Page 55 of Wicked Witchmas: Elara & Tripp

They nodded, and the battle line was erased as they joined her at the table.

Bohdan returned with the tea, followed by Archer, Hermes, and Payton.

“Perfect timing, everyone.” Brelenia’s smile was warm and welcoming, including them all. The more people she could rally to work together, the better the potential outcome. “Where is Officer Cobb? Will he be rejoining us?”

“Dailey is making the rounds. He’ll be back in ten,” Archer informed them.

Interesting. Despite his mother’s dictate to assign the job elsewhere, Dailey had defied her. Progress, indeed. The young man wasn’t what one would call a “mama’s boy,” but coming from a tight-knit magical family as he had, he was inclined to listen to the matriarch. Payton, on the other hand, was left to find her way in the world without proper guidance. Both possessed strong personalities, but where Dailey’s life was structured, Payton’s wasn’t, and the woman would always rebel whenever anyone attempted to control her.

“Let’s get started—again—shall we?” Brelenia suggested sweetly.

Hermes grinned at her masterful manipulation but remained silent.

“The problem is that Enguerrand and Elara can’t acknowledge their feelings for each other. I propose we put operationJealousyinto motion.”

With green eyes sparkling, Hermes leaned forward. “That’s Tripp’s given name, for those who don’t know.” Of Brelenia, he asked, “How do you propose we do that? Which of the townspeople do you intend to utilize for your plan?”

“The clear choice is Rowan Sanderson to entice Tripp,” Florence suggested. “She’s the most beautiful gel in town.”

All the men nodded.

Payton scowled but held back her opinion.

“Excellent.” Brelenia poured tea into the available cups and passed them out. “And who should we use to open my son’s eyes? Hmm?”

“I doubt you’ll have any takers. Who the hell is going to risk a demigod’s temper?” Archer asked dryly.

She nodded. “Yes, I can see where that might be a problem.” Focusing her attention on Hermes, she raised a brow. “I suppose you’ll have to volunteer, nephew.”

“No can do.” He shook his head, considered the tea in the delicate cup, and waved a hand to transform it into a glass of wine.

“You’d best make sure you turn that back. Avery will have your ass if all her cups and saucers aren’t accounted for,” Bohdan warned.

“Duly noted,” Hermes replied.

“Back to the discussion. Why can’t you volunteer?” Payton asked him.

“She knows who I am and that I posed as her beloved cat. Her tolerance for my presence is low.”

“Valid.” She cast a glance among those present, summing them up. “Bohdan might be her type. He likes to lurk in alleyways.”

The man in question choked. When he could speak again, he said, “Hell, no! Tripp threatened to have my ass waxed the last time I annoyed him. I’m not going anywhere near Elara.”

Unable to escape the visual of a bald-assed wolf, Brelenia laughed along with the others. “Archer? What about you? Would you be willing to court Elara to prompt Enguerrand to react?”

He appeared to consider it but quickly shrugged and shook his head. “I wouldn’t pass as handsome with today’s women. I doubt Tripp would view me as a threat to his relationship, considering how enamored with him Elara is. Honestly, I doubt he’d view anyone that way.”

“You have a point. He takes after me and is gifted in the looks department.” She wasn’t intentionally vain. The truth was that the Gods were a gorgeous lot. Although plastic surgery, eatingnutritious foods, and exercise could make mortals beautiful, few reached her level. She might be older than dirt, but she still possessed the ass of a twenty-year-old.

“My suggestion would be to bring out his protective instincts,” Hermes said. “Perhaps another god or Titan might work to spark his territorial side.”

Brelenia tapped a manicured finger on the table as she considered the problem from every angle. Her lips curled as she met and held her nephew’s emerald gaze. He turned wary, amusing her further.

“An abduction,” she declared. “Tomorrow. And I know just the person to do it.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“You should know, your mother has planned to spark your protective instincts where your woman is concerned,” Hermes told Tripp an hour later.

---