by Deanna Chase
I’d put a strict ban on cell phones not long after I’d opened the shop. Mostly because the technology interfered with my magic. Not having to deal with constant employee cell-phone abuse was icing on the cake. Since my private line didn’t register with the main phone system when in use, some of the employees didn’t hesitate to invade my personal space.
“Since when does the morning crew sneak away for private phone calls?” I grinned. Em and Georgie—sisters well into their fifties—were both somewhat phone-phobic. We could barely get them to answer business calls.
Tami laughed, her chin-length, curly black hair bouncing with the motion. “Never. The added pressure must be frying my brain.” She ran over, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re finally back. How’s your mom? And Talisen? Did you get a chance to experiment with any new magical herbs?”
“The short answers are: better, hotter than ever, and yes. I can’t wait to get back into the lab.” While I’d kept Mom’s herb shop running, I’d also worked on some new recipes, except for when I was hanging with Tal, staring into his gorgeous green eyes. The ones I tried not to drown in every time I saw him.
“You have that look again,” Tami accused.
“What look?”
“The one where your cheeks flush and your eyes go all moony.” She winked and pulled on my arm. “Come on, you have to see the progress Georgie made on the mural.”
Laughing, I dropped the envelope I’d been holding into the top drawer of my desk and allowed myself to be tugged out of the office, leaving Link snuggled against a blanket on his doggie bed.
Chapter 4
“Someone’s been hitting the Molten Muse awfully hard since I’ve been gone,” I declared, eyeing my employee.
“What?” Georgie’s face soured in righteous indignation. She scanned her slim, athletic body as if assessing it for the first time. “I beg your pardon. For every Molten Muse I consumed, I spent twenty minutes extra at the gym.”
“No wonder you have the body most thirty-year-olds weep for.” Amused, I tilted my head toward the wall. “I was referring to your amazing progress on the mural.”
On the wall opposite the display cases, Georgie’s unfinished whimsical depiction of The Fated Cupcake and two neighboring shops filled the space from floor to ceiling. A pair of college students sat at a sidewalk table, sipping Perk Me Up caramel milkshakes. Nearby a faery and fae fed each other a slice of Light My Fire spice cake.
I ran my fingers along the outline of a musician carrying a box of Molten Muse cupcakes—the store’s most popular seller. What else would you expect in a city dominated by creative types? Why wait for inspiration when a Molten Muse would do the trick in five minutes flat?
“Oh, Georgie, it’s just gorgeous. I love it.” I beamed. “Have as many Molten Muse cupcakes as you can stand, and when it’s done, I’ll whip you up a truckload of Willpower mints.”
“You’re going to have to come up with an addiction-buster creation to kick that habit,” Em, the fourth member of our day-shift team, quipped from behind us.
Tami hid a giggle as Georgie twisted around, glaring. “Glass houses and all that, little sister.”
“I’m not the one obsessed with the scale. So what if I’m a little fluffy? Pete isn’t going anywhere.” Em replaced an empty tray of Desire Dollops with a full one, winked, and disappeared into the back.
“I swear, she thinks all there is to life is getting and keeping a man,” Georgie said.
Tami flashed a wicked smile. “Isn’t it?”
Georgie rolled her eyes and turned her attention to a young man entering the shop. “What can I get for you today?”
Tami and I laughed and disappeared into the lab—my sanctuary. Custom-made shelves, integrated with growing lights and a complicated irrigation system, lined the walls along with various plants. I’d magically enhanced as many of them as I could before I’d left for California two months before. After an eight-week absence, the store was bound to be running low on some crucial ingredients. Sure, my exclusive recipes tasted divine, but that wasn’t what kept my clients coming back every week. Other shops in town sold tasty, enhanced edibles. But The Fated Cupcake had the best reputation, and I intended to keep it that way.
“Give me the bad news.” I grabbed my apron. “I know I have a ton of work ahead of me.”
Tami pointed to a long list pinned to the corkboard, her face pinched in sympathy. “It’s a good thing you came home when you did. We’ve been out of a couple of things for a few days now.”
“Okay, I’ll get right to work on it.” I took a deep breath, letting the life of my plants settle around me. The door made a soft click as Tami slipped back into the bakery.
The energy was different here than it was in Eureka, the northern California coastal town I’d grown up in. Mom’s shop was comfortable, but this felt like home. My lab radiated with an echo of my creative energy and felt right in a way no other place did. Working here brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t known since my brother died four years ago.
An aching loss squeezed my heart.
Remember to breathe.
Deep breath in, deep breath out. I concentrated on the calming motion until my pulse returned to normal. Only a few seconds this time. I was getting better at that.
I glanced at the corkboard, scanned the list, and then pulled a pair of mature wisteria plants onto my infusion island. With one hand on each plant, I closed my eyes, letting the life of the plant flow into my being. The sweet fragrance invaded my senses, making me almost drunk on its perfume. Nothing smelled as heavenly as wisteria. Just before I felt the last bit of energy leave the plants, I reversed the process, forcing my citrus-tinged magic back into the wilted vines. The blooms sprang to life, spreading their delicate flowers. I smiled, pleased with myself.
