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“Why?” His tone was rather blunt. “What is the relationship between you two? Because there are all sorts of rumors circulating—”
“We’re not lovers, if that’s what they’re saying,” I cut in with a smile. “Never have been, never will be.”
“And yet there’s definitely a relationship between you that goes beyond mere friendship,” he said. “Even blind Freddy can see that.”
I took a sip of tea and silently cast a spell to ensure the couple sitting at the nearby table would hear nothing more than incomprehensible murmurs.
“Belle’s my familiar,” I said softly. “That’s why we can share thoughts, and why we’re so close. She’s my conscience and my strength, and I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for her.”
Surprise ran across his expression before he got it under control. “I thought familiars were generally either cats or spirits?”
“They are. As far as anyone is aware, this is the first time one witch has become the familiar of another.”
“You said she’s your strength—do you mean literally, mentally, or magically?”
“All three. Familiars are guides and advisors, but also provide an additional source of physical strength should a spell require it. But because Belle is also a witch, I can also draw on her magical skills, combining them with mine if necessary.”
“So she also has a familiar?”
“No.”
“Then what the hell does she get out of the whole deal? Not a lot, from the sound of it.”
“That’s unfortunately very true.” Although at least becoming my familiar had bolstered her spell-casting strength and abilities. In fact, even though she hadn’t been tested since puberty, I’d hazard a guess that they were now very close, if not equal, to my own. We still had our own separate skill sets, but when it came to general magic, we were equals.
“I’m surprised she’s not at least a little bit bitter about—” He paused, his eyes widening a little as Penny came over with the food I’d ordered for him. “That’s an impressive-looking burger.”
“You looked as if you needed a good feed,” I said, with a smile of thanks to Penny. “And it’s hard to be bitter about something the spirits keep telling you will be the best thing to ever happen to you. Or so she said at the time.”
“I don’t think I want to know what you mean by spirits—not until I’ve digested all the current information, anyway.” He took a bite of the burger and something close to bliss touched his expression. “Man, this is good. Are you sure don’t add a little touch of magic to your food?”
“If ensuring our food is nothing short of mouthwatering can be considered magic, then we certainly do,” Belle said, as she sat down opposite him. “But over the years we’ve discovered quality generally works better than any minor spell we could actually incorporate into our food production.”
“If that’s the case, what happened in Peak’s Point?”
“You’ve been checking up on us,” Belle said, amusement clear in her tone.
“Of course. Nor have I finished.” He took another bite then added, “Peak’s Point—explain.”
“We were outsiders who came in and showed up the entrenched businesses,” I said. “Let’s just say they didn’t appreciate it.”
“The local cop I spoke to said that you were behind a sudden rise in the rat population.”
“That cop,” Belle said, “sat on his fucking hands and mouthed platitudes while his bastard mates harassed our customers and suppliers, and generally made our life hell.”
“And,” I added, “magic can’t make rats breed like rabbits, but it certainly can call to the unseen population of them that is in every town, and invite them to infest a certain premise or two.”
Amusement twitched Aiden’s lips. “So if there’s a sudden rat infestation at the ranger station, I’ll know I’ve seriously pissed you two off?”
“If you seriously piss us off,” Belle said, voice mild, “you’ll be dealing with far more than a rat infestation.”
He studied her for a moment, obviously uncertain whether she was joking or not. She was, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. It might do nothing to gain this man’s trust, but if the events over the last few days hadn’t already done that, nothing would.
“What happened after I left Marjorie’s last night?” I asked.
“The usual. We might be dealing with a vampire and her victim, but that doesn’t actually change procedure.” He glanced at me. “Although Ciara wants to know if there’s anything specific she needs to do with Karen’s body.”
I glanced at Belle. Given she’d read her gran’s book on vampires, she was the expert, not me.
