Page 73 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

Brett was needed here.

Thomas had volunteered to drive Poppy and the kids.

Stratton wasn’t privy to the behind-the-scenes dynamics of their family business, but from the little bit Brett mentioned about Thomas, the man was refusing to leave Grimm Cove. He was in the process of buying a home here and planned to run his business from here as well. He claimed he didn’t want to be far from his children, but since they spent most of the year away at Yale, Stratton had to wonder if it was Poppy who Thomas didn’t want to be far from.

Brett could and would eat the man alive if he stepped out of line.

Stratton couldn’t blame Brett. If he had a mate, he’d do the same thing.

At the thought of mates, Stratton’s attention returned to the café. He’d had every intention to make it back by lunch in order to spend time with Astria. The day had gotten away from him and then they’d happened upon the newest crime scene. Everything had simply snowballed.

He lifted his cell, which was plugged into the charger so he wouldn’t end up with a dead phone battery, yet again. He didn’t have a number for Astria to text an apology, or call. She had to think he’d stood her up. He’d have thought it had roles been reversed.

He put his head back against the seat, his insides a mess at the idea Astria could be thinking he didn’t want to spend time with her. Truth was, he wanted far more than just a lunch with her. The second he’d lain eyes on her, Stratton wanted to spend morning, noon, and night with her. But at this point, he’d settle for five uninterrupted minutes.

His cell rang as if it sensed his desire for alone time.

Stratton answered. “Hey.”

“You’re sure this is related to Frankenstein’s monsters?” asked Drest, not bothering with niceties.

“Hello to you too, cousin,” said Stratton.

Drest sighed. “Sorry. Hi. I’m just worked up because every lead I’ve tried running down in between hunting jobs and work has been a dead end. Your message gave me some hope. I hate saying that I really want it to be monsters, but you know what I mean.”

“I do,” he said, hearing the pain in his cousin’s voice. “Rachael will turn up. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m not,” admitted Drest. “I’m starting to think she might be…that she might not… Strat, it’s getting harder and harder to find a reason to get up every day. I should have told the higher-ups to screw themselves from the start. I should have just taken Rachael and her niece and ran. The minute I realized why I was so drawn to her—the minute I knew she was my mate—I should have done everything I could to get her far from Henry and from the Nightshade Clan. Hell, I should have ignored the mating energy and the frenzy that comes with it. I should have told you what was happening, and had you get me far from Rachael. She’d have been safe then.”

When they’d been young, barely in their twenties, they’d heard tales of a mating frenzy that could come over a full-blooded Fae male when they met their mate. Something so powerful and all-consuming that there was no way to deny it. They’d thought the stories were utter bullshit, spun by their elders to give the younger generation some type of hope to cling to. But when Drest had finally broken down and admitted that’s what had happened to him when he’d realized who Rachael was to him, Stratton had started to question the old stories, wondering if there was some truth to it. Though it was a convenient crutch to lean on when explaining away having no self-control.

As far as Drest thinking he should have run with Rachael when given the chance, Stratton agreed. Not that he’d ever say as much. But if Stratton ever found himself lucky enough to find and have his mate, he’d break any rule to be with her. “I’mpositivethe kills happening here are related to the creatures. They’re checking every box.”

“Thishasto be it,” said Drest, sounding defeated. “I need one of them to lead me to her. I can’t keep doing this.”

“I know,” stressed Stratton. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to take one alive. To question it. I’ll get answers for you. I swear.”

“No,” said Drest. “I’m coming.I’llget the answers.”

Stratton stared at the empty café. “How soon can you get here?”

“I’m on the road, headed that way now. I’m going to drive straight through,” admitted Drest.

“All right. You’ve got a key to my place,” said Stratton. “Stay safe.”

“You too, cousin,” said Drest before disconnecting the call.

His cell rang again, and he assumed it was Drest calling him back. It was Brett. “I checked on her. She’s good,” Stratton said quickly upon answering.

“I know,” said Brett. “I’m home with her now. She told me. She also told me you hung out for a bit, giving Thomas the hairy eyeball for me.”

Stratton snorted. “Least I could do for you, boss.”

“Thank you,” he said. “Ellie-Sue was quick to tell me you overheard Thomas offering to drive Poppy and the kids up to school. She was eavesdropping too.”

“Uh, yeah. Do I need to plan on another murder occurring tonight?” Stratton asked, not really joking. Brett was very capable of killing Thomas.

“No,” said Brett, sounding tired still. “Tuck has assured me he’s going to be tagging along on the trip to keep an eye on Thomas. If he steps out of line, Tuck will go full poltergeist on his ass.”

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