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“Oh, right. That place is super unsavory. So many dust bunnies under the bed.” I pick up my fork, only to find the place where my pie had been empty.
My head whips toward Haut just as he polishes off the last of the crust.
He grins around his fork. “Fight me.”
“No.” Mel stabs a finger at him, then swings it toward me. “No flirting.”
“Flirting?” Aspen’s gaze bounces between us. “And what was that about a balcony…?”
Tris and I eagerly start to talk at once before Mel raises an imperious hand to stop us. “Don’t even try it. You invited me here for training, and you will be trained.”
“I was doing fine with the training.” Haut scrapes his fork against the empty plate just to taunt me. “Not sure why we need outsiders.”
“Ehhhh.” Tris tilts his hand from side to side.
Haut leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “We got the barrier back up, didn’t we?”
“Life is about more than the barrier.” Tris turns toward him and crosses his own arms. “And we didn’t get her through it. I did, with the help of the brigade, while you were off playing in the woods.”
Ros turns the page on his book, maintaining his focus through the chaos. Must be that special op training he endured while growing up.
“Would you like coffee, Aspen?” Owen interrupts, heading into the kitchen.
“No, thank you. Some tea…” He trails off when I shake my head. “Water?”
“We also have lemonade. Haut knows grandma’s recipe, so it’s good.” I twist in my chair toward Owen. “Can I have coffee?”
“No.”
The denial comes from multiple sources.
I flop back in my chair. “Why does everyone else get coffee except me?”
Tris grips the back of my chair. “Because you’re the only one who acts like a squirrel on speed when you’re hopped up on the bean juice.”
“Please don’t call it bean juice.” Owen returns with a glass of ice water and passes it to Aspen. “Let me make introductions. I’m Owen Hartford, the Mayor of Hartford Cove.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Aspen switches the ice water to his left hand and holds out his right. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I couldn’t see much of the town when I passed through, but it looks lovely.”
Owen straightens with pride and shakes his hand. “Thank you. We take great pride in the home we built here.”
Turning back toward us, he gestures to Haut. “This is Sheriff Haut Greyson.”
Aspen’s brow puckers. “Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but you’re not a witch, are you?”
Haut shakes his head. “Born a wolf shifter and proud of it.”
Aspen’s gaze jumps to me and Tris. “But you were teaching them magic?”
“No, I was teaching Rowe magic. Tris wasn’t a witch at the time.” Haut’s lip curls at my BFF. “He was a mutt.”
“Ah.” Aspen’s gaze sweeps over Tris again. “Is that why you’re wearing the collar? Is it a counter curse?”
“Oh, no, the curse is completely gone.” He flicks the dog tag. “But I belong to Rowe, so I like to keep wearing it.”
Aspen flushes. “I apologize for being so forward. I was out of place to ask about something so personal.”
My head cocks to the side. “It’s not a sex thing.”
