Page 15 of Mirror of Vanity

I glanced at Damon. His frown had disappeared, and a glint of astonishment flickered in his eyes. This was something Dad would never do. He was always the alpha.

Damon cleared his throat pointedly, the sound cutting through the silence in the dining room. “We should discuss our plans for meeting with Garrick and Chelby.”

Justice resumed his seat next to me. “Last night, I was able to send a message to Chelby.”

I gave him a short look. He hadn’t mentioned that to me. Why the secret?

Damon frowned. “How?”

Justice didn’t back down from his glare. “I had a Fae contact here in Edinburgh. I left in the middle of the night. He returned early this morning, saying she would meet us at the Brews of Bloom Brewery at one o’clock today. The Fae run it. That’s how they keep an eye on Edinburgh to ensure it is safe.”

I leaned forward, my mind racing with questions. “Why didn’t you tell us you were going? We could have helped.”

Justice shook his head. “It was too risky. I couldn’t put you in danger. Besides, my contact is…particular about who he deals with.”

Damon’s frown deepened. “And you trust this contact? How do you know it’s not a trap?”

“I don’t,” Justice admitted, his shoulders tensing. “It’s the only lead we have, though. Chelby and the Court of Blossoms are in trouble, and we’re running out of time.”

Brody put down the scone he’d bit into. “What kind of trouble?”

Justice’s face turned grim. “According to my informant, the reports you received about the people in the town of Glenraith acting strange. It’s happening in the Court of Blossoms, too.”

Brody sighed heavily. “Meaning Maci’s demons have pierced the veil into the Court of Blossoms?”

Justice nodded. “According to my informant, I’m afraid it’s true.”

“Then there’s Lohraith Cairn,” Lisa interjected. “According to our psychic, Maci needs to do a draining spell under the full moon. That’s six days from now. I know it has something to do with Aurora and Morgan.” Her voice cracked as she mentioned her phoenix and German Shepherd.

Grady sat beside her and clutched her hand. “We’ll find them, Lisa. I promise.”

She nodded and blinked away tears, her lower lip trembling.

I wanted to reach over and give her a big hug. The pain etched on her face broke my heart. If Maci performed the spell, neither the phoenix nor the dog would survive.

Scott leaned back in his chair, his brows drawn deep into a scowl. “The problem is nobody can find Lohraith Cairn. It’s like the place has disappeared.”

Justice rubbed his forehead. “Maci must have put a dark spell over it, concealing the place. She’s determined to keep everyone out. If we do find it, the cairn will be extremely dangerous. She’s going to throw everything she’s got at us.”

“All right.” I took a deep breath. “So, what’s the plan? We can’t walk into a Fae-run brewery unprepared.”

Justice leaned in, his voice low. “We go in as patrons. Unfortunately, we can’t bring our weapons in. We have to keep a low profile. My contact said Chelby will find us. We need to be ready for anything.”

Damon’s jaw clenched, but he nodded. “I don’t like it, but I’m in.”

The rest of the team nodded in agreement.

I placed my hand on Justice’s arm. “We’re in this together. No more secrets, okay?”

Justice met my gaze with a flicker of guilt. “Okay. No more secrets.”

However, I had a gut feeling if he thought I’d be in danger, he wouldn’t tell me everything in order to keep me safe. He was becoming more and more like my brother. Sometimes, alpha males couldn’t get it through their heads that not every female was a simpering princess. Some of us were warriors, and we needed to be treated like warriors.

As we slowly devoured our Scottish breakfast, I couldn’t shake the feeling we were stepping into something bigger than ourselves. The Fae, the phoenix and shepherd disappearances, Lohraith Cairn, Justice’s secret contact. It was all connected somehow, and we were about to unravel the truth, no matter the cost.

We left McDuff Manor around twelve-thirty. I couldn’t fathom eating more food. My stomach was still stuffed with all the delicious items Sean and his wife had provided us. Justice said we didn’t need a car because it was easy to get around on foot. According to him, the Brews of Bloom Brewery was on the Royal Mile.

I tried to behave like a tourist ready to explore Edinburgh, but every nerve bunched up like a twisted cord, and every muscle twitched. Soon, I would meet a Fae from another realm. Even if she’d been a member of the Paranormal Mercenary Corps in the past, she was a queen now. I’d never met royalty, human or supernatural.

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