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Chapter Three
The sun began its descent across the sky of Seacrest, the main village of Mirabelle, during Bo and Raven’s meeting with Mayor Dubois. Walking outside, they noticed the intensely colored lights in radiant oranges and vibrant purples that outlined the shops and homes. Old-fashioned street lamps dotted the walkways as a small number of shopkeepers closed up for the evening. The couple strolled over to The Bed and Brew, which was located around the corner from Town Hall.
The fragrance of burning leaves was a familiar scent at this time of year. Smoke from warm fireplaces filled the autumn air as the two walked from the parking lot to The Bed and Brew. The sky was clear and the moon was waxing, every day swelling until the full phase. They both felt the pull from la bella luna. Bo let his arm rest protectively around Raven’s shoulders as they entered the restaurant.
He wondered why she hadn’t brought up his marriage proposal, but thought it best to let her mull it over. He imagined a very different response, one that included jumping for joy and smothering him with kisses-which would then, undoubtedly, lead to an incredible evening of lovemaking. Alas, that was not how it played out, and Bo considered whether she might actually turn him down.
His family originally had wanted him to pair with Bethany Logan. Eventually, they realized his heart belonged to Raven. Regrettably, Bethany still had her canines set on Bo. Bethany made no secret of her goal to mate with Bo and become his alpha female. Bethany even told Bo that if she had to, she would tolerate the Lamai, so long as Raven knew her place as second in line.
Bo held the door open for Raven in a courtly ma
“How nice to see you two together,” Julia
“Julia
“Bo, you’re as handsome as ever. You’re one lucky woman, Raven Strigoi. He’s scrumptious! You have any brothers as handsome and hunky as you are, doll?”
Bo flushed with embarrassment, and Raven laughed good-naturedly. There were some women, Bo noticed, that Raven tolerated flirting with her man, while others caused her incisors to extend. Bethany triggered the latter.
Julia
“Jules, you never age. What’s your secret?” Raven teased, looking over the velvet-clad witch as she skillfully poured a bit of the Green Fairy over cubes of sugar into ice-cold water.
“You’re about to drink it, honey.” She laughed, her blue eyes twinkling. “The usual?”
Raven licked her lips and winked at Julia
Julia
Bo could sense that Raven was feeling warm and fuzzy inside as she sipped the emerald liquor. He dreaded bringing up the horrid business that brought them there in the first place. It was a lovely night, he was with Raven and they were about to enjoy a wonderful meal. However, death also seemed to be his constant companion, and he knew, eventually, that it would demand its comeuppance.
“Enough small talk for now,” Jules whispered, moving a cornucopia to the side. “You need to take care, Raven. There is serious magick-evil magick-in the air.” The crone brandished her slender hand over the three glasses filled with the absinthe. Brilliant sparks flashed above them. The fluid in Raven’s glass changed to crimson. Bo looked in both fear and astonishment at Jules.
“What are you saying, Julia
The liquid turned back to green-or could it have been an illusion of the candlelight?
“I’m saying that someone is out to hurt the magickal beings of Mirabelle Cove, and Raven will be in the middle. You need to take care also, Bo.” Julia
Bo wasn’t surprised Raven didn’t bother to ask how Jules knew about the dead body. She was a witch, after all. Mordred, a handsome young man with strawberry-blond hair, slid their plates over. They overflowed with thick, juicy steaks, garden greens and chive-with-cheese smashed potatoes. Bo began to feel the absinthe relaxing him after a long, harrowing day. Should a mortal take a taste of Emerald’s absinthe, it would be the trip of a lifetime, but for the magickal beings of Mirabelle Cove, it had the same effect as potent liquor-a very potent liquor.
Jules stared intensely at Raven. “Did Frank tell you anything else?”
“No, nothing-is there more?” she asked.
“He told us to come speak with you. Are you certain there’s nothing more you want to tell us?” Bo probed.
Julia
“That was weird,” Raven said as they walked toward the table. “Is it me, or did it seem as if she was hiding something?”
Bo agreed. “Something is up. I’m not so certain it was that she was hiding information. I think she has information she feels…obligated to conceal.”
“You mean like a confessor, or doctor-patient confidentiality, or attorney-client privilege?”
“Yes, my love, exactly like that.” Bo stood while Raven slid onto the sleek leather seat then sat across from her.
Raven took a slice of warm peasant bread with sun-dried tomato and dipped it into the rosemary-flavored oil in a small cup on the table.
“Mm…this is fantastic. Try a piece.” Raven offered Bo a bite as she chewed the flavorful bread.
“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,” Bo said, looking into her eyes. He wanted to protect her, to keep all the dangers of life far away from her. Realistically, he knew that wasn’t possible, but he still held that wish nearest to his heart. Bo was a powerful man and a vicious wolf. Police training and animal instinct were his tools, and he pla
Her eyes flashed like lightning. “Are you worried about me?”
Bo caressed the silken skin of her face. She felt soft and inviting. “You promise to take precautions? Do you have my medicine pouch?”