Page 71 of Blue Moon Mistress

“I’m not.”

“We’ve never had problems before, but if this dog—”

“I don’townany animal. Owning another creature is a disgusting practice no matter how you try to justify it.”

He doesn’t look convinced. Not that I expected him to.

He takes his sunglasses off and leans close. “I don’t know what you’re up to Miss Mathis. But I know it’s something. I’ll be watching you.”

For half a moment, I think I see the oil slick of an enchantment across his pupils, but it’s gone in an instant and could have been nothing more than a trick of the morning light.

He scowls at me and then puts his glasses back on. “We’re going to get this figured out, and I have a feeling you aren’t going to like the consequences.”

I wait for him to get back in his car and drive away, glad to see he turns left, back toward town.

When I glance at the wolf now in my passenger seat, I wish I could reach out and ruffle its fur.

Aphrodite, the warnaways, and now the spellform on the sheriff’s car…

When I pull out of the cemetery and back onto the highway, I connect the bluetooth and dial the most used number in my phone.

It’s early, but my mother never sleeps.

“Good morning, Scarlette. To what do I owe this early morning pleasure.”

“I think Aphrodite might be a problem.”

Before I can suggest the other woman is bewitching law enforcement, she lets out a long sigh. “She’s toothless, unlike your new friends.”

“Theyaren’t going to be a problem, Mom.”

“You can’t promise me that. When they change, even if they retain most of their human minds…”

“They aren’t going to change unless I make them.”

There’s a long silence on the other end. “We have no evidence that spell works permanently.”

She’s right, but we don’t have any evidence it’s temporary either. “I weighed the risks…”

“Have you forgotten what happened the last time someone did that?”

“It’s different.”

“Is it? I refuse to believe I would raise a daughter who would do something so foolish… so the only option I have is that I should have checked your hubris when you were a teenager.” She mutters a curse in old Norse. “That kind of control over someone’s life is not something anyone should have.”

“I asked for their consent. I gave them all the details beforehand. It won’t be an issue.” Because I will never break that trust.

“You explained everything?”

A chill races over me. And I won’t lie to her, but…“Thatis my risk to take. They don’t need to know the consequences I’ll incur if they decide to break this bond.”

I glance at the wolf beside me. If all four of them decide they want their wolves back, my protectors will turn on me. Anytime a witch plays with forces like these… there’s always a risk the spell could devour her.

“You need to tell them all of it. And if you don’t. I will come down there and do it for you. Because if they abandon you to that fate, they will not survive its consequences.”

“No.” I shake my head, barely seeing the road beyond my windshield. “Like I said before, if it comes to that, you will not retaliate.”

“Scarlette…”

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