Ne-ma saw the stark fear in his eyes. He feared for Alisa.
“Oh Tristan,” Ne-ma said, putting her hand on his cheek. “Your Gramma and I will never do that to you and yours. We worked a love spell once as teenagers on a classmate. She was mean to your Gramma and I got mad so I made your Gramma help me cast the love spell. It was a mean trick, and we regretted it. We managed to make things right in the end, but love spells are nasty!” Ne-ma shuddered.
Tristan blew out a breath of relief. “Okay. So Alisa won't suffer any nasty effects.”
“Not from our spell.”
Tristan's frown returned. “Did you make her...”
“We didn't make her do anything. Free will, Tristan. Everything she does is of her own free will.”
Ne-ma patted his chest and ambled off. “And we never could make you do anything you didn't want to do, Tristan. Even as a boy you were your own man.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Alisa dried her hands and stepped back from the gleaming kitchen counter. She had finished washing, cleaning and scrubbing everything. The kitchen had a fresh, citrus smell and she smiled proudly.
Everything was in order and ready for tomorrow. It had been a good day, more than good really. It had been a busy, crazy and completely fulfilling day. She had never felt happier. Here, in the kitchen of Broomstick Inn, she had finally found her place, her calling. She could experiment with all the new, exciting recipes that had been floating around in her head. She loved to see people enjoying her cooking, and Tristan's brothers and work crew had all asked for seconds and thirds.
They were good guys. They just needed a woman to keep them in line.
Alisa shook her head with an amazed laugh. She didn't know what possessed her to yell her head off at the whole bunch of big, tough, muscly men. All she knew was that when she saw them tromping all over her nice, neat kitchen with their muddy boots and making a hell of a racket, she had lost her head and her temper. Well, Tristan had Gray's Domain, but this was her domain! How would he like it if she flounced over to his construction site and messed things up? She was sure he wouldn't like it at all. So he should understand her reaction.
To be fair to Tristan, he had given his men a dressing-down and told them to stay out of Alisa's kitchen. He was real sweet and supportive, and before he left, he had given her a quick kiss on the lips. He had kissed her in front of everyone, but it didn't matter. Everyone seemed to know that they had slept together, and that she was Tristan's...what? Girlfriend? Sex partner? Mate?
She'd heard his brothers mention that word a couple of times. Alisa chewed her lip. Being a mate sounded like a big thing, and from what she gathered from the boys' conversations and from the mind-blowing, toe-curling sex she had with Tristan, it wasn't a bad thing at all. In fact, it was like the best thing ever!
Alisa poked her head out of the kitchen. The dining hall was empty. Gramma and Ne-ma had told her that they were going to pay a short visit to their friend, Rosalina, and assured her that they would be back soon. Tristan had taken his brothers out for drinks. She was sure the boys had plenty to talk about. Aidan and Mason must be telling them about all their adventures in the big city.
Alisa rubbed her arms and yawned. It had been a long day and she was exhausted. She would just take out the trash and then get herself to bed. She already had the next day's menu all planned out and she was going to bake something real special for the Breakfast Treat.
Grabbing the big trash bag from the corner, she hauled it out the back door and staggered to the dumpster. She took a step forward and froze. There was that tingling sensation at the back of her neck, and goose pimples raced down her arms.
She'd felt this eerie chill before. In her car, just before that vampire tried to make her his supper.
She swallowed and put her hand slowly into her pocket.
She was prepared this time.
Whirling round, she came face to face with that long-haired vampire. Alisa yelled and grabbed the garlic cloves from her pocket.
“You! Take that, you sneaky shit!” she screamed, flinging the garlic at him.
The vampire stumbled back in shock as the cloves of garlic bounced off his head.
To Alisa's dismay, the vampire didn't collapse or retreat. She'd thought he would be screaming in agony by now, but obviously the garlic didn't work. Garlic added a real kick to her food, but it didn't ward off vampires. Shit.
Alisa spluttered. “B-but...garlic...you're a vampire! I thought...”
