The Dragon's Spellbound Alien Read online

  “Excellent. I’ll make us dinner. Besides ‘to die for’ blueberry pancakes, coq au vin, bar snacks and vodka with lime, what do you like to eat?”

  “Lots of things. Surprise me.” She lowered her voice. “But if you decide to flame some steaks with dragon fire, I’d like to watch.”

  Warrick looked around to ensure no one was paying attention to their conversation. “Are you sure you’re ready to see me change…you know, into something else?”

  She shrugged, but he didn’t know if it was because she wasn’t sure about his ability to shift or her desire to see it. Bianca was the first woman who didn’t get that certain glaze in her eyes he’d become uncomfortably familiar with, like her sole purpose was to find alternate transportation by way of his winged alter ego.

  It was only a matter of time. He’d eventually have to show her what he could do. This was the first time, however, he didn’t dread it. That didn’t stop the little issue he had about girls wanting to date him for his wings from settling inside his mind and making him squirm.

  He was about to start some delicate questioning to assure himself she wasn’t looking for a new ride to work when Sheriff Merrow entered the diner and scanned the room as if seeking someone in particular. His gaze lit on Warrick. The sheriff strode toward him, and he didn’t look happy. With an internal sigh, Warrick bore up to hear bad news as the big man came to a stop at their table.

  “Sheriff. Can I help you with something?”

  Hank looked at Bianca, registered a bit of a smile for her, but sobered when he turned to Warrick.

  “Sorry, Warrick. I need to talk to you in private again.”

  Chapter Ten

  <^><^><^>

  Bianca sat up straight in her chair. “Are you going to interrupt every date we have? What about our wedding? Do we have to take you with us on our honeymoon?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Are you two getting married soon?”

  “It’s possible. It’s been pretty good between us so far. I mean, it could happen, except that we keep getting interrupted. We’ll have to see how it goes.” She stared meaningfully at him.

  The sheriff stared back. “Just a coincidence. I’m not always going to barge in on you. At least I hope not.”

  “I’m just kidding, Sheriff.” Bianca winked at Warrick, then stood up and blew him a kiss.

  “Call me later,” she said, handing Warrick a card with her phone number on it.

  “Dinner at my house, right?” She nodded, and he added, “I’ll call later with directions.”

  Bianca gave the sheriff a salute and walked out of the diner. She headed toward Bubba’s Psychic Readings, at the last-minute darting down the alley to the rear entrance instead of going in through the front door.

  She found Bubba alone in the manager’s office. Astrid must be up at the front reception area. Bubba’s head was bent over what looked like some sort of ledger. Bianca rapped on the doorframe. “Knock knock. You wanted to see me?”

  He looked up and nodded. “I did. Come on in. Have a seat.” Once Bianca sat in the chair next to the desk, Bubba stood up to close the door.

  She bit her lip and thought about the client she’d almost blown it with the day before, the sticky fingered Lilian. “I’m not being fired, am I?”

  “No, of course not. Why would you say that?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because you left me a secretive message last night and didn’t give me any hint as to what it was about? And now you close the door like we’re about to have a discussion you don’t want anyone to hear.”

  “I don’t want anyone to hear this.”

  “Is it about your gift for Astrid that I didn’t pick up from Warrick? Because I’m really sorry about that.”

  “No, it’s not about that either. But it is about Warrick.”

  “What about Warrick?” She was back to being worried. She sensed she was about to get bad news. Not in a psychic way, but in that hair rising up on the back of your neck way when people had premonitions before they knew the whole truth.

  Bubba picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and handed it to her. She scanned it and realized it was the application she had filled out to become one of his matchmaking Alpha aliens.

  “You’re about to match me up with someone, aren’t you?”

  Before Bianca could launch into a speech about how she was in love with Warrick, so didn’t need the service anymore, thank you very much, Bubba said, “No. I already have matched you up with someone.”

  She stared at him, confusion surely shaping her expression. And then it dawned on her. Oh no. “Warrick. You set me up with Warrick?”

  “Yes. Actually, his mother selected you from the applicants I had here in town already.”

  “His mother?”

  “Do you remember your client Vilma? She is a witch. So far as we know, no Alphas have been able to read the minds of any witch in town, but you handled her brilliantly. She was very impressed.”

  “Vilma.” Bianca did remember the sweet older woman. She got absolutely nothing in the way of thoughts from Vilma during her reading session.

  Bubba set his elbows on the desk, tented his fingers and leaned forward eagerly. “So, tell me. How did things go between you and Warrick?”

  “Well, I’d say it went spectacularly well. We love each other. He’s already asked me to marry him and I just realized not only have I met his brother the vampire, I’ve also met his mother and didn’t know it.”

  “That all sounds good. Why do you look so forlorn about it?”

  “How am I ever going to explain this to him? I’m crazy about him. But he’s going to think I’m lying to him, that I was in on the setup from the first moment. And I wasn’t.”

  “Honestly, Bianca, I believe Warrick will be glad, even though his mother was the one who set this in motion.”

  “I don’t think he will believe me. I don’t know that I would believe me. A lie is never a good way to start a relationship. It won’t matter that I didn’t lie, only that he will think I did.”

