Steels a better choice, the owner, Bill, told them. Wont rust.
Since Bill was a none-the-wiser human, they couldnt very well tell him they needed to slay creatures that lived only in his childrens bedtime stories.
Merrilee smiled at him. I was thinking about taking a stab she slanted a glance at Beck at blacksmithing.
Bill rubbed his chin. Well, maybe you could melt something down.
They walked out with a set of fireplace tools, a decorative door stop in the shape of a hedgehog, and Bills advice to visit Babettes Antique Emporium up the street.
That old gal is made of iron herself, he said.
Merrilee hefted the ash hoe and poker, which felt nicely like weapons, and left Beck to carry the hedgehog as they headed up the sidewalk.
She stabbed experimentally with the poker. Didnt Babette propose to you once?
He glowered at her. Shes proposed to everyone in town at least once, but only when shes drunk.
So you werent interested?
I gave her a pot of coffee. Not as good as your coffee, of course.
Im surprised you havent settled down yet. She swung the hoe with more force. Almost two years since you got back and took over for your uncle, and you dont even have a Beta, much less a mate. What are you waiting for?
I have my pack and my job, same as you. What more do I need?
Yeah. The iron pulled heavily at her arm; shed have to watch out for that.
The old house with a touch of Victoriana that was Babettes Antique Emporium displayed mostly plastic and glass knickknacks in the front windows. Merrilees mood plummeted lower as they walked into the kitchy little front yard with its dozen concrete birdbaths and tribe of lawn gnomes. If the phae be chased off with bad taste, I think were on to something here.
Beck gave her a reproving glance. Youve never even been inside, I bet. Babette has a lot of nice homey décor and wearable art. He ignored her snort. More to the point, she keeps farm salvage in the barn out back.
They stayed on the walk that circled the house, passing a tree hung with upward of a hundred wind chimes. They were eerily silent until Merrilee nudged one, just to make it ring.
Now youve done it, Beck muttered.
The houses side door swung open, and Babette popped out with a smile as wide as the ceramic sun faces decorating the fence. Bexley!
Merrilee choked and stumbled over a nonexistent crack in the sidewalk.
Beck ignored her and hugged the smaller human woman who was hanging on to her mid-fifties with all the strength in her custom acrylic nails. Merrilee told herself to pull in her own; just because she couldnt paint her nails without the work being wasted when she shifted was no reason to be a raging wolf bitch.
Although if Babette didnt remove her hand from his ass
The woman stepped back and straightened her fringed Indian print scarf. You two finally shacking up?
Merrilee choked again.
Beck shook his head. Babs, youve always been hell on secrets.
Merrilee glared at him while the woman shrugged. I figured it wasnt a secret anymore if youre standing so close together.
Merrilee took a long step back which sent her knocking into the wind chimes. They clattered over her shoulders.
Babette raised her plucked brows. Never mind then. What can I do you for?
Were looking for iron. Maybe old horseshoes or nails. Not steel or any other alloy though.
Cold-forged iron. Babette nodded. Only thing to keep fairies away.
The chimes fell silent Merrilee went so still.
Beck gave a little smile. Even more hard to believe, Merrilee here is taking up blacksmithing.
Babette shot her an incredulous look. What good is that in New York City or whatever other fool place youre flying off to? She waved a hand. Come on back to the barn. Lets see what I have.
The big barn was a treasure trove strung with cobwebs. Most everythings steel nowadays, Babette said, poking through a rack of garden tools. But the antiques are sometimes iron.
Merrilee sidled closer. How do we tell the difference?
Take a grinding wheel to them and theyll spark different. Wrought iron sparks flow out straight, and the end spreads like a willow leaf. Or just press it up against a fairy and see if it burns.
Beck laughed, but he sounded strained. Babette
She shook one sharply nailed finger. There are secrets, Bexley, and there are lies. You can tell me one, but not the other. When he only crossed his arms over his big chest, she huffed out a breath. Orson was sniffing around here earlier, and he is not as good as you at keeping his voice down.
Merrilee sighed.
Babette gave her an even sharper look. But Id have known something was afoot. You cant get to be my age and not have seen a few strange things.
Beck tilted his head. What have you seen lately?
Not just lately. She waggled her fingers. Orson turned into a bear once.
Whiskeyll make you see things, Beck said noncommittally.
And Orson, apparently, Merrilee muttered.
Babette gave her a reproving look. Hes is a good man. And bear.
Beck rubbed his forehead. Then why is he the only one you havent proposed to?
Hes the only one who might say yes, she said. But thats not what made me suspicious. Ive seen that thing hes looking for, that imp.
