Kissed By A Demon Spy (7 page)

“Two guesses,” Keegan drawled.

Aden scowled at the darkness beyond the window. His cousins. “Leif and Luke.”

“Hey, they’re honest.” Keegan chuckled. “Anything would be better than your cooking.”

“Damn straight. You get no argument from me.”

“All right, Aden. I gotta go and assemble a team to block those fucking snakeheads. Keep in touch.” Keegan ended the call.

“W
ILL
YOU
COME
IN
WITH
me?” Dash held Garnet’s hand tightly as they walked up the path to the school. The one story brick building had windows all around, and Garnet spied colorful construction paper shapes taped to the glass. The fall morning was filled with the happy shouts of children arriving early to play on the playground before the bell rang.

“First, we’ll go to the office together. I’ll fill out some papers, then you’ll get to go to your classroom.”
 
She knew Dash was excited about school—he’d never been to one—but also nervous. She’d worked with him at Stroehm, teaching him his alphabet and numbers when they’d had spare time at night. “I bet you’ll meet some nice friends here.”

“Yeah.” He kicked a pebble, not sounding convinced.

They reached the main doors and Garnet pulled open the heavy glass. Stepping inside, she marveled at how the school smelled exactly the same. Paper, glue, cleaning products, and the lunchroom. Some things never change.

In the office, the secretary was young and cheerful, smiling when Garnet introduced herself and Dash. “Just fill this out.” She handed Garnet a clipboard with several forms.

Garnet and Dash sat down. Dash swung his feet back and forth. Garnet stared down at the form.
Address. Hmm
. She’d have to list it as “Ivydale Inn,” at least for now. In a few minutes she was done.

The secretary got up and rounded her desk. “I’ll show you to your classroom, Dash.”

“Can my mom walk with us?”

“Sure thing.” The woman led them past two rooms with pixie children slightly older than Dash, then stopped at the third door. “Here we are.” She motioned for the teacher to join them.

Garnet knelt to give Dash a hug. “I love you.”

His small arms wound around her neck. “I love you too. But I don’t want to leave you alone.”

Garnet smiled and squeezed him tighter, her heart melting at his words and the sincerity in his voice. It had been her and Dash for six years. Together every single day.

“I’ll be fine, sweetie.” She poured hope and reassurance into her voice.
No child should have to worry over a parent.
She hoped she’d shielded Dash from the worst of it, but kids were perceptive. He knew they hadn’t been in a good place. The wails and shrieks from the prison or the torture room had cemented that fact. Then there were the guards and their coarse language. And Draven himself. She suppressed a shudder.
It’s in the past.
“I’ll be right here in town with the other pixies all day. This is a safe place.”

Dash pulled back a bit. “Are you sure?”

The wary look on his face slayed her. “I’m one hundred percent sure. Everyone here is our friend. You and I will be so happy here.”

Dash flung his arms around Garnet for one more tight hug as his teacher stepped into the hall with them. “Bye, Mom.”

“Bye,
nihjo
.” She kissed his cheek. “Have fun today and listen to your teacher.” She stood and smiled at the woman, an older pixie whose hair was turning salt and pepper.

She watched him walk into the room, her heart full.
My baby’s in school. My old school, in my old hometown.
A tiny spark of worry formed in her mind, wondering if any of the kids would be unkind once they learned of Dash’s background. But she pushed it aside. No sense worrying about something that might not happen, and she was sure that Dash would make friends. Safe, happy, living a quiet, peaceful life. This was what she wanted for him.

Exiting the school she glanced up as the bell rang, pulling her from her thoughts and warming her heart even more. The pointed central tower of the roof housed an ancient brass bell. Its deep, majestic tones sounded exactly the same as when she was a child.

A field stretched out behind the school, while the front faced a park that was close to the edge of town. The scent of earth being worked in the field pulled her, and she found herself itching to get her hands into the fertile ground of Ivydale.

What should I do today?
Maybe visit the orchards, which were closer than the far fields. Just in case she had to come back to school in a hurry. She didn’t expect Dash to have any trouble, but staying close would make her feel better. Garnet headed toward the main street, planning to pop in and say good morning to Pearl first.

