Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
L ater that evening, Rook found himself at The Arcane Brewpub with Banner, Xabir, and Thane. The pub’s enchanted lanterns cast a warm glow over their corner booth, and Harry had already supplied them with his latest magical brew – something that sparkled suspiciously and tasted like liquid courage.
“Let me get this straight,” Banner leaned forward, his ice-blue eyes dancing with amusement, “she told them you had five kids?”
“And two dogs,” Rook confirmed, watching his drink shift from gold to midnight blue. “Plus the hamster. Don’t forget the magical hamster.”
“My cousin has lost her mind.” Thane choked on his drink, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Though I have to say, the hamster was unique.”
“The best part is she’s usually so composed,” Xabir added, grinning. “Remember how she lectured Romi last month about maintaining professional boundaries at work?”
“Says the woman who nearly set her own shop on fire when Rook first walked in,” Banner smirked. “Those protection wards went haywire for a solid minute.”
“They did not,” Rook sat up straighter, intrigued. “I would have noticed.”
“You were too busy knocking over displays,” Thane snorted. “But trust me, every magical sensor in that shop lit up like Convergence Night. Romi told me Clover spent three hours afterward ‘recalibrating’ her wards. Something about ‘excessive magical interference.’“
“Interference, huh?” Rook’s grin widened.
“Oh yeah.” Thane’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Apparently your ‘overwhelming alpha energy’ was ‘disrupting her carefully calibrated magical atmosphere.’“
“That’s not what has me worried,” Banner cut in, trying to keep a straight face. “I’m more concerned about these five kids you’ve apparently fathered. Keeping secrets from your best friend, Rook? I’m hurt.”
“Don’t forget the dogs,” Xabir added solemnly. “We should probably start planning a shower for the magical hamster.”
“All of you can go straight to—” Rook’s phone buzzed again, cutting off his retort.
P.S. Poe says to tell you he expects premium treats in exchange for putting up with your “excessive alpha energy” in his shop. His words, not mine. Though he’s not wrong about the treats.
“Oh, this is precious,” Banner crowed, somehow reading over his shoulder despite Rook’s attempt to angle the phone away. “The fearsome alpha, taking orders from a crow.”
“‘Excessive alpha energy,’“ Thane repeated, wheezing with laughter. “That bird’s got your number.”
“You know what this means,” Xabir’s grin turned wicked. “We need to find the most ridiculous premium bird treats in Mystic Hollow.”
“I can think of better ways to spend my evening than shopping for your entertainment,” Rook grumbled, but his tiger rumbled happily at the thought of pleasing their mate’s familiar.
“No, no,” Banner waved off his protest. “This is critical alpha business. Can’t have the local familiars spreading rumors about your stinginess.”
“Besides,” Thane added, “Poe’s approval rating of suitors is legendary. That crow once drove off three different guys just by quoting increasingly ominous prophecies at them.”
“And now he’s only demanding treats,” Xabir nodded sagely. “Practically a blessing.”
“To Poe then,” Banner raised his glass, his drink shifting to a brilliant purple. “The true power behind the throne.”
“To the magical hamster,” Xabir added with a completely straight face.
“To my cousin,” Thane lifted his own glass, “finally meeting her match in stubbornness.”
“To all of you finding something better to do with your time,” Rook muttered, but he was fighting a smile as he joined the toast.
His phone lit up one last time: Also, if you’re still at the pub with my cousin, tell him I WILL find out what he’s saying about me, and I WILL remember.
“How did she—” Rook started.
“Poe,” they all said in unison.
“That bird sees everything,” Banner glanced around dramatically as if expecting to spot the crow lurking in the rafters.
Rook smiled into his drink, already planning on seeing her tomorrow and all the ways he intended to make Clover admit she’d been jealous. His tiger rumbled contentedly, finally settled now that their mate was starting to acknowledge what they’d known from the start – she was theirs, just as much as they were already hers.
Even if they had to bribe her familiar with premium treats and endure endless teasing from their friends.
Actually, scratch that. Especially then.
The vibration of his phone cut through their laughter. Weston’s name flashed on the screen with a message that made his tiger surge forward: Emergency at warehouse. Equipment sabotaged. Plus news about Justus. You need to hear this.
Banner was on his feet before Rook could even move, all traces of humor vanishing from his face. “I’m with you.”
“Need backup?” Xabir asked, already half-rising, but Rook shook his head.
“Pride business,” he said, dropping money on the table. “I’ve got Banner. But keep your phone on – this feels bigger than equipment damage.”
Thane clasped his shoulder. “Call if you need anything. Romi’s got contacts all over town if we need to gather intel quietly.”
The drive to the warehouse crackled with tension. Banner kept his eyes on the mirrors, tracking every car that passed them. “Hudson’s getting bold,” he said finally, breaking the silence. “Going after the spa equipment directly.”
“He wants Katz Corp.” Rook’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “He’s always thought he could run it better than me.”
“Your father chose you for a reason.”
“Tell that to my dear uncle.”
Weston waited in the shadows of the loading dock, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by sharp alertness. Two other guards patrolled the perimeter, their shifted forms melting in and out of the darkness.
“Show me,” Rook ordered, following Weston inside.
“They knew exactly what they were after.” Weston led them past rows of crates to where their most expensive machinery sat. “The magical seals were broken on the aromatherapy diffusers – the ones designed specifically for your formulas. But that’s not the worst part.”
He held out a small cloth sachet that reeked of corrupted herbs. Rook recognized some of the components – plants used in his family’s secret formulas, but twisted into something darker. His tiger snarled, recognizing the scent signature. “Hudson.”
“There’s more,” Weston’s jaw tightened. “Justus has been meeting with pride members, particularly the older families. He’s spreading rumors that you’re too focused on business ventures, that the pride needs an alpha who’ll put them first. He’s suggesting another leadership challenge.”
Banner swore colorfully. “After what happened last time?”
“He’s playing on fears,” Rook growled. “The pride’s still adjusting to change. He thinks he can use that.”
His phone buzzed – Clover: Everything okay? My wards just picked up some strange energy signatures near your warehouse.
Looking at the damaged machinery, then at the sachet of corrupted herbs, Rook made a decision. “Get me a meeting with Grandmother, George, and Luis. Tonight.”
“It’s late,” Banner started, but Rook cut him off.
“They’ll come.”