Page 30 of Moonlit Alexandrite

Jewels Cafe had a few special items on their menu. Some were handy, like the frosty frappes, that let you breathe a cloud of frost to cool you down on a warm summer’s day; and some were just for fun, like the lift-me-up coffee shots that allowed you to levitate, and...

Right on cue, Lex swallowed her tea and hiccuped. Bubbles in faint hues of blue, red, and yellow popped from her mouth, and floated lazily toward the ceiling. She grinned, entranced with them for a moment before shooting a glance at Colbie. Colbie, in return, gulped her mouthful and looked a little pale.

“Oh, sh—”

Colbie hiccuped, and suddenly there was a tiny bat flapping madly where the feisty woman had stood. Ren threw his head back, his laughter booming out in the space. When that wasn’t enough, he doubled over, holding his middle.

“Oh, dear,” Lex muttered softly.

After a minute or two, the bat hiccuped again, and Colbie was back. With as much dignity as she could muster, she swept her dress off the ground and threw it on over her head, her eyes flashing a warning as she sneered down at Ren, who had hunkered down in a crouch with arms wrapped tightly around his stomach, still giggling periodically.

“Not a word,” she growled, deep and menacing. Ren straightened, fighting hard to keep a straight face.

“Why? You gonna suck my blood?”

Colbie’s jaw dropped. “I am not a vampire, you ass!”

I snorted before I could control myself. I couldn’t help it, this was too rich.

“Are you allergic to garlic?” I asked innocently.

“I don’t really like it, but — Hey!” Colbie turned her glare my way.

“You are both assholes, and I hate you. Why are you wearing nothing but an apron, anyway?” she asked, cocking her head to the side, as if she had only just noticed my attire... or lack thereof. I shrugged unhelpfully and grinned at Ren, who was finally finding his feet after his laughing jag.

“Not another word, Laisren. I mean it.” Colbie pointed a threatening finger at him, which would have been far more intimidating if she could reach past his chin. Ren held his hands out and backed up a step, as though thoroughly chastened.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, if we’re angry enough to use full names.”

Then he grinned. “I’ll wait until I have a wooden cross before I give you too much cheek.”

He ducked just in time to avoid wearing Colbie’s bubble tea, and the entire cup splattered across the floor and half the wall.

Lex sighed in annoyance and went to find a cloth.

Chapter Nineteen

Lex

Thursday night found me, once again, cuddled up on the couch with Ren, this time watching a documentary on emperor penguins.

“That’s crazy. They almost starve themselves to death to look after the eggs,” Ren muttered, running his fingers idly through my hair.

I nodded. “I like that the males and females work together through the entire process.”

“Equal rights for penguins?” he asked with a small grin. My cell phone’s manic buzzing interrupted any reply I may have given. Ren passed the device, and I answered in time to hear Stone barking an order to someone on the other end. There was a rustle, then a whistle, before Stone’s voice rumbled down the connection.

“Lex, I need you down at your store.”

I sat up quickly, dislodging Ren’s hand. “What for?”

“There’s been an incident. I would rather speak to you in person, can you come now?”

I looked at Ren, who wordlessly moved to his shoes and began pulling them on. We had only been mates a couple of weeks, and they were being patient with me, taking it slowly. So I knew I could count on him, and Tase, to be there if I needed them. I tilted my head to better appreciate his rear as he bent to pull the heel of his shoe into place.

“Lex?”

Oops, I had forgotten about Stone. “Sorry, yeah, we’re coming now.”

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