covencraft 02.5 - carnival moon Read Free Page B

large set of double doors.
    Paris gave no indication that he’d already answered the same question from Jade a few times, answering it as calmly and clearly as he had the other times she’d asked. “No. It will at most involve your neck, perhaps your shoulders and a little bit under your ear. The weres are quite aware that the rest of society isn’t as used to or comfortable with casual touching as they are. However, by submitting to The Scenting you’re indicating your willingness to accept their culture and customs.”
    Jade nodded a bit, fiddling in her purse for her lip-gloss and putting a little on. She’d taken care to keep her makeup to a minimum - only foundation, a little mascara and some gloss. No makeup had not been an option. She didn’t even go for groceries without her war paint; she certainly wasn’t going to meet werewolves without it.
    She ran her hands over her pants, smoothing away imaginary wrinkles. As soon as Paris reached for his door handle, Jade reached for hers, getting out of the car at the same time as him. Paris knocked on the front door of the estate with confidence, and Jade was about to ask how many times he’d been there when the door opened.
    It revealed a young man, perhaps in his early or mid-twenties. His hair was in that messy-on-purpose spike-y style that younger men seemed to be wearing these days. It looked good on him though. He had large brown eyes and Jade would have killed him for his eyelashes if she thought she could get away with it. It wasn’t fair when men got eyelashes like that. His face broke out in a smile when he saw them.
    “It’s good to see you, Paris,” he said, tipping his head once in greeting before turning to Jade. “You must be Jade. I could feel your magic coming up the driveway.”
    “Oh, sorry,” Jade blurted out. “I’m not using any, I swear.”
    His smile got a little wider. “Nah, I meant I could feel the sense of ‘you.’ It’s been pretty cool since the Coven’s magic has been reset. Way better than before. I hear we have you to thank for it.”
    Jade looked at Paris uncertainly and he gave her a sort of reassuring nod. “Uh, yeah,” she finally said. “I guess.”
    “Cool. I’m Steve. I’ll take your coats and then show you to the Alpha.”
    Jade was probably overly careful as she took off her coat and handed it to Steve. Paris had instructed her not to touch anyone - no handshakes, no brushing past - until she’d been seen by the Alpha. Paris’ movements were much more relaxed - Jade forgot to ask if he was exempt from the rule since he’d already met the Alpha. Maybe he was just more used to dealing with the weres.
    Once their coats were hung, Steve jerked his head in the direction they would be heading and when he turned away, he didn’t walk so much as lope. Jade could almost see the wolf underneath his skin. It was in the way he moved, the way his limbs hung and swung easily from his body. The house, if she could still call a residence so large by that name, was homey and well lived in. The hardwood was scuffed and worn and Jade found her eyes drawn to the markings on the floor, wondering if they were claw marks. They passed through a kitchen where a few people milled about, all dressed in the same kind of utilitarian clothing that Jade and Paris wore - black slacks and black shirts. No one looked up as they came through and Jade tried not to stare.
    “They’re waiting for the Alpha to meet you,” Paris said, not bothering to lower his voice.
    Jade gave him a sharp look and kind of jerked her head toward the group, her face clearly saying, ‘they can hear you, you know.’
    “They’ll hear me even if I whisper, Jade,” Paris replied in response to her look. He tapped one of his own ears and only then did she remember he’d told her the wolves had exceptional hearing.
    “It’s not being rude,” Steve said from up front, turning around and walking backward down the hall in the casual way that young people