“Good morning, dear heart!” the woman greeted her from where she stood behind her counter, refilling glass jars of licorice. “Where’s your little shadow?”

“In school.” Garnet smiled, pride in her words.

“Oh my goodness. You must be so proud.” Pearl beamed. “And a little emotional?”

Garnet chuckled. “Maybe a little.”

“He’ll do just fine. You don’t worry now, hear me?” Finished with the red licorice, Pearl moved on to the black.

“Do any of the growers need an extra hand today?” Garnet asked.

“Oh, well, let me think.” The older pixie set down her box of chewy, sugary ropes. “The apples are a week behind because of the drought we had. The peaches are almost all harvested. The berry fields are bursting, but I know for a fact they’re at full staff.” She tilted her head. “Why don’t you sit back and relax a bit?”

“Okay. That doesn’t sound too bad. But you let me know if anyone needs a hand.” Garnet walked outside and rounded the corner, debating whether to peek into the school’s playground. She didn’t want to hover, but she couldn’t help it. Dash was usually at her side every second, and it felt strange not to have her little
shadow
, as Pearl had called him. She paused next to the store, listening to the happy yells coming from the direction of the school.

“Garnet?”

The deep voice startled her from her thought. She clapped a hand over her chest, turning.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to startle you. Again.”

Aden
. She looked up into his handsome face. Steel gray eyes regarded her with a mix of concern and warmth. Her heart danced in her chest, not slowing down, but now it was due to his presence and not from being surprised. “That’s okay.” She smiled. “I was lost in my thoughts.”

He glanced to Pearl’s shop. “Early morning sugar rush?”

“Oh um, no. Just saying hi.”
He probably wonders why I’m standing here like I’m lost.
“I took Dash to school. It’s his first day.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “He excited?”

“Yes. A bit nervous too.”

“I bet that’s pretty standard. New place and all. Though I have to say, everyone I’ve met here has been incredibly friendly.” Aden folded his arms across his broad chest, stretching the charcoal gray T-shirt in all kinds of places.

Wait
. Garnet’s eyes zeroed in on a nasty cut on his bicep. “What happened to you? That looks awful.” She resisted the urge to step closer and touch his skin to get a better look. The wound was a few inches long, a straight line, surrounded by red puffy skin. Odd. Most predatory demons possessed accelerated healing. They didn’t usually have cuts unless they had come straight from battle.

“Oh that?” Aden scowled at it. “Just a scrape. I was checking some loose shingles on the roof early this morning. Lost my balance.”

Lost his balance? That was odd, too.
Maybe he’s just clumsy
. Wariness tugged at her consciousness, but she had no reason to doubt him. She barely knew him. “Maybe you should cover it, at least.”

He shook his head. “Nah. It needs air. So,” he shoved a hand into his jeans pocket, “what are you up to?”

“I offered to help the growers, but Pearl says they’ve all got it handled, at least for this week.”
Don’t babble!
Garnet took a breath and the motion swelled her breasts, making her remember her hand was still at her chest. She fiddled with a loose strand of her hair instead. “So, do you have family around here?”

He gave a chin lift over her head. “Yeah, two of my cousins are at Old Ben’s place today.”

“Old Ben?” The name stirred a potful of memories, all happy ones. “If he grows as many apples as I remember, they’ll be busy all week.” Garnet smiled at the images in her mind, of picking and eating apples at the town’s biggest orchard.

“That’d be a good thing. Those two attract trouble.” His eyes twinkled, like white sparks on forged steel.

So handsome.
“Trouble?” she half murmured, half spoke. She should look away from his eyes, but her next option was his massive chest. She didn’t want to look lower. Well, she did, but she wouldn’t. Shoulders, those were safe, right?

“The good kind. Pranks and stuff. Speaking of Ben,” Aden rocked back on his heels. “I have some of his famous cider. Chilled.”

Cider
. Her taste buds practically stood up and cheered. She hadn’t tasted any since she’d been taken away, and Ben’s was the best. “That sounds amazing.”

“I aim for amazing.” He winked. “This way.”

