Claris gave a watery chuckle. “Uh, yes. He shouted at me. He’s never done that before. We’ve argued, but not like this. I had to hold the phone away from my ear he was shouting so loud.”

“Just like a man. They always think they’re the injured party. I hope you gave it right back to him.”

“I guess I did. I was pretty awful.” Claris clapped both hands over her mouth this time, as if she could put back the words already said. “He finally hung up.”

“While you were still talking?” Ari scowled. “That’s just rude.”

“It was right after I said I didn’t want to see him again unless he came home today.”

“Oh.” Ari blinked at her friend, stunned by the ultimatum. In her experience—and she had lots of experience with mistakes—ultimatums never turned out well. “I’m so sorry. But don’t you think he’ll come around?”

Claris’s chin trembled. “He said he never wanted to talk to me again.” She burst into tears, accompanied by gulping sobs. “We’re f-finished.”

Ari drew her into a hug. What could she do about this? Claris should never have mentioned Gabriel to Brando, but her friend was honest to a fault. And Brando had overreacted with wounded male pride. Ari suspected he was miserable this morning, too, but the damage was already done. There had to be a way out of this, a way to patch things up, but she sure couldn’t see it.

When Claris quieted and pulled away, the emotional storm had passed. She dabbed at the streaks on her face and blew her nose again. “I have to get on with my life now,” she said in a fatalistic tone.

“Exactly what does that mean? Does it include Gabriel?”

“Oh, I don’t know. He’s so cute and witty, but…”

“But?”

“It’s not the same. Brando and I had plans, future plans. Gabriel’s fun to be with, but I don’t love him. It never was serious between us. It’s always been Brando.”

“So don’t give up on him so fast. Give yourself time. Brando too. Later, you guys can talk when a little time has passed. This could be just what was needed to wake him up.”

Claris frowned. “I’m not counting on that.” She looked toward the front of the building as someone rattle the doorknob. “I guess I should open the shop.”

“Not looking like that, you don’t.” Ari grabbed the magnetic mirror off the fridge and stuck it in her friend’s face. “You have some serious repair work before you can greet customers.”

“Yikes!” Claris squealed and charged into the bathroom.

Ari waited, drumming her fingers on the table and wondering what she could do to help Claris through this. Given what Claris had said about Gabriel just being a friend, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he stopped by. As long as they weren’t serious, a little male attention was bound to raise Claris’s spirits. If it made Brando jealous, so what? In fact, it might do him some good.

When Claris stepped out of the bathroom, the ravages of her sleepless night and her earlier tears were almost gone. She produced a determined smile. “Let’s not talk about Brando. OK?”

“Fine with me. I wanted to talk with you about Dona anyway. I’ll help you open.”

They headed up front, and Ari explained her plan to leave the kitten with Andreas. They talked while they worked, setting baskets of dried herbs out on the counter and arranging a display for the day’s special: bundles of dried periwinkle.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Claris said. “Dona’s already used to the house and everybody who lives there. It sounds like Andreas and his staff like her. It’s a perfect plan.” She paused in taping the sign for the periwinkle in the window. “The part I don’t get is why it’s necessary. Why are you moving back to the apartment? I think your stay has been good for both of you. You’ve been fighting a lot less than usual.”

Ari jerked up her head. “Do you think so?” Now that she thought about it, Claris might be right. Why was that?

“I do. In spite of everything that’s been happening, you seem happier, more grounded. I think the credit goes to Andreas.”

Hmm, yes. There was that word again—grounded. Granting him that level of control wasn’t exactly comfortable, but at least she wasn’t panicked by it. A smile tugged at her lips. Maybe it was the regular sex, especially the make-up sex. Not that she was going to mention that to Claris, not right now. Or maybe it was how he woke her from her nightmares.

Ari sighed. She’d miss him all right. Dating just wasn’t the same.

The shop door rattled again, and Claris ran to unlock it this time. Ari watched her friend turn on her professional persona. The crisis was over for the moment. Ari edged toward the back door, waving good-bye when Claris looked her way. Ari would call and check on her tonight, after hours. That’s when the loneliness would set in.

She stooped to pat Hernando’s head as she passed through the greenhouse. “Take good care of her, old man. She could use a little cuddling right now.”

