“I tell you what Falcon, Jorgen should really consider creating a separate dining room, so we don’t have to eat with all the commoners,” I hear Cassandra say. I glance at her and our eyes meet. Luckily for me, Lenin can’t hear her because he’s arguing with his sister over pieces of brownie cake someone left on our table. She narrows her eyes at the Pixies, tosses her shiny blond hair and hurries away from the dining room, along with her guard.
Taking a deep breath, I manage to keep my composure. Cassandra isn’t my problem at the moment, and for now I need to accept the fact that some day she might be Jorgen’s wife. It doesn’t mean I have to like her or her condescending attitude. How does he put up with her?
I manage to finish my full plate of food, then plan to head over to Emilia’s shop and ask her a few questions about the potion I found in my room a few days ago. I don’t look where I’m going and walk straight into someone. Energy crackles along my spine snapping against a very muscular chest. I swallow hard and look up seeing deep, brown eyes of a dragon shifter who just so happens to be a mage as well.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you,” I mumble, trying to walk past him, but his wide smile does something to my insides. Freaking hormones, lately I’ve been feeling this gut wrenching heat every time a good looking shifter looks at me. I need to start controlling myself better.
“That’s all right. I was just hoping to get a cup of coffee,” the mage replies, and a mad gleam flickers in his eyes. He doesn’t notice the scar or he’s polite enough not to stare.
“Astri, I see you met Lucas, the detective from Samara. He’s been in the castle since yesterday,” Jorgen says, suddenly materialising right in front of me. I exhale sharply, releasing the breath I’ve been holding for about thirty or more seconds. The mage in front of me is very handsome, and he has curly, chocolate brown hair and a very wide jaw. “This is Astri Harlam, the winner of the contest, and officially my new assistant.”
“Mr lordi, lord, don’t forget about us too. We’re as important as Astri here,” Lenin throws in his two cents and I force out a watery smile, knowing my cheeks are on fire, even though I just met this mage.
Jorgen smiles and his face brightens.
“Oh yes, and of course her Welsh Pixies, Lenin and Jetli.”
“The famous Wyvern shifter. Yes, I’ve been following your progression very closely. Your skills are impressive,” Lucas says, then shakes my hand while my Pixies are flying around, staring and making me even more uncomfortable. Heat sweeps over my skin as soon as our hands touch. It looks like it’s not only Jorgen who affects me, but my hormones react when any mage available or not is nearby.
“I have a few things I have to take care of this morning. Astri’s going to assist you with the investigation. She’s my eyes and ears in the castle,” Jorgen adds with a smile, then disappears again, probably to take care of Cassandra’s seemingly long list of needs. I really need to stop being so bitter. They’re going to be married soon, and I just need to accept it. Even if I can’t stand her stupid face or grating voice.
“Have you got any suspects yet?” I ask him, trying to distract myself from staring at his muscles. “Rosanna was stabbed, but I think whoever did it had access to the castle. Several maids are too afraid to come to work these days. Luckily, Jorgen placed more guards around the castle during the night shift.”
It’s official, I think I finally hit a point in my life when I really need to start seriously considering getting a mate or a boyfriend, otherwise my hormones won’t allow me to function normally. I always hoped this wouldn’t happen, but even my inner dragon’s getting restless.
Elijah asked me out before he ended up in the hospital with a concussion, so I can’t expect him to be available anytime soon. Other shifters or even mages in Rivenna are mostly taken and they might be a bit too creepy for me. Lucas is handsome, but I suspect he’s probably married, even Jetli goes all red in the face when he winks at her.
“No, I only just arrived and I’m still finding my bearings. It’s a terrible tragedy,” Lucas adds. “I need to head over to the city. Governor Pollock’s meeting me in the square. He asked me to discuss this case with him, apparently he wants to be involved as well.”
I bet he does–I want to cringe hearing that name, still remembering what Pollock tried to do to me a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if Jorgen will be happy to know Pollock’s meeting with Lucas, but that’s none of my business. I wonder what would’ve happened to me if Jorgen didn’t show up in time and get me out of there.
