father.
“And you still haven’t made it public that you’re his son.” Marty took a huge bite of a blueberry muffin, and crumbs peppered the fur on his face.
Donovan took his coffee from the holder and sipped the bitter, hot liquid. Alice had made her disdain for his family quite clear on their date. He felt guilt, and maybe a little shame, for not telling her who he was, but he couldn’t bear to have her dismiss him for a lineage he’d prefer not to claim.
“I will tell her when the time is right.”
“When will that be?” He took another bite, his little cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk as he chewed.
“Perhaps when I restore the creek and save the town.”
Marty laughed, spewing crumbs across the table. Donovan narrowed his eyes at his familiar and waited for him to finish.
“Oh, you’re serious?” Marty climbed up his arm and perched on his shoulder. “C’mon, boss, don’t let a woman make you lose focus. We came here to unlock your magic, and then we’re going home. That’s the plan.”
“Plans change.” He plucked the mongoose from his shoulder and returned him to the table. “This town is dying, and I can save it.”
“How? You’re here. You’ve swam in the creek every night since we arrived, and it hasn’t made any difference.”
“Tonight is the full moon. Perhaps my presence on its night of restoration will do the trick.”
“Or maybe the creek needs someone who can cast a spell to fix it.”
“If my presence tonight doesn’t heal it, I will scour the web for an artifact with the power—”
“You could call one of your brothers.”
Donovan’s teeth clenched with an audible click. “That would be a last resort.”
At best, Matthias would laugh and remind him what an incompetent embarrassment he was to the family before refusing to help. Donovan’s ears burned at the mere thought of the conversation. Griffin might be willing to offer assistance…if Donovan could locate him. But he wasn’t sure he could bear the shame.
“You’re going to save the town, get the girl, and then unlock your magic?” Marty licked his paws and wiped his face.
“That’s the plan.”
The mongoose nodded. “Okay. What can I do to help?”
Donovan glanced across the street, where Alice stood inside her gallery, turning the Closed sign over to read Open. “Get in the satchel and try not to stink up their store.”
Alice grinned as she positioned the vase overflowing with flowers on the counter next to the cash register. Donovan surprised her yesterday, having the fragrant bouquet of roses, lilies, and chrysanthemums delivered to her right after lunch. Of course, she’d have preferred to see the warlock himself rather than a delivery driver, but he’d get no complaints from her. She couldn’t remember the last time a man sent her flowers.
“Are you gonna carry that thing around with you everywhere until it dies?” Megan leaned on the counter to sniff a lily.
“I thought it looked nice on the counter yesterday, so I brought it down this morning. The apartment and the store hardly qualify as everywhere.” And she got giddy every time she looked at it, which was an emotion she’d like to get used to.
“It is pretty,” Megan said. “That vase looks like real crystal. It probably cost more than we make here in a week.”
“Maybe.” She ran her finger over the cut glass.
“Alice has a boyfriend,” Megan sang.
“Until he goes back to New York.” Alice crossed her arms. She shouldn’t allow herself to fall for a man who lived thousands of miles away. Long-distance relationships rarely worked, and she’d sooner apply lipstick to an ornery alligator than leave her home and move into a crowded city.
“Did he say how long he’s planning to stay?”
“No. I didn’t want to ply him with too many questions. He seems guarded. Kept steering the conversation back to me and the town, and of course, I ate it up.”
“Who wouldn’t? I’m surprised you didn’t eat him up.”
“Believe me, I wanted to.” She tugged the amulet from her pocket. “He didn’t mention this when I asked him what he’d lost.”
“Did he tell you what he was missing?”
“He called it a trinket that wasn’t important and then changed the subject.”
Megan shrugged. “Sounds like you’re in the clear then. His trash is your treasure.”
“I guess so.” At the sound of bells chiming, Alice turned toward the door, and Donovan stepped into the store. He carried a tray of drinks in his hands, and his mongoose poked his head from the bag.
“Speak of the devil,” Alice