Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

M aeve was pleasantly sore and thoroughly exhausted the next morning, but she had to work. Not that anyone would mind if she missed a day of work. She never once called out sick or missed a day and if there was ever an excuse to miss a day and stay in bed, this was it. But Saul had to open the bakery, so she had no one to stay in bed with. So why bother?

Besides, she needed to confront the Duprees about what was in that so-called love potion so she could create a more tailored antidote for it. After she got her Devil’s Thimbleberry planted and the ecosystem set up according to the instructions given to her by Cornelius Digby, she headed for the shoppe and her showdown with the Duprees. She hated confrontation, but she had to have this resolved before this mating discussion went any further between her and Saul. She had to know that it was real and not influenced by the potion.

As usual, the Duprees were pulling their disappearing act, not showing up and avoiding her. She left them a message telling them to be there with the potion or she would quit on the spot and take her potions with her. Botanica Magica might not carry her potions or hire her, but she had enough of a clientele to support her as she got her own business going.

“Maeve?” A voice spoke from the back room. “You wanted to see me?”

Well, maybe being assertive had its rewards. Maeve turned and saw Tempest Dupree, the oldest Dupree sister and the one who scared Maeve the most, standing in the doorway, a frown on her face. Though, Maeve had hoped it would be Phoebe and not Tempest to answer her. Phoebe was so much easier to deal with, being the sister she dealt with the most about the shop, her potions, and her work. Tempest oversaw the business side, and Fleur did her own thing with her scented potions and charms. The arrangement worked. But now Tempest was here and Maeve had to deal with her. But she was strong. She could handle Tempest. Right?

“Yes, I did. I wanted to talk with you about the BrewFest.”

Tempest stepped further into the shop, one perfectly shaped eyebrow arched. “Really? The mayor has asked us not to speak about the events of the contest until he has had more time to investigate the matter. So I’m sure you can understand that I have nothing more to offer at this time.”

Tempest turned as if to return to the back room and her office.

Be strong, be brave, Maeve chanted to herself. She tried to channel Saul and his encouraging words from the previous day.

She straightened, throwing her shoulders back and fixing a firm look on Tempest. “I want to ask about that love potion at the festival and the antidote.”

Tempest sighed and turned back to Maeve. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms, and studied Maeve with an air of tolerance, as if Maeve was bothering her. Or maybe she was avoiding something. She was dressed as always impeccably in a Ghoulchi light-gray pencil skirt and jacket, and a white blouse, paired with black Ghoul Rossi stilettos. None of which Maeve could ever hope to afford, much less pull off without spilling something on her or breaking an ankle, or worse, in those shoes.

“I want to know what was in that love potion of yours and how it works.”

A laugh rang out from Tempest, but there was a hint of nervousness to it, as if she were hiding something. “You know a potion master never shares their secrets. Besides, it was from an old family secret and we are sworn to secrecy. We can only share it with other Duprees. And, as I mentioned previously, we’ve been asked not to speak of Saturday’s events.”

Maeve narrowed her eyes. She understood the paranoia that most potions masters had about their creations, but this had far-reaching impacts. “Tempest, your potion affected a lot of people, including me and Saul Grimsbane. As I was personally affected, I feel that you owe me at least this. You have to fix the problem that your potion caused.”

Tempest straightened, a smirk hiding the flash of trepidation in her eyes.. “Why are you so concerned? Ohh, Saul Grimsbane. That kiss was very hot, Maeve. I didn’t know you had it in you. I hear he has been following you all over town since then. Very much a shifter thing. Sounds like he’s gotten fixated on you.”

She leaned forward and laid a hand on Maeve’s arm, a look of concern on her face. “Don’t take this the wrong way, dear. We like you very much and consider you almost a part of the family. But don’t get too attached to Saul. He’s a shifter, and an alpha bear at that. He needs a strong female to lead his clan. While shifters can mate outside their species, alphas almost never do, and if they do, it’s to other shifters with the same amount of power. You need to bring something to the clan of value. Strength, power, the ability to lead the clan with your mate. Maeve, you’re just not strong enough.”

Maeve sighed, her shoulders slumping. She knew Tempest was being kind, but she was right. Maeve hated conflict, hated fighting, and preferred to stay behind the scenes as much as possible. “So you think the love potion is affecting him?”

“I think it’s affecting both of you. We tested it first with you a few days before, the day he came into the shoppe when we had tested the potion. You had a double dose of it. At the shoppe, then at the festival. Then Saul had it at the festival. I fear you never had a chance. You should give yourselves space to let the potion wear off. Then you can see how your feelings truly are.”

