by Deanna Chase
Harper took a deep breath. “Instead of eradicating me and my family just because we have dragon blood, let us come work for the council.”
“Work for us?” Tempest asked, raising a curious eyebrow. “Why?”
Harper got a fierce look on her face as she clenched her fists and said, “Because the one thing I want to do with my life is keep others safe from sick fucks like Zeph. I didn’t ask for these dragon powers, but since I have them, I want to put them to good use. Hire us as investigators or enforcers or protectors. Whatever it is you think will serve the council best. But let us work for you to bring down those who seek to utilize their powers for evil.”
“Whoa,” I said under my breath. I hadn’t seen that coming, and judging by the look on Tempest’s face, she hadn’t either.
“That’s not the entire truth,” Kinsley said, staring at Harper. “There’s another reason you want to work for the council, isn’t there?”
Suspicion seeped from Tempest as she eyed Harper. “What is it you want from us?”
Harper let out a bark of laughter. “Isn’t it obvious?”
It was to me. And apparently to Pyper too since she rolled her eyes.
“You’ll have to enlighten me, Ms. Spelling,” Tempest said.
“I don’t want to be locked up, or purged of my soul, or any other number of things the council might have planned for my cousins and me. We’d just rather work for you, doing some good, instead of against you.” She gave Tempest an exasperated look. “Is that so hard to believe?”
Tempest leaned back in her chair, studying Harper with interest. Then she let out the smallest laugh. “No. I guess it isn’t.” She cut her gaze to Kinsley.
The truth seeker gave her a short nod.
“Good.” Tempest nodded. “Pass her the contract.”
We all leaned forward, waiting to see what the contract was about.
Harper took it and scanned the page. When she got to the end, her eyes widened with surprise. Then she looked up and frowned at Tempest. “You were already prepared to offer us jobs? Why?”
Tempest shrugged, the most human gesture I’d ever seen her make. “Let’s just say the council understands the value of having dragons on staff. I wasn’t sure I was going to make the offer, but after speaking with you, I think perhaps we should go ahead with a trial run. Do you have authority to speak for your cousins? The ones who show signs of dragon magic?”
“Yes,” Harper said. She pulled out a notarized piece of paper. It had been signed by her cousins, all of them agreeing to let Harper negotiate on their behalves.
“Excellent. Then our contract will work as is. And anyone in your family who develops dragon magic will be required to register and report to the council as an employee. If they don’t, they will be subject to disciplinary actions. Dragons are dangerous. That’s a fact. But we recognize that this isn’t something you asked for and punishing you for events that are out of your control isn’t the organization we wish to be.” She nodded to the contract. “Sign it and we’re done here.”
Harper stared at her openmouthed. But when Kinsley handed her the pen, Harper didn’t hesitate. She signed the contract with a flourish and grinned as she handed it back to Tempest.
The council witch verified it was signed, handed it to Kinsley, and then turned to me. “Satisfied, Ms. Calhoun?”
I grinned at her. “Very. And pleasantly surprised by this turn of events.”
Tempest rose from her seat. “Try to remember this,” she said to me. “We are no longer the same organization we were during Beatrice Kelton’s days as the coven leader.” She held her hand out to me. “This isn’t the first time we’ve tangled. But I hope our interactions will be less… contentious in the future.”
I eyed her hand but didn’t take it. “You know, that would be easier to believe if you didn’t send your agents to arrest innocent people and then strong-arm them into doing your bidding.”
She gave me a curt nod. “You’re absolutely correct. I apologize. It won’t happen again.”
I glanced at Pyper. She shrugged her shoulders and lifted her hands palms up.
“She’s being sincere,” Kinsley said quietly.
Tempest scowled at her, but I just laughed.
“Okay, fine.” I shook Madam Tempest’s hand. “To a cooperative future.”
“I look forward to working with you, Ms. Calhoun,” she said stiffly. “Good luck with your pregnancy.” She dropped my hand, nodded to Harper, and then swept out of the room, her head held high with Kinsley right behind her.
