Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CARTER
“Icouldn’t have done this without you,” Rose says as she turns toward me after loading the last box of macarons into the trunk of her car.
“I’m sure you would’ve figured it out. You’re a smart witch.” I tap the tip of her nose before scooping her into my arms. She squeals as I spin her around before setting her gently back on her feet.
“We fixed the macaron disaster, but what about the decorations?” Her lips dip at the corners, brow furrowing. “She’s going to kill me if I show up with either no decorations or these…”
She flips open the cardboard box and plucks out a putrid green balloon between her finger and thumb. Her nose wrinkles, shoulders sagging, deflated as the rubber in her hand.
“Hey.” I catch her by the hips, pulling her tight against my chest as I wrap her up and press a kiss to the top of her head. “I have a few ideas. Let’s just get these cookies to the lounge and into the fridge.”
“They aren’t just cookies, they’re macarons. But you have a point.” She glances at the rising sun, then back at the trunk. “We need to get them chilled before it gets any warmer.”
“I can think of a few things to make it warmer,” I whisper, sliding my hands down to cup her ass.
“Carter!” She slaps my chest and shakes her head, pulling free of my grasp. I reluctantly let her go.
“Go on, get going.”
“You’re not coming?” Her brows pinch as I reach up and shut the trunk.
“I’m coming. I just need to make a few phone calls and run an errand. I’ll catch up.” I brush a kiss across her lips, then gently turn her by the shoulders toward the driver’s door. I wave as she pulls out of the driveway, watching until the car disappears before pulling out my phone.
Scrolling through my contacts, I find the witch I’m looking for and dial. Fernando answers on the third ring.
“Carter, what a surprise,” he says in his soft German accent.
“I’m calling in that favor. How fast can you get to the Wise Fox Lounge in Greyhaven?” I’d checked in with him a few days ago to see where in the world he was residing, and bless the goddess, he was only an hour away.
“For you? Two hours.” I hear the rustle of fabric and nearly roll my eyes. Of course, the witch is still in bed. He probably stayed up all night.
Ending the call and tucking my phone into my pocket, I double-check Rose’s front door.
Her protection wards are in place, but I wouldn’t put it past her ex to pull some bullshit while we’re gone.
I circle the perimeter of the yard, shifter senses sharpened, searching for the faintest trace of anything amiss in the air or ground.
Ours to protect. Ours to guard.
“I know.” My teeth grind together as a strange sense of premonition washes over me.
An hour and a half later, I dismount my bike and, with a reassuring pat, check my breast pocket to make sure the small package survived the ride.
Nestled inside is a blue topaz set in the crook of a white-gold crescent moon, strung on a delicate chain.
The moment I’d seen it in the jewelry store window, while I was supposed to be looking for the wolf pup, I knew it belonged around my Rosemary’s neck.
More than just a necklace, though, it’s been warded with protection spells.
“Rose?” I push open the heavy wooden doors to the lounge and am assaulted by the sight of chartreuse runners draped across tables, each topped with vases of blue and cream flowers.
If not for the garish green clashing against the décor, the space—with its blue walls and mahogany wood paneling—would be warm, inviting.
The kind of place I could see myself frequenting often.
But my attention locks on the center of the room, where my witch stands on a ladder, fastening a garland to the ceiling beams. She glances over her shoulder, her expression faltering.
“It’s that bad, isn’t it?” she asks as she climbs down, raking her fingers through her hair.
“I told her once the lights are dimmed, the band starts playing, and folks have a few drinks in them, they won’t care what color the decorations are,” the burly man behind the bar says as he polishes a glass and sets it on the neatly arranged shelf behind him.
The shelves are lined with rows of bottles in various shades of blue, glowing faintly under the recessed ceiling lamps.
“The people might not care, but she will. You’ve known her for years, Charlee. She’ll never trust me to run another event again.” Rose lets out a hiccupped laugh before burying her face in her hands.
“Kitten, I’m sure it’s not going to be that bad. The green gives it a—” I glance around the room, searching for the right words. “Fresh, hip vibe?”
“You mean like what my great-aunt Frieda’s cat puked up after getting into the dumpsters?” Fernando’s rich voice calls from the front door, and my shoulders sag in relief.
“Not exactly the words I was going for—”
“That’s because you’re trying to sugarcoat it, wolf, for this beautiful dame.” He bows deeply to Rose before straightening and grasping my hand, shaking it fervently.
