“Yes. Her husband died that night.”
“I have to be honest. I think she’s been set up. Whether a wizard spiked the pie or whether her unknown stalker did, from what you’ve said, she’s been watched for years.” He then switched subjects. “Natalie’s studio is in a very pretty park.”
“It is.”
“Have you been to her home, though I suppose you have.”
“I flew her home, but I didn’t go inside. You have to remember that though we’ve experienced a lot over the past couple of nights, we’ve only just met.”
Neil nodded. He moved to stand in front of the fireplace opposite Grant. “I’ll tell you what I know. There are over a dozen confirmed wizards in Elegance. Half of those, at the very least, are given to the dark arts and to summoning as much power as possible for every vile purpose under the sun.
“I’m telling you this, so you’ll know what you’re facing and how powerful this level of invisibility is. There have been rumors about these kinds of spells for a long time and only wizards can cast them. They can be controlled by the one who purchases the spell for indefinite periods of time. From what you’ve said about Natalie, if her stalker had used a fae futurist to discover a potential fae of power, I can see an amoral man of any species turning Natalie for his purposes.”
“If that was the case,” Grant said. “Why wait all this time before approaching her?”
Neil shook his head. “I can’t say. Depends on the motivation or there may have always been a particular timing involved, especially if the future was consulted. It also sounds like the hour is getting close.”
Grant experienced a terrible sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. “I think we need to figure out who this person is. Could you help with that?”
“I’m not sure. But I could ascertain whether or not she’s being stalked. I would need her here and would have to bespell her.” He paused before adding, “And something more. I would need to connect with her mentally and to some degree physically. She may not want that since it can feel invasive.”
Grant felt his fingers balling up as they had on the way over. “What do you mean, ‘physical and mental’?”
“I would need to hold both her hands and invade her mind.”
Grant rose slowly to his feet, teeth clenched. “If Natalie permitted you to do this, she would be completely under your control.”
Neil nodded slowly. “I can see this distresses you. But you would be there to protect her if necessary and you could have anyone else present you wanted. But why the hell are you showing fur? You’re pissed?” A smiled suddenly curved his lips. “Ah. I see. You have an interest in Natalie, a very alpha-wolf interest.”
“No.” The word came out just short of a bark. He paced in the direction of the foyer, then headed back. But every time images of Neil taking hold of Natalie’s hands popped into his mind, more fur appeared, even down his back. “You can’t touch her.” He spoke the words before he could stop them.
Neil left his spot by the fireplace and drew close. His gaze narrowed again. “Your eyes are gold. You’ll be an alpha soon. No, that’s not true. You’re already an alpha, you just don’t have your pack yet. But I think I get what’s happening. Natalie, though she’s fae, could be your alpha-mate because of her level of power, isn’t that right?”
Grant hadn’t considered it before. “I don’t know, but I have no interest in bonding with a fae.”
“You sure?”
Grant didn’t answer the question. Instead, Neil’s observation of her alpha-mate potential disturbed him. He took a moment to search through all his reactions to her. The truth was, if she didn’t have alpha-mate capacity, she was damn close. But what did it matter? She was still fae.
~ ~ ~
“Is this a good time?” Natalie stood in the doorway of the chapel at Agnes’s compound and saw Talya seated in the front pew, down several rows of seats.
Talya turned around to greet her then waved her forward. She smiled. “Of course. I was waiting for you.”
Talya was a very red-haired fae, with light blue eyes and creamy, alabaster skin. She was lean with pronounced cheekbones. Her red brows were high and arched. She wore her long hair in a ponytail and a small amount of make-up, just a little mascara and lip gloss.
Talya continued, “I thought it would be nice to be in the chapel while we talked. Agnes agreed. She seemed to have the sense you and I should meet here. It’s very pleasant.”
Natalie looked around and had to agree. The room was entirely enclosed and hung with tapestries on the side walls. An altar of curved wood, on a raised space at the front, held three tall, glass enclosed candles. Each was lit and gave a warm glow to the space. Overhead were a dozen can-lights.
Natalie crossed the back row of seats then moved down the left sloped aisle. She hadn’t seen Talya since their time together in the refuge ER. She could still hear the flatline when Talya had gone looking for Grant in the afterlife. Then Grant’s touch had brought her back.
As she rounded the front pew, she said, “You look well.” Natalie suppressed the memories of the deep gouges the woman had born because of the Graveyard mauling.
Talya chuckled. “At least the flame-sign is gone, and you don’t have to be kind. I know I still look like death. I’m fair-skinned as it is, but right now I’m blue around the edges.” She pressed a hand to her cheek. “The only good thing to come of the attack is that for the moment my freckles have faded.” She patted the seat beside her.
Natalie sat down, but suddenly felt very uncertain. “I’m not sure what I’m doing here. I mean, of course I wanted to see how you were doing—” She broke off not wanting to say the rest.