Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,68
she’s reached out to Mia and sent her an invite back to the reservation.”
Belle sucked in a breath. “Why would she do that when Mia’s a money-grubbing liar?”
A smile twitched my lips. “Because apparently she didn’t know why Aiden sent her packing.”
“Fucking men,” Belle muttered. “Why do they all have to act so stoic and recalcitrant when it comes to emotions?”
“I’ll kindly ask you to refrain from branding my entire sex by the actions of a few.” Monty walked into the room carrying three flutes of champagne. “Some of us are very open and honest with our emotions.”
“Some are even a little too open.”
Belle’s voice was dry. Monty grinned as he handed us both a glass. “At least you’ll never be left wondering where I stand emotionally.”
“I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing.”
“Hey, you’ve got what most women would die for—a man who is ready and willing to tell you exactly what he’s thinking and feeling.”
She rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to me. She didn’t, I noted wryly, disabuse him of the notion that he was her man. “Do you want me to shuffle through the bitch’s mind and see what I can find?”
“As tempting as that is, no. It’d be pretty pointless right now anyway.”
Especially given none of us—not even Aiden—knew what his reaction to Mia’s arrival would be. If he did do the unexpected—if he decided to hold true to his emotions rather than his duty to his pack, their expectations, and his own desire to one day rule as his father does—then maybe we could investigate it further.
I gulped down my drink, but the bubbles caught in my throat and made me burp.
“You want another one?” Monty asked, amused.
I shook my head. “I could go for a thick piece of cake if there’s any left.”
“I’ll go investigate.”
As he plucked the empty glass from my hand and then headed out, I said, “I take it the private ceremony is still ongoing?”
Belle nodded. “While I haven’t actively been scanning, I have caught a few waves of frustration and concern coming from both Aiden and his father. They obviously noticed Karleen had scampered.”
“Noticed, but didn’t stop,” I muttered.
“She’s an alpha, Liz. Alphas do rather than obey.”
“She’s joint alpha, and she didn’t consult with her mate before inviting Mia or challenging me.”
“I hate to be defending the bitch, but even in normal human relationships, that’s quite common.”
“Also true.” I rose and moved back to the fire, once again lifting my dress to warm my butt. Ice still ran through my veins, though the trembling ache of tiredness had at least eased a little.
“How long have you got? Did she say?”
I shook my head. “I think she envisages it being a lovely surprise for Aiden.” I grimaced. “And it may well be, given he still holds a torch for her.”
“He holds a bigger one for you, Lizzie.”
“Yes, but will it be enough? I’m not a wolf, and never will be, no matter—”
I stopped as pain speared through my brain. The source wasn’t tiredness but rather the new threads I’d woven into the magic that protected our café. It seemed tonight’s surprises had not finished with us yet.
I swore. Loudly. “Someone’s just attempted to break into our café. We need to get over there.”
“Mom’s there,” Belle said, frowning. “If there’d been any trouble, she would have contacted me.”
“Unless she’s taken one of her sleeping draughts. She used to take of a lot of them to help her sleep when her migraines hit, if I remember right.”
“Possible. I’ll go grab our coats.”
“Monty?”
“Already on his way back.”
I followed her out the door. She handed me Monty’s coat, and I tugged it on as he strode toward us, a plastic-wrapped piece of cake in one hand. “Figured you might still need it, especially if we are dealing with something other than a stupid thief.”
He handed me the cake, then opened the front door and stepped out onto the veranda. The wind was fierce and cold, tugging at the end of my dress and flinging it sideways, freezing my legs and other exposed bits. I drew the coat tighter across my chest, then shut the door and hurried after the two of them.
Belle, can you reach out to Ashworth and ask him to let Aiden know where we’ve gone?
She immediately did so. You know he’s not going to be happy with us disappearing like this.
Nothing we can do about that, and I’m certainly not waiting around for his grand reappearance.