“And don’t you dare bring Marian into this in order to guilt me into action,” Mason challenged.
Detective Clarkson’s expression of anger morphed into one of guilt. “I’m sorry, Clairmont. That was unprofessional of me. I just really want to close this case and get that menace off the streets at all costs.”
Hearing how important the case was to both men, I couldn’t help but want to help. I pulled Mason aside and spoke in a low tone so only he could hear me. “If it’s that big of a deal, then I could help track this Mordecai down with you.”
“Absolutely not,” Mason growled. “First of all, you and I have talked about keeping certain people related to you in the dark about your magic returning to full force. I won’t risk word about you getting back to them after our last encounter. And second of all, this is one time where I want you to hear me loud and clear. Mordecai is more dangerous than anything or anyone you’ve ever encountered. I will not put you in his path for anything.”
“Okay,” I agreed, trusting his judgment.
“That’s it? You mean, you’re actually going to heed my warning?” he asked in disbelief.
“You make good points,” I admitted.
Mason’s loud eruption of laughter broke the sudden tension. “Maybe I need to tell you I love you more often to keep you out of trouble.” He addressed his old friend. “I need time to make my decision, but I promise to call you in the morning first thing, okay?”
The other detective did nothing to hide his displeasure, but he agreed with a grumble. When he made it to the door, he addressed Mason one last time. “We’re assembling the task force tomorrow. I’d sure like to count you among us.”
Once the heavy metal slammed shut, Mason breathed easy again. “I don’t want to lie to you. I really would like to be a part of the team that captures the werewolf.”
“Am I right in thinking this might be why you gave Dash such a hard time when you two first met?” I asked.
Mason confirmed my suspicions. “It is. Mordecai kidnaps kids, turns them, and then raises them to be murdering thugs like him. His gang brought the city’s magical community too much attention when I was here. We’d managed to break up a few of the offshoots of his group but never cut off its main source. Too many kids died for that werewolf to live.”
His explanation made me want to defy him and help anyway, but I knew better. The city was not my home, and I would be vulnerable in too many ways if I helped.
“I’m sorry this has dampened our evening together, Charli.”
I hugged him until he relaxed against me. “It’s okay. As Nana likes to say, it doesn’t matter how you support the ones you love as long as you do it in the good times and the bad.”
The sparkle returned to his eyes. “Say that again.” I repeated myself, but he shook his head. “No, the part in the middle.”
After thinking about it, I realized what he wanted. “You mean, the ones you love?”
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “That’s the part.”
If he needed reassurances, I’d give them to him all night long. “I love you, Mason Clairmont.”
“And I love you, too, Charli.”
Chapter Seven
After talking things through together and getting permission from Big Willie, Mason stayed behind to work on the case with his old colleagues while I made the trip back home alone. Every time I got a little bummed about not having him with me, I thought about the big step our relationship took the night before and reveled in the excitement of it all.
When I stopped for gas about an hour and a half away from Honeysuckle, I checked my spell phone, perturbed to not have even one message. With quick fingers, I typed out a message to Matt, asking him for an update on Nana, and waited until my patience ran out. I regretted leaving the charger with Mason since it left my phone with very little charge. I sent a quick text of worry to him, but all I got back was a quick apology. Knowing how the case might consume him, I didn’t want to bother him any further.
I stewed the rest of the drive, and by the time I approached the Dead End sign that indicated the first guard spell, I’d brewed up enough anger to cause an explosion for ignoring my attempts at reaching out to them the second I saw my friends and family. I drove through the glamour and saw the guardhouse up ahead.
With my protection spell tight around the car, I expected to reach the town entrance with no problem, but my arm hair stood on end while a strange sensation crawled over my skin as if tiny invisible insects attacked my body. The tingling passed as soon as it started, and I doubted my own senses as I reached the guardhouse.
The car rolled to a stop, and a diminutive guard I didn’t recognize stuck his head out of the window. “Name and address of destination you are intending to visit.”
Caught by surprise at the cold greeting, I read off his name from the nametag stuck on his stark black uniform. “Bagan, is it? I’m Charli Goodwin, and I live here in Honeysuckle Hollow.”
“I’ll have to check that against the list.” He took out a clipboard and stuck his finger to the paper, scrolling down until he found my name. “Here it is. Permanent resident. Now, if you’ll present your ID, I can scan it before I examine your car.”
Pulling my purse into my lap, I searched for my wallet and retrieved my identification. Bagan waved a wand over it and icons appeared floating above it. “This all checks out. Please put your car in park and turn it off, unlock the doors, keep
