I pondered that as we watched several large, black raven shifters putting up Monsterval banners that spanned across Nightshade Avenue. The festival wasn’t until the end of next month, but the preparations were starting early.
“Are those bird-whisperers?” Daphne asked as we walked under one of the signs.
She looked especially beautiful tonight—brown eyes sparkling as she took in all the sights, cheeks slightly flushed, a tiny smile on her lips. My inner wolf filled with pride that my outing was bringing her obvious joy.
“Who?” I wrenched my gaze away and glanced past her. “The city workers?” She nodded, and I shook my head. “The ravens are actually bird-shifters, and the ones directing them are, well, human.”
“Are there any animals thataren’tshifters?”
I thought about it for a moment. “I was about to say reptiles, but there are a few. Dragons being one of them. There’s a small clan of gator-shifters down in the Louisiana bayous. But they mostly keep to themselves.”
She chewed on her lower lip making me want to bite it. “Dragons I can handle, but alligators? Ugh. I mean, I’m sure they’re friendly enough?—”
“No, they’re not,” I interjected, not wanting her to have any misconceptions. Darkaway Island may be cozy and safe for the most part, but the rest of the world was not. “The gator clan made it onto the CNN last year when?—”
“CNN? Are you serious?” Her eyes went wide and she gripped my forearm.
Anticipating that she was going to poke me in the ribs again, I clamped my hand over hers. “TheCreature News Network.”
“Oh,” she said. “I missed that you saidthe.”
I relaxed my hold on her and she intertwined her fingers with mine, the sudden intimacy making my cock swell.
“Articles of speech may be tiny, but they’re mighty.” She snorted at my grammar joke, and I continued my story. “A group of gator-shifters pulled several fishermen off a riverboat in broad daylight and ate them. From what I understand, it was fairly gruesome. The Patrol had a terrible time covering up that one.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Sorry for all the questions but the…Patrol?”
“Monster Patrol. The MP. Supernatural fixers who help keep our existence secret from humans when a paranormal creature goes rogue in the human world. And I love all your questions.” Truth was, I loved the curiosity she had for my world and I enjoyed giving her the answers. Maybe if things made more sense to her, she could picture herself staying in it—with me.
She raised her brows. “Like the Ministry of Magic? Or the Volturi?”
I laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”
We stopped in front of a shop, and I told the camera crew they had to wait outside. They tried to argue, saying my sister gave them strict instructions to follow us everywhere, but I pointed to a sign in the window that saidNo Cameras Allowed, and they relented.
I opened the door for Daphne and followed her inside.
Cozy banquets lined the walls studded with wine bottles and dimly lit display cases, while thin fabric hung in swoops from the ceiling. On a dais at the far end, my friend Cassie was hunched over a lighted work table, a jeweler’s loupe in one hand and a pair of tweezers in the other. Several couples were sipping wine and casually watching her, like sushi eaters watching the sushi chef.
“Where are we?” Daphne slowly spun a 360, taking ineverything. “I didn’t see what the sign said. I mean, I can tell they sell wine but it smells like donuts in here.”
“This is Baubles and Barrels, a wine shop that sells magical handcrafted jewelry. They host wine tasting and jewelry-making events that are very popular with the tourists.”
Cassie evidently heard us and looked up. She set down her project, stepped off the dais and hurried toward us, but then she stopped, patted her apron pocket and returned to her worktable.
I lowered my voice. “Don’t mention to her that it smells like donuts.”
Daphne frowned. “Why not?”
“Trust me.” I pressed my lips together. “It’s a sensitive topic.”
Cassie grabbed something from a drawer and came back, introducing herself warmly to Daphne. “Portia’s told me all about you.”
“You’re her friend from the coven who made these, right?” Daphne jangled her bracelet and returned the smile. “I just adore her, but did she tell you what a hot mess I am?”
Cassie laughed. “She said you’re lovely and has enjoyed doing your hair and makeup for the contest. Hey, Trav.”
“Thanks for putting up that sign.” I jutted my chin at the door. Normally, the B&B had no such policy.