“Astri, you said earlier you wanted to see Emilia. We can show the nice detective the way, he can walk with us right?” Lenin asks, smiling mischievously. I have no idea why my Pixies are suddenly so agreeable. Normally, they try to scare any male shifter who tries to get anywhere near me. Jetli grins widely, smoothing her curly hair. It looks like she’s smitten.
“Yes, it would be good if we could walk together. I don’t really know the city that well,” Lucas says, smiling widely. I suddenly wish I’d changed into something more decent earlier on. Jetli’s flying close to the mage, fluttering her eyelashes towards him. A few maids are staring when we move through the exit. Is there something in the air or has everyone suddenly gone mad? I keep smoothing my blond hair that’s finally grown a bit, but Lucas doesn’t seem to pay any attention to my deformed cheek.
We talk about the contest and finally I answer him with long, coherent sentences. He seems impressed with all the magical and strength challenges I completed. Lenin keeps bombarding him with personal questions (How old are you detective? … So are there any fairies in Samara? Do you like pancakes for breakfast? … I mean what is with this Pixie?)
Involuntarily, and without any complaints, I find out Lucas is only twenty-five and he’s been working as a detective since he graduated from the shifter academy in Samara.
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend, Lenin. My mother’s trying hard to set me up with many shifters, but married life isn’t for me at the moment,” Lucas says and I want to start dancing in the street. Maybe this is fate, he’s the first decent looking and intelligent mage who isn’t tied up. Lenin doesn’t seem to care about manners or the fact he keeps asking completely inappropriate questions. I really want to smack him. I actually want to impress a man for a change. I’m not stupid, Lucas is way out of my league, but just maybe he’ll help me push away conflicted feelings about Jorgen.
“The square isn’t far from here. I used to work in a potion shop as a hunter before I won the contest,” I say.
“The Poison Ivy. Yes, I remember reading in the paper that your previous boss is a witch, a very skilled one in Rivenna. Anyway, I hope to see you later. I have a few mages from the castle I need to question,” he hints. Jetli’s shaking her head for me to say something already. It looks like she has her first crush on a man.
“Great, it’s a date,” I say, before I even realise what came out of my mouth. I bring my palms to my face and start running towards the shop wanting to jump into a time machine. A shifter teenager was murdered a few nights ago and I’m using this as an excuse for a date. For Hommis, that sounded so bad. Lucas probably thinks I’m mad.
Blood rushes to my ears as I walk inside Emilia’s shop, knowing I completely screwed up. It’s a date, really Astri? You only just met the man.
“Astri, Jetli thinks Lucas is a decent man for you. And I wouldn’t mind if you go on a date with him. I wouldn’t mind at all,” Lenin says, then flies away to find something to do in the shop.
“Gee Lenin, thank you,” I mutter to myself sarcastically, ready to move across the country, because I just embarrassed myself in front of one of the most attractive shifters I’ve ever met.
Chapter 5
The love potion. The love potion. The love potion.
“Astri, how are you darling? I’ve been meaning to visit you after I heard about that terrible murder the other day,” Emilia says, hugging me tightly. “Oh my … who is that handsome young man who walked with you all the way he
re?”
Nothing moves past her eyes, she must have spotted me from across the road when we were talking. Her magical energy eases the tension in my body and I want to forget about Lucas already. He most likely thinks I’m a complete freak. Next time I’m not taking my Pixies anywhere with me. They don’t know how to behave. I thought this moment would never come, but it looks like my dragon hormones might be slowly going through heat season. In the past, I never really cared about it, but now things are different. Maybe I haven’t experienced this sooner because my mother was partly human. Who knows? Beatrice slipped up when Richard caught me trying to steal my dragon cup from them. I have no idea how long she knew, but she’s hidden such significant information from me for years. Knowing her, she’s probably known all along…
“He’s a detective from Samara who’s investigating the murder in the castle. Jorgen wants me to work with him,” I explain, shrugging my shoulders like it’s no big deal.
