Starlight Web (Moonshadow Bay #1) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,9
up a dancing demon to illustrate the horrors of war, so I guess the cops had good reason to frown on our protest.” Teran started to laugh, shaking her head. “We really mucked things up that time. That demon did over a thousand dollars of damage to the town square before your mother and I managed to send him back to wherever he came from and your grandparents made us work off the cost of the damages as best as we could.” Teran snorted. “But we sure got reprimanded. Not for using our magic, of course, but for misusing it. Neither one of us knew what the hell we were doing.”
I let out a sigh. “Ellison basically hated anything to do with my magical powers. To him, it was all just too freaky. He tried to cover up the fact that I came from Moonshadow Bay like it was a red light district or something. At first I pushed him on it, and I even tried to include him in the Otherkin community. I took him down to Pike Place Market to meet the shifters who own Leathers R Fun, but he made such an ass of himself that I gave up. The elite arteests apparently don’t like admitting other races or talents exist.” I shook my head. “What the hell was I thinking, staying with him? I feel like I’ve lived in a cocoon for the past eighteen years and I didn’t even know it.”
“You know what they say about frogs and hot water,” Ari said, wrinkling her nose.
“Actually, that’s a fallacy,” I said. “Makes for a good metaphor, but the frogs are smarter than I am. They just hop back out when it gets too hot.”
“You’re smarter than a frog,” Ari said, but I waved her away, laughing.
“Hey, it happened. Gaslighting, the abuse cycle—whether emotional or physical—it can happen to the smartest people. I know that. It’s okay, I’m out of there now.”
“Well, if we’re done, I need to go home, shower, and dress,” Teran said, standing up. Her knees popped and she grimaced. “Sometimes getting older sucks, but I’ll take it over the alternative. Anyway, I have a date tonight, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Date? You’re dating?” I had never once heard my aunt talk about dating. She had never seemed interested in relationships.
She grinned. “Yes, I’m dating, but don’t hold your breath. You aren’t getting an uncle any time soon.”
“Have you ever wanted to get married?” Ari asked.
Teran shook her head. “No, I knew early on I’m not cut out for commitment. I’m set in my ways and I like my independence. But it’s nice to have company now and then, and it helps that he’s very adept in the bedroom.” As I blushed, she waved off my look. “You know perfectly well that all the women in our family are sexual. I have to say, I’m so surprised you stayed with Ellison so long. The man seems so self-absorbed I can’t imagine he’d notice an elephant in the room, let alone pay attention to a clitoris.”
“Well, you have me there,” I said, blushing. “Oh good gods, why did I stay so long? I guess…well, he didn’t hit me, and while he was a jackass, we did have a lot in common.”
“Yes, both Ellison and you loved Ellison. But you’re here now.” After a peck on my cheek, Teran headed to the door. She paused, glancing over her shoulder. “The house has stood empty for too long. You should do some warding.”
Ari started to say something and I knew she was going to tell Teran about the voices, so I jumped in before she could voice anything.
“I will, I promise. See you later!”
As my aunt left, Ari turned to me with an inquisitive look. “Why didn’t you tell her?”
“I don’t want her to worry. She’d cancel her date, drag her bundle of supplies over here and insist on a midnight ritual. Which I really don’t feel like holding right now. I’ll take care of things tomorrow.”
“I see your point, but she might be able to shed some light on the subject. She might even know who the ghost is.” Ari shrugged.
“I don’t even know if it is a ghost,” I said.
“Then let’s hold a séance to find out.” Ari jumped up. “I know where your mother kept her crystal ball and it’s still there. I found it when I was putting away your stuff in the library today.”