Page 59 of The Mating Claim

When Danica came from behind the counter, Lacey thrust the leash at her. Finally managed to find hervoice.

“Food’s in the back room cabinet of my shop, bowls, everything.” She fumbled in her pocket and placed a key on the counter. “Help yourself to whatever you need in theshop.”

Then she crouched down as Lucky’s tail beat the air. Lacey wrapped her arms around her dog. “I’m so sorry, buddy. I wish it could have been better. You’ll be okay here. They’re good people. Loveyou.”

I’m going to miss you so much. Tears blurred her vision. Better make this quick, or she’d change her mind. Take the dog and run, and Lucky didn’t stand a chance on theroad.

Standing, she sniffed and took the tissue Danica handed her. Lacey wiped her eyes and made the mistake of looking down, seeing Lucky’s pleading look.Don’t leaveme.

More tears poured from her eyes. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes again. “Gottago.”

“Wait.” Danica gestured to the tea rack. “Let me fix you a cup of herbal tea first, honey. Fill you with goodenergy.”

“Where I’m going, they don’t drinktea.”

She did not look back as she closed the door behind her. But Lacey’s frantic, confused barking as he pleaded with her not to go, followed her all the way down thestreet.

Chapter 13

The emergency meetingwith his fellow wizards and the goddess Danu had delivered grim news. Danu informed them that the reason they could not vanquish the demon because that demon had gained power from the residual magick Lacey hadunleashed.

Worse, before Willow had died, she’d probably set out evil totems around the area to attract otherdemons.

He angled on the wind, his dragon wings riding the air currents as he soared high above Lacey’s shop, looking for the traces of dark magick as Danu advised. Riding on his back, Tristan pointedbelow.

Drop down to 500 feet, Tristan spoke in hismind.

When he did, it became like a neon sign flashing at them. In the alley behind Lacey’s store pulsed with red and black colors. The stench of death and raw sewage hit him like a hammer, and he coughed, trying not togag.

“Smells worse than X’s socks,” Tristanshouted.

Drust grunted inagreement.

“I’ll ward the perimeter to keep Skins away. We don’t need humans becoming innocentvictims.”

Beams of silver light shot down on a two-block stretch below, sinking into the ground and then shooting upward in an invisible wall. Skins hurried from the shops within that wall and either climbed into their vehicles or scurriedaway.

They would not return. A strange compulsion would fill them to avoid any contact with thearea.

“Land on thestreet.”

Drust did, stretching out his enormous wings. Tristan climbed off his back. His friend dusted off his hands. “I’ll have Gideon and Alia ward this area with magick to protect the shops and the Others within. We can’t risk any more demons attempting to enter into the mortal realm through Lacey’sshop.”

The Crimson Wizard, Gideon, and his mate had the most powerful magick among them. If anyone could prohibit demon attacks, it was the Faecouple.

Sympathy shone in Tristan’s eyes as Drust resumed his human form. “I wish we had better news for you, myfriend.”

He refused to believe the only answer was the one the goddess had delivered. To destroy the book, he must lose Lacey. “There are always alternatives. I will not killher.”

“Caderyn created the Book of Shadows, and the companion book, so yes, there may be a way to avoid herdeath.”

Blinking he stared at his friend. “You know about the book’screator?”

Tristan sighed. “We all found out recently, but we have kept that knowledge from Caderyn. He is filled with pride and knowing we know this would be detrimental to hisspirit.”

Not a wise idea, especially when they needed the Shadow Wizard the most right now. “I will never say a word. However, I do advise that Caderyn work with the witches in the coffee shop. They can aid us in protecting this area, and forecasting any futureattacks.”

“Good call.” Tristan’s dark eyes glinted. “Be vigilant, my friend. Do not see everything in only black and white. The gray areas are often where your heartresides.”