As everybody poured into the dining room, gathering around the spread, Aegis slid his arm around my waist. “You did a fantastic job.”
“The caterers did most of the work.” I nestled into his embrace, still feeling unsettled. My radar was buzzing and I wasn’t sure what I was picking up on. “But yeah, things seem to be going over well. How did the show go?”
A slight but subtle tensing of his arm told me I was right. He was concerned about something. “Everything went fine. Why?”
I forced myself to relax. “I just wondered.”
He didn’t answer, just kissed me on the head and moved over to talk to Jack-Az.
I headed into the living room where Sandy was leaning against the wall, watching the interplay. While she was a socialite, my best buddy was also extremely observant and I trusted her judgment. I joined her, drink in one hand and a cookie I’d liberated off of somebody’s plate in the other.
Lowering my voice, I asked, “Does Aegis seem tense to you?”
She glanced over at him, watching for a moment. “Yeah, he does. So do his band mates.”
I was about to say something when I heard a yowl from upstairs. It was Bubba, and he sounded pissed or hurt.
“Oh hell, what’s going on?”
I shoved my drink in Sandy’s free hand and darted up the staircase. Bubba might be a little turd at times, but he was my little fuzzy turd. I followed the parade of hisses that came tumbling down the stairs. As I slammed open the door to my bedroom, I caught sight of Bubba, arched up like a Halloween cat. He was in front of the French doors leading out onto the brand-new balcony. I’d gone tumbling off the old one when the railing gave way weeks ago, so that was one of the first things I’d asked the Alpha-Pack to fix.
“What’s going on? What’s out there, Bub?” I cupped my hands to the windowpane, peering out into the icy night.
It was snowing outside, and didn’t look like it was going to stop any time soon. A number of Winter Fae lived on the island and they attracted all that went along with the Winter Court. Bedlam was located on the northernmost tip of the San Juan Islands, northwest of Ferndale. As a result of all the magical energy and the positioning, winters here were a lot harsher than on the southern islands. This storm, fresh off the westerly winds, was blanketing us with snow.
The twinkle of faerie lights shimmered from my balcony. I loved them, and kept them up year-round, but in the snow, they glowed with a gentle radiance that always made me feel calmer. Except right now, calm wasn’t quite the word, with Bubba hissing like a wildcat.
“What’s out there, Bub?” I leaned against the window, cupping the glass as I pressed my face against it. I couldn’t see anything, but Bubba seemed positive there was something out there. “What do you see?”
He glanced up at me. “Mrowf.”
That wasn’t good. I knew that meow. He had constantly used it on my ex. It usually meant Enemy at the gate!
“Is there someone out there who’s dangerous, Bubba?” I knelt beside him, glancing back out the window. I tried to make out any movements outside. But only the snow seemed to be moving—falling fast and thick.
Bubba nosed the window and I followed his gaze. In the faint glow of the lights on the snow, I could see what looked like footprints in the snow. Someone had been outside my bedroom on the balcony. They weren’t my footprints. I hadn’t been out there since morning and the snow had covered what prints I had left.
“Mrowf.” Bubba was louder this time, sounding pissed. His eyes flashed and I could feel the magic rising.
“Let me get—” I stopped as I turned to see Aegis and Sandy edging into the room.
“Hey, Bubba’s upset. Someone was out on the balcony. I can see the footprints.”
“Do you think it was Ralph?” Sandy pressed her face against the glass.
I winced. I had hoped to wait for a better time to tell Aegis that Ralph Greyhoof had seen me naked. Somehow, I didn’t think that would go over very well.
“Ralph? Ralph who and why would he be outside your bedroom window?” Sure enough, Aegis didn’t sound happy, and he didn’t even know who we were talking about yet.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t think those are his prints. They look like shoe prints, not hoof prints.”
“Are you talking about Ralph Greyhoof? Why would he be outside your bedroom window?” There was an edge in his voice that I had only heard the first time we had met. But then, it had been mixed with arousal. Now he just sounded pissed.
“Um…I was going to tell you about that. Ralph showed up in the bathroom as I was taking a shower—”
“Bathroom? You were in the shower? If he touched one hair on your head I’ll drain him dry, and he’ll feel every drop leave his body.” Aegis whirled, stalking to the door.
“Get back here, you big lug. Listen to me. Ralph didn’t touch me. He was trying to steal hair out of my hairbrush.” I paused. That didn’t sound much better, given what it meant.
Aegis slowed, then turned. “Why would he be doing that? Answer me before I charge over to the Heart’s Desire and light a fire under Ralph’s balls.”
“I don’t know, to be honest. He said he was doing it for some vamp chick who paid him to.” I watched Aegis closely, suddenly thinking that maybe, since he was from the fang-me set, Aegis might have some clue about who the strange vamp was.
Aegis frozen, then glanced out the window. “Stay inside. I’m going to have a look outside.” Abruptly, he turned and stalked out of the room.
I turned to Sandy. “Something’s going on. Those prints out there are shoes, and they look like about the size of a woman’s footprints. Bubba was having a hissy fit when I came in.” I turned back to the cjinn, eyeing him carefully. “Bub, is there still somebody outside?”
He looked at me, the pale gold of his eyes shining. He let out a whimper of a mew, then moved closer to me, rubbing his head against my leg. Sometimes, Bubba was a hellion. Other times, he seemed very much just a scared kitty-cat.
I leaned down and stroked his head, then scooped him up in my arms. “Bub, if there’s something scary out there, Aegis will find it.”
“There’s something out there in the snow.” Sandy reached for the handle on the French doors and before I could stop her, she opened the door, darting outside, then back in. She was holding a red rose. “What’s this?”
I stared at the flower. “What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know, but somebody is bringing you flowers. Maybe Aegis?”
Bewildered, I shook my head. “Lock those doors. Until we know whether Aegis finds anybody out there, it’s best to stay inside. Can you go back down to the party and keep things running smoothly?”
She nodded, handing me the rose and heading for the stairs.
As I sat on the bed, holding Bubba close to me, a noise near the hall door made me jump. I whirled around, but it was just Franny, standing in the doorway with a concerned look.
“Franny, did you see anything out there?” I nodded toward the balcony.
She shrugged. “I couldn’t have, now could I? You banned me from your bedroom. But Maudlin, something’s wrong. There’s a strange energy afoot and I’m not comfortable. It’s making me shiver in my shroud. You should be careful.” She sounded like she actually cared.
“You think something is wrong, too? Do you know what it is?” Carrying Bubba, I headed toward the door.
She moved back to allow me room to exit. I could have just passed through her, but by now, Franny knew how much I hated doing that. Not only was her energy unearthly cold, but it just gave me the creeps.
“I don’t know what it is, no. But there’s an unsettled energy around the house. We may have our differences, but this isn’t anything to joke around with. I have a horrible feeling that something’s going to go terribly wrong. Please, be careful?”