Page 79 of Magic and Muffins

“I’m not actually okay with that last one, but that’s life, right? Some good and some bad, all mixed up together.”

He wrapped me in his arms and kissed the top of my head.

“Don’t change, Everly. You’re perfect the way you are. And I promise I will never stop hunting Orphia and Effora for what they’ve done. They will pay.”

“Don’t go looking for trouble, Cross. It tends to find us anyway.”

He let me escape to the bathroom where I let the warm water wash away the past, the doubts, and whatever future fate had in store for me. When I was so pruned that I had no choice but to turn off the water, I went to explore the closet and find something fun to wear.

Cross spared no expense on the closet or what it contained. The array of suits his side contained had me shaking my head until I noticed a few jackets on the other side that looked larger in the shoulders. Curious, I peeked through drawers and found clothes that looked like they belonged to Shepard. Mine were neatly in the middle of theirs.

Smiling, I dressed and headed to the living room to find Cross, Shepard, Vena, and Anchor all staring at the TV.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s a press conference with the mayor,” Vena said. “Most of what he said is PR bullshit, but he’s finally telling people about the attacks and to not attend Night Club meetings.”

“He has to. There’s proof now,” Anchor said.

The chief of police took the podium after the mayor. “As you saw from the footage, vampires are not the friends they would have you believe. We are actively pursuing leads on Orphia Prince’s whereabouts and working with the DOS to arrest her and her ring of vampires.

“Again, do not attend Night Club meetings, and be aware of your surroundings. Even in the daytime, there are those who will aid Orphia and her movement.

“We’ve set up a hotline to call if you have information regarding Orphia and her people.”

The camera cut to a news anchor in the studio. “Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones last night.”

Rather than going to a commercial, footage of the aftermath of last night’s carnage rolled as the anchor continued to reiterate what the mayor and chief of police said.

“For your safety, do not attend any vampire support meetings at this time.” The anchor turned to a co-anchor, a grin replacing his serious expression. “Stew, I heard there’s going to be a lot of monkey business in town.”

Stew grinned. “You know it. The zoo is holding their annual celebration?—”

Vena reached over to grab the remote and turn off the TV.

“I can’t keep sitting here. I need something to do,” Vena said, standing. “You said Effora just up and left her house, right?” She looked at Shepard, who nodded. “And you have people watching it, waiting for her return?” Cross nodded. “Then let’s go stir up some trouble and see if we can get a reaction out of her.”

“What do you have in mind?” Shepard asked.

“A house raid for relics that pose a threat to humans.”

I snorted. “You just want the sex relic.”

She held a hand to her heart as if I’d wounded her, then grinned.

“I mean, that would be a nice perk, but I’m serious about stirring things up. Now would be the perfect time. Think about it. Effora took Shepard’s ring?—“

“You know?”

“If Anchor knows, I know,” Vena said.

“I told key members of my pack for the pack’s safety,” Shepard said. “However, if word spreads that I lost the ring representing the leadership of our Alphas for as far back as anyone can remember, I’ll need to answer to the pack delegates, and that’s a distraction we can’t afford right now.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t even considered that when Effora stole it. I’d been more focused on what Effora planned to do with it.

“Anyway,” Vena said, reclaiming all our attention. “Effora took Shepard’s ring to either give to Vivian or keep for herself. If she gave it to Vivian, that probably means Orphia has three of the four stones and will try for Cross’ next. If she didn’t give it to Orphia, I think she’ll try to use it to lure Shepard into having sex with her.

“Since we all think that Orphia and Effora aren’t working together, she probably didn’t give the ring to Vivian and is going to try for Shepard. So dangle your carrot by doing a house raid. I’m betting she has cameras all over the place, especially in that sex-fest room.”

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