Page 31 of Enchanting the Alpha (Mystic Hollow #1)
THIRTY-ONE
N ear closing time at the café, the warm glow of enchanted lanterns cast dancing shadows across the scattered papers covering Romi’s table. A few patrons had stopped by for late coffee, but they no longer needed anything from the kitchen.
In their own booth, Xabir sat close enough to Romi that their thighs pressed together, one arm draped casually around her waist as they studied the holographic display of the café’s layout for game night. Her familiar scent of vanilla and coffee wrapped around him, making his alpha instincts purr with contentment.
Romi leaned into his embrace as she pointed to a corner of the paper, her coffee cup tattoo shimmering. “What about setting up magical puzzle stations here? We could have teams of witches and shifters work together to solve them.”
“Good idea.” Xabir pressed a kiss to her temple, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her hip as he marked the spot with his free hand. The casual intimacy between them felt as natural as breathing. “We should include physical challenges too. Give the shifters a chance to showcase their strengths.”
“Like what?” Romi turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with familiar mischief as she settled more comfortably against his chest. “Seeing who can catch the most enchanted mice? Because I have to warn you, Whiskers might have an unfair advantage there.”
Her familiar, currently perched on a nearby shelf, puffed an indignant smoke ring that somehow managed to look exactly like Xabir’s raised eyebrow.
Xabir laughed, the sound coming easily now that Romi was a constant in his life. He nipped playfully at her ear, enjoying her small shiver. “I was thinking more along the lines of agility courses or tracking challenges.” His voice dropped to that low rumble she loved. “Though I wouldn’t mind chasing you around the café again. It worked out pretty well last time.”
Heat bloomed across Romi’s cheeks even as she smiled, both of them remembering exactly how their last “chase” had ended – with significantly fewer clothes and significantly more passion. “Careful, Alpha. We’re supposed to be planning family-friendly activities.”
“Mm.” He brushed his lips against the sensitive spot behind her ear. “Later then.”
She turned to kiss him properly, soft and sweet with the promise of more, before reluctantly pulling back.
Xabir kept one arm around her waist as she grabbed her notebook, his alpha instincts content with her close proximity. The way their magic and energy naturally harmonized still amazed him, creating a constant low hum of awareness between them.
A sudden flicker of the enchanted lanterns interrupted their planning. The magical lights dimmed momentarily before brightening again. Xabir’s protective instincts snapped to attention, his body tensing.
“That’s odd,” Romi frowned, glancing up at the lanterns as the customers followed suit. “They shouldn’t do that.”
“Could it be a power surge?” Xabir asked, though his gut told him otherwise. His arms tightened around her instinctively, his alpha energy expanding to shield her.
“No, these are powered by pure magic.” Romi stood to examine the nearest lantern, but Xabir moved with her, keeping her within the protective circle of his embrace. Their newfound intimacy had only heightened his protective instincts. “They’re completely independent of?—”
The lantern suddenly flared blindingly bright before going completely dark. Around the café, other magical items began behaving erratically. A set of self-stirring spoons clattered to the counter. The enchanted menu board scrambled its letters into nonsense.
“Something’s wrong,” one of the customers said, a worried expression on her face. Xabir moved to place himself between Romi and the malfunctioning items, his alpha energy wrapping around her like armor while trying to stabilize the fluctuating magic in the room. “This isn’t natural,” another patron said, rising from their chair.