  Bubba shook his head. “I will tell him. He will believe me. He will know you were not in on the matchmaking arrangement when you met.”

  “Why did you pick me?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Actually, Vilma made the selection.”

  Bianca wasn’t certain if that would be better or worse. “I wonder why me?”

  “Obviously, she knows what kind of person her son likes. I believe she was impressed that you have a black belt in karate, and an interest in weapons and fighting skills. I’ve met Warrick and I can easily see the two of you together.”

  “Would you have selected me as a match for him?” Bianca looked carefully as Bubba answered, searching for truth in his eyes.

  “You would have been my first choice had she asked me, but she didn’t. I was very pleased and felt rather vindicated when Vilma selected you, too.”

  Bianca gave him a timid smile—it was reassuring he considered her a worthy match for Warrick—and tried not to feel so forlorn. It certainly wasn’t her fault their first meeting had been arranged without their knowledge.

  She was telling the truth and certainly Warrick would believe Bubba. Bianca hoped he would simply take her word for it. She wanted him to trust and believe in her, too.

  Otherwise, how could they build a life together?

  Chapter Eleven

  <^><^><^>

  Warrick watched Bianca until she exited Mummy’s Diner, then turned his attention back to the sheriff. Hank had a bemused expression on his face.

  “What?”

  “I have to say it’s fascinating to watch you when you’re in Bianca’s company.”

  “Why is that?”

  Hank sat down in the seat Bianca had vacated. He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. In a low tone, he said, “You just look different.”

  “Different? I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You look calmer. More focused, maybe, definitely in tune with your new lady friend. Who would h
ave thought a mighty dragon shifter would be so smitten with a beautiful psychic alien? I will admit I didn’t see that coming.”

  Warrick looked around to be sure no one was paying the least bit of attention to them. “While I certainly enjoy hearing your appraisal of my love life with the perfect woman, why are you interrupting me again?”

  Hank cleared his throat. “There was another break-in near Vilma’s house last night.”

  “Again?”

  The sheriff nodded, but didn’t look as upset by the news as Warrick would have expected. “This time the owner caught the culprits and held them until we got there. As I suspected, it was a couple of kids daring each other as part of an initiation into a foolish online club of some kind. Turns out they broke in and took a selfie in your mother’s library. There is an amazing shot of the two of their faces, with the Hart family coat of arms clearly displayed on the wall in the background, right next to the bookshelf.

  “So the evidence of their previous break-in at your mother’s was right on their phone.” Hank rolled his eyes. “Kids can be so reckless. They’re lucky they didn’t get shot at. Or worse.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. At least my mother is heeding your advice about using her security system.”

  Hank stood up. “Well, that’s something anyway. I should delay telling her about the foolish kids we caught for a day or two so she’ll keep up her new security routine.”

  Warrick pushed to his feet as well. “I’m pretty sure Rochester will insist on the practice continuing.”

  “Good enough.” They shook hands and Hank left the café. After paying the bill, Warrick headed back to his shop to get all the supplies ready to pack up the cheval mirror for delivery. Once the sealant was dry tomorrow, he’d get the mirror placed, make the final touches, and get it ready to go in no time. He made arrangements to drop it off the next day with the client.

  Phone in hand, Warrick realized Viktor hadn’t called him back yet. He’d have to find out what his brother wanted to tell him. The sun wasn’t yet down when he closed up and headed for Viktor’s home late in the afternoon. Sometimes his brother was up before the sun made its final descent in the west. As long as he stayed out of the direct sunlight, he wouldn’t have any problems.

  Warrick let himself inside the first floor of his brother’s place and took the stairs to the lower level.

  His brother was perched on the edge of the couch watching a game show on television. “What is Romania?” he shouted at the screen. A contestant’s voice said, “What is Romania?” and won the question.

  “Playing interactive Jeopardy again?” Warrick asked as he came into the living room.

  “You know it. What’s up?”

  “I should be asking that. You called me.”

  “Did I?” he said absently.

  “You left a message on my phone last night.”

  Viktor was only half paying attention. He shouted, “What is Bulgaria?” at his large flat-screen. Again the show’s contestant repeated his answer and won.

  Warrick picked up a stuffed football labeled with Viktor’s favorite sports team, aimed for his brother’s head and drilled his best fast ball. Viktor caught it mid-air without looking, gave him a dirty look and said loudly at the television, “What is Slovakia?” The contestant said, “What is Slovenia?” and lost.

  “Should have listened to me, dude,” Viktor said to the contestant.

  Warrick cleared his throat with exaggerated emphasis. “Do you have a message for me or not? I have things to do.”

  “Like what?”

  “I have a date.”

  That got his brother’s attention. “With Bianca?”

  “Yep.”

  Viktor grabbed the remote and muted the volume. “I remember why I called you.”

  “Awesome. Let’s hear it.”

  “This started out as purely gossip, you understand. But then I remembered something else and everything became clear.”

  “For some of us anyway. Spill it already.”

  “Okay. So at Insomnia last night, someone was talking about the break-in at Mom’s house. How they knew about two dudes who had been caught at another house—did you know they caught a couple of kids?—but someone had put them up to it.”