The Siamese blinked his cornflower blues at her, as if he understood. Insight had always been a cat thing.

* * *

Ari caught Gabriel and Andreas by surprise that evening when she suggested Gabriel should visit Claris.

As he often did when things got personal or awkward, Gabriel slipped into the lighthearted persona from his youth. “My lady’s wishes are always my command, but why the change of heart?” He spoke in the lazy drawl of a Regency gentleman.

“I think you are right to ask. I would not trust her.” Andreas glanced up from the reports he’d been studying at his office desk. “What devious plan do you have in your head, madam witch?”

“You’re both so suspicious.” She regarded them over the top of the travel magazine she’d been flipping through while waiting for Andreas to finish his work. “I think Claris could use a little cheering up.”

“I don’t understand.” Gabriel eyed her. “I thought I was the last person you’d want to comfort her. What’s bothering her?”

“Girl stuff. Do you have to know everything just to be a sympathetic friend?”

Gabriel sighed. She could almost hear him going over the possibilities in his head.

He looked at Andreas. “Any idea what this is about?”

“Not a clue. Except I’m sure you are being suckered.”

“I have no doubt of that, but it’s not as if there’s a lot to do while we sit around waiting for somebody to attack us.” He looked back at Ari. “I would like to know what I’m getting into if I choose to go.”

She ignored him and pretended to read.

“Hmm.” Gabriel tilted his head to study her. “It must be the boyfriend. The wizard. What has the idiot done now? Oh, never mind. You’re not going to tell me.” He gave Ari a pointed look. “But why me?”

She set down the magazine. “You guys are friends, aren’t you? Sometimes it just helps to have a male perspective.”

“You didn’t feel that way a few days ago.”

“I changed my mind.”

Gabriel smiled and strolled toward the door. “Very well. I can play the consoling friend. In fact, it will be my pleasure,” he added with a sly wink.

Ari ignored the implication. She understood Claris’s real feelings now, and Gabriel had lost his power to rile her. “Have a nice time.”

Andreas chuckled at her nonchalance. “What are you up to?” he asked, the moment Gabriel was gone.

“Nothing.” When he cleared his throat, she added, “OK, Claris had a fight with Brando. A bad one. She’s really upset, and Gabriel can be charming. Besides, she told me she’s not falling for Gabriel.”

“I could have told you. So could Gabriel.”

“He did.” Ari frowned. “In fact, I guess you both did. But now I’ve heard it from Claris. I trust her to know her own feelings.”

“I am glad that is settled. We do not need imaginary problems. Now that you have set events in motion to fan Brando’s jealousy, what else do you have planned for tonight?” His smile robbed the words of censure.

“I only want to help. It’ll be all right. At least I hope so.” She stood and walked over to lean against the edge of his desk. “I’ve been waiting for you to go home, but it looks like you’ll be busy a while. I still have patrol, and I don’t want to skip because I’m checking every night for the coven. I can’t believe the High Priestess has just gone home. Is there something you wanted me to do?”

“No, I was only interested in your plans.” He nodded toward the papers in front of him. “I will be tied up here for several hours.”

“I can take a hint.” She stood. “I’ll see you at home later.”

“I do not like you patrolling alone.”

“I’ll be quick. One swing through the circuit, and I’ll head home.”

“Be careful.”

“Always.” She half-expected him to contradict her, but he was already absorbed in the documents he’d been reading.

Ari slipped out the side door, exiting into the alley. A sense of apprehension hit her immediately. Cloying, a dark energy. She turned south, then east, angling toward Goshen Park. If the witches were back, she wanted to know about it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ari entered the park’s west gate, circled the swan fountain, and headed into the maze of forest paths. Her witch senses tingled, and she stayed alert to every movement, every sound. The magical disruption was more obvious here, away from the influence of the strident voices of humanity and the everyday Otherworld energy that teemed in the bar and club areas.

And yet, it felt no closer. It was like the entire city was enveloped in a fog of unhappy spirits.

Ari continued her sweep of the park, taking the time to check the most isolated trails. When she’d been down every path and found nothing unusual, she conceded that Goshen Park was clear. Frustrated, she turned toward the Vampire Strip, still looking for the source of the gloom dogging her steps.