The vampire laughed. “You believe that myth? We're not afraid of garlic.”
“S-so what are you afraid of?” Alisa stammered, backing away.
The vampire canted his head and saw no harm in telling his prey an interesting vampire fact. “The sun.”
Alisa winced. She didn't have the sun in her pocket.
“Why me?” she asked, skirting the dumpster.
“You're human,” he said simply. “Human blood is delicious. Paranormals taste funny.”
She glanced behind her. It was a dead end.
The vampire smiled, displaying elongated fangs. “And I'm hungry,” was all he said before he lunged at her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tristan and Jackson laughed as Aidan and Mason told them stories about their time with the Black Bears Group. His brothers injected their stories with their trademark irreverent humor, but Tristan knew that the Black Bears Group was a tough, demanding security outfit. Their training must have been grueling, and those missions that they went on were highly dangerous. His brothers were adrenaline junkies, and he knew they could take care of themselves, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't worry about them while they were in the city.
He was glad they were back, and he would ask them if they wanted to help him in his construction business. But the decision was up to them. They would choose their own paths and careers. Shadow Point wasn't a big, pulsing city, but there was plenty to do here. Aidan and Mason just had to find their niche. If they loved security work so much, they could even join the Sheriff's department.
Tristan was just ordering another round of beers when he saw Gramma and Ne-ma barreling into the pub. He blinked at them. He didn't know they frequented The Thirsty Toadstool as well.
Gramma came right up to him and tugged him out of his seat.
“Tristan! Put down those beers and come with us!”
“What's going on?” he asked immediately. “Is it Alisa?”
“We've talked to Rosalina,” Ne-ma said breathlessly. “She confirmed that the vampire who attacked Alisa is one of hers. Nicholas was caught by her Enforcers attacking another human a few weeks ago. That is a crime under coven law. Nicholas was locked up but he escaped. Rosalina said that two human attacks warrant the death sentence. You can destroy Nicholas and you won't incur Rosalina's wrath. In fact, she might even bake you a blood cake to thank you.”
Tristan turned to his brothers, who had filed out of The Thirsty Toadstool with him. “How would you boys like to go vampire hunting tonight?” Tristan said.
Aidan and Mason cracked their knuckles and smirked. Jackson's claws sliced out of his fingertips and he growled, “Nobody messes with our sister-in-law.”
Tristan jerked suddenly. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“That scream.”
His brothers stared at him, confused and concerned.
Tristan realized that he was the only one who could hear her. His mate.
The color drained from his face. “Alisa!”
Tristan shoved his brothers aside and tore down the street, hearing his mate's strident screams in his head. He could feel her pain, her fear and anger, and then...nothing.
“Alisa!” he roared. “No!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Tristan skidded into the alley and lurched to a sudden halt. Alisa was kneeling at the end of the alley, her fingers closed over the hilt of a knife.
“Alisa!”
At his shout, she looked up and pushed hersel
f up slowly. There was a body lying at her feet.
Tristan ran to her and saw Nicholas on the ground. A knife was buried in his chest. His eyes were open and unseeing, but his fingers continued to spasm and twitch.
Alisa toed his body gingerly and whispered, “Is he dead? I mean, dead dead, not you know, undead.”
Tristan heard his brothers clattering up behind him.
“Whoa.”
“Is that...”
“Yeah, it is.”
Tristan heard Gramma and Ne-ma's voices at the mouth of the alley, but he didn't turn around. He kept staring at Alisa, who was breathing hard and grimacing. She didn't look like she had been hurt. But she did look mightily pissed off.
There was blood on her hands, but he was quite sure it wasn't hers.
Gramma and Ne-ma rushed up and hugged her.
“Alisa! Are you okay?”
“What happened?”
“What did you do? Oh sweetheart, come here...”
