AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Camille crossed to the bulletin board where we kept notes and messages and removed a creamy-colored envelope from the pushpin that had been holding it there. She handed it to me. I opened the flap and slid out the thick, textured paper. Beautiful work, I thought. The paper had to be handmade. As I opened the invitation, a rich calligraphy announced:
Mr. & Mrs. Simon and Virginia Winthrop cordially request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their son, Timothy Vincent Winthrop, to Jason Alfonso Binds, son of Mrs. Petti-Anne Binds.
We would love for you to join us at Woodbriar Park on the 19th day of June at 9:30 P.M., as Timothy and Jason pledge their lasting love and commitment under the stars. The Reverend Monica Trent, a pastor from the United Worlds Church, will be presiding. Reception and late-night buffet in the park to follow.
Attire: Semiformal
Gifts: In lieu of gifts, the couple is asking that you make donations to the Harvest of Gold Food Bank.
A handwritten note had been included, indicating that the invitation extended to Camille’s husbands, Chase, and guests, should Iris and I choose to attend with dates.
“Are we all going? What about Iris?” I smiled softly. Tim and Jason had been together for several years. They had a solid relationship, and it was nice to see them formalizing it. A part of me loved the ritual and pageantry of weddings.
“Of course we’re going. I asked Roz to watch Maggie that night, and he agreed.” Camille grinned at her.
I blinked. “Roz? Rozurial is back?”
An incubus, Rozurial had been helping us for some time against the demon menace. He was a mercenary, a bounty hunter, totally unethical when it came to women, and just about as gorgeous as you could ever hope to want in a man. He was also a good friend. We’d made out a little, but I hadn’t let it go any further than that. So far. About three weeks back, Queen Asteria had called Roz back to Elqaneve—the elfin city—for some brief mission she wanted him to complete.
“Yeah. He showed up last night.” Delilah frowned.
My mood lightened, and I realized just how much I’d missed Roz’s irreverent nature. The phone rang, and I reached for the receiver. “Probably Tim,” I said. But it wasn’t. It was Chase. “Listen, I have some news about the Clockwork Club and Claudette. But I imagine you called to talk to Delilah?”
“No. Put me on speaker, please.” He let out a long sigh, and I knew that whatever the news was, it wasn’t good.
I punched the speaker button and replaced the receiver. “Go ahead.”
“I need the three of you to get over here right now. We’ve got a problem.” He sounded unusually tense.
“What’s wrong?” Delilah asked, a look of concern washing over her.
“I’ve got two dead bodies with no possible reason why they should be dead. But they are. Both of them are Fae—one’s from OW, one is Earthside-born.” He coughed. “Can you be here in half an hour?”
I glanced at Delilah and Camille, who both nodded. “We’ll be there,” I said. As I punched the speaker button to hang up, Iris entered the room. My jaw dropped.
Iris had always been pretty, but tonight she’d taken it to a whole new level. Her hair was glowing, woven into a plaited chignon, and a beaded, low-cut halter dress the color of the evening sky showed off her figure. The crowning effect was a sparkling gold and black shawl draped around her shoulders.
“Oh my gods, you look stunning!” Camille stared at her. “Bruce is going to be panting in his boots when he gets a glimpse of you.”
“Iris, you’re gorgeous,” I said. “But we need a sitter for Maggie stat, because Chase just called. He needs us over there.”
Iris grinned. “Not to worry,” she said, staring over our shoulders. “We have company.”
I glanced around. Roz had just walked in the door.
“Roz, you’re on Maggie duty tonight. Bruce just called. The limo’s on its way up the driveway.” Iris checked her purse. “I have money, my keys, and my cell phone. If the world ends, you can call me. Otherwise, I may not be home till dawn.” She blew us a kiss and headed out the door, squeezing past Roz, who gave her a long glance over his shoulder as he let loose with a low wolf whistle.
Iris stopped in her tracks, turned, and said, “Excuse me?”
Roz just grinned. “Can’t blame me, can you? You want to blow off your date and go out with me?”
Though he was laughing, I knew that he meant it. You could dress him up in a black leather duster and stick a miniature Uzi in his hand, but beneath all the curly long hair and weapons lay the heart of a sex fiend. A very pleasant and helpful sex fiend, but a sex fiend nonetheless.
Iris just fluttered her lashes, blew him a kiss, and sailed out the door.
“Damn, the woman’s looking sharp tonight,” he muttered before turning around. Camille let out a snort, and Delilah began whistling an aimless tune. Roz narrowed his eyes. “What? None of you will sleep with me, no matter how much I beg. And you—” he pointed to Camille. “Your husband’s a maniac, so don’t you dare tell him I said that.”
She saluted and gave him a snarky grin. “Aye, aye, Cap’n Lovegun.”
