Chapter 34

Alex was manning the tickets table now, chatting and joking with a young man while a few other people had gathered close, waiting for the next tour to start.

Onthe opposite side of the gate, Natalia was currently offering hot cocoa for five bucks. More than half the waiting people were warming their hands with a paper cup of the steaming chocolate beverage.

Iwas impressed. I should’ve thought of that.

“Hey, boss,” Alex called out, waving us over. The guy he’d been talking to moved to Natalia’s station to fork over some money. Had we been gone that long? How had she set this up so fast?

Fluffybounced to Alex’s side, bee wings flapping happily on her back.

“Hey fluffbutt.” He reached down to pat her. “How have you been?” Giving me a measuring glance, he added, “Hutton told us about what happened. You okay?”

“Yeah. Where’sShane?”

“OnGarreth duty.”

Ichecked the small crowd. “Ian?”

“Haven’t seen him yet, sorry.”

“Hutton?”

“Trying to fix the broken light.”

Istifled a laugh. “Really?”

“Yeah. Allen almost got electrocuted trying to fix it, so alpha man is giving it a try.”

Itwas tempting to go take a video.

Oneof the groups returned from the tour, a glowing Key in front. She thanked everyone, reminded them to check my shop—aww—and waved them goodbye. Noticing me, she came over, a huge grin splitting her cheeks.

“Hope!”

Hergrin was contagious. “Having fun?”

“It’s been wonderful.”

“You’ve been wonderful,” Alex added with a wink.

Istudied her reaction closely, but she didn’t blush or act like the compliment affected in any way deeper than as a friend. MaybeIan had gotten lucky and there was no love triangle to be found here.

“Thanks, Alex,” she said, then fanned her face. “I’m parched.”

Alexdug into the cooler and handed her a water bottle.

Iwaited until she took a few good gulps before pulling her away from the waiting people.

“I don’t know if they told you, but we found the dark witch in the cemetery.”

“I guessed when I saw that wolf at the mausoleum.” She shivered. “Was that Ian?”

“Yep.” I recounted my confrontation with Hannah, then told her about Bagley’s new home and bringing in OfficerBrooks to deal with Crane’s murder and its perpetrator.

“I’m sorry,” Key said with understanding. “Must’ve been tough finding out Hannah betrayed you.”

Ishrugged. “Been there, done that. You were there,” I added with a pointed look.

Keyblushed. “Sorry about that.”

“I’m kidding. But speaking about that…” I presented Key with her grandma’s spellbook, which I had put inside one of Bosko’s garish cloth tote bags. Fighting evil one hand-me-down at a time.

“What’s this?” She took it and peeked inside.

“Your grandma’s spellbook.”

Hermouth formed a silent “o.” “You’re giving it back? I thought you were going to destroy it.”

Ishook my head. “That’s for you to decide.”

“But the spells…”

“You’re a grown woman. I trust you not to give them away or try dark magic yourself.”

Keygave me a tight hug. “Thank you.”

“That’s not all,” I continued when she stepped back.

“It’s not?”

“I have the name of the earth mage who helped Hannah.”

Key’sexpression filled with an excitement that soon turned into wariness. “You do?”

“I know you’ve thought it might be your brother.”

Shepressed her lips firmly, a gleam of defiance entering her eyes.

Iheld up a hand. “I’m not going to tell you what to do with the information. You’re an adult, right?”

“Right,” she answered slowly.

“I hope you won’t run headlong into danger, but it’s your decision.”

Besides, I was one to talk.

“Okay.”

Igave her Slater’s name, and she mulled it over for a few moments. “I don’t recognize it.”

“It’s probably an alias.”

“I’ll ask Shane to help me look him up.”

“You should ask Ian too,” I said dryly.

Keyshifted uneasily. “Maybe.”

Ipulled her back toward the entrance. “But that’s something for another day. For now, let’s see how well you do the tour tonight.”

Herface lit up. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

AsKey ran to Alex to ask him to keep the piece of priceless family history somewhere between the old folding tab, tip jar, and the cooler on the ground, my phone rang.

Tomy utter delight, it was Ian.

“Ian?” I said, feeling suddenly like fireworks were about to explode all around me. “Are you with Brooks still? I’m back at the cemetery.”

“Yes, I’m with Brooks,” he answered, a terse note in his voice.

Oh, no. “What happened?”

“Nothing bad,” he assured me, but the serious edge didn’t disappear from his tone. “OfficerBrooks decided to involve the bounty hunters rather than the rest of the force.”

Aswe had suspected from the start—paranormal victim, paranormal perpetrator, paranormal motive. Ian would’ve told BrooksHannah had done it to collect blood for dark magic use. “And?”

“I’m the local bounty hunter, so I need to take Hannah to the guild.”

“Okay.” Why was he so serious about it? The implications suddenly hit me, and I inhaled sharply. “Oh, like right now? You need to take her in right now?”

“Afraid so.”

Awave of disappointment all but crushed me. I wanted to be in Ian’s arms again, feel his strength, his heat, his muscles under my fingertips, the intense stare of his beautiful green eyes. I swallowed valiantly, trying to infuse some sunshine into my voice. “How long will it take?”

“A day or two.”

Aday or two!

Patience, Hope. Let that butter brown and that delicious cheese melt.

“Okay. I can wait a day or two.”

Ianchuckled. “Speak for yourself.”

Mycheeks heated. “Will you stop by before leaving?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t. Brooks sedated Hannah to stop her from using her magic, so the sooner I get her to the guild, the better.”

Thatmeant… “You’re on your way already?”

“I’m sorry, Hope.” And the truth I heard in his voice did a ton to bring my heart out of its sulking in my chest.

“I know. But soon.”

“Soon,” he agreed. “Have fun for me? EnjoyHalloween with the kids.”

“Oh, I will. The tales of IanCavalier playing the best Garreth the Hound ever will reach far and wide.”

“Hope,” he warned.

“What’s that? I’m sorry, if only you were here to stop the rumors…”

Witha low growl, he ended the call. Grinning, I returned to the others and gave them the news. WhenBrimstone returned from giving his tour, we all gathered to do an extra, extra, special one, daring everyone to make up the wildest tales.

Somewherealong the way, Shane and Rufus joined us and, as we passed the cursed mausoleum, we heard a loud clink and the spotlight turned on again, showing Hutton in all his flannel shirt glory fisting the air in a sign of triumph.

“And that’s how,” Alex shouted gleefully, “the lumberjack finished burying all his thirteen victims…just for them to appear in his hunting lodge again!”

Huttonpointed at him and shouted back, “AlexanderShaw, another word and I’ll end you!”

Laughterfilled the air. A few stops later, Natalia made her appearance as Garreth, strutting under our cheers and applause. Feeling ignored, Fluffy ran up to her and copied her howls at the moon, melting about everyone’s hearts except for Rufus, who also joined in with the howls.

Wefinished the night with pizza, drinks, and the spookiest stories we could think of.

Ifonly Ian were here to share.

Mychest hurt at the thought, and I cursed myself for being so scared of the whole mate thing. Ever since I’d met him, I hadn’t wanted anyone else, so what did I care if the word meant for now or forever? Forever was good. Forever was carrying him in my heart and my head—in a totally non-creepy way, of course—for as long as I wished. And wasn’t that wonderful?

Nowhe needed to hurry back so I could say it to his face. Many times. With many kisses.

Oneor two days—a perfectly achievable wait. What could go wrong in that short of a time?

Andas you’re probably guessing, it wasn’t only one or two days, and I really should’ve known better than to tempt fate.

Thank you for reading! How did Hope tempt fate?