7. TWO

TWO

Wren

“Goodmorning,ladies!Is your shadow demon about?” Jan’s lips tugged into a smirk as we entered the back part of her store.

“Always,” I hummed as Damien’s shadow brushed the back of my neck, sending lances of heat down my spine.

My pheromones were becoming easier to control the more I gave into them—contradicting, sure, but my mates didn’t seem to mind.

“But he has to stay in the shadows because we are having a girls day!” Trixie pressed her lips together and glared into the shadows of the room every which way.

Damien’s chuckle skittered over my skin. “You’re just jealous because when I’m around, Wren is all over me.”

My mark where his shadow was embedded into my chest itched, and I pressed a palm to it.

“Yes! I know! You’re both obsessed with each other, but dammit, I want my best friend today, okay?” Trixie jutted her bottom lip out as she turned away from the shadows and grabbed my shoulders. Tears filled her honey eyes. “Wren, tell him it’s us time!”

My heart clenched, and I wrapped my arms around my sweet friend. “Sorry, Damien, but I really do need some Trixie time.”

His breath hit my lips, and I recoiled from Trixie’s hug in shock as his shadowy lips slanted over mine for a brief moment before fading. “But there’s another man here.”

“He’s my mate, and this is my shop.” Jan scowled, and the man with the towering frame put a hand on her shoulder.

Damien huffed. “Have a good time, little bird. I’ll be around.”

Trixie’s tears dried in an instant as a victory grin spread over her lips. “That’s a win for me, babes!”

My lips parted in exasperation as I shook my head and pointed a finger at her. “You played me!”

“I played your mate, not you. I love you.” She poked my nose before spinning to face Jan and her mate. “So, this is your bear shifter mate!”

Jan’s eyes glazed over like she was seeing stars as she stared up at the burly man with graying hair and brown eyes. “Yes. This is Matt. He’s going to be taking care of the shop for me while we chat.”

A ding sounded from the front, and Matt dipped his head in a greeting. “That’s my cue. Enjoy yourselves, ladies.” He kissed Jan’s head before slipping back into the front.

“That’s adorable.” Trixie fanned herself before plopping down on the love seat.

“You complement each other well.” I inhaled the incense filling the air and sat down next to her, the cushions shifting as I did.

“Thank you, dears. My coven was shocked when I mated a bear shifter.” She shook her head and dusted her palms off before sitting in the chair across from us. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Matt is more than just my soulmate.”

“I can relate.” I grinned, my cheeks heating as I thought of my mates.

“Clearly.” She winked, leaning over and grabbing the pot of tea on the table between us and filling the two cups in front of us. “I can see how calm and fused your magic is. You’ve bonded all of your mates. That alone is a blessing from the Fates.”

Trixie and I moved for the cups at the same time, the heat of it warming my palms as I held it.

“Her magic is much more stabilized, aside from her influencing her mates with pheromones every few minutes.” Trixie snickered as she took a sip. “Damn, that’s good.”

Jan coughed, trying to disguise her giggle as she poured her own cup and set down the pitcher. “Ah, one of your mates is an incubus. That must’ve been an interesting mating.”

My face flushed with heat as a goofy smile spread over my lips. “His tail is capable of a lot more than I thought.”

Trixie spewed some of her drink back into her cup as she bowled with laughter. “Oh! That’s just too good. Details, woman!”

“Incubi insert their tails inside to secrete a pheromone, right?” Jan’s brows wiggled as she picked up her cup.

“Yes, and it feels incredible,” I admitted, sipping the herbal tea and moaning as the sweet blend filled my mouth. “Fates, Jan, this is delicious!”

“Thanks! It’s an anti-anxiety blend. I’ve been brewing it like crazy.” She set the cup down and patted down some stray hairs on her head. “The war has amped up everyone’s magic and emotions.”

“No kidding.” Trixie grunted as she set her cup down too.

I lowered my cup to my lap and sighed. “Still no success in retrieving the relic, and the search for my father has so far come up empty.”

“I’m sorry, dear.” Jan’s mouth curved downward.

“We’ll find him,” Damien’s hushed voice hit my ears, and I nodded.

“Did Norman tell you that the human specimens he’s been experimenting on have seemed to be, like, unresponsive?” Trixie shook her hair out before tying it up in a bun.

“I know they’ve not been responding to any stimuli,” I murmured.

Damien had been called in to torture a few with Norman, but no matter what they did, nothing happened. It was eerie, considering not even being squashed by a firedrake was enough to put them down for good.

I brought the cup to my mouth and drank again, needing the warmth of it.

“Oh, the impending doom talk reminded me of something!” Jan snapped her fingers before getting up and rummaging through her shelves. She grabbed two small black boxes before returning to her seat and handing us each one. “I’ve performed a protection spell on these.”

We opened the boxes to reveal stunning quartz crystal earrings. They were small, but even I could feel the magical energy embedded within it.

“Thank you so much.” I grabbed them and put them on, as Trixie did the same.

“These are beautiful, and they’re so powerful.” Trixie touched them on her ears.

“Yes. They should prevent anyone with malicious intent from touching you.” She turned her attention to me. “I’m not sure if they’ll be effective against the dark magic your rejected mate wields, but it’s better than nothing at all. If only dark magic wasn’t so unbalanced, then maybe we’d know what will or won’t work on it.”

“Thank you.” I swallowed thickly.

Jan had quickly become like a mother figure to me, and she didn’t have to do all of this for me—yet she did.

“Don’t forget to come by in a few weeks for your birth control potion,” she reminded me.

She’d been furious after hearing that Grayson had attempted to tamper with my birth control potion so she insisted for me to come to her for the ingredients since I wanted to start brewing it myself. Kian had offered his magic to help make it a potion, and I felt more comfortable knowing everything was safe. Rowan had already paid her a year’s worth for the ingredients.

“I also wanted to tell you that a human stopped by a couple of days ago. It was a woman. She didn’t seem malicious. First time I’ve ever seen a human without murderous intent, honestly. Not sure how she didn’t get herself killed, though. It’s not like she can hide what she is.” She took a deep breath. “She asked for magical medicines for a shifter. Said she’d rescued him from a human facility, and he was badly injured. The pharmacy wouldn’t help her, so I mixed some medicines from my stock here and sent her on her way. She was extremely grateful.”

Trixie and I furrowed our brows and shared a look.

If the human was telling the truth, that would be great. I’d never heard of a human doing anything that good, though, and I was too cautious to think the best of the situation.

Humans were never to be trusted as far as I was concerned.