Page 65 of Grimoires & Glamoury

A short time later, I found myself seated on my own back porch, serving sweet tea to my guests while Xander ran around the garden exclaiming over every flower and dragging Nadia along to look at it all. She was wonderful with Xander and seemed to be enjoying herself almost as much as the child was. Damien informed me that he had known Nadia for years. They’d first met when he worked with the Vampire Council in Chicago.

That information had me eyeballing the brunette Vampire a tad more closely. I’d come to know her better in the past two weeks, but she’d been very tight-lipped about her past. I’d discovered that she had a passion for plants and gardening and reading. She’d devoured the series of novels Kathleen had lent her. I found myself liking her and considered her more of a new friend as opposed to my bodyguard.

“I didn’t know that Nadia was from Chicago,” I said to Damien.

While Xander was busy with Nadia, Damien and Ruby brought me up to speed on the latest developments in Hemlock Hollow. Including the recent demise of Sawyer Weston.

“How did he die?” I asked.

“Sawyer’s body was found in the forest, close to a Fae mound two days ago,” Ruby explained. “Not far from where Shelby Murphy died.”

“Was it the Light Fae that took him out?” I asked very quietly.

“Yes,” Damien said with a nod. “They were less than pleased when they realized they would not be getting their hands on the grimoire after all.”

I cringed a bit. Less than pleased had to be the understatement of all time. “Are the Light Fae that were trying to acquire the grimoire back in their own realm now?”

“Yes,” Damien said. “It appears that this is finally over.”

I took a sip of my tea before asking, “And Sawyer’s parents, were they ever located?”

“They were,” Ruby said. “They’re safe. Apparently, they had fled their farm after Sawyer showed up there with Shelby. Mr. Weston did not want to take any chances after he learned what Sawyer was trying to sell to the Fae. He knew the Fae would come to his farm, and so after he threw his son and Shelby out, Mr. Weston staged a scene to make it look as though they’d been in a physical fight with injuries; and he and his wife made themselves scarce and hid out in the woods for a while.”

“Wow,” I said, impressed.

“Seems Mr. Weston is a survivalist,” Damien explained. “He already had a shelter built for emergencies on a remote part of his property. Sawyer never knew about it.”

“And Sawyer’s sister Sarah?”

“She’s fine and reunited with her folks at their farm,” Ruby told me.

I checked over my shoulder, ensuring that Xander was still far enough away as to not overhear. “Seth Olarescu made a comment to me, a few weeks back, about how the Fae couldn’t be allowed to run unchecked through the mortal realm, killing in their quest for old treasure.”

Ruby frowned, and Damien’s expression remained bland. Too bland.

He knew something.

“Don’t suppose that y’all know anything about a Fae quest for ‘old treasure,’ do you?” I asked them both.

“No,” Ruby responded immediately.

After a long moment, Damien shook his head. “I’m afraid that I am not at liberty to say.”

Ruby’s head swung around and she glared at Damien. “You promised me, no more secrets!”

Damien shrugged. “I promised you that I would be as forthcoming with you as I was able about the Ozark Council of Supernaturals. However, I did tell you that if any information could put you or Xander at risk, then I would not share it.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes at her husband. “We are not done talking about this, Damien.”

“Listen y’all,” I said. “As far as I’m concerned, I am done. I don’t want to know anything else. I only want my city and my community to be safe.”

“Agreed,” Damien said.

My eyes went to Nadia. “I wonder how much longer she’ll be here acting as my bodyguard.”

Damien leaned back in his chair. “Until Seth Olarescu decides she is no longer required.”

“Lorna!” Xander shouted from across the yard. “Look at me!”