With a last squeeze of Maeve’s arm, Tempest left the main part of the shoppe and headed into the back office to work on invoices or whatever Tempest did, leaving Maeve to stew in her thoughts. She feared Tempest was right. She had seen alpha shifter mates. They were strong, powerful, dominant, everything she wasn’t. Her only real skill was brewing potions, in the quiet of her greenhouse and workshop, alone. Not much of a combat skill. Or an alpha skill. Maybe she truly was the mouse he always called her.

The bell over the door jingled, and she smiled, a greeting that faded as she saw who came in. Felicia Borges, without the green boils. But the woman was spitting mad, her eyes filled with venom as she glared at Maeve.

“All alone, dear, in this pathetic excuse for a potions’ shoppe? I’m not surprised. After Saturday’s fiasco at the festival, I doubt anyone will shop here anymore.”

Maeve reminded herself that this woman had no power over her and to be strong, as Saul often told her. She arched her eyebrow. “I see you figured out your little problem. Burdock or Devil’s Elm?”

Felicia spat. “It doesn’t matter. Our healer handled it rather quickly. But I know you were behind it. A little jealousy spell, was it? Not that it will matter. Saul will never be yours. He needs a female of his own kind if he wants to lead the clan.”

“I believe that’s his choice, and he isn’t interested in you.” Maeve was proud that her voice was strong and unwavering, even as her insides shook like Jello.

Felicia only smiled and leaned over the counter until she was in Maeve’s face. “You can continue to believe that all you want, little mouse. But the reality is, his father is passing on the clan leader role and will only hand it over to a male who is mated to another bear. A strong female bear. Not a little scared human mouse like you who can barely do any magic or potions. You’re weak, pathetic. Not worthy of a male like Saul.”

“That is his decision. And his father liked me just fine.”

“I’m sure he did. You’re a fun plaything, like a toy. But he’ll tire of you, having to protect you, defend you. His children will be weak, unable to shift. He’ll come back to me when he needs to lead his clan and defend them against other clans. You are only a liability. A weak little mouse.” She straightened, trying a different tack. “Let him go for the good of his clan, for the good of the children he will have. Find another pathetic human to marry or whatever you do. He deserves better than you. He will resent you someday for trapping him.”

She turned and swept out of the shoppe with a quiet snick of the door. It would have been so much easier if she had slammed the door. But reminding Maeve of their children, the mixed-blood, the dangers that they could face. That was brilliant on her part. Very strategic. And a bullseye. Damn her.

She had had a glorious weekend with Saul. He gave her courage and a weekend to remember. But it was time they both found partners more suited to their lifestyles.

It had been a long day at the bakery. First, he’d had to deal with the teasing from his sister about the hickey on his neck. That was all right because it was a sign that Maeve marked him. All shifters sported marks from their mates and loved to show them off. But he could do without the sarcasm, the questions about when to schedule the mating ceremony, and when he was going to introduce her officially to the clan.

Because that was a potential issue and Sacha knew it.

Maeve was still his little mouse. She had met part of the clan yesterday and, while it wasn’t a disaster, it wasn’t a success either. She had stayed to herself and his immediate family, clearly overwhelmed by the clan. His sister pointed out that she only needed time to get used to them and their ways. Bears were friendly and loud and affectionate. Maeve came from a very small, reserved family, and the clan clearly freaked her out. They needed more time to acclimate her to the clan before completing the mating. But he had confidence she could grow into it. She had inner reserves of strength. She just needed to open herself to it.

Then the day got worse. Felicia Borges swept in on her broom. No insult to witches intended. She declared that a mating between them should be decided soon to unite their clans. Their fathers had talked, and it was all decided. For the strength of their clans, it was for the best.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

He kicked her out and went back to pounding dough to vent his frustrations. Good thing his father stayed away from the bakery most of the day. He didn’t need that confrontation that day.

By the end of the day, he was ready for a break from the family and time with Maeve. His bear found her presence soothing and peaceful, something he needed as an alpha. Also, the longer he went without a mate, the more on edge his bear had been growing restless from being alone. Unfortunately, he wasn’t going to get lucky. Just as he was about to close the bakery, his father lumbered in. Saul took a deep breath and prayed to Ursa for patience.

“I didn’t expect to see you today. We’re out of almost everything since we’re closing in five minutes. What can I get you?”

“I’m not here for baked goods, though Sacha left a loaf of sourdough in the back for us.”

Saul went in the back and scowled when he saw the loaf and a smiley face on the post-it note. Traitor. She could have at least warned him. He poured them each a cup of coffee and brought it out to the table for his father. He flipped the open sign to closed and locked up, then sat across from his father.

“What did you need to talk to me about away from mother?”

His father grimaced. “This conversation stays between us, understand? Your mother would not be happy that I was here, interfering, as she would call it.”

Saul had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Then why are you here?”

“Because I’m ready to retire as alpha of the clan, and I need to know you’re ready to take over. But lately you’ve been growing more and more isolated, more on edge. I worry about your bear. You need a mate.”