“I’m sorry, but the lounge doesn’t open for a few more hours.”
“Didn’t Carter tell you?” Fernando quirks an eyebrow.
“What didn’t you tell me?” Rose turns to me, confusion clouding her features.
“Well, I did mention I had some phone calls to make and errands to run.” I resist the urge to reach into my pocket. Now isn’t the right time.
“What wolf boy is trying to say is that I’m here to save the day.” Fernando smirks, pearly white teeth flashing in the light.
“The only thing that could save today would be a truck full of blue decorations—or a team of witches to enchant everything before tonight’s opening.”
“Well then, you’re in luck.” He lays a hand on the nearest table, and with a wiggle of his pinky, cerulean ink spreads across the runner in intricate swirling patterns until not a speck of green remains.
Rose’s eyes widen. She hurries to the table, running her hand along the fabric before looking up at him.
“That’s… fascinating.” She glances over her shoulder. “But this is just one runner. We have an entire lounge to fix. The amount of magic—”
“I’ve got enough. But first, I need a drink. I nearly felt like I was flying—I drove so fast to make it here on time.”
“If you’re here to help our Rose, the first drink’s on the house. What’ll it be, mate?” Charlee calls from behind the bar.
“Gin and tonic with a splash of lime, please.” Fernando laces his fingers together, stretching his arms overhead before letting out a low whistle. “You weren’t kidding, wolf. This is quite the dig. I’ll have to reach out to the owner.”
“What is it exactly that you do? And how do you know Carter?”
“Well, what I do is a conversation for another time. As for how I know this handsome man? He saved my ass years ago. I never thought he’d call in the favor I promised him.”
“Are you sure you can’t stay for the opening?” Rose asks as we stand by the front door with Fernando.
“Unfortunately, I have business I must return to. But I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you around.” He dabs the sheen of sweat from his forehead, then waves and heads for the sleek black sedan parked beside my bike.
We stand side by side, watching until he disappears down the road. Rose glances at her watch.
“Two hours until opening. The band is finishing their sound check. We’ve got a few minutes to freshen up before I double-check—”
I pull her face to mine, silencing her with a kiss. Brushing a stray lock from her cheek, I reach down to entwine our fingers.
“Everything is perfect. Let’s go freshen up. I put together some food while you and Fernando were finishing.”
Hand in hand, we walk into the back hall, and I hold open the drapery that serves as the room’s door.
Rose gasps, her hand flying to her mouth as the warm glow of dozens of candles washes over her.
The small table in the center is laden with carefully piled cheese, fragrant meats, crunchy nuts, and plump, sweet grapes.
“Carter, this is—”
“You’ve been working so hard. I wanted to take care of you.” I brush her hair off her shoulder, and she melts back against me, baring her neck. If only she knew what that subtle, submissive gesture did to me. I nip lightly at the delicate skin, resisting the urge to bite her. To mark her.
She’s ours. Tell her. Claim her.
“Carter,” she gasps, arching as I run my hands along her front, caressing the swell of her breasts before settling on her hips, pulling her back until her ass grinds against the arousal straining my slacks.
“I have something for you, but you have to promise to be good.” I release her and pull the little box from my pocket, dangling the necklace before her. “Tonight, I want to see you in nothing but the moon on your skin.”
She caresses the cool metal as I fasten the necklace around her throat. A wicked smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she turns in my arms.
“We have two hours—”
“To eat and get ready.” I sit on the plush couch and pull her into my lap, then reach forward to grab a square of Brie. “Open.”
Rose obliges, parting her lips, and I feed her the small chunk. “Good girl.” I reward her with a quick kiss. We finish the rest of the spread in companionable silence, taking turns feeding each other—intimate in its own way, shared with my mate.
“Thank you,” she whispers as I help her to her feet and grab the garment bags from the coat rack.
“You don’t need to thank me. I want to be your solid rock, your partner. I want you to thrive and blossom, and I want to do it all by your side.”
“I think I’d like that,” she says.
I nuzzle her cheek and the hollow of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating berry-and-cream scent. I’ll never get enough of this witch.
“What are you doing? That tickles!” she squeals, squirming in my arms.
“Scent marking you, so every supernatural being here tonight knows you’re mine,” I growl in her ear, taking her hand. “Now, kitten—let’s get dressed. We have a party to attend.”