Page 25 of Ogre on Patrol (Monsters, PI #5)

Chapter 25

Thain

W e climbed into my truck.

Ellie buckled and sank back, staring out the windshield. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, and if I could've figured out a way to smooth out the crease forming between her brows, I’d have done it in a heartbeat.

“Still thinking about that rune on the box?” The engine rumbled to life at my touch, the truck shaking itself awake like an irritated yeti.

“And Elias’s reaction to seeing us there? Yeah, can’t stop replaying it. It wasn’t normal, was it?”

“Nope.” I eased the truck out of the lot and onto the main road. “This makes me wonder why that particular box is so important to him.”

“Too bad we can't come back tonight and find out.”

“Yeah, not doing that.”

“I was kidding. Mostly.” She sighed. “The person who's after me gets to break the law with no repercussions while I'm stuck behaving.”

“I suspect you enjoy misbehaving sometimes.”

“I'm a wild witch, didn't you know that? I sometimes even dance under the equinox moon naked.”

“Alone or with others?”

She smirked. “Wouldn't you like to know?”

“That's why I asked.”

“Alone,” she said softly. “I've danced with the coven, but they like to keep their clothing on. It's freeing to take it all off sometimes. Let go and feel the moonlight on your skin.”

I'd like to watch her some time. Not in a creeper way but to grin as she twirls through the moonbeams and tall grass and flowers. Just Ellie, as free as she should be.

She glanced my way. “Do you think Elias knows about the rune? Maybe he noticed our interest in that particular box, and it holds something important to him but unrelated to my situation.”

“It's possible he knows nothing about the rune itself,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road while my mind replayed the sharp way Elias had grabbed the box, the way he'd hustled it inside the building. In a suit, no less. “He seemed eager to get us away from it. Could be the box holds something valuable, financially or otherwise. Or he's hiding something he knows could make him look bad.”

Ellie tapped the side of the door as she stared out the windshield. “He practically ripped the box up off the ground. ”

“Exactly.” The truck hummed as it rolled along the quiet road, the trees on either side casting long shadows in the fading sunlight. I gave her a sideways glance. “You'd think a guy like Elias, with his pristine operation, would be calmer. But no, he was agitated. Too agitated.”

“I felt it too.” Her gaze flicked to me, her eyes narrowing. “Do you think it could have anything to do with Ophelia? I can't shake the feeling that everything is connected, like this stupid invisible thread is tying it all together. Her lies, the rune, the sabotage. Her boyfriend is Elias.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“They’ve been living together about six months.”

“No matter what, Ophelia definitely has a role in this mess.” I gripped the wheel tighter. “Elias, too, if they’re involved. I'd swear she planted the rune. She was painting rocks that look a lot like the one left inside your greenhouse.”

She lifted her phone. “My grandmother knows runes. I planned to ask her to look at it.”

I nodded and turned onto another road. “While we're out, I think we should visit Misty. Do you happen to know her address?”

“I don't. Let me ask about that as well.” She dialed the number, putting the phone on speaker so I could listen.

Her grandmother picked up. “Hello?”

“Hi, Nana Bea, it's me, Ellie,” she said. “Do you happen to have Misty's address? Thain and I want to stop by and talk to her about something.” She kept her tone light, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.

“Why do you need Misty's address?” her grandmother’s voice came out clipped. Maybe she was busy, and we'd caught her at a bad time.

Ellie frowned, catching the shift in her grandmother’s mood. “Just to ask her a simple question.”

After a pause, Bea gave Ellie the address, and since I recognized the area, I drove in that direction.

“Is that all, dear?” Bea asked, her tone coming out softer.

“I was wondering if you could come by my house and look at a rune. Someone left it in my greenhouse.”

Bea sucked in a breath. “What kind of rune?”

“I'm not sure,” Ellie said. “That's why I'd like you to examine it. They're more your thing than mine.”

“I'm an expert with runes,” Bea said dryly. “Reading them, that is, not crafting.”

“You sure are.” Ellie rolled her eyes my way.

“I can come by tomorrow. You'll be there?”

“Yeah. I work there. Remember?” Ellie said with humor in her voice.

“Right. Tomorrow, about ten?”

“Sure. You should know that—” She blinked down at her phone. “She hung up. My grandmother hung up on me before I could finish. I was going to tell her what you discovered about the rune, but I guess she'll have to hear it tomorrow.”

I pulled into Misty's driveway and shut off the engine, staring through the windshield at the neat ranch style house painted white with black trim. Not much landscaping, just a few overgrown bushes with grass struggling to overtake them on either side of the small front door. A one-car garage on the right with an open door revealing nothing inside but a push mower and a ladder hanging on the wall.

We got out and approached the front door, knocking. Again.

No one answered.

