Blood and Fire Read Free Page B

white markings and cautious demeanor was Wily. The white male with black-tipped ears and blue eyes, who ambushed everyone from behind the couch, had been dubbed Sneaky over Claris’s objection. The dominant gray male had earned the regal name of Re. He often surveyed his kingdom from the back of the couch, when he wasn’t leading his brother and sisters in some mischievous adventure. The last littermate, but certainly not least, was Dona, whose snowy fur stood in sharp contrast to her knowing green eyes. Her name had been chosen to complement her mother’s, and together they formed belladonna, an ingredient Ari used in her potions.
    She gave each kitten a last pat and stood to go. They’d soon leave for new homes—she couldn’t keep five grown cats in her small apartment, but she was going to miss them.
    She checked the clock on the wall—the only thing on her wall. 12:30. Perfect time to visit Claris, while her friend was on lunch break. She had a couple of things on her mind, and who better to discuss them with than her best friend?
     
    * * *
     
     
    “Nice.” Ari pointed at the adoption sign with a recent picture of Bella’s four kittens. The bell over the door jingled as she ignored the “Out to Lunch” sign and entered Basil & Sage, her friend’s cozy herbal shop, which catered mostly to Olde Town’s tourist trade. The pleasant, homey sight and smell of herbs and spices engulfed her the moment she stepped inside, but the really useful seeds and dried leaves used in witchcraft were hidden behind the counter and in the greenhouse.
    “I changed the photo because they’re growing so fast.” Claris, the human proprietress, smiled, the corners of her hazel eyes crinkling. One hand strayed to smooth the shiny brown strands that had escaped from the tie at the back of her neck. When working in her shop, Claris dressed the part of a gentle spiritualist. Not such a stretch, considering her Mother Earth personality. “They look so different from three weeks ago, not babies anymore.” Claris’s voice sounded a little wistful.
    “Do we still need to advertise? I thought you’d selected most of the new parents.”
    Claris’s smile faded. “Not for Dona and Re. I’m almost out of ideas for them. Are you ready for the first two to go this weekend?”
    Although she felt a pang in her heart, Ari answered with a brisk, “Yep. They’re tearing my place apart. This morning it was the box of tissues. How’s the proud papa?”
    “Keeping track of the birds outside the greenhouse. And watching the door. I’m pretty sure Hernando is looking for a chance to slip out again.”
    “If he comes calling on Bella, my landlady won’t make the mistake of letting him in again. She’s now aware of his Casanova intentions. Besides, we might not be at the apartment much longer.”
    Claris gave her an I-told-you-so grin. “Giving in? I wondered how long you’d hold out.”
    “Don’t gloat yet. I still haven’t decided whether I want to move in or not.” Ari hesitated. “But it isn’t fair to keep him worrying. He needs to consolidate his authority in the vampire court, not obsess about my safety. He constantly sends his people to check on me. I’ve seen Gabriel almost every night in the last month.”
    “What’s so bad about that?” Claris teased. “I like Gabriel. He can check on me anytime.”
    “What’s not to like in a gorgeous blond Adonis—even if he’s a two-hundred-year-old vampire? But anyone’s charm can get old after a while.”
    “Hard to imagine, so I’ll have to take your word for it.”
    Ari gave her friend a sharp look. “You’re not getting interested in Gabriel, are you? Is everything good between you and Brando?”
    “Oh, sure, same old thing.” Claris waved her hand back and forth in the so-so sign. “Brando’s always so busy. And now he’s going away again. Another conference.”
    “You sound upset.” Ari gave her friend a pointed look. “And you didn’t answer my question