Page 37 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

There was a brief pause before Kaitlyn responded, “Absolutely. I’ll have Kaveh bring me there right away.”

A few seconds later, Dre's phone rang again. Kaitlyn's voice came through, sounding frustrated. “Dre, we can’t get through. Something’s blocking us.”

Dre looked at me, then nodded decisively. “We will turn off the wards,” she told her. “Try again, Kaitlyn.”

Kaitlyn began to sputter, “But that’s no?—”

“Just do it,” Dre cut her off, hanging up before Kaitlyn could say anything else.

We quickly turned off the wards, the air around us felt lighter almost immediately. Woah. That added a lot of power to the property. We waited until the air shimmered and Kaitlyn appeared before us. Her eyes were wide with shock. She was dressed in her usual elegant, yet practical attire. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

“Finally,” Dre muttered, relieved. “We’ve got too much to do to waste time.”

“How did you manage to create wards that you can turn on and off?” she asked by way of greeting. She was clearly impressed. Her brown eyes scanned the perimeter of Willowberry. We turned them back on, making her and Kaveh gasp.

Adèle’s mental voice provided the explanation. “It’s thanks to their mixed heritage. The combination of their magical lineages allows them to manipulate the wards in ways most witches can’t.”

Kaitlyn nodded, her eyes shimmering with understanding. “This is incredible. It adds a level of control and security I’ve never seen. You’ve truly outdone yourselves.”

“We’re glad you’re impressed,” I said, stepping forward. “We had to do it to prevent some assholes from trying to steal the power from Marie’s ancestors after I summon them.”

Lia inclined her head. “And then there are the murders in the swamp. Someone is stealing the power of the gator shifters’ lands along with other hotspots in the bayou."

Kaitlyn’s expression turned serious, her features tightening with determination. “Tell me everything. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

We gathered on the patio around the biggest table. Lia and Dre went into the caterer’s kitchen where we kept drinks and brought some out for everyone. As we recounted Lia’s vision, the information we had, and the potential threat from the Montclairs, Dubois, and Rousseaus. Kaitlyn listened intently. Her fingers tapped lightly on her knee as she processed the information. Her mind worked quickly to piece together the puzzle.

“These families have ancient magic,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “Their power is formidable in itself. Why would they want to taint it with Marie’s power? They practice different magic. And historically, they worked together. It makes no sense.”

Dre smirked, her confidence returning as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell us something we don’t know.”

Kota leaned forward, her eyes reflecting the glow of the setting sun. “Don't forget about that asshole, Garrick. He's killing people and infecting the swamp so he can draw on that power.”

“I don’t have answers, but I will start looking. Next time call me sooner. I had no idea anything other than the reunion was going on.” Kaitlyn stood up, her posture radiating resolve. “I’ll help you prepare for the summoning as well.”

The challenges ahead were daunting, but with Kaitlyn’s expertise and Adèle’s guidance, I felt a renewed sense of hope. The safety of the Leveau spirits and the balance of power in the bayou depended on us succeeding. Failure wasn’t an option.

CHAPTER 13

DAHLIA

Kaveh and Kaitlyn had just left, and Dre and I were busy bringing boxes of decor onto the lawn where the shifters were setting up the tables. They had already put up the large tent. We would add a tunnel from the gazebo when those ten by tens arrived the next day.

We needed to get more work done on the reunion before we went back to the bayou. The golden hues of the setting sun filtered through the tall windows and heated the room. Laying a cloth in rich, deep purple over one of the tables, Dani added a vibrant gold runner to see what the combination looked like.

“What do you think?” Dani asked me as she walked by.

My gaze moved over the setup. “It’s perfect. It’s classy and elegant. And it’s so New Orleans without looking cheap or cheesy.”

Relieved, Dani handed Kai a stack of table cloths for the other tables waiting to be arranged. “I agree. The shades andmaterial are exactly what I was hoping for,” she admitted before she moved to the floral arrangements.

The long table was filled with magnolias, lilies, jasmine, and various greenery. Their sweet fragrance filled the air. Dani loved this part of the process. She was working on one so she could set up the table to show Marie so she could approve the budget for fresh flowers or not.

Adèle’s voice echoed in our minds. “Don’t forget to consider the flow of guests between the patio and the tent. Ensure there’s enough space for everyone to move comfortably.”

“Good point, Adèle,” I said, smiling. “We should also make sure the dance floor is centrally located. That way, it’ll be easy for everyone to join in the fun.”

Kota nodded, her eyes scanning the sketch. “What about the entrance? We want it to be welcoming but not too crowded.”

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