Carefully, I placed the plants in the augmented section and pulled a large pot of lavender. I hated the scent of lavender, but the herb was one of the best for Kiss Me chocolates. Once chemically altered by the Kiss Me recipe, the ingredient was virtually impossible to identify, thankfully, otherwise I didn’t think I could stand to offer the dang things. Which would be unfortunate, since they turned a huge profit.
Gritting my teeth, I wished I could take a Smell Be Gone tablet, but hindering my abilities would defeat the purpose.
Just get it over with.
Taking another deep breath, I placed my hands on the innocent plant and braced myself for the memories I knew would come. They always did.
The vibrant yet delicate energy from the lavender hit me full force, the scent almost buckling my knees as the sweetness turned fetid, tinged with death. Beau’s gutted image filled my mind, his unseeing eyes staring past me.
I shuddered, straining to maintain the flowing life force. The painful memories almost overtook me, but I shut them out of my mind and forced my magic into the plant. Slowly, the distinct lavender scent dissipated as my citrus signature masked it.
Shaking, I put the plant next to the wisteria and waited for the pain slicing my heart to fade. I’d never forget the horror of finding Beau butchered in our mother’s lavender fields, alone and left for dead. Clutching the counter, my nails pressed against the stainless steel until one of them snapped. I barely even noticed.
Four years later, and the case was still unsolved. I’d promised my mother I’d find the truth, even if the search took the rest of my life.
I probably could’ve found a suitable substitute for the Kiss Me recipe. My self-inflicted torture wasn’t necessary. But reliving Beau’s death kept the promise fresh in my mind, right where I intended it to stay.
“Willow?”
“Huh?” I started at the intrusion. No one ever dared bother me when I was augmenting plants. Not since the day I’d been interrupted in the middle of an alteration and lost a whole row of mature plants. My wrath had been enough keep the staff away permanently.
“Sorry! I wouldn’t interrupt, but…” Georgie held up a thick ivory envelope scrawled
with calligraphy and sealed with wax.
“Mother of demons,” I whispered. “What does the Cryrique want?”
Georgie’s face paled. Her voice shook. “The guy bought three dozen Orange Influence chocolates before he handed me the envelope.”
“What? How the hell—”
“He had a permit!” Georgie yelped, backing up. Tears glistened in her wide eyes. “He did. I checked it, ran the number and everything.”
“It’s okay,” I said, trying for calm. Orange Influence contained a highly controlled substance, very effective in forcing people to do things against their will. Special permits were required for purchases, usually only given out to law enforcement and research labs. But vampires were never given permits. Never.
“It’s not your fault.” I sighed. “We’ve got to get a line on the messenger. We need to find out who he’s working for. If he’s got a connection to vampires…” I didn’t finish the thought. It was too horrible to even contemplate. I stuffed the message in my back pocket and guided Georgie out of the lab.
“Can you make a sketch of what he looks like?” I asked.
“Yes, but he looked like his picture.”
“I’m sure he did, however I’d like the details of a full sketch. With a license we only get a head shot.”
“In color?”
“Yes, please.” I touched Georgie’s arm. “Thank you.”
Some of the tension in the older woman’s shoulders eased, but the strain didn’t leave her face. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy to help.” She shivered as her frown deepened. “Vampires…with Orange Influence.”
“I know, Georgie, I know. I’m pulling the order and license and calling this in right away.” Anger flowed through my veins at the thought my magic could be used against an innocent. Please let this all be a mix-up.
Maybe someone on the street had handed the message to the guy as he walked in, and he wasn’t carrying the chocolate wedges off to Frenchman Street and into vampire hands. Gods, I hoped that was true. “Bring the sketch to my office as soon as you’re done, but don’t rush. Accuracy is more important.”
***
I fingered the thick, weighted envelope, grimacing at the blood-red wax seal. I supposed the old ones felt nostalgia for social etiquette of times past. But seriously? They carried iPhones just like everyone else. What was wrong with a phone call or an email? Of course, modern methods wouldn’t have been as dramatic.
Damn vampires.
I grabbed my antique silver letter opener and carefully broke the seal, trying not to alter it any more than necessary. If there were any lingering energy traces, I might need them later.
One elegant line was scrawled across the textured stationery.
Your honored presence is required at eight o’clock tonight at The Red Door.
Required, not requested. It wasn’t an invitation. It was a summons. And not one I could likely ignore. The Cryrique held political clout in the city. Pissing them off would only put me out of business.
Did this have anything to do with the Influence drug? My stomach turned. I was the only one in the city powerful enough to enhance the plants needed to create the narcotic. If they wanted an inside track, I was the logical choice. And the most obvious.
The phone rang, startling me out of my worried haze, and the note slipped from my fingers, landing on the desk.
Hopefully it was Phoebe with information on the messenger. I’d faxed the details to her a half hour ago.
I picked up the old-fashioned rotary phone. “The Fated Cupcake.”
“Ms. Rhoswen, you got my note, I presume,” a southern gentleman’s voice drawled.
My heart stopped. “Who is this?” I asked through clenched teeth.
He chuckled softly. “I understand you have something of mine.”
