Chapter 35

Nervous energy had Remi bouncing from one thing to the next. She had the entire café ready for breakfast before Berk could get the food prep finished. After Brome had gone, she’d sat on the couch and waited for someone to come and tell her what had happened. The next thing she knew it was morning and she was in her bed with a passed-out Darien beside her. Wanting to wake him had her second-guessing for several minutes, she wanted to know what happened, but she’d left him there to sleep and come downstairs to help Berk get the morning started.

Holding out a cup of coffee, Berk gave her a steady look. “Your nerves have mine buzzing. You need to sit down and take five before I start bouncing off the walls.”

Accepting the cup, she sighed. “I’m sorry. You’d think with only a few hours of sleep I’d be dragging my ass, but I could probably run a marathon today.”

Turning back to the grill, he began to take the sausage off and place them on the warmer. “I can’t believe no one told you what happened.” He scowled over his shoulder at her. “You must have been out cold for the big guy to move you and not wake up.”

Leaning back against the counter, she sighed. “I think my brain had a meltdown from information overload and my body just followed suit.”

“No doubt.” He covered the pan. “Mine went into arrest when you explained what they found out from the bodies…” he made a face, “Eww, by the way, I can’t believe someone would do that.” He made an exaggerated shiver before continuing. “So, basically we’re trying to find a demon that’s under some kind of spell?”

“Spell, thrall, I didn’t ask for details.”

Berk shrugged, “But Pascal and Vie say this demon is a customer?” He huffed out a breath. “I hope it’s no one we know, like really know.” Moving over to the fridge, he pulled out the prepped bowl of mushrooms and set them beside the grill. “Mushroom omelets today.” Checking the clock, he leaned back against the table. “So, what happens to the pawn demon when they’re found?”

Sipping her coffee, Remi watched him over the rim of the cup. “I didn’t ask.”

“I don’t think I want to know,” he added quietly. Tilting his head to the side he gave her a wide-eyed look. “On to the important things…” he smiled, “tell me about the men on the council.”

“There’s a vampire, a mage, Darien’s uncle…” she smirked when he let out an exasperated breath.

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

Leave it up to Berk to shrug off the threat and be more interested in what the men looked like. Setting the cup down, she got up and grabbed the menus stacked on the end of the counter. “They’re all…”

“Good morning, neacht.” Garrett filled the doorway. “Darien told me you’d be down here this early. I’m still surprised you’re up and about.”

Remi sighed. “All part of the business owner deal.” She motioned to the coffee pot. “Would you like a coffee?”

Garrett rubbed a hand down over his chest. “I’ve never acquired the taste for it.”

Nodding, she set down the menus and moved over to get the teapot ready. “I’ll brew you some tea.”

“Appreciate it.” Turning the large man stepped over in front of Berk and put out his hand. “Garrett.”

With his mouth gaping open, Berk nodded and wiped his hand on his apron before placing his small hand in Garrett’s. “Berk.”

With an abrupt nod, Garrett smiled. “You must be a brother to Boden and Baker then?”

Berk nodded and then put his head back to look up at him.

Turning, Garrett gave Remi a serious look. “I’m going out to check the boundary. I’ll be back in a moment for my tea.” He paused at the door. “Brome should be joining us shortly.”

Pouring the water into the pot, Remi turned to see Berk, eyes wide, staring at her.

“OMG” He huffed out a dramatic breath, “you didn’t tell me there were giant man treats on the council.” He glanced at the door Garrett had gone out then back to her. “That’s Darien’s uncle?” Berk snorted, “I thought Darien was large…”

Shaking her head, Remi picked up the menus and went out into the café. They’d be opening the doors in a few minutes and she was hoping for a busy morning to keep her occupied. The less time she had to sit and think about everything, the better.

“Morning, Remi.”

Brome stood at the kitchen door. “Did you manage to get some rest?” He motioned behind the counter, waiting for her to acknowledge him before getting himself a cup of coffee.

“I managed a few hours, although I think it was just plain exhaustion and not just sleep.”

Nodding, he added some cream to his cup. “Sometimes the mind just knows when it needs to reboot.”

Remi sighed, “I guess I needed that.”

Leaning back against the counter, Brome studied her. “You’re doing much better than most would be.”

Deciding she didn’t want to learn anything else, she motioned to the paper on the end of the counter. “I started the demon list. Hopefully, everyone else can add some names.”

