Page 45 of The Mating Claim

“I suppose you don’t have cell phone bills either,” she shotback.

A brief smile tugged at his mouth, those lips that had felt so warm and firm upon her own. “I willreturn.”

Then the boots vanished and she felt a sudden sense ofemptiness.

Ciara touched her shoulder. “Lacey, will you watch Sonia for a moment? I’m going to order an herbal tea. Tara brews the most refreshing tea. Would you likeanything?”

“Sure, I can watch her and no thanks, I’mfine.”

When the woman walked through the beaded curtain, Lacey picked up one of the blue marbles. Swirling with striations of deep indigo, cobalt and pale blue, the marble was lovely and reminded her of Drust’spower.

“Everything about you is blue, wizard. Wonder if you ever have blue balls,” she muttered to herself, setting it backdown.

I did this morning after you left me, a voice spoke inside herhead.

Startled, she shook her head.Get out of my mind. It’s not polite toeavesdrop.

The voice went silent. She turned her attention to the children, trying to focus on somethingelse.

“Kids, I have to leave soon. But remember what we talked about, okay? Snakes are beautiful and you shouldn’t treat snake shifters any differently. Try to make friends with shifters who are different fromyou.”

“Okay Miss McGuire,” theyechoed.

“Snakey,” Soniaburbled.

“That’s right, Sonia. Snakes arebeautiful.”

The baby clapped her hands and screamed, “Want!”

Suddenly an enormous snake appeared out of nowhere, curled up on the carpet. Not just any snake, but one with a wide, triangle-shaped head, and a dark body made for blending into the undergrowth of a swampyforest.

Sonia pointed and gurgled. “Mysnakey.”

“Oh my stars,” Lacey whispered, understanding slapping her upside the head with fresh insight. “You’re not just a cute baby. You’re a magick baby… a wizard’sbaby!”

Hello, Ciara? Um, now would be a good time to return… your baby is yanking live snakes into myclassroom.

Shrieking, the children backed away from the snake as Sonia laughed and clapped her hands. All the children but Willow, whosmiled.

No laughter came from Lacey. The snake Sonia had conjured was a cottonmouth, usually found in the Florida Everglades. She’d seen one once on an Eco tour and had a healthy respect for the reptile. Most times they shied away from people and weren’taggressive.

But this one had been pulled out of its comfortable living space and plopped into a threatening, unfamiliar environment. The sucker was huge, too, at least 50 incheslong.

Coiling, the snake hissed and opened its mouth, showing its fangs. Not good. So notgood.

“Snakey,” Sonia sang out, standing and toddling toward the reptile. “Hisnakey!”

Thankfully Ciara returned from the shop and saw what was happening. “Sonia, put that snake back in the swamp rightnow.”

The toddler shook her head, making her curls bounce. “No. Snakes arebeautiful.”

Hissing, the water moccasin slid closer to the children, who shrieked and huddled in the corner. Willow’s smile grew wider and she blinked, her pupils growingslitted.

Confused, Lacey backed toward the children in the corner, staring at Willow. Shifter children never showed signs of magick beforepuberty.

With a hiss herself, Willow flicked a finger and the snake ignored Sonia and slithered toward the terrified children. Never had she seen a snake move thatquickly.

Lacey did the only thing she could – she flung herself onto the floor as a barrier between the snake and the children. Hissing, the copperhead drew back and thenlunged.