Page 148 of Blue Moon Mistress

“I thought I was supposed to protect others.”

“Just remember airplane oxygen masks.”

I leave him with a confused look on his face, but with no doubts that he’ll figure it out on his own.

By the time I get to the house, Chase has texted me to let me know he’s already left. And I’m a little glad, because this task can’t be done in that skirt, and it’s nice to not have to disappoint him.

Their front yard isn’t landscaped. And at this time of year, the grass is thick and a little overgrown. The juniper against the house needs trimming, but its blue green foliage is thick and the smell is heady.

That’s why I go to it first.

I bury a chunk of tourmaline beside the front steps and then walk to the corner of the house, dragging my hand over the damp leaves. The spell I whisper for protection is simple. Three commands repeated as I walk, forming a chain around their home.

“Bless this home and those within. Hold safe their spirits and protect their mortal flesh. What is mine let no one harm.”

I bury a piece of tourmaline at the northern corner and repeat my walk and spell to the southern.

When I step back, a shimmery veil extends upward, but it won’t blanket the house until I place the remaining stones.

I’m glad I have the key.

When I let myself in, the house is eerily silent. I don’t like it without them. It is somehow hollow.

I pass through as quickly as possible and head straight out the back door. But when I go to bury the final piece of stone, I hear the creak of an opening door.

Ignoring it, I cover over the stone, whisper the words one more time and stand.

“What are you doing?”

I flinch when I turn around and Mrs. Miller isrightthere.

“Just a little gardening… not that it’s any of your business.”

“It is entirely my business, those boys don’t have a mother to talk sense into them, but I’m here to keep them safe.”

“Then we both want the same thing.”

It’s her turn to flinch and she looks at me as though I’ve laid down a trap.

“If you don’t stop vandalizing their property, I will call the cops.”

If she had any idea what sort of creatures ran the local department, she’d stay as far away from them as possible.

But her eyes are bloodshot and her veins are oddly pronounced. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Aphrodite’s vampire friend had gotten ahold of Mrs. Miller.

But she doesn’t show the usual signs.

This is something else.

“There you are.” Joshua’s voice sounds from behind me, and I turn as he comes down to join us. “I saw your car out front and hoped you’d let yourself in.”

He takes my hand and pulls me tight to him to kiss me.

I hear the gasp behind me, but it barely registers. The sparking feeling that courses through me makes me want to hop up into his arms and let him carry me inside.

But the muttering behind me does, eventually, break his spell, and I pull back smiling, and wincing at the same time.

“She is vandalizing your property!”

---