Page 34 of Sapphire Flame
“Happy to.” Ryan pulled his phone from his jean’s pocket. Grant moved away several yards as Ryan began the peace talks.
The conversation was even on Ryan’s side but more than once, Ryan pulled his phone away from his ear. Grant could hear Neil shouting.
Finally, Grant knew he had to step in.
He took the phone. “Dammit, Neil, I need your help. I’ve got a fae who thinks she might have analtershadowing her behind an Elegance spell. I don’t know any warlocks who have your level of power who could help figure this out. I’m not asking for myself, but for Natalie.”
“Natalie? Is she the futurist who also financially supports Kiara’s Revel refuge?”
“Yes.”
“I know her. I’m one of her clients.”
Grant felt his brows lift skyward. Another connection. Neil was one of the wealthiest men in Elegance and Natalie had no doubt helped get him there. Talk about a small world. “Will you help us then?”
A long pause ensued. “You’ll have to come here. Things are rough with this transition. And I’ll want an apology.”
Grant swallowed his temper and his pride. “Done.”
~ ~ ~
Natalie locked up her studio for the night and rose slowly into the air.
Dawn was still a few hours away. She had kept her futurist appointments well past midnight but had never been more bored. The only thing she wanted to do before retiring for her day’s sleep was to inquire about the fae, Talya, to see how she was doing.
Talya had been moved to Agnes’s high-security compound and would be well taken care of there.
Natalie flew to her home less than a half-mile away. She’d done well over the years with her futurism and had built a home on the canal. It was an upscale neighborhood and in recent years had seen an unwelcome increase in human tourist boats. Still, she loved her home and at well past two, the last of the tourists had gone home. Only the quiet sound of paddle boats belonging toalterscould be heard disturbing the waters.
She landed as she often did in the backyard near the patio off the kitchen. A good part of her garden was shrouded with hedges to keep her privacy against the more recent tourist invasions. Many of her neighbors had done the same. When she wanted to enjoy the canal, she went for long walks on the canal-side paths usually after the crowds had returned to their U.S. homes.
She’d landscaped following a simple Mediterranean design with straight gravel paths, Italian Cypress trees, and a purple flowering ground cover. Several large stone pots dotted the patio and contained a mixture of citrus trees and yellow hibiscus. Closer to the master bedroom end of the yard, she had a rectangular stretch of lawn which her human gardening service maintained along with the rest of her property.
She entered through the sliding patio door to her kitchen. By habit, she poured herself a glass of Pinot Grigio and prepared a small plate of parmesan, sweet grapes and salty crackers. She took her feast, including the bottle of wine, back to the patio. In the early hours of the morning, the late September temperature was about perfect.
As she ate, Grant came to mind like a sudden breeze. Memories surged as they had off-and-on all night.
What kept drawing her back was the kiss at Boulders Beach and how, because the dreamglide had lowered her inhibitions, she’d almost made love to a wolf.
She felt so many things that her mind reeled.
She took a long drink of wine then lifted her gaze skyward, to the few scattered stars. Only the brightest showed through. There was too much city-light.
A few more swallows and the wine began to ease through her veins. She felt her limbs start to relax.
The kisses had been heaven, the first she’d had in six years. The first she’d allowed herself.
She’d forgotten the immense comfort a man’s arms could offer. She’d even forgotten the quick, exhilarating burst of desire she could feel. She’d wanted sex with Grant like the wind craving space to gather speed.
Something about the wolf had electrified her body.
She took another long sip.
She didn’t want to want him, but oh, God, she did.
Settling her wine glass on the table, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
She couldn’t be with a wolf. There was a part of her that loathed Savage Territory and the nature of the wolfalter. Each time she saw the results of wolf teeth and powerful wolf jaws, her dislike grew.
