“I should be able to—” she muttered to herself.
I pretended to be fascinated with the flowers along the sidewalk to give her some privacy. She raised one hand, low at her side to try and hide her magic. Her lashes fluttered closed as she called on her power.
Nothing happened that I saw.
That didn’t make any sense. I’d already felt how powerful she was, so a little water shouldn’t be an issue.
What’s wrong?
“This lawn is going to be muddy for the reunion. That’s going to be a huge problem,” she said, crossing her arms and glaring at the grass.
“It’s on Saturday? That’s three days. Maybe it’ll soak in and be fine,” I said, trying to be encouraging.
“Junie?” a woman called.
My mate whirled to see a tiny woman with a puff of white hair hobbling out of the door clutching a cane. Juniper rushed forward, reaching for her.
“Gran!”
“You finally came to visit, you feisty little thing,” hergrandmother said. She patted Juniper’s back as they hugged. When they separated, genuine smiles warmed both faces. They clearly loved each other. It radiated through my connection with my little witch.
“This was the earliest I could come. I just got into town late last night. You would have been asleep in bed,” Juniper said, wrinkling her nose as she teased her grandmother.
“Nonense. You know my busy social schedule keeps me out quite late. There are card games to be won, men to turn down, friends to yap with.”
Juniper threw her head back and laughed. My heart stopped beating for a moment. It was musical, like a siren song, melodic and intoxicating. The sound twined through the air, so luscious I wanted to absorb it into my soul. Way too soon, it was over. I would have given anything to hear it again.
“So who is this young stud?” her grandmother asked, eyeing me with blue eyes a few shades lighter than Juniper’s.
“Oh, this is Caspian. He’s a friend who’s been helping me today. I hope you don’t mind me bringing him along.”
“A friend? Just a friend? Junie, honey, have you seen him?” her grandmother said. She waved her cane at me, and I spied a mermaid carved into the handle.
“Gran!” Juniper said, just as I said, “Well, actually—”
Juniper twisted, holding a finger up in my face. Her eyes flashed. “Shh! Do not say anything stupid.”
Grinning, I held my hands up in surrender.
“Oh, he’s a keeper,” her grandmother said.
Juniper’s blush flared on her cheeks again. “Alright, that’s enough. Gran, let’s go inside. Caspian, why don’t you go enjoy the beach?”
“Nonsense. Let the pretty boy come inside. I can put him to work.” Her grandmother winked at me.
“Yeah,Junie, let me come inside,” I said.
That shade of dusty rose colored her cheeks darker, until even her ears were red. “Hecate’s shades, fine!”
Her grandmother’s face crinkled as she smiled at us. “Good choice, dear. Come along now.”
The steam coming off of Juniper’s skin as we walked behind her grandmother practically singed me. I wanted to bury my face against her neck and breathe her in and feel her flushed skin against mine.
Without thought, my hand went to the small of her back, and she tensed. I kept my hand steady, and after a moment she relaxed into it, her breathing slowing and her posture relaxing under my touch.
Yes, that’s it, little mate.
I wanted to whoop and pump my fist in the air since she let me touch her, but I controlled myself. We stepped through the doorway, and she paused, my hand still resting on the small of her back.