Harper glanced from the door to me and asked, “Did that really just happen?”
“It appears so.” I stood and opened my arms to her for a hug. When she pulled back, I said, “Congratulations. I think.”
She chuckled. “It sure beats being locked in the dungeon.”
“Well,” Pyper said with a wicked grin. “I think that depends on the dungeon.”
Harper laughed while I groaned. “Someone’s been hanging out with Ida May too much.”
“Who’s Ida May?” Harper asked.
“You’ll see,” I said and led the way out of the room to go let my husband take me home.
24
“You look gorgeous,” I said to Kat, smoothing a lock of her hair as I secured her veil in place. She was wearing a sleek, formfitting white mermaid wedding gown that showed off her incredible figure. “Lucien is going to lose his mind.”
“He is, isn’t he?” she agreed, her eyes glowing with so much happiness I thought my heart would burst with love.
Pyper walked into the bedroom, holding three champagne glasses. She handed one to Kat and another to me. Leaning in, she said, “Jade, yours is sparkling cider.”
I sat down on the bed and sighed. “Of course it is.”
“Hey, at least you’re here!” Kat said, raising her glass to me.
“I’m so sorry I missed the bachelorette party,” I said for the tenth time. “You know I wanted to be there.”
“Oh my goodness. Remember this?” Kat said to Pyper, making an obscene gesture.
Pyper cracked up. “Can you believe he did that? Those poor women from Tennessee will never be the same again.”
“Hello.” I waved a hand in front of their faces. “I’m right here, remember? Pregnant woman who had to spend the evening in bed, unable to partake in the festivities.”
“Sorry, Jade,” Kat said, her eyes still dancing with amusement. “You’ll catch the next one. And don’t worry, I have a feeling Pyper’s will be epic.”
“It will be if you’re planning it,” Pyper said to her.
“You two seem to have… bonded,” I said, watching them closely. They were friends, but they’d been closer to me than with each other. Maybe with my sitting out, they’d found a way to better connect.
“That’s what happens when you mix tequila, male strippers, and body shots,” Kat said.
“Not to mention penis headbands and phallic chocolates,” Pyper added.
I chuckled. “Sounds like a perfect night of debauchery.”
“You could say that,” Pyper said and smoothed her short red cocktail dress. After searching every bridal store within fifty miles, Kat had finally decided to let us choose our own bridesmaid dresses. The only caveat was that they had to be fire-engine red.
Pyper had gone with a formfitting halter top number while I’d chosen a baby doll style that cinched just above my baby bump. I’d thought it was flattering, but Kane had said it was sexy as hell, and I’d all but had to swat his hands away from me after asking him to zip me up. I was still supposed to be on bed rest, but Healer Hanna had given me the go-ahead to attend the wedding as long as I stayed off my feet as much as possible.
“Kat, I have a surprise for you,” I said.
“Oh yeah? I hope it’s not another fireball. That thing had me practically ripping my clothes off before I even got in the door the other night.” She shared another laugh with Pyper, then pointed at her. “This one is dangerou
s.”
“No, that drink is dangerous,” Pyper said. “I warned you to be careful.”
“You should’ve warned me it would make my clothes fall off.” A shy smile crossed her lips. “But Lucien didn’t complain.”
“La, la, la, la, la,” I said, sticking my fingers in my ears like a twelve-year-old. “TMI. TMI.”
Laughter filled the room, and I grinned at them, grateful for my two best friends. While I hadn’t been able to make it to the bachelorette party, Kat had postponed her wedding shower, and we’d had it a few days ago at my house where I’d been relegated to the couch. Everything had been beautiful, from the daisy and sunflower floral arrangements to the ornately decorated sixties-themed cookies. And the food. My goodness. Kat had found a neighborhood chef who’d outdone himself with specialty crab cakes, seafood cheesecake, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, and potato salad. The day had been perfect.