I’d been working for Emilia since I was fifteen, and when I won the contest she was very supportive. She was sad to see me go, but I needed to grab this opportunity when it was available. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asking myself over and over if I made the right decision, especially while Jorgen was isolating himself from everyone.
“Detective? Well, hopefully he’ll find the person who killed that poor, shifter girl. It was really a terrible tragedy,” she sighs, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Astri, I think you should move in with me. The castle’s too dangerous. What if something happens to you?”
I bite my lip, thinking that I would’ve said yes two weeks ago, but now I’ve finally been given a task. Emilia doesn’t need to know someone’s trying to kill me–she has enough on her mind as it is. My work in the shop always mattered, and I feel a bit nostalgic being back there, but I have to move on with my life.
Life in the castle moves at a different rhythm, and my past is complicated. If I stay, I’ll finally be able to get answers about the mage who killed my parents and scarred me for life. I have more resources available to me now.
“The duke’s cornered and he’s putting more guards out along the corridors and around the castle walls. Everyone in the castle’s talking about it, but you don’t need to worry. I’m very careful,” I explain, still thinking about the poison someone left in my room. “Besides, the shifter girl who was stabbed was Cassandra’s little cousin. The duke’s future fiancée.”
Emilia’s eyebrows rise to her hairline. She then proceeds to drag me all the way to the back. She has several bubbling pots on the stove, still trying to master the perfect love potion. I inhale the smell of honey, wildflowers and summer fresh rain, thinking about Jorgen.
Crap, I really need to stop fantasising about him that way. It’ll only cause trouble and more heartache.
“Well it’s about time. The duke isn’t a youngster anymore. I did hear he had visitors from Laehori, but I had no idea he would be engaged anytime soon,” Emilia contemplates and starts telling me to never leave my chamber after dark. Then she starts going through the latest news in the city, while making me her famous herbal tea. Apparently Bianca, one of the girls who Emilia successfully matched is getting married. The Pixies are in the back near the potions and I remind myself to check on them later. A minute later the bell rings. Marianna’s in the shop, and Emilia waves her hand letting me know she can take care of the customers today.
“Welcome to Poison Ivy, how may I help you?” Marianna asks with her sweet voice.
“Are you the owner?”
“No ma’am, but–”
“I would like to speak to the owner right away. I don’t have time to deal with anyone who’s inexperienced,” says a voice belonging to a female. I hate customers who think they’re better than anyone else.
“Hold on, stay here. I’ll be right back,” Emilia tells me, rolling her eyes. She’s always so attending, and many shifters take advantage of her good nature. I walk around, tempted to taste one of Emilia’s love potions. I wonder what would happen if I slip a drop into Jorgen’s drink. Would he fall madly in love with me? Oh Hommis, I could never… That would be abhorrent – I would never trick a man into loving me.
“Hello. My name is Emilia and I’m the owner of the shop. Marianna’s new, so you must excuse her. How can I help you?” she asks, bringing me back to reality. I look around, wondering if being in heat changes my personality. The door to the back is open, and I’m able to hear everything going on inside the shop.
“One of the wizards where I’m from recommended your establishment. He mentioned you’re one of the most skilled potion brewers in Rivenna,” the woman says and her voice sounds oddly familiar. I peer out to see who she is, and for a moment I can’t believe my own eyes.
It’s Lady Cassandra and this time around she’s alone. Falcon, her guard, is nowhere to be seen.
What the hell is she doing in here, away from the castle?
“Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I’ve worked all my life to polish my potions and brewing skills. Is there a particular potion you’re looking to purchase today?” Emilia asks.
“Yes, your finest love potion. The man meant to steal my heart is hesitating and I need him to make up his mind,” the mage laughs, smoothing her blond hair.