“She doesn't seem to be home,” I said.

“Bummer.”

We climbed back into the truck, and I started it and pulled back onto the road, aiming for Ellie's place.

The trees along the side of the road whipped past, their shadows chasing the truck in the fading sunlight. The scent of the woods, damp and sweet, filtered through the cracked windows.

Ellie stared out hers, her hands resting on her thighs.

The gravel in Ellie’s driveway crunched under my tires as we pulled in, the setting sun painting the scene in shades of gold and rust. I opened the gates and drove through, closing the fence behind us.

A car was parked on the road a bit down from Ellie’s house. Leaping over the fence, I strode that way. The person inside started the vehicle and backed up quickly, spinning it around and squealing the tires as they drove it away.

But I’d already seen who the driver was.

Reginald Barron. What was he doing here?

“What’s up?” Ellie asked as I joined her in the driveway .

I explained.

She nibbled on her lower lip and stared toward where the car had disappeared. “He’s spied on me before.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“I think he likes to intimidate people, me in particular.”

My growl ripped out. “I’m going to speak to him tomorrow.”

She nodded and sighed.

The moment we stepped into Ellie’s house, I felt it again, the sense of warmth that only her space could possess. It wasn’t just a house; it was Ellie. Every corner, every chair, every herb drying below the cabinets told a story about her, about the life she’d built here. It felt like home, and I’d missed being a part of it.

She kicked off her shoes near the door and gestured toward the kitchen. “Alright, chef, what are we making? My pantry isn’t fancy, but it’s functional. Well, mostly.”

“I’m not picky.” I followed her across the small space. “But if you have potatoes, you might remember my famous sautéed spuds.” She'd enjoyed them—back then.

Her eyes sparkled. “Famous? I don’t remember agreeing to that title.”

“I could swear you did,” I said. “Remember, I'm the king of potatoes.”

She laughed, opening a lower cupboard and pulling out a bag of small golden potatoes. “Well, King Spud, here you go. Refresh my memory. I'll bake some chicken breasts in the oven and make a salad to go with them. ”

“Sounds amazing.” I rolled up my sleeves like I was preparing for a culinary battle. Over the next half hour, we fell into an easy rhythm in the kitchen. She chopped greens while I handled the skillet, the smell of butter and garlic mixing with her laughter. Fates, her laugh. I wanted to bottle it, keep it close so I could uncork it and let it free when things got too quiet.

“Careful there,” she teased as I almost dropped the spatula. “Your majesty is looking a little clumsy.”

I shot her a look while still stirring the potatoes. “Spud royalty doesn’t take kindly to such jests, Ellie.”

“Oh, pardon me.” She grinned, tossing a bite of carrot my way.

When it fell, Crouton scooped it up off the floor and raced to the living room, shooting us panicked glances as if he thought we’d take his treasure away.

“Your Highness,” Ellie said, “might I suggest you also figure out what to do with those mushrooms before they start a rebellion?”

“They're part of my special recipe,” I said solemnly, though my lips twitched. “No mushroom shall overthrow my rule tonight.”

By the time the potatoes were roasted and crispy, a salad assembled on the side, and the chicken golden brown, we took our loaded plates out to the backyard. She led the way, balancing a couple of glasses of iced tea while I carried the plates.

The picnic table, weathered but in great shape, sat beneath an enormous oak tree. The light from her porch cast a soft glow over the yard, and crickets chirped like they were having a party in the tall grass near the woods.

We sat across from each other, the evening settling around us like a cozy blanket. Ellie’s face, caught in the light, mesmerized me. She took a bite of my special dish and let out a hum of approval.

“Okay.” She pointed her fork at me. “The potatoes might be as good as I remember. I’ll give you that. But royalty status? Let’s not get carried away.”

I acted offended, my hand flying to my chest. “Blasphemy, I say. Should we settle this in a duel? I could whip up a potato salad tomorrow, and then you'll be forced to kneel and declare me King Spud in front of your coven.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I’d like to see you try. My coven isn’t easily wooed, even by good potatoes.”

“ Excellent potatoes.”

“Alright.” She grinned and toasted me with her iced tea glass. “They're excellent.”

“I knew you'd agree.”

“What did you use with the chicken?” I shoved a big bite into my mouth and groaned as I chewed.

Her smile softened, and that sparkle I remembered from way back then shone in her eyes. If only she'd look at me like that all the time. “Just a little fresh thyme. Sage. I grow them in my greenhouse.”

I pretended to look crushed. “No secret witchy spices? You can share. I thought we were reconnecting here, Ellie.”

She hesitated, poking at her salad, and her teasing morphed into something more genuine. “We are reconnecting, Thain.” Her voice dropped, and she waved her fork between us. “You and me. Making and then sitting and enjoying a nice meal. Fun conversation. I didn’t realize how much I missed this.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and met her gaze. “Me too, Ellie. More than you know.”