  “Yes, Hank told me. Who put them up to it?”

  “Don’t know. They jetted out of there.”

  “So that’s the gossip. What did you remember?”

  Rarely did his brother look uncomfortable, but right now he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. “Okay, so I saw something on Mom’s desk before the break-in. Something I forgot about until after I saw you with Bianca.”

  “What?”

  There was more hemming and hawing and a couple of looks around the room before Viktor said, “You know Mom put a spell on you and Bianca, right?”

  “What?” Warrick shook his head decisively. “No. She didn’t. She swore she’d never put a spell on us.”

  Viktor shrugged.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I saw some paperwork on her desk.”

  “Paperwork? Like what?”

  “Matchmaking paperwork.”

  “Matchmaking.” Warrick laughed out loud. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No, I’m not kidding. I saw a matchmaking contract with your name on it. On top was a little pink square note with Mom’s handwriting that said, love spell.”

  “But she swore to us she’d never use a spell on us.” Warrick thought about his sudden infatuation with Bianca. It wasn’t a spell. Was it? No. His mother wouldn’t betray him, not even for grandchildren.

  Viktor lifted one shoulder. “Okay, so maybe she didn’t put a spell on you. The thing is, Bro, she never promised she wouldn’t put a love spell on your psychic alien girlfriend. The one she set up for you with a matchmaking service.”

  Warrick felt like his legs had disappeared and there was nothing holding him up. He sat, or fell, plopping his body into a nearby easy chair. He was absolutely stunned. Did Bianca only love him because of a spell? Was she Warrick’s spellbound psychic alien?

  Viktor leaned back, sinking deeper into the sofa. One hand held the remote, and the fingers of his other hand tapped restlessly against one thigh. “She’s never made it a secret about the grandchildren she wants. And as time goes by, she gets more anxious for them, not less. I suspect she’s taken matters into her own hands to step things up.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “What can’t you believe? The lengths she’ll go to get grandchildren? I believe it. And you know I’ll be next on the list. Then it’s goodbye Insomnia at all hours, good day game shows whenever I want, sayonara stepping out with whoever I want, whenever I want.”

  Warrick’s thoughts were a disheveled mess. He loved Bianca. Didn’t he? “Do you know anyone who can find out if I have a spell on me?”

  Viktor stopped talking about the loss of his fond bachelor life and squinted. “Maybe.”

  “Call them.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now. I need to know.”

  Viktor made a phone call. It was the longest thirteen minutes and forty-seven seconds of Warrick’s life as they waited for a response. Then a kid in a gray hoodie and black sweat pants knocked on the front door. Viktor ushered him downstairs. Their visitor pushed back the hood to reveal a kid who didn’t look a day over fifteen. He squinted at Viktor, but his brother pointed to him. The kid stared at Warrick for ten seconds and shook his head. “He’s clean. I don’t see any magic, spells or negative aura.”

  “Thanks, kid. I owe you one.”

  “Great. Can you get me into Insomnia?”

  “Sure. The day you turn twenty-one.” Viktor pushed the scowling youth toward the stairs.

  “That sucks, Viktor.”

  “Lots of things suck. Like prison, for instance.”

  The kid left, grumbling all the way.

  Viktor turned to Warrick with a huge grin. “That’s good news. You really l
ove her and that’s awesome. And even better, it lets me off the hook. You can get married. You can have a whole gang of little alien fire breathers.”

  Warrick grabbed his brother by the shoulders. “You can’t tell her.”

  “Who? Mom?”

  “No. Bianca.” Warrick was thinking fast. If Bianca had a spell on her, then she might not love him if it was removed. Maybe if he had time to let her get to know him, they’d still have a chance once the spell was taken away. Not only would he show her his weapons collection, he would let her get a closer inspection of it. He could let her try out whatever she wanted. They could hang together anytime she wanted. Maybe she would eventually love him for himself, and not because some spell made her think she did.

  “Tell her what? That you don’t have a spell on you?”

  “No. Don’t tell her she’s the one caught in a love spell.”

  Viktor’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”

  “Also, I need a favor.”

  “Favor? Bro, you are off the rails. I don’t like the look in your eyes.”

  Warrick ignored his brother’s concerns. He was fine. It would all be fine. “I want the file on Bianca.”

  “What file?”

  “The matchmaking file you saw on Mom’s desk in her library. Surely Bianca’s name is also in there with some sort of file. I want to know the details of the contract.”

  “What if Mom put it back?”

  “I don’t care. Find it.”

  “Are you going to tell Bianca that Mom put a love spell on her?”

  “Not yet.”

  “When?”

  “After she and I spend more time together and she falls in love with me on her own.”

  “Warrick, this is wrong. I don’t know how I feel about tricking her.”

  “It’s not a trick. I just want a chance for us to get to know each other better and then I’ll tell her.”

  “Are you certain she’s even spellbound?”

  Warrick pushed out a sigh. “She used to be afraid of vampires and dragons. But when she found out last night that I was a dragon shifter and you were a vampire, she went inside Insomnia with me anyway. What does that tell you?”