Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)
“Me neither.” She propped beside me. “We could always appeal the decision. People have.”
“But have they ever won?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean we won’t.”
“Appealing their decision would mean revealing a little more about ourselves than I’m comfortable with
right now.”
“And yet you’re not comfortable with lying, either, if the unhappy vibes I was receiving earlier are anything to go by.”
“The worst of it is, he’s well aware that I’m still not telling him the whole truth.”
“That’s why he’s the ranger, and Zak is a bartender.” Belle pushed away from the counter and plucked the empty glass from my hand. “Look, why don’t you go grab a sleeping draught and catch up on some of the sleep you’ve missed over the last few nights. Aiden’s not likely to get here before midnight, so that at least gives you a couple of hours.”
I hesitated, and then nodded. If my gut was right, I’d be missing more sleep tomorrow night thanks to the soul eater, so it was infinitely better to grab some sleep while I could. And it sure as hell beat hanging around for hours on end worrying about the council’s decision and what it might mean for us—especially when there was nothing either of us could really do to change it.
I went back downstairs to make a gentle sleeping potion. Once I’d thoroughly washed out the containers and stacked them away again, I hit my bed. The good thing about sleeping potions was they also stilled your mind, giving you a dream-free sleep. Given the fact that I woke in the exact same position that I went to sleep in, I evidently didn’t even stir.
For several minutes, I listened to the creaks and groans of the old building, finding an odd sense of comfort and peace in them. In the street outside, magpies warbled, and that had confusion stirring. Why the hell were they up and active at night?
“Because it’s not night,” Belle said, as she came into the room. She’d obviously just woken, as her hair was messy and she was still in her nightie. “It’s seven in the goddamn morning, and your ranger didn’t drop by last night, as he promised.”
I closed my eyes and swore softly. “It’s obviously bad news then.”
“Probably.” Belle sat on the edge of the bed, then reached past me and pulled my phone out from its usual position under my pillow. “You need to call him, because we fucking need to know what’s going on. It’s not just us they’re affecting, but our staff as well.”
I accepted the phone somewhat reluctantly. My heart raced and sweat was beginning to trickle down my spine. Anyone would think I’d just run a marathon.
“High stress levels can do that.” Belle’s tone was grim. “Make the call. I’ll go downstairs and make a couple of Irish coffees. No matter which way it goes, I’ve a feeling we’ll need the alcohol.”
She rose and left. I took a deep breath in an effort to calm my churning stomach, and then made the call. The phone rang several times before it was answered.
“Liz,” he muttered, his voice husky with sleep. Sheets rustled as he moved, and I had visions of cotton sliding over skin.
I closed my eyes against them and bluntly said, “Are we in or out?”
“In. At least for the moment. And I’m sorry I didn’t call in, but when I came past, the place was dark. I didn’t want to wake either of you.”
I closed my eyes against the tears suddenly prickling my eyes... and heard an echoing whoop from downstairs. But that didn’t mean we were out of the woods yet—not given that “for the moment” comment. “You should have at least sent a text, Aiden, because I woke up believing the worst. And you need to explain that rider.”
“Yes.” He paused. “I’d rather not talk over the phone. If the offer of coffee still stands, I can be there in ten minutes.”
“I might even offer you breakfast if your explanation is reasonable enough.”
“That would be appreciated. I’ll see you soon.”
He hung up. I threw the phone onto the bedside table, then collapsed back onto my pillow. Tears continued to prickle, and my body was shaking, a reaction akin to shock and evidence of just how much the decision had meant to me—to us. I rubbed a hand across my eyes, smearing moisture, then got up, pulled on a sweater long enough to hang down to the middle of my thighs, and padded bare legged down the stairs. Despite the fact the sun had risen an hour or so ago, the café remained in shadows.
“I pulled the blinds down.” Belle came around the counter and handed me a tall glass filled with delicious-smelling coffee and a mountain of cream. “I figured it not only met Aiden’s order to be careful, but stopped the inhabitants of Castle Creek enjoying the glorious sight of us parading around in our underwear. They’ve done nothing to deserve it.”
“They have supported the café.”
“True, but they remain undeserving in my eyes—especially if some of them still think we need evicting.”
“It’s the council who are deciding that, not the everyday folk who come in here.” I sat down at the nearest table and sipped the coffee—and felt the warmth burn all the way down. Belle really had ramped up the alcohol content. It was probably just as well I couldn’t drive anywhere today.
“How can you be sure the various council members aren’t amongst our customers? It’s not like they walk in here and announce who they are.”