Alisa swiped her hair out of her face and scowled. “The sneaky shit took me by surprise the first time. But I'm not going to let shit sneak up on me a second time. I sensed him, and I threw some garlic at him. But that didn't work.” She scrunched up her nose. “Then he told me some rubbish about the sun.” Alisa rolled her eyes. “He knew I had no way of conjuring up the sun. But I remembered something else. You can kill a werewolf with a silver bullet, right? So I thought, maybe silver can kill a vampire too.”
Alisa smiled and patted her hip. “I was wearing my knife belt. You made me wear it this afternoon, remember?” she said to Gramma. “You said it made me look like a badass chef.”
Gramma pressed her hands together. “Yes.”
“It's my lucky knife belt. It saved my life. It was holding my big silver chef knife. He's not the only one who knows how to be sneaky,” Alisa sneered, stepping over the body. “When he came at me, I waited till the last instant before pulling out my knife. He ran straight into the knife. Technically, I didn't kill him. He killed himself. He's dead for real, right?”
Tristan pulled Alisa to him and hugged her tight. “My God, you're amazing! You are the most amazing, extraordinary, unbelievable woman!”
Ne-ma crouched and wrenched the knife out of the vampire's chest. She hoisted the knife and said to Alisa over her shoulder, “Silver is lethal to all paranormals, except witches. Silver in the heart is excruciating and he will die eventually, but I don't enjoy prolonging anyone's suffering. So.”
With a whoosh, she brought the blade down and separated the vampire's head from his body.
“Decapitation. The only way to make sure someone is dead dead,” Ne-ma lectured
“Got it. I'll be sure to remember that,” Alisa answered like a good student.
Tristan saw his brothers pick their jaws off the floor and stared at the three females in awe.
The females in their family weren't weak and wilting. They were incredible, spunky and tough as nails.
Alisa sighed as she stared at the dripping knife in Ne-ma's hand. “I liked that knife. It was a good knife, but there's no way I can use that now.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Tristan put his arm around her and kissed her temple. “I'll buy you a new one.”
His brothers piped up, “We'll get you a whole new set of wicked knives, Alisa.”
“Really?” She beamed at them.
“Yep. That's the perfect wedding present for a badass chef!”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The whole town of Shadow Point was out celebrating in the streets. Gramma and Ne-ma knew almost everyone in town and they had invited everyone to the wedding.
The wedding was held in the town square, and the buffet table stretched for miles. Beer flowed non-stop from giant barrels that the fae owners of The Thirsty Toadstool had supplied for the event.
Rosalina and her coven were in attendance as well. Alisa and Tristan had a sunset wedding ceremony so that the vampires could join in the festivities.
Gramma, Ne-ma and Rosalina was huddled in a corner, drinking themselves silly and reminiscing about old times. Alisa danced with Tristan in the moonlight and laughed as a drunken werewolf attempted to cut in and steal her from her groom.
She had gotten to know most of the townsfolk during the wedding preparations. She had made new friends, and grown close to her neighbors. There were humans, fae, witches, vampires, shifters living in Shadow Point. As in any community, there were conflicts and crimes but by and large, Shadow Point was a small town with a big heart.
Alisa heard Mason's excited shout and saw him running to three brawny, grinning men. Aidan hollered a greeting from the other end of the street and leaped over chairs and tables to get to them.
“Ethan! Caleb! You made it!”
“Dylan! Man, it's good to see you!”
Aidan and Mason grabbed the three newly arrived guests and jumped up and down. They gestured excitedly to Tristan and Alisa.
“This is my big brother, Tristan and his bride, Alisa,” Mason gushed. “And these are our bosses from the Black Bears Group! Ethan is the Black Bears alpha, Caleb is the beta, and Dylan here is our immediate boss!”
“Was,” Dylan corrected, smiling. “I was their team leader when they were with the Black Bears Group.”
Tristan shook hands with the three Black Bears and thanked them for coming all the way from the city to attend his wedding. The three men smiled and managed to hug Alisa before Aidan and Mason dragged them away, bellowing, “Gramma, Ne-ma! We want you to meet our big bosses from the city!”