And now I was going to watch the person who’d been by my side for over twenty years marry one of the best men I knew. I cleared my throat. “Are you two done yet?”
Kat turned to me, her eyes sparkling. “For now.”
“Good. Like I said, I have a surprise for you.”
She glanced around the room. “All right. Where is it?”
“Right here, honey,” a woman said from the doorway.
Kat’s mouth dropped open and she started to tremble a little as she turned around and stared at the short, round woman who’d just walked in. Her red hair was a shade darker than Kat’s, but it was the same curly texture, and they shared the same hazel eyes.
“Mom?”
Mrs. Hart opened her arms and said, “I’m here, sweetie.”
Kat flew into her mother’s arms, hugging her tightly. “I can’t believe you made it. I thought…” She sniffed back tears. “Is Dad here too?”
“I am.” Mr. Hart, a tall man of six and a half feet, pushed the door open and walked in, grinning. He wrapped his arms around his wife and only child. “We just couldn’t miss this day, Kitty Kat.”
Kat pulled away, using the back of her hands to dab at her tears. “But I thought you couldn’t fly. How did you get here? Did you drive all this way?”
“Oh goodness no,” Hildie Hart said. “You know how carsick I get. And then the anxiety kicks in. Ever since menopause hit, I can barely stand driving more than ten miles into town. That was never an option.”
“So you flew?” She glanced at her father.
He nodded. “Hope and Marc came over with some herbs. I’m telling you, they were magic. We took a short trip over to the Oregon coast as a trial run. Your mother took those herbs, and she was chill for hours. It was something else. Who knew?”
“The entire hippie population?” Pyper whispered to me.
I swallowed a chuckle and beamed at them. I’d known my mother would have something that could help Hildie. I just hadn’t known if she’d be receptive to any of my mother’s woo-woo herbs. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mrs. Hart.”
“Oh, Jade. If it weren’t for you and your mom, I don’t think I would’ve been able to watch my baby walk down the aisle. Thank you.” She sat down beside me on the bed. “You have no idea how grateful I am.”
“I didn’t do anything.” I hugged her tightly. “You did. You’re the one who was brave enough to get on the plane. And now look at you.” I pulled back and nodded my appreciation for her sparkling silver mother-of-the-bride dress. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Jade.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Having you in our daughter’s life is such a blessing.” She got up and walked back over to Kat and her husband. After a few moments, Kat’s parents left to find their seats.
“Jade,” Kat said, the tears flowing again. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“I didn’t do anything.” I picked up the handkerchief I’d been planning to hold during the ceremony and handed it to her.
“Yes, you did. You called your mom and asked her to help. And now my parents are here.” She sat next to me, exactly where her mother had been a few minutes ago. “Did you know they were coming?”
I just smiled at her.
“You did! You sneak. Thank you. Now the day is perfect.”
We hugged, and through our sappy tears we laughed. And then when Pyper sniffed after being overwhelmed with emotions, we laughed harder.
Finally there was a knock on the door. “Is everyone decent?” Kane asked.
“No, not when I’m around,” Pyper joked as she opened the door. “But don’t let that stop you.”
He eyed her from head to toe and let out a low whistle. “Looking good, Pypes.”
“Thanks. You clean up okay too.” She winked at us. “Looks like this party is ready to start. I’m going to go check on the bouquets. See you down there.”
After she left, Kane walked over to me and held his hand out. “Ready, pretty witch?”
I glanced at Kat. “Are we ready?”
She nodded soberly. “Just because you’re not standing at the altar with me doesn’t mean you aren’t still my matron of honor. You know that right?”
“Matron. That makes me sound so old.” I grinned.