My jaw drops and I can’t believe she’s ready to manipulate Jorgen to propose to her. She looks around the shop with curiosity, dressed in a brown, elegant jacket. Emilia smiles widely, and I’m ready to disappear. This is none of my business. Jorgen has too much on his mind to worry about Cassandra. He’s not ready to get married just yet. I know I shouldn’t care, but this sort of manipulation just to get Jorgen to marry her is preposterous–he needs to know what she’s up to, but who am I to tell him? He probably wouldn’t believe me anyway after the way he’s been falling all over her.
Cassandra’s desperate enough to seduce the duke with magic, and she doesn’t seem to want to wait. The duke told me himself he wanted to wait until he got his magic and dragon back. It’s not as if he can tell the likes of her what happened in the mountains.
“Well, you’re in for a treat ma’am, because I’ve been working on the most effective potion for years now. No one can compete with my spell and anyone in the city can tell you my success rate in phenomenal. You only need one drop of the potion to enhance desire in your beloved,” Emilia explains, and then produces a small flask filled with red-tinted liquid. Cassandra narrows her eyes, and a mysterious smile appears on her lips.
It looks like the royal wedding will happen sooner than I suspected. This may complicate my relationship with Jorgen. The contest might have given me the opportunity to get closer to the duke, to learn from him, now I have no idea what’s going to happen.
“Yes, other mages have heard about your unspoiled reputation. I would like to purchase two bottles,” Cassandra says.
Two bottles? Is she planning on making him a drooling, love-sick fool? What else is she up to? Right. It’s none of my business. Wicked woman.
It’s not my place to warn Jorgen and all of a sudden I need some air. My scar’s stinging me again. I need to focus on what’s important, and forget about my stupid hormones. The duke will never be my mate, and now he’s going to marry Cassandra. The killer’s still out there and I must figure out what happened the night Thayer left.
The shop starts filling up with customers and Cassandra vanishes as soon as she pays for the love potion. Emilia’s swamped and I know she will be for quite a while, so I use the back door to take my leave. There’s no point in me going back to the castle right now, and I quickly remember I have the address of the maid who’s been missing over the past few days.
“Come on guys, I’m leaving. Are you going to join me or stay here?” I ask the Pixies. The two of them are wrestling with each other on the grass, but soon quit when I scrub Emilia a note saying I went out to take care of something in the city. There’s at least a dozen customers in the shop now, and they’ll keep her busy for at least an hour.
&nbs
p; “Where are we going? I’m hungry. Maybe we should stop at the market and get some of those sweets,” Lenin suggests and I wonder how he can eat so much being so tiny.
“You just polished off a huge breakfast in the castle,” I point out, laughing. He frowns and Jetli giggles to herself.
“That was ages ago, and I’m starving,” he complains.
“All right … all right, we’ll get the sweets, but we have to pay someone a visit first,” I say.
The streets seems busier than usual today; shifters are rushing about. Down the street, I see Cassandra getting into a flashy, black and white pin-striped, high-speed car, and Falcon’s opening the door for her, keeping his eyes on their surroundings. I sense magical energy and when I look up I notice two dragon shifters circulating around the castle. Those shifters are mostly seen at night, but it looks like Jorgen’s stepped up his game, probably trying to show the killer he doesn’t feel intimidated by the recent murder.
The duke was weakened by the “cutting of the mage” ritual and now he’s vulnerable, but he cannot indicate to his people he’s been affected by the recent event, it would be a terrible mistake. Rivenna’s been ruled by the Lindworm clan for over one hundred years, and it isn’t going to change anytime soon.
The maid from the castle is human and she lives in the Downside area, mainly where middle class humans and random shifters reside. A cold shiver crawls over my spine when I think about Richard and Beatrice. They must know I won the contest. My aunt and uncle pretend in front of their friends they don’t follow shifter news, but I know my uncle secretly watches Lupus station late at night. My debt to them hasn’t been fully repaid according to my uncle and I’m surprised they haven’t tried to contact me yet.