Page 34 of Minions and Magic
After a few hours Desiree arrived with a truckload of beer and sodas, as well as decorations. Where I specialized in catering, the mermaid’s business was logistics and beverages, overall party planning, and decorations. We worked together on a good number of events in Accident, and I occasionally ran across her while doing parties on the other side of the wards. If she recommended me for a job, I usually gave her a finder’s fee—which was always sashimi. Mermaids loved their raw fish.
“Hey, Glenda! Figured you’d be here early.” Desiree gave me a wave, then directed the two minotaurs who were unloading kegs and coolers for her.
I double checked the tie-downs for the buffet line tents then waved back. “I’ve got some sangria for us to taste-test if we get done before everyone starts arriving.”
Her laugh sounded like a porpoise, always making me giggle. “Then we better finish before everyone starts arriving.”
We both worked in silence. Her minotaur helpers drove off once the kegs and coolers were all set up, and Desiree got to work with beads, streamers, and centerpieces. I’d finished and was just putting the brisket in the smoker when her minotaurs returned, this time with a giant crate. They struggled to unload it, then pried the wood apart and began brushing the sawdust from a huge ice sculpture that took my breath away.
“Wow!” I exclaimed, stopping what I was doing to gawk at the sculpture. It was two six-foot wolves, chins touching as they raised their heads in a howl. They were beautifully done, each one bearing a striking resemblance to the resident alphas.
“You like?” Desiree grinned.
“Heck yeah. Who shelled out for that?” I asked, thinking the sculpture must have cost a small fortune.
“Tink.”
I blinked. “Tink?”
I couldn’t imagine Dallas’ new mate spending so much money on such a thing. Plus Tink wasn’t a wealthy wolf—none of them really were. Why an ice sculpture?
“This peace is more important than Dallas or Clinton realize,” a voice behind me chimed in. “Werewolves need to embrace the future.”
I turned to face Tink. “And the future for werewolves is…?”
“Collaboration with other supernaturals, even though we continue to honor our customs and history. Respect for those wolves who choose to live outside the pack, or even among the humans. Overcoming our terror of the world outside the wards and learning that there are human things to be admired and enjoyed. Step one is for our two packs to be approachable and welcoming to each other.”
Basically the same thing we witches wanted. Clearly Tink would be a valuable ally going forward.
“Well, this ice sculpture is beautiful, and I’m sure both it and the barbeque will help with step one.”
Tink folded her arms across her chest and looked around with an air of satisfaction. “Everything looks amazing. Back to work everyone! I’ll just snag a piece of this fried chicken you’re putting out and be back with Dallas later.”
She left and Desiree finished with the decorations and drove back with the minotaurs, promising to come by after the event finished to clean everything up. That left me alone, firing up the smoker, prepping the chaffing dishes, and beginning to set out the food. I could hear Lucien’s SUV coming up the road. Good. They could help me get the rest of the food out. The guests would begin to arrive any minute. Eating and socializing was the focus of the party, and I wanted to make sure the buffet line was ready when the first hungry attendee arrived.
Pulling one of the bowls of coleslaw from the portable fridge, I turned and nearly dropped it when I saw Xavier standing right behind me.
“Where’s your brisket?” It was a stupid thing to ask, but he had no vehicle, no chafing dish, no serving tray, nothing. Just a devilishly handsome demon standing in a field behind my van.
His smile was wickedly delicious. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll have it here in time for the contest.” Before I could reply he’d taken the bowl of coleslaw from my hands and carried it to the buffet table. “Here?”
I nodded, my chest aching at how much I missed him. My former resolve began to melt away. The heart wants what the heart wants.
But love couldn’t grow on a foundation of distrust. And I wasn’t sure I wanted him handling that coleslaw knowing how he’d basically poisoned my slugs.
I marched over and snatched the coleslaw bowl out of his hands, putting it in a completely different place than I’d intended. “Get out, Xavier. You’re not invited. You can show up for the contest, then leave directly afterward. You’re not welcome here—either at this party, or at my house.”
“I just want to talk to you for five damned minutes,” he exploded, picking up the coleslaw and moving it to the exact spot I’d wanted it to be. “Five minutes. At least give me that, Glenda.”
I sucked in a breath, then counted to ten as I let it out. I still cared about this demon. Just his presence made my heart stutter, my legs tremble, my whole body go warm. And that made me just as mad as what he’d done to the slugs.
At the end of the day, I needed to put this behind me. We might never be lovers or even friends again, but there might be occasions when I’d see him at Cassie’s talking to Lucien, or out and about as he did his crossroads demon business. And if he won this little bet of ours and ended up with my soul, maybe it would be a good thing if I at least showed him I was willing to listen to him for five minutes.
“Okay.”
He ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up in little spiky bits here and there. “I know you’re mad about what I do and who I am. There are limits in my ability to change that. I’m a crossroads demon, and besides that I’m a demon. Certain things are part of my job description. But if you tell me what’s acceptable and not to you, I’ll honor those limits.”
“How about we start withdon’t mess with my food?” I shot back, my intentions of being nice and listening going right out the window.
