Lucien’s mother, Gwyneth, is in the kitchen with her husband, Aiden. She looks up at me, pats her husband on the shoulder, and then makes her way over to sit next to me at the table.
“Hello, dear.” She places a slice of cake in front of me. “You should eat something.”
I’ve known Lucien’s parents for as long as I’ve known Lucien. They’re part of the coven as well, and they’ve always been kind to me.
I can’t help but wonder how much they know?
“Thank you,” I reply and take a bite of the cake. I know there must be some sort of potion mixed in here. A witch doesn’t serve food that isn’t laced with something helpful.
“This will help calm your mind, but not make you sleepy,” Gwyneth says. “How are things at your lovely café?”
“They’re great, but I feel bad for Esme. She’s there all the time and covering for me more and more with all of this going on. I really need to hire a couple more people.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that.” Gwyneth smiles. “Because I’d like to apply for a job.”
I stare at the other woman in surprise. “You want a job at the Witches Brew?”
“Absolutely.”
I look at Lucien, then back at Gwyneth. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I’m not doing it for you. Well, not entirely. Let’s just say retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and I’m bored out of my mind most days. Aiden goes to work at his jewelry shop, and I’m home. I can only knit so many scarves, Millie. Save me from myself.”
“You don’t want to work with Aiden?”
“Our marriage works so well because we don’t work together,” she says. “I have references, a clean criminal record, and I know just the right amount of potion to add to anything.”
“Well, I’d love to have you work for me. If you’re sure.”
Gwyneth claps her hands and then leans over to kiss my cheek. “Thank you. I’m going to go brag to Aiden that I just landed a job. And check in on the potion I’m making for your mother.”
She hurries back to the kitchen, and I turn to find Lucien grinning at me.
“What?” I ask.
“They love you,” he says with a shrug. “Always have.”
“Do they remember?”
He looks over my shoulder to where his parents are. “No. But they know I do. And they understand what’s happening now. They’re powerful witches in their own right.”
“I know,” I say. “I’ve always enjoyed watching them work together during rituals. The magic between them is strong.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and leans in to whisper in my ear.
“There is no magic more powerful than that between two souls linked by unconditional love, a stór mo chroí. They’ve been linked as long as we have, for just as many lifetimes. I can’t wait to explore the magic you and I can make together.”
He kisses my ear, leaving me breathless and covered in goosebumps.
“Okay, you two can get a room,” Daphne says, just as Cash holds up his hand.
“I think I have something,” Cash calls, getting our attention. “I’ve been compiling a list of missing persons with similar descriptions of the two men who have been found so far. I found twelve that have been reported missing in the past few months, all last seen in the French Quarter.”
He picks up a remote and flips on Miss Sophia’s TV, which he’s tethered to his computer, then clicks some keys.
“Here are all of the photos, side by side. Tell me what they have in common.”
“You don’t know?” Esme asks.
“Of course, I know,” Cash says. “I want to know if you guys see it, too.”
We all stare at the images, and I stand to walk in front of the television, my arms crossed as I stare at the face of each man.
“They all have brown hair,” I say. “But different facial features. They don’t all have the same eye color.”
“But they’re all wearing glasses,” Brielle adds from beside me. “Brown hair and glasses.”
Everything in me runs cold as I turn to Lucien.
“It’s you. He’s not killing me this time around, he’s killing you, Lucien.”
The air swirls in the room as my anger soars.
“Millie,” Brielle says, but I shake my head.
“That bastard is killing the man I love because he’s trying to hurt me. He’s trying to piss me off, which is working.”
“He’s teaching you a lesson,” Lucien says. His voice is calm, but his eyes reflect my frustration. “He knows the best way to scare you, to hurt you, is to hurt me. It’s been that way for centuries.”
“Well, he’s done his job. I’m pissed. And I’m not scared. I’m going to fucking destroy him.”
“Millicent.” Lucien’s before me now and sets his hands on my shoulders. “Your anger fuels his power.”
“Am I supposed to feel good about this?”