Goddess, Awakened. Cate Masters
head. “I don’t feel well.”
Taz sniffed at the waitress tentatively, cringing as if she might strike him.
Arching a brow, Lydia said, “I imagine you wouldn’t. You should not dabble in darkness until you understand the risk. What did it say to you?”
“It?” Joss asked in alarm, and searched the crowd to be sure the man didn’t linger there.
Sheree held a hand to her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You should leave.” Lydia pointed to the door. “Now.”
“Yes. I need to go home.” Sheree headed for the foyer.
“Please Lydia, she was a guest.” Joss knew the man with her wasn’t. Her aunt had confirmed he wasn’t a town resident, nor even of this world. “What’s going on?”
Tugging her to the end of the hall, Lydia said, “You could be in danger, my dear.”
“I don’t understand.” Yet somehow, she knew it was true.
Lydia’s shoulders slumped. “I must call your grandmother. It’s time you knew.”
“Knew what?” What was her aunt going on about?
“Your family heritage.” Taking out her cell, Lydia’s nails clicked the screen.
* * * *
Driving down Yellow Breeches Road, Sheree cursed. I hate this town. Why don’t they put street lights on these back roads? Her head still spun, and so did her stomach. The gusty wind blew so many leaves against her windshield, she switched on the wipers. “I want to move someplace warm.”
A man’s deep chuckle echoed. “We can arrange it.” The voice came clear and distinct, but who the heck had spoken?
Screeching, Sheree hit the brakes and skidded to a stop. “Who’s there?” Pain pulsed through her head. Had she imagined the whole thing?
A black figure materialized outside the car, barely discernible in the darkness.
The man she’d spoken to earlier slipped inside. “Tsk. Forgot me already?”
She’d like to. Tiny pinpricks crawled across her skin, and she shuddered. She’d never seen a costume make a person appear to shift through the shadows. He probably wasted a fortune on the thing.
“Hold on there, bud. Do you think you can just invade someone’s car?” Sheesh. Talk to a guy for one minute at a party, and he assumed he could take liberties.
As if bored, he sighed. “The question is, how badly do you want your veterinarian friend?”
She should demand this guy vamoose. He seriously gave her the creeps. “What do you care?” How did he know anyway?
He hooked an elbow behind the seat. “I don’t. Except I might be able to help you. If you help me.”
Sure, there was always a catch. She could never get a break, not unless she forced one. “Help how?”
“Which? Help you or help me?” he prodded.
“Both.” Her patience waned. Tired and queasy, she wanted to go to bed. This guy frightened her, but if he could help her get Eric, she’d at least hear him out.
“The gentleman for whom I work is interested in the property we visited. If you could distract Dr. Hendricks, my employer would have a better chance at gaining control.”
Would Mrs. Gibson sell so soon? Oh…she might, if the situation grew too uncomfortable. Sheree had noticed the gleam in Joss’s eyes when she looked at Eric. A gleam Sheree wanted to turn to ice. “Control? You mean buy the inn?”
With a smug smile, the man said, “Something like that.”
Get to the fine print. “So what would I need to do?”
He spoke with a casual air. “Become our ally. Report to us on the goings-on of the town. Especially the inn and its proprietress.”
No harm in spying on her, right? Somehow it sounded too easy. “What’s it have to do with me and Eric?”
When the man smiled, the air in the car grew hot. And smelled like something burning. Something awful, like rotten eggs.
“Let’s leave that to my employer and me, shall we?” he sneered, easing closer.
Sheree’s vision blurred. She fought to murmur, “I don’t know.”
Red flashed in his eyes like flames. “Of course you do. You want Eric so badly, you’ll do anything. Won’t you?”
An urge came over her, compelling her to answer. “Anything.”
“I thought so.” His voice trailed into a hiss.
Gripping the steering wheel, Sheree touched her forehead to it. “Anything.”
“Excellent. One note of caution. If anyone asks, never mention me or my employer or this agreement.”
She snapped her head up. “Who’d care? Other than Mrs. Gibson?”
“If the need for you to know arises, you will.”
Sheree didn’t even care. She just wanted this guy out of her car sooner rather than later. She imagined walking hand-in-hand with Eric, him stopping to pull her close, bending to touch his lips to hers.
A knock on the window startled her.
A state trooper stood outside.
“Great.” She opened the window, her mind racing with possible excuses.
His grimace filled with suspicion. “Everything all right, miss?”
“Yes, officer. I’m a bit dizzy. Nothing serious.” Stupid! Now he’d think she was drunk.
Straightening, he sighed. “Right. Step out of the car please.”
“Both of us?” How would she explain this guy to a policeman? Her passenger’s appearance went way beyond any Halloween costume. She didn’t even know his name, for crying out loud.
The officer crouched again and scanned the interior. “Pardon?”
“Do you want us both to get out?” She gestured to the passenger side and froze.
The seat was empty.
* * * *
A knock echoed through the hall. Joss rushed to the front door. Another great gust of wind ruffled the scarf of the woman standing on the threshold. Diminutive, yet she projected a force to reckon with, her sapphire eyes sparkling as she assessed Joss with a loving smile. Short hair framed her face in layers, mostly gray but still a hint of blond.
“Gram. How did you get here so quickly?” Delighted, Joss hugged her.
The last party guest departed minutes earlier, followed by Annie. Her grandmother must have left her Solebury home immediately after speaking to Lydia. A two and a half hour drive, and one she’d rarely endeavored during Joss’s marriage due to John’s disapproval of the family’s magical practices.
Now Gram stepped inside without hesitation. “I needed to see for myself if Lydia exaggerated about this wonderful inn.” Her authoritative tone clipped the air.
“And? What do you think?” Expectation hung thick as Joss waited.
“Her description didn’t quite capture its splendor.” A gleam lit Gram’s eyes. “Or its intensity. I’ve never experienced such powerful vibrations.”
“Neither have I.” Every day, its undercurrent infused her consciousness more. Life had grown dark after her husband John died three years ago. Every day, the sunlight had dimmed, and every night, the shadows blacker. Their silky depths had beckoned. Bits of her soul had wanted to follow John, to pass through the dark