Merrilee stiffened. When? Why didnt you say anything?
And hear the whiskey comments? No thanks. Anyway, I thought it was another one of you people, changing into something else.
Beck laughed once. Babette, is there anything you dont know?
She didnt smile back. Why a man who can change into a grizzly is scared.
Becks smile flatlined. Were not sure either.
After theyd taken Babettes report of the imp sightingsplus another set of fireplace tools, a few antique farm implements and a good length of wrought iron fencing with each upright topped by an arrow pointBeck and Merrilee returned to the street. Theyd left their purchases in the barn, planning to return with Becks truck.
Merrilee glanced back as they headed for the Harley. Can we trust her?
No reason not to.
She ticked off on her fingers. Alcoholism. Selling out to the highest bidder; she robbed us at those prices. Her wanting to get her hands on your ass again... Wow, youre blushing, Bexley.
No reason not to.
She ticked off on her fingers. Alcoholism. Selling out to the highest bidder; she robbed us at those prices. Her wanting to get her hands on your ass again... Wow, youre blushing, Bexley.
He strode to the bike and slammed on his helmet. You coming or not?
Amused, she settled herself against his spine. They never spooned after sex; she never hung around long enough to get that far.
It seemed strangeand maybe just a little sadthat only the looming threat of a phae invasion had pushed them so closely together.
Chapter 5
Beck loved his Harley, but hed never been so eager to get off it to get away from the press of Merrilees hot body when they arrived at the Sun-Down. How many layers of denim and leatherhow much steelwould he need to put between them to forget her touch?
Maybe the phae Queen could suck that desire out of him.
The nasty thought made him frown, and Merrilee was echoing his fierce expression when she pulled off her helmet.
What did she have to be angry about? She had her rewarding work, far away from him, she had her pack, her fuck buddy with no strings attached, just as she liked it.
Orsons quartet hadnt shown up yet, so he unlocked the bar, though he kept the shades down. Normally he didnt open until happy hour, making the bar a good place for a clandestine meeting.
Assuming everybody in town wasnt already in on their secret like Babette.
Merrilee went behind the bar, tossing her coat beside his. Mind if I get a drink? I think I need one after this morning.
Help yourself, he said. As always.
Shed bent down to the cooler, but she straightened slowly at his dangerous tone. Her blue eyes glimmered in the light of the neon beer signs. You can just say no.
Apparently I cant.
I thought we were talking about a can of Dr. Pepper.
He leaned his hip against the pool table and clicked on the overhead light. For someone with wereling senses, you sure are blind.
Abandoning the soda, she stalked toward him until she was right up against the toes of his boots. Whats that supposed to mean?
He huffed, wishing the scent of her wasnt so enticing. If he could just clear his nose and his skin of that sweet and wild fragrance, maybe he wouldnt be so inclined to reach for her whenever the opportunity presented itself. Whenever she presented herself. But all he could do was tuck his hands under his arms. Never mind. Lets stay focused on
No, now Im curious. She didnt look curious; she looked furious. If you want me to walk away, just say the word.
You never walk away. You run. You hardly batted an eye at Babette mentioning fairies, but when she said something about us being together He wiggled his Vd fingers like little running legs.
Her eyes narrowed to slits.
Whoo. Chasing after the imp hadnt been anywhere near as reckless as what he was doing now. Why did he feel the need to grab the wereling by the tail?
Because he wanted more than tail.
She leaned into him, close enough that her breasts brushed his chest. He couldnt stop himself from glancing down the V-neck of her sweater. It wasnt his fault; the wolf inside him saw the pale swell of skin, thought moon, and came out to sing.
I. Dont. Run.
He lifted one brow. Really?
He tilted his head and kissed her.
Open mouth. Tongue. Slick lips. A moan. His or hers?
He sealed the kiss so they had to swap breath or separate, and he knew she wouldnt give ground. Not now. He canted back over the pool table, forcing her to anchor one hand behind his head or lose the kiss. Lose the fight.
He was an idiot to fight so hard when she didnt want to be won. But her kiss... Ah, her kiss was like a howl in his heart, and he had to answer.
She levered one knee up onto the felt so her thigh pressed hard against his flank. He gripped the curve of her ass in those tight leggings, feeling the flex of muscle and lush padding. The fringe of her sweater tickled his wrist.
She wrapped her other leg around him, both hands anchored in his hair while she kissed him, hard and desperate, as if she were drowning...
He pulled her snug against him, dry humping like a randy kid. God, he could have held her aloft with the might of his throbbing cock alone if he let that beast out.