Page 65 of Shadow's End

Easy being a relative term only when compared to all our other problems.

The wail of sirens grew louder than the gentle groaning of the building and the nearby hum of traffic. Jaz looked around “That’s probably the SES and Mac.”

“There’s no need for all of us to remain here,” Monty said. “I can stay?—”

“It’s probably best if I do, too,” Belle cut in. “Just in case our ghost decides he doesn’t want all these people sniffing around his house.”

“I’ll drop by later to grab your statements, unless the boss decides they’re not necessary,” Jaz said, then held up the glove containing the solitary spell stone. “You want me to keep this safe?”

I hesitated and then nodded. “There’s a very minor chance the stain of darker magic we sense is some sort of locator spell, so it’s probably best she believes it’s in the hands of you rangers rather than me.”

“Will us holding on to it present any danger?”

“Unlikely,” Monty said. “Spell stones like that are a dime a dozen, so even if there is a locator spell, they’re unlikely to attempt retrieval.”

“Ah, good.” She tucked it back into the evidence bag.

I glanced at Eli. “Do you mind dropping me off at the café?”

“Of course not,” he replied, then hooked his arm through mine. “We have a few things we need to discuss anyways.”

“We do?”

“Indeed, lass,” Ashworth said, as he fell in step beside us. “We’re needing a date, you know, because we need the roses to be at their peak when you get married.”

I laughed. “Your garden is pretty with or without the roses in bloom.”

“Aye, but you canna beat a rose for the romance of the whole thing.”

“Does that mean you and Eli got married in a rose garden?”

“Not justanyold rose garden, but the one at the Werribee Mansion,” Eli said, voice wry. “It would be fair to say there was rose overload.”

“What can I say?” Ashworth’s amusement was evident. “Under this weather-beaten, grungy exterior there beats a romantic heart.”

“Grungy being the operative word there.” Eli’s voice was dry, and I laughed.

“We’ve made some enquiries, and it’s looking likely to be either New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day, but we wanted to check both dates with you first before we decided.”

“Valentine’s is always a romantic choice,” Eli said. “But the roses will likely be at the end of their blush by then.”

“We’re good with either, lass, but you’ll likely struggle to book a celebrant at such short notice, though.”

“We’ve already spoken to a couple and have an appointment with one on Friday.”

If, that is, all this vampire shit didn’t get in the way of it.

“Let us know what you decide, but in the meantime, we’ll start tidying the gardens in readiness.”

“That would be awesome. Thank you.”

“It’s our pleasure, lass.” He paused and opened the rear door of his car for me. “Never thought I’d be having the pleasure of walking a daughter or granddaughter down the aisle, so it’s an honor to be doing so for you.”

“As granddads go, you two are the best.” I dropped a kiss on his cheek before climbing in, and saw him blink rapidly. He really was an old romantic.

Back at the café, I checked in with Penny to ensure everything was okay and to grab a list of what we needed, then headed upstairs to do the ordering and accounts. It was close to six when my phone rang, the tone telling me it was Aiden.

“Hey,” I said, by way of greeting. “That was one hell of a long council meeting.”

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