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“Good morning, kiddo,” he said.
“Morning, Mack,” she said brightly, making a beeline for the coffee maker.
“It’s about time they got the media on this. Maybe they will actually do some good for once!” Mack said enthusiastically. “Run those scumbags out of town once and for all!”
Oh no.Dread hung in her belly like a knot.
“What are you talking about?” she said, just as he slapped the newspaper down in front of her.”
“I like the way Dax is handling this, getting the paper involved. They think they can just come in here and turn Fae Crossing into a drug den in the shadows? Maybe they need a little spotlight on ‘em.”
As she read the headlines, she felt her blood run cold.
“That son of a b…” She caught herself and didn’t finish the word. Every once in a while she tried to at least pretend to be ladylike. “Dax had nothing to do with this.”
I’m going to kill Rocky.
At the same time she had to admit she felt some relief as well. At least the word was out.
She found it hard to believe whoever this buyer was would go through with it, assuming they were aware of the headline. And it wasn’t every day there was such a sensational headline. They would see it alright.
Maybe this was for the best. Maybe Dax would see it that way too.
Yeah, right.
* * *
She had tried texting Dax,and then calling, but got no response with either. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a big deal. She couldn’t control Rocky.
Rocky wouldn’t have even known about this had you not called him.
Hush you.
But her mind was already in full rumination mode.
It will be fine, Bloom. He has to understand.
When he still hadn’t responded after a few hours, she figured she would busy herself by checking in on Chris and Kim. They had been staying with the witches for a few days now and she wanted to be sure they were okay.
Besides, she was getting increasingly worried about Dax, or more the point, worried about his reaction to the headline.
After the short walk over, she pushed the door to the shop open, eliciting the soft tinkle of the chimes.
“Good morning, child,” Etta said almost immediately, as she entered. “I am glad you are here.”
“Oh? Well, it’s always nice to feel welcomed,” she said. “But where’s Tam? I just thought I’d check on how Chris and Kim are doing.”
“The ladies are settling right in. They are still upstairs, and Tam is off watching Rollo’s kids. With that shitshow headline, Dax is on the warpath and it’s all hands on deck.
Bloom’s spirits fell. “Shitshow headline?”
“Yeah, we had lined up full surveillance and even called in some fae who are particularly gifted with the sight. Dax had hoped we could apprehend this mystery buyer and put an end to this drug scourge before it even got off the ground. That headline sure screwed that up. I swear, I don’t know whose side journalists are on sometimes.”
“So, Dax is not happy?”
Etta suppressed a laugh. “That’s putting it mildly. One of my sisters lives up in Clouded Woods. She said he practically started a forest fire this morning. But you don’t have to ask me,” Etta added. “Here he comes now.”
Bloom turned as the doors swung open and the entrance was suddenly filled by the imposing figures of Dax, Rollo, and Jack. There was a fourth beast of a man behind them.Another shifter.