Alisa laughed at their excitement. She could see the tight bond and camaraderie among the Black Bears and Alisa was glad that Aidan and Mason had good people to look out for them when they were living in the city. She had been all alone in the city, with no family and no true friends. But she felt she had finally come home. Shadow Point was her home, and she would live here happily ever after.
Alisa turned around slowly.
She remembered a wish she had made so long ago.
Gramma and Ne-ma was chatting with the Black Bears, and they grinned at her when she came up to them.
“Gramma, Ne-ma,” Alisa began. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” they said together.
She took a deep breath and said, “When I was in the city, alone, hungry and at a very low point in my life, I...I made a wish. I wished that I would find my true love, have a loving family, and live happily ever after.” She paused and smiled. “My wish came true.”
Tristan was standing behind her, his arms around her waist. “You had something to do with this,” he stated, narrowing his eyes at Gramma and Ne-ma.
“Well...”
“We did.”
“But it's a dormant spell...”
“It's only triggered when your true mate makes a wish.”
Gramma and Ne-ma stared at their grandsons defiantly. Ethan, Caleb and Dylan chuckled and stepped back. This was a family affair for the Gray Bears, and they knew better than to put their paws in it.
The four Gray brothers closed in.
“What spell?” Aidan said.
“What wish?” Mason demanded.
Gramma tilted up her chin and said, “A Happily-Ever-After wish. If your true mate makes a wish to find her true love, meaning you—” She pointed at Aidan, Mason and Jackson in turn. “She will trigger the spell.”
“And events will unfold so that you will find each other,” Ne-ma finished.
Alisa nodded slowly. “Like my job at Broomstick Inn. As soon as I made the wish, I got the job and I came here. And found Tristan.” She turned to him and cupped his jaw tenderly. “My true love,” she whispered, leaning into his arms.
Aidan, Mason and Jackson were muttering and grumbling under their breaths. Gramma gave them one last jab in the chest and folded her arms.
“Mind, if your true mate doesn't make the wish, then you'll have to search for her yourself,” Gramma sniffed. “You can search your whole life and never find her,
so you'd better hope she makes the wish!”
“We're just trying to help,” Ne-ma said defensively.
Tristan laughed and kissed Gramma and Ne-ma on the cheek. “Thank you. I love you.”
“We love you too. Now go make us some great-grandcubs!”
As Alisa blushed furiously, everyone laughed and joined in the teasing. Tristan grinned and swept his bride up in his arms. He winked at the cheering crowd over his shoulder and strode towards Broomstick Inn.
“What are you doing?” Alisa squealed as he took the stairs three at a time.
“Gramma and Ne-ma prepared a bridal suite for us. It's their wedding present to us,” Tristan said, leaning in to kiss her.
He carried her into the largest room in the inn and put her down. Alisa gasped at the lace-covered furnishings and heart-shaped pillows. There was a tray of chocolates on the bed and there were bouquets of roses on the table and by the window.
They had transformed the room into a magical, dream suite for a princess.
“Oh!” She pressed her fingertips to her lips. “This is so beautiful!”
Tristan took her hands and kissed them. “You—are beautiful, Alisa. Thank you, for making the wish,” he whispered.
Outside the window, fireworks lit the night sky. Their guests cheered and there was music and laughter, but Alisa heard only the beating of their hearts as Tristan walked her backwards to the bed.
She loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt. They'd received many wonderful wedding presents, but she was about to unwrap her favorite present.
This present was hers, and hers alone. Alisa threw her arms around Tristan and smiled against his lips. He was all hers, now and forever. “Wishes do come true,” she murmured.
“They do,” Tristan agreed, nuzzling her neck. “I have you, and I love you, forever.”
Alisa's eyes glistened with tears of happiness and gratitude as she whispered, “I love you, Tristan. And I have so much to love and cherish now. Our happily ever after…is just beginning!”
Skyfire Dragon (Dragons In Shadow Point Book 1) Page 15