“I can’t imagine what that would be.” What the hell was he talking about?
“Not a what, a who, Ms. Rhoswen. Bring Davidson with you this evening. I look forward to our new friendship.” The line went dead with the unmistakable clatter of a phone coming to rest in its cradle. No iPhone for this vampire.
Davidson? David?
Why would the Cryrique think I had David? Phoebe said he’d cut a deal. He should’ve been home by now.
He cut a deal. Oh no…
With everything going on, I’d completely forgotten about my new assignment with the double agent. I yanked the legal envelope open and stared at the name of my new partner.
Davidson Laveaux.
“F’ing Maude!” I shrieked. With a start, Link jumped from a sound sleep, growling, his eyes glowing gold as he scanned for intruders.
“Sorry, boy. It’s okay. No one’s here but me.”
Link paced, responding to the anger in my voice.
I scanned the document, finding the classification. Sensitive: twenty-four hour detail. The Void wasn’t messing around. Whatever they were after, they meant business.
“Damn it all. How in the world am I going to spend twenty-four hours a day with a vampire?” A vampire who’d seen me naked on several occasions. I slumped in my chair, wishing I could turn the clock back thirty-six hours. Even if it meant being back in my mother’s house.
Heaving a sigh, I returned my attention to the file. What did David have to offer as a double agent, and why did Maude put me on the case? My only notable skill was locating vampires.
Then I turned the page and found my answer. Vampire Laveaux overheard a plot to abduct Agent Rhoswen. Reason unknown.
Chapter 5
I closed my eyes, fighting for control. So that’s what David meant when he’d said I was in danger. Damn Maude for letting me read the news in a freaking assignment report. The rasp of paper crumbling filled the room as I clenched my fingers around the directive.
“Rough day?” Phoebe asked.
I spun to find my roommate leaning against the doorframe. She’d morphed into Reese Witherspoon, à la Legally Blonde: long, slightly curled blond hair, a pink business suit, and perfectly manicured nails. I scowled. “You look ridiculous.”
“It got the job done. I now have a new informant with close ties to the mayor.” When I didn’t answer, she strode into the room and lounged in the chair on the other side of my desk. “You’re not still mad, are you?”
Her nonchalant attitude made my blood pressure rise. “Did you get my email?” My words came out clipped. Of course I was still mad. My best friend had insulted me and taken Maude’s side.
Phoebe nodded, ignoring the tension in the room. “I’ve got someone working on it. You really think the vamps are after Influence?”
Rolling my shoulders, I stifled a sigh and slumped back into my chair. “I’m not sure, but better safe than sorry at this point. Any chance we can speed up the background check?”
She shrugged. “It isn’t considered a priority, but I can call in a favor if you’re that worried about it.”
I sat up straight. “Not a priority? To who? Vampires may be using Influence. Influence I created. It’s a pretty damn big priority to me and any potential victims.”
Phoebe studied me for a moment, then tapped a message on her phone. “I know you’re upset, and I’m still at the top of your shit list, but something else is bothering you. What’s going on?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with being forced to spend all my days and nights with a vampire for God knows how long.” And being at the top of some vampire’s most-wanted list.
“Not all vampires are criminals, Wil.”
“Look at you, being all politically correct. When’s the last time you befriended one?”
She shrugged. “I have vampire friends.”
I snorted in disbelief. “You have vampire contacts. And you haven’t slept with any of them.”
“That’s true.” Her phone beeped. She scanned the message and then typed a short response. “We won’t have info on your messenger until tomorrow morning. The tech working the case said the Influence registrar di
dn’t get back to him and now the office is closed for the day.”
“Perfect,” I said, my voice flat.
“Wil,” Phoebe said carefully, softening her voice. “I’m sorry about this morning and for letting Maude blindside you. I was worried you’d go in full steam and rail against her. Which I’m not denying I’d love to see, but today I needed you levelheaded. Or at least as levelheaded as you can be around your aunt.”
Her tone, more than the words, got my attention. I exhaled as the pent-up tension faded away. “I’m sorry, too. You were only doing your job. I wasn’t even mad anymore by the time Link and I got here. But after I got that phone call and read about my new assignment, the anger came rushing back.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Phone call?”
“F’ing vamps.” I hadn’t filled Phoebe in on the details. “I got a letter and then a phone call.”
After I recounted the day’s events, Phoebe sat back, looking thoughtful. “If the messenger does work for the vamps, then picking up the Influence was pretty damn sloppy if they intend to keep buying it from you. Did you check the buyer’s history?”
I nodded. “He’s been in a couple of times before. Both were months ago. You’re right, though. If he’s aligned with the vamps, he just fucked up royally. But there’s a bigger game being played here, and I have a feeling the Orange Influence is only part of it.”
Phoebe nodded. “I agree. Let’s form a game plan for your meeting with the Cryrique tonight. There’s no way I’m letting you go to the fang den without backup.”
“I’ll have David.”
Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Right, ’cause that’s comforting.”
“You think they’ll let you in uninvited?”
“Hell yes, I’ll get in.” Her face scrunched up in righteous indignation. She placed a hand over her heart and leaned back. “Your lack of confidence pains me.”