Oh my gods.
Butterflies zoomed around her stomach and her cheeks heated.
No one had flirted with her, ever. Drant and Draven had commanded her. She and Dash’s father had been an arrangement. She had no idea what a normal relationship was like.
What am I thinking? No normal guy would want me.

This isn’t a relationship, this is cider, silly.

Aden
turned toward the inn, tossing her a look that said he expected her to join him. And she was totally on board with that idea. She fell in step beside him, noting his slowed strides for her benefit. He was so tall, long legs eating up the ground. She barely reached his shoulder. “Do you have time? I don’t want to keep you from anything.”

“Garnet, I have as much time as I want.”

The way he rumbled her name sent a shiver all the way to her toes. “Oh.” With his hands shoved into his pockets, he looked like he didn’t have a worry in the world. “Still, you probably have a lot to keep you busy at the inn.”

He arched a single eyebrow. “I make my own schedule, sugar.”

The nickname skidded her to a halt. This was surreal. She gulped air, not sure why. She was flattered, scared and overwhelmed.
By a nickname?

“You okay?” He turned, reaching one hand out as if to steady her, and muscles rippled up his arms.

Good gods. What is wrong with me?
“No, I’m fine. Maybe just thirsty.”

“That’s an easy fix. Up you go.” They had reached the stairs at the front of the inn. He placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her up to the wraparound porch, where he ushered her to a cushioned wicker chair. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

She complied, and when the screen door closed with a
thunk
, she allowed her shoulders to sag. Conflicting images bombarded her mind. So many things were the same in Ivydale, yet the presence of Aden and his inn hinted at more differences than she could imagine. She drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly, forcing her heart to stop its samba. One thing at a time.

She could talk to Aden. They were just talking. She lived in Ivydale now too. May as well get to know him.
Then I can find out if he really is clumsy.
If she could get her heart to stop doing backflips when he smiled at her.

Heavy footfalls signaled his return and the springs of the screen door stretched as it opened, the metallic sound echoing in the quiet morning. Aden set two empty glasses and a pitcher of cider on a side table next to her. Filling both the glasses, he took the chair opposite her.

She took a sip, and when the sweet gold liquid hit her tongue, she closed her eyes. “Mmm.” She took another drink, a gulp this time. “This is heaven. I’m so happy Ben still makes this. I had forgotten just how good it is.”

She opened her eyes to find Aden staring at her as if she were the cider and he was lost in a desert. Despite her drink, her throat went dry and she couldn’t look anywhere else. Eyes of steel gray riveted her, coaxing her to let down her guard.

*

“Um…”
 
Garnet’s hand fluttered nervously at the neckline of her tank top. God help him, he’d been trying to avoid staring at her breasts, but her hand was like a beacon tracing the low V of her blue tank top. Her breasts, big for her petite frame, had been covered up yesterday. Even that little top she’d worn in the kitchen last night hadn’t showcased them like this.

But today…hell if he could look away. Creamy flesh below delicate collarbones. Shoulders caressed by wavy locks. She wore khaki pants that clung perfectly to her slim hips. Her dark hair hung loosely around her face, which was as pale as her bare arms. Shit, of course they would be, since the sun barely shone at Stroehm.

How much would she tell him? “So you’ve had this cider before?”

She swallowed but didn’t look away. Good. Her eyes were too damn beautiful to look away from. Dark brown with flecks of gold too tiny to be discerned in his scrying bowl, but now in the sunlight, enchanting.

Her hand left her neckline to twine into her hair. “I lived here a long time ago.”

“You mentioned that yesterday.”

Her eyes dropped and she shook her head slightly, then took a breath. Like she was debating with herself on what her next words should be. She heaved a sigh and looked back up. “I may as well tell you.”

He watched a shadow flicker over her delicate cheekbones and already hated her imminent words.

“When I was fifteen I was kidnapped and taken to Stroehm. Drant’s men were out on one of their patrols. I was alone that day, in the orchard.”

“Drant?” Aden frowned as he did the math. “He was killed over a century ago.”

“Yes.” She released a shaky breath

No
. The facts screamed like a garish sign, one he wanted to smash into pieces. Torn between not wanting to push her, but needing answers, his words tumbled out. “So…You were taken there…how long ago?”