She held my stare, and for a moment, the air was heavy, warm, and electric, charged with things we weren’t ready to say out loud. Then she looked away, laughing softly, breaking the tension but not the connection. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and changed the conversation to something lighter.

After we finished eating, we took our plates inside. After the dishes were done and put away, she hurried to her bedroom and brought out a couple of pillows and a blanket. “I thought we could stay out longer. Lie in the grass if you'd like. The stars are gorgeous tonight.”

“I'd love that, Ellie. Very much.” Could she hear the croak in my voice?

I helped her spread the blanket out on the soft grass, the delicate scent of lavender from her garden drifting through the air. The stars stretched endlessly above us, a canopy of glitter that gave the illusion they could tumble down at any moment. She lay down, arms stretched out, her light brown hair splaying on the fabric. My heart ached at the sight of her, looking like the Ellie I'd first fallen in love with.

I settled beside her, our sides brushing, watching the stars twinkle overhead. The air was still warm, though it held a crisp tang of fall. It would get cold soon, and we wouldn't be able to lay outside like this much longer.

“You’re awfully quiet, Thain.” Ellie turned her head toward me, one brow quirked up, her lips curving in a smile. “Too dazzled by the stars?”

“Maybe.” I grinned and turned onto my side to face her, propping myself up on one elbow. “Or maybe I’m just trying to figure out how to steal the sky.”

“Why steal it?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“To give it to you,” I said. Astonishment flashed in her eyes. “The whole sky. Every star, every thread of light. It’d be yours.”

She blinked.

“I'm serious. This is a promise I want to keep.”

“You can't do something like that.”

“Try me.”

She tilted her head, her hair brushing against my arm. “What would I do with the sky?”

“Anything you wanted. Twirl it around your finger, wear it like a cloak, or hang it above your greenhouse so every seed you plant grows beneath the starlight.” My voice dropped, going husky. She shifted closer, her body a whisper against mine. “It suits you, you know. Glittering and impossible to ignore.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I don't know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I kept my eyes locked on hers. The soft curve of her smile had me leaning closer without even realizing it, drawn like gravity wasn’t only a rule but a command when it came to this woman alone. “It’s the truth. ”

Her smile faded, her lips parting as she studied me. The teasing faded too, replaced by something deeper, a quiet feeling that made the night air feel full of promise.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she whispered.

“Like what?”

“Like you?—”

“Want to eat you up? I'm a mighty ogre, but the way I want to eat you, sweet one, is not like ogres of old.”

Her breath caught, her chest stilling. She didn’t pull away, though. Her eyes searched mine, and what I saw in hers made my pulse hammer against my ribs.

“Thain,” she breathed. The way she said my name made me want to hear it again and again.

She bit her lip, and I could have sworn the stars dimmed. Slowly, I reached out and tucked that stray strand of her hair behind her ear again, brushing the softness of her skin.

She rested her hand on my chest, her touch sparking my bones to life. All the longing I’d tried to keep buried these past years surged to the surface, too strong to shove back down.

Her eyes flickered shut for a moment, and when they reopened, the stars reflected in them couldn’t compare to the brilliance shining back at me.

Her hand tightened against my chest, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in, closing the small space between us. My lips found hers, and the world slowed to the rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.

She melted into me, her body curving into the stretch of my arm as if it belonged there. Her hand slid up my chest to curl behind my neck, her fingers threading through my hair. The kiss deepened, a blend of hunger and tenderness, years of missed chances pouring out with every tilt of our heads, every shared breath.

I shifted, unable to stay still, the need to feel closer to her overwhelming me. I rolled her onto her back, still kissing her, and her grip on my hair tightened.

I pressed into her, tasting her like a male starved. My hands roamed, my palms sliding over her sides and my fingers brushing the curve of her waist. I wanted to relearn what I’d lost, reclaim what I’d missed. She arched into me, her breath ragged as my hands found the dip of her hips and pulled her closer, until there wasn’t any space between us.

Her fingers slid down my neck, her nails grazing my skin in a way that sent shivers across my soul. A low growl escaped my throat, and she smiled against my lips.

“Thain,” she whispered, a plea, one that shattered the last wall of restraint I had left.

I scattered kisses along her jawline and down the curve of her neck. She quivered beneath me, her body yielding to me in a way that made my chest ache. Every touch, every sound she made, was fueling the fire burning between us.

“I want you,” she said.

“I'm already yours.” Forever. Always. I was more in love with her now than I had been back then, and it felt wonderful and painful, all at the same time.

“I mean in a way we never shared.” Her eyes darkened. “Would you make love to me?”