“Yeah. Ancient. I mean, we’re talking one-foot-in-the-grave territory. It’s amazing your uterus still works.” She rolled her eyes at me, laughed, and then sobered. “I just meant to say that even though Pyper’s been filling in for you the over the past few weeks, no one will ever replace you in here.” She pressed her palm to her heart. “You’re the sister I never had, and you always know what I need.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I didn’t bother to blink them back. There was no point. The day was already too emotional, and it was a losing battle. “Just go out there and focus on getting married. Today is all about you and Lucien,” I promised. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
“Famous last words,” she said with a soft smile. “As long as angels don’t pop in and order me to track someone down, I think we’ll be okay.”
Kane and I both laughed at that. The first time Kane and I had tried to get married at the plantation house, that was exactly what had happened. The entire event had been postponed until we’d saved Mati from a void world.
“Not going to happen,” I said forcefully. “You’ve already had your wedding snafu with the postponement of the wedding shower. Today is going to be perfect.”
She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and followed as Kane led us both out of the room. Just as we reached the end of the hallway, she whispered, “From your lips to the goddess’s ears.”
The wedding planner handed Kat and me our bouquets. Then I kissed her on the cheek, wished her luck, and let Kane carry me down the stairs and to my seat in the front row with Kat’s mom where I watched as she and Lucien vowed to love each other forever without even so much as a peep from the supernatural world.
25
It was a few days before Halloween and my energy level was through the roof. Healer Hanna had finally taken me off bed rest the week before, and I’d been like the Tasmanian Devil, cleaning, organizing, and nesting around the house. I’d even managed to get out to lunch with Pyper and Kat a few times.
After almost two months of nothing but the couch and the bed, I’d been starting to feel like the walls were closing in on me. Today all I wanted was a walk outside in the glorious sunshine. And since Kane was still nervous about me walking the streets alone, I called Pyper and told her I needed an escort.
“Hello?” Pyper called as the front door slammed shut. “Where’s the mama-to-be?”
“In here,” I called from the baby’s room. I was busy putting away diapers, onesies, and all the other million things you needed for a tiny human.
Pyper walked in, carrying her customary paper bag and cup from the Grind. “I brought treats.”
“I love you,” I said and took the decaf chai from her. “Ready to walk?”
“Are you?” She raised one eyebrow as she looked me up and down. “You look like you’re ready to po
p.”
I glanced down at my oversized belly and sighed. “Yeah. I think that bed rest worked too well.”
She chuckled. “Well, sit. Let me put your shoes on you.”
I glanced down again, unable to see my feet. “I’m not wearing shoes?”
“You’re wearing slippers, Jade.” She snorted her amusement, disappeared, and returned with my tennis shoes.
“I’m not sure those are going to work,” I said, skeptical. “Aren’t my feet swollen?”
“We’re about to find out.” She knelt in front of me, and after putting some muscle into it, she stood up and jerked her thumb toward the door. “There. All set.”
“Cool.” I could’ve been wearing plastic bags on my feet and I wouldn’t have noticed. My back ached, and I was hoping a walk would work out some of the kinks.
She opened the door for me, and together we made our way down to the river. The skies were a brilliant blue, no clouds anywhere, and the sun was warm on my skin. I stood at the railing on the pier and tilted my head up to the sun, happiness settling in my bones. Everything had been quiet for the past two months. Kat’s wedding had been magical. Pyper’s was coming up, and life couldn’t be better.
If only my back didn’t ache so much.
“Come on,” I said to her. “Time to move.”
“Jade, maybe we—”
Swoosh.
We both stared at the gush of fluid at my feet that stained the brick walkway. I was frozen, in shock, not quite ready. The cup slipped from my hand and the chai splattered over my feet as the cup rolled away.
“Holy hell, Jade. Looks like the walk worked.” Pyper pulled her phone out and tapped the screen. “Kane? Meet us on Decatur outside Café Du Monde. It’s showtime.” She paused. “Yes. We were out taking a walk.”
The pain in my back intensified, and I let out a loud moan as my knees nearly buckled.
“Oh, hell. Hurry. I think she’s been in back labor for a while.” She ended the call and wrapped her arm around my waist. “Come on, Jade. We need to get over to the street. Kane’s picking us up.”