Going over to the list, he turned it with a finger and looked at it. “I talked to Alaric and Hope last night, they’re going to help you to hone your skills and draw the demons here.” He glanced at her. “If you’d like.”

Heaving a sigh, she nodded. “I’d like.” Turning when the door opened, she watched Garrett come back in. “I have no idea how to actually control it.”

Berk came out of the kitchen and held out a cup to Garrett. “It’s strong enough to kill any virus on contact.” He went over and began to pull up the blinds.

Garrett chuckled and sat down on one of the stools.

Brome slid the list down the counter to him. “Remi’s been working on the list.”

Checking the coffee pots, Remi gave them both a few moments to sip their preferred wake-up beverage. “I passed out before Darien could tell me if you found anyone or anything last night.”

Garrett glanced up from the list. “We lost the scent.”

“But there was a scent this time?” She gave him a hopeful look.

Brome gave her a small shrug. “A very faint one according to Attis.”

Remi felt some hope for the first time. At least they’d found a scent. “That’s good, right? That there was one this time?”

“If it was an error on their part, yes,” Garrett nodded, “if it was intentional then they know we’re here and are baiting us.”

Brome chuckled. “That never works out well,” he gave her a serious look, “for them.”

A part of her wanted to ask more questions, but logic told her she was probably better off not knowing. Two regular customers came in. Berk went over and started chatting with them. “How far did you manage to follow it?” Remi poured the customers’ coffee and set them on the counter for Berk.

“Pascal said it faded near the old bridge on Dunham Road and then was gone before they reached the tracks.” Garrett nodded to Brome’s explanation.

Both men watched to see if she knew where they were talking about. Remi had lived in Riverside for seven years but exploring had never been on her bucket list. “Maybe they met someone there and got a ride?”

Garrett shrugged. “Could be.”

A few more customers came in, giving her a chance to keep busy and not have to discuss it any further. She wanted to know, but at the same time anytime she asked a question her life got more complicated.

Taking the orders, she clipped them to the rack for Berk and turned to see Darien leaning against the kitchen door. He looked rough, to say the least. The last week of long days and never-ending nights were taking their toll on everyone.

He looked around for a moment before stopping on her. There was something different in the way he looked at her this morning. Questioning.

Going down the counter she poured him a coffee and took it to him.

Taking it from her, his eyes searching hers as he took the first sip. “Are you all right?” His voice was deep and gravelly, he must have climbed out of the bed and come down immediately.

Giving him a puzzled look, she nodded. “Yeah.”

“Brome filled me in last night…”

The meaning of the different looks dawned on her. “I’m still processing.”

He gave her a soft look. “With good reason.” Taking another sip, he looked around again. “I’m a little stunned by all of it.” He smirked. “I always knew you were one of a kind but didn’t realize how.”

For some reason, she needed him to be okay. If Darien could accept it, then it would make it easier. “You’re okay with it?”

Remi watched Berk set the two orders in the window but needed Darien’s answer before she took them.

“Are you okay with it?” He shrugged. “I’ll take you anyway, Remi, you should know that.”

Feeling like a weight was lifted from her she smiled. “I don’t know if I’m okay with it, but I don’t think I really have a choice, do I?”

“Not really.” He moved by her when more customers came in and sat at the counter.

Picking up the orders, she turned to see Garrett watching her, a warm smile on his face. “I still don’t understand the two of you.”

Heading out to deliver the food, she raised an eyebrow. “Join the club, Garrett.”

By the time the café was busy Alaric, Hope, and Kyran were there.

“Need me to do anything?” Kyran asked as she carried a bin of dirty dishes by him.

“Ah,” she glanced around, “if you could make more coffee, that would be great.”

“No problem.” He went behind the counter. “Who is going to help with Deane, Renae, and Betany gone?”

Picking up new placemats, Remi tucked them under her elbow and grabbed the order in the window. “I think Iris and I have most of it covered. Nadine and Soren will be here shortly.”

“How long has Iris Cantrell worked here?”

Remi turned to see Alaric watching Iris take an order. “Three years I guess, maybe longer.”

Alaric turned to look at her, a blank expression in his eyes. “We lost track of her.”

Glancing back at Iris, Remi turned slowly to him. “Okay. Well, she’s found. Why were you keeping track of her?” Her first thought was it was too early, she was too tired for word games or para drama. His answer had better be short and sweet.

“Fey, as you may already know, are either light or dark.”

Crossing her arms, she gave him her best duh expression. “Yes, I know that.” Seriously there were some things she knew.

