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“The Jackalope Station is in Wyoming.” Maya pulled up a map to check the location. “Less than a hundred miles from your mother’s ranch. More than just a coincidence.”
Peri straightened, pulling her phone out of the pocket of her jeans. Maya was right. There was a possibility it was connected.
“Do they give the bartender’s name?”
It took Maya a minute to find the woman’s identity. “Cherry Gladstone,” she finally revealed.
Peri looked up the name on social media, easily finding a profile for the young, bleached blonde. She was twenty-four with several stylized tattoos on her arms and across her chest. She was in a complicated relationship and she was going to junior college to become a CNA.
So young and full of promise. Peri shook her head, but her regret was forgotten as she came to the last line in Cherry’s bio.
“Wiccan.” She lifted her head to meet Maya’s steady gaze. “I need to check this out.”
Maya slowly nodded. “Yeah, you need to check it out. I’ll make the reservations—” Her words were cut off as her cell phone onthe desk began to buzz. “Hold on.” Grabbing the phone, Maya glanced at the screen. Her brows arched in surprise. “It’s Valen.”
Peri instinctively stepped back. As if the vampire was about to make an unwelcome appearance.
“What does he want?” she muttered.
“Let’s find out.” With a wicked smile Maya lifted the phone to her ear rather than putting Valen on speaker. Annoying woman. “Witch’s Brew. Yes, she’s here.” Maya glanced pointedly at Peri’s flushed face. “Can I take a message?” There was a lengthy pause before Maya was speaking again. “I’ll let her know.”
Peri waited until Maya had cut off the connection and replaced the phone on the desk. She didn’t want Valen to know that she was in any way curious about his call.
“Let me know what?” she demanded.
“Valen has information he believes you’ll be interested in.”
“What information?”
“He said it’s connected to Wisdom Ranch.” Maya deliberately paused. “And that he’s sending a car to fetch you in an hour.”
Peri’s mouth dropped open. “Fetch me? Like a dog?”
Maya held up a hand. “Those are my words, not his. He simply said that he’d send a car to pick you up.”
Peri remained outraged. Or at least she told herself that it was outrage causing the knots in her stomach and her sweaty palms. Otherwise she’d have to admit she was sizzling with anticipation to see Valen again.
Unacceptable.
“Why didn’t you tell him to shove his invitation up his—”
“Because the next time he calls it won’t be an invitation.” Maya rose to her feet, her smile replaced by a stern expression. This was the Maya who was not only in charge of the coffee shop, but the mage who kept both her and Skye safe. A gloriously powerful woman with connections to a secret guardian who only added to her air of mystery. “And because we need all the help we canget if a miasma really did kill your mother’s coven. It has to be stopped before it does even more damage.”
Peri flinched. “Stop it,” she growled.
Maya scowled. “Stop what?”
“Making sense.” Peri marched toward the door. “It’s annoying when I’m trying to be a petulant child.”
Skye reached out to touch her shoulder as she passed by. “Where are you going?”
“To replenish my magic.” Peri held up her arm, revealing that the jade bracelet had lost its glow. “I’m not going to deal with that infuriating leech without having a backup supply.”
Chapter 8
Valen’s penthouse was shrouded in darkness even though the sun hadn’t fully disappeared below the horizon. The entire building had steel shutters that remained in place until night had fallen. He wasn’t a vampire who took unnecessary risks.
A wry smile twisted his lips as he sipped the expensive brandy he had imported from France. Actually, he did occasionally take unnecessary risks. Like when Aston called him in the middle of the day to tell him that Peri Sanguis had fled from the Warehouse as if the hounds of hell were on her heels. He hadn’t hesitated for a second to leave his bed and travel through the tunnel system to make sure she wasn’t in danger.
