hadn’t sensed Tory.
“Thank you.”
Kenton spun around and made a beeline to her table. “Tory. Am I glad to see you.”
“Really?”
Okay, this wasn’t going to be easy. He shouldn’t be surprised that the independent woman would respond with a bit of disdain. “We need to talk. About a lot of things.”
“I came to talk too, but this place seems to be hopping. How about you get me a coffee with cream and a croissant, and maybe we can meet tonight at my place to discuss these things?”
When her lips quirked upward a bit, his heart soared. “That is perfect. I totally agree that this isn’t exactly the safest place to talk.” About the demons, about him running out on her, or about how he felt.
“I agree, but I had no other way of communicating with you except to come here. If you would get a cell phone, it would be easier.”
“Like I said, the reception in the forest is spotty.” He’d used that line often.
“If you had a phone, you could use it when you came to work.”
“You’re right.” Either he needed one or it was time to give her the communication bracelet. He turned and rushed to prepare her order. As soon as he filled up her cup and poured in the cream, he carried it over to her. “Your croissant is heating.”
She reached out and clasped his hand. “Thank you for the flowers.”
Heat actually rushed up his face, and Kenton believed he was blushing—something he had never experienced before. “They are a small present to say I’m sorry for disappearing. It’s one of the things I’d like to discuss with you tonight.”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter Twelve
Tory changed her clothes three times for her date before deciding on a loose-fitting dress. She had yet to figure out how she wanted this evening to end, but should it go the same way as their last date, wearing something easy to remove would be best.
She had been a little angry at Kenton, but the moment he’d turned around and hurried toward her at the coffee shop, she forgave him. The lines around his eyes had appeared deeper, as if he hadn’t slept much either.
To save time when Kenton arrived, she typed up and then printed off the information Ophelia had told them. Either Kenton would say all of that was new to him, or he’d be able to add some valuable information. Mostly, the Guardians needed to figure out how to rid Tarradon of these demons, assuming there was more than one of them.
A knock sounded on her door. How sweet. Kenton could have just as easily appeared in her living room, but this way was more proper. She pulled open the door and stared.
He wasn’t wearing his coffee shop uniform like she assumed he would. Instead, he was dressed in black jeans and a rather form-fitting white T-shirt. While his attire was simple, it was sexy as hell. “Hey, come in,” she managed to say.
From behind his back, he handed her a bottle of wine and a box. “I’m not sure this could make up for my mistake the other night, but I didn’t know how else to say I’m sorry.”
Tory never expected him to come with gifts. “You don’t have to keep giving me presents.” The man was sweet in his naiveté.
He lifted a shoulder. “The wine I thought we could share. As for the chocolates, maybe I could beg you for a taste.”
His double-entendre wasn’t lost on her, and she couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll get the wine opener.”
This time, she didn’t want to make love in the kitchen. Being in the bedroom would give her so much more room to explore him. As she retrieved two glasses, he opened the wine.