“Iris is neither,” he glanced away from her then his mesmerizing eyes flicked back to hers, “or should I say both. It’s rare, almost unheard of. Dark and light do not…” he watched Iris walk toward them, “procreate.”

Remi looked at her waitress and then smirked at him. “I’d say they do.”

“We had several incidents reported involving Miss Cantrell. How has she been since she’s come here?”

“Fine.” Remi shrugged, “she has a short fuse from time to time…”

“And the result of those times? If she’s a threat to your patrons, we can have her removed.”

Removed? “I wouldn’t say she’s a threat…”

He leaned over the counter, his face getting closer to hers. “Have there been any incidents that should have been reported?”

Remi studied his pale eyes for a moment and then turned to see Iris. For all her faults, she’d grown on Remi. Iris was as much a part of her family as Darien and her adopted children. “I wouldn’t label anything,” she made quotes signs in the air, “an incident.” She shrugged, “more like a miscommunication, but it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle.” Without Betany’s light magic and Nadine’s spells.

With narrow eyes, he looked at her for a moment. “Just be watchful, Miss Foster, she can be very volatile.”

“Noted.” She saw Iris loading up a dish bin. “I better see if they need any help in the kitchen.”

He nodded, barely acknowledging her as he turned to watch Iris once more. Quickly, Remi headed into the kitchen to wait for the volatile faerie.

Shoving through the door, Iris gave her a lopsided smile. “Is the all-mighty Alaric spouting off his usual garbage?”

“I don’t know what you did, but he really has it in for you.” Remi stepped out of her way so she could put the dishes by the washer.

Iris snorted. “Typical.”

“You pissed off a council member?” Berk asked in a cautious way.

Rolling her eyes at him, Iris wiped her hands on a towel. “I outsmarted him five years ago and I guess he never got over it.”

Added to her list of I-don’t-want-details, Remi gave her a serious look. “Just watch yourself while they’re here. I’ve already got Dragon Lady gunning for me because I stepped in to stop her from harassing Pascal. I don’t need to get caught in a Fey battle as well.”

Sighing with a sincere look, Iris nodded. “I’ll behave. I want them gone as much as you do.”

Moving over to the dishwasher, Remi began to load it. “I just want the threat eliminated and things to go back to normal.”

“Amen to that.” Berk waved the tongs in the air and turned back to the grill.

Soren came in from the back room. “Good morning.” She gave Remi a smile and moved over to the coffee pot while glancing over Berk’s shoulder at the orders. “Did Nadine do something different to the boundary spell?”

Remi frowned. “Not that I know of.”

“Oh,” adding cream to her coffee, Soren took a sip and went over to the toaster.

“That’s what was different this morning.” Berk spun around and looked at Soren. “I thought I was just exhausted after a restless night.”

“Iris, need you out here,” Darien called through the window.

With an exasperated huff, Iris looked from Berk to Soren and then went back out front.

“What is different?” Remi asked, hoping her heart speeding up was for nothing.

“Normally when we,” Soren motioned to Berk, “shifters walk over it, our animals feel it.”

Berk nodded. “It really stirs them up.”

Soren’s eyes widened. “Since Nadine’s coven strengthened the spell, it’s been intense when I step over the line. Except today.”

Frowning, Remi pulled her phone out of her pocket. “I’m going to text her and see if they did something to it.”

“There’s no need,” Hope stepped into the kitchen, “I did it.”

“You changed it?” Remi erased what she’d typed and set her phone on the counter to give the council witch her full attention.

“Yes.” Hope inclined her head toward Berk and Soren. “I’m Hope.”

“Changed it how?” Crossing her arms over her chest, Remi leaned a hip against the prep table.

“We want the guilty to be able to come to you.” She gave her a small smile, “But they wouldn’t have been able, so we changed it.” Glancing over Berk’s shoulder, she looked at the grill. “Your food is going to burn.”

Cursing softly, Berk turned back to what he should have been doing.

“The spell will still prevent violence,” Hope continued, “but ill intentions are another matter.”

Remi had never completely understood how it worked, only that it did. “Just so long as those that come here are safe.”

“They are.” She gave Remi another polite smile. “Brome, Alaric, and I would like to help you hone your drawing abilities, if now is a good time?”

Remi’s nerves started to tingle. “Things are under control for now, so I have a bit of time.” A dozen scenarios flashed through her mind. She had no idea what it was going to involve in learning how to intentionally use her ability.