He heaved a sigh of relief. He could settle those fears, at least. “I’ve found my mate.”

His father eyed him doubtfully. “The witch? Are you sure, son? She seemed scared of the clan, of bears. How can she be your mate and lead the clan if she is afraid of us?”

He hated his father was voicing the same concerns he had. “She isn’t used to our clan. She comes from a very different family. She needs time to get used to us. She used to be afraid of me and now she isn’t. I believe she’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure it’s not the love potion affecting you?”

He growled, his bear resenting the challenge. “I felt the bond before the contest. Ask Sacha. She’s the one who thought we were mates first. Or would you prefer me mated to Felicia Borges?”

His father grimaced. “No, that female is a viper. She’d destroy our clan. I just want you to find the right mate and be happy.”

Saul stood, bracing his hands on the table. “Mission accomplished. Maeve is the right female for me and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your nose out of my mating.”

His father got to his feet slowly. “If you think she will be right for you and the clan, I will support you. But I’ll wait on handing over the leadership until the mating is complete.”

Saul barely restrained the snarl, knowing his father and alpha would not tolerate the disrespect. His father stared him down for a long moment, then swiped the loaf of bread and stalked out of the bakery with a final jingle of the bell over the door.

Saul waited a few minutes until he’d calmed down before locking everything up and leaving out the back. He walked the back way to the Dupree’s potion shoppe hoping to catch Maeve before she left for the day but was greeted by the oldest sister, Tempest, who barred the door, arms folded and a stern look on her face. She informed him Maeve had left a couple of hours previously and her ball-withering stare had him rethinking any additional questions. Anyway, he knew where she would be. Her greenhouse.

He pulled up to find her great-aunt sitting in the chair by the roses, rocking and humming to herself. She opened her eyes when he walked by and grinned. “Cocked it up already, huh? I expected better of you, bear. Though every single bear I’ve known has screwed it up at least once.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, though he was starting to wonder.

She cackled and waved him off. “You’ll find out.”

He headed to the greenhouse and opened the door. The smell of fresh flowers, herbs, and moist soil enveloped him, along with sorrow and pain. His mate was sad. She was in her happy place, but it wasn’t helping.

He walked through the paths around her plants until he came to the ecosystem for the Devil’s Thimbleberry that Cornelius Digby had given her. She was seated on a bench staring at the purple plant and the berries that had sprouted from it. He watched her for a few minutes, waiting for her to see him. When she didn’t move, he cleared his throat.

“Maeve? I went to the shoppe for you, but Tempest said you had already left. I thought we were going to dinner tonight.”

Her shoulders stiffened, but she didn’t turn around. Her honey badger, Hazel, was curled up on her lap, snuggling into her. Hazel peered over Maeve’s arm balefully at Saul and he stayed away from the wicked claws, in case she took a swipe at him.

“I needed some time to think.”

That was never a good sign. No male ever liked hearing their mate saying they needed to think. He eased onto the bench next to her, keeping an eye on Hazel’s claws. “Is there anything I can help with?”

She turned her blue eyes to him, shining with tears. “I think we moved too fast, Saul. The love potion affected us both. It was all an illusion.”

Chills ran up his spine as his bear pushed at him to be let out. “Maeve, I told you. The love potion had no effect on me. I was feeling a mate bond with you before the festival.”

She winced. “The Duprees tested the love potion on me the day you came into the shoppe when you thought they were blowing up the block. Two days before the festival. I was under the effect of the potion. I influenced you without you knowing about it.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder, and Hazel snarled at him. He lifted his hand carefully while Maeve laid a soothing stroke on Hazel. “I don’t believe that.”

“Either way, Saul, you need someone stronger than me to lead your clan. I’m not the right person for your clan. They scare me.”

He took her hand, willing her to believe him, feeling her slipping away. “You only spent one day with them. It took you time with me, too. Bears can be overwhelming. I know you can handle them. And you’re stronger than you think. I believe in you. Why won’t you believe in yourself?”

“Saul, we’re different people. I’m a witch, an introverted witch with limited power. If I had more power, maybe it could work. But I’m not. I care for you too much to damage your position with your clan. They need you.” She laid a hand on his cheek. “Thank you for the past few days. I will treasure them always.”

Hazel jumped to the ground, and Maeve got to her feet. She walked away and the bear inside of Saul wanted to roar in pain. “You’re being a coward. Why won’t you fight for us, for you? We can figure this out. I can step down, wait to be alpha. We can find a way.”

She whirled around. “Absolutely not. Your clan needs you. And I know who I am. It was a dream for me to think I could be anything more than I am. Goodbye, Saul.”

And she raced out of the greenhouse, leaving him brokenhearted.