Page 151 of Blue Moon Mistress

I look out the back windows and can’t help but wonder what she got herself into before she died.

Twenty-Seven

It’s still light out,but that won’t last long. And I’ve spent too many hours trying to figure out a book of spells without going through any of the motions.

I could use a drink, and there’s only one place I want to go to get it.

When I walk into The Liberty, it takes a second for my eyes to adjust and when they do, a motley group of grizzled faces all meet me. I offer them a smile before I make my way through to the bar where I see Chase roll his eyes at a patron. But he’s wearing a smile of his own, so I doubt there’s a problem.

The bar looks old and in the dim light it could pretty easily be confused for an actual dive, but it’s clean, all of the furniture is in good shape… I expected nothing less from Chase.

And he’s focused on the patron in front of him, so I manage to get up to the bar on the opposite end before I see his nose twitch and he turns to me with a bright smile.

He says something else to the guy he’s just handed a beer and then makes his way down to me, slinging his bar towel over his shoulder.

“I didn’t know you were coming to see me.”

“I needed a break.”

“We missed you last night.” He leans on his elbows, the wood of the bar flexing beneath his weight, and for a moment, I consider leaning across to him.

But stealing a kiss in this public of a space feels wrong somehow. They’re mine. We all know it. No one else needs to be a part of this.

“I wanted to come over, but something is still really bothering me about Aphrodite and if no one in the coven will help me, I’ve got to read through all the old tomes myself.”

“Didn’t you already do that once?

“There are a lot more books in my house than you’d think.”

“I’m sure there are. What can I get you to drink?”

“That depends on what’s on offer?”

“I’m pretty sure I can make anything you ask me for.”

“Alright.” I scroll through the catalog in my head and ask for something easy. “How about a boulevardier?” It’s Elaria’s favorite drink.

“I can definitely do that for you.”

It takes him about a minute, but he sets the glass in front of me, a deep red liquid inside, topped with a twist of orange peel.

“I don’t get to do garnishes very often.”

His smile is sweet and I take a drink, savoring that bitterness. “Maybe I should bring Elaria over when she comes to visit next time. She could run you through her bartender’s test.”

“Bring it.”

A shadow falls over the bar next to me and I glance at the newcomer over my shoulder.

“Is this guy bothering you?” The man is bigger than Chase and probably ten years older, though the deep lines on his brow make him look even older.

“Don’t harass my girlfriend, Scott.”

Scott looks from me to Chase and his brows rise, wrinkling his forehead even more. “Girlfriend? Well I’ll be damned. Guess I’ll have to stop calling you ‘Chaste.’”

“You have no idea.” I say it into my glass and I see Scott’s eyes go wide a second before he laughs. “I kinda just assumed you and one of those guys you live with were together.”

Chase smiles, shaking his head. “I’m not their type.”

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