The Mate Mistake(The Woolven Secret 3)(21)

"A witch? That's so cool. I haven't met many of them."

"You have now," a voice said from the doorway.

A kind-faced older woman with a fat, gray bun stood there, dressed all in black. But she smelled like sugar cookies and all things good and wholesome. Although, if she looked hard enough, she could see the woman's power beneath her skin. Her blood, it was all magic and ferocity.

Belle decided she loved her on sight. A larger grin than she normally gave humans, or those who weren't in the know about vamps curved her face. Toothy, indeed. "You must be Mrs. Westwood! I've heard about you."

The witch grinned back. "Parker has been yammering in my ear about you since you've been in here with David. But I'd know you were a daywalking Asakku just by the look of you. Such a pretty thing you are."

"Parker told me you're married to the Goblin King? Does he hang out here at Aphelion, too? It's like a regular whose who here."

She laughed. "Only sometimes. He knows how important the Woolven pack is to me."

Belle cocked her head to the side, scenting the air. There was more to this witch than she'd first realized. While she appeared to be a grandmother type, it was more accurate to say she was the mother type. "Interesting."

"You just shh about that, dear."

David was no longer paying any attention to either of them, he was lost in his papers and formulas.

"Come along, I'll clue the wards to you and we'll get you set up with an ID so you can come and go as you please."

They left David's laboratory and the witch took her hand. Sparks shot between their fingertips and an overwhelming feeling of comfort and well-being flooded her.

"It's going to be okay, dearie. You'll see."

"I wish I could do that. What a gift."

"You can. I can teach you a few things. Daywalking Asakku have magic." Mrs. Westwood stopped and turned to look at her. "Didn't you know?"

She shook her head. "You say that like there are more like me. I've never met one."

"There are many like you, but none who would dare approach you. They don't want to draw Tirigan's wrath. Not many could stand against him."

"You know a lot about my family."

"I'm a lot older than I look." The kindly grandmother's face was gone, and in its place was a young woman, but then that too vanished and she was again the crone. "Magic is good for that, too."

"I've not even been here a day and I've acquired teachers for magic and science."

"The two things aren't so different. Many things that are science now were thought to be magic when we were young. Who knows. Maybe, yet one day, even the magic in my veins will be distilled down to a science."

"Is it weird that I think that would be both a miracle and a shame?"

"Not at all, child."

She was probably older than this witch, but she didn't feel the need to point it out. She liked this Mrs. Westwood and she liked the idea of having a witch who thought of her fondly.

"So, I hear tell the boys think you smell like chocolate instead of death. I haven't asked David this, but I have to know." She leaned in for a conspiratorial whisper. "Do the boys smell like wet dogs to you? I've worked really hard to keep that pet smell out of Aphelion and that applies to vampire snouts, too. So tell me."

She choked on her laughter. "Oh my god, no. I mean, I was surprised that they didn't. If I had known Parker was actually who he said he was... we wouldn't be in this predicament."

"Good. Call me Eleanor." She linked arms with her. "Tell me, what did he smell like to you?"

"Sunshine."

Eleanor narrowed her eyes as if some devious plan had suddenly blossomed. "Good."

Belle shivered. She got the impression that this witch was every bit as deadly, possibly more so, than any other supe she'd ever met.

Except her father.

But maybe there were things in the world that could give him a run for his money.

Maybe even Belle herself.





Chapter 7





Parker was getting married, but the wedding plans had fallen by the wayside.

The last ten days had seen the war escalate, had brought a hunter to the door, the birth of seemingly invincible berserker werewolves, and it had seen Drew's mate, Emmie, taken, killed, and reborn again as something greater.

Not to mention the Woolven heir, Drew's son.

His world had been flipped on its ass and he had some idea of what Belle was going through.

"I'm concerned," she said, over her breakfast of bloody beef liver, that actually had him licking his chops almost as much as the view of her cleavage. "That we haven't seen any threats. We haven't heard so much as a titter out of the vampires. Blake hasn't had any offers for my head, has he?"