Page 13 of Charmed and Dangerous

Saul manned the grill, which was more like a series of long cement blocks with grills over them to cook an ungodly amount of meat. A couple of men stood by, with beers in their hands, mostly shooting the shit and not doing anything else, though they were laughing. Every once in a while, Saul would glance over to check on her and give her a heated look, heavy with promise.

So, she found herself relaxing in a wooden Adirondack chair, sipping a Strawberry Ale. Saul’s pregnant sister lowered herself into the chair next to her, rubbing her belly as she settled and watching her mate at the grill with Saul.

“Are you protecting me or acting as a barrier for me?” Maeve asked.

Sacha gave a sheepish smile. “Is it that obvious?”

Maeve shrugged, trying to hide the hurt she felt at being seen as needing protection. “I figured you would normally be with the other young women or your mate, rather than with me. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.”

Sacha cocked her head. “What makes you think I don’t want to talk to you? I like you. Sure, my brother asked me to check on you, but I could walk away any time.”

Maeve sipped her drink and watched Felicia Borges wrap her claws around Saul’s arm and basically braid herself around him like a human pretzel. To his credit, Saul neatly extricated himself, but Felicia was like poison ivy, with a profusion of bristly shoots, twisting herself around Saul and not letting him escape. Maeve hadn’t realized she had made a sound when Sacha gave a low growl next to her.

“That Felicia. She should have been a cat shifter, for how determined she is to make Saul hers. Don’t worry. He isn’t interested in her and has never given her any encouragement. He’s completely focused on you.” The last was said with a sly, sideways glance at Maeve, who blushed furiously and choked on her ale.

“I don’t know if it’s anything…”

Sacha patted her on the arm, easing her discomfort. “It’s fine. I think it’s wonderful. We all do. Saul has been alone for too long, waiting for his mate. And you got under his skin. It’s been funny to watch, truthfully. He’s usually so in control.”

“He’s usually mad around me, yelling about something,” Maeve said.

“Not at you. At the Dupree sisters who honestly have almost blown up the block on several occasions,” Sacha pointed out.

“He calls me mouse,” Maeve retorted.

Sacha burst out laughing. “Okay, that’s not nice. Make him pay. He’ll respect you more. He’s an alpha bear shifter. He needs a mate who will put him in his place.”

Mate? She hadn’t considered that idea. She had only thought they were spending time together. There was no way that they were mates, were they? She wasn’t a shifter, so she wouldn’t feel the connection like Saul would and besides, would he even wantsomeone like her as a mate, someone he called mouse and yelled at all the time?

“You should go over there and claim him in front of everyone. Or, at the very least, rescue him from that bitch, Felicia. I don’t even know how she got invited today.”

The more Maeve watched Felicia assault Saul, and the more he tried to evade her, the madder she got. Saul was hers, at least for today. Felicia was being rude and intruding where she wasn’t wanted. Maeve casually flicked her wrist and muttered something under her breath. Sacha shot her a quizzical look, and Maeve looked innocent. She had forgotten about the superior hearing of shifters.

“Oh my goddess!” Felicia started scratching at her arms, then torso, and legs. Boils erupted on her face. Dark green masses that deformed her perfect features. She grabbed a metal platter and peered into it and screamed.

People backed away in horror and the cubs stood in a semi-circle, alternating between laughing and saying things like, “Gross,”, “Cool,” and “Wicked”.

Sacha glanced at Maeve with a smirk. “Coincidence or a well-placed hex?”

Maeve gave her an innocent look. “No, but I might know a potion that could help. In three to five days. It might taste a bit foul, too.”

Sacha burst out laughing. “Mouse indeed.”

Maeve got up and sauntered over. Saul tugged her to him, tucking her into his side. “Felicia, you look awful. Is it an allergic reaction to something?”

Felicia snarled at her. “You little witch. You did this?”

Saul glanced at Maeve, then back at Felicia. “I highly doubt that, but Maeve is a genius at potions. I’m sure she could whip up something to help you.”

Maeve pasted a smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Felicia’s gaze narrowed, seeing the challenge for what it was. “No, thank you. I don’t need a weak, wannabe witch who couldn’t get any other job than one with the Dupree sisters.”

“Then maybe you should run along before you disturb the cubs,” Maeve said sweetly. “You’re welcome to stop by the shoppe tomorrow if you want something for your problem.”

Felicia growled then stomped away, pushing through the crowd, though most tried to avoid her. Saul chuckled next to her. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Maeve only smiled as Sacha joined them to lean into her mate. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

But she sensed Felicia wasn’t done with her or Saul.

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