Free Return of the Fae by Lynn Cahoon Page B

phone. “Damn, I forgot to call her this morning to check in.”
    “The bar is fine. She’ll call if she needs you.” Ty finished his lunch and leaned back, like a spectator at a prize fight, watching the banter between Parris and Robert. Parris would bet he’d put money on the old man, not her. He pointed to the chili. “You better get eating, we’re heading back tonight.”
    Robert shook his head. “No, we’re staying another night. Get me a room at the hotel. I need to get caught up.” He pointed at Parris. “I need to talk to her.”
    Parris put her head down, focusing on eating. She felt like a lab rat, everyone poking and prodding, trying to find where she came from, who she was. Not even Grans remembered her real name, after spelling herself to forget. Sometimes she wished she remained back at the bar, playing darts and wondering why she could do magic. Knowing why was ten times harder. Because now she had responsibility to The Council, to Ty, and, no matter what, to Grans.
    She felt tears slip down her cheeks before she realized they were falling. She reached for a napkin and a hand covered her own.
    “You don’t know it now, but you will be okay. All witches doubt their path at some time or another. Usually it’s when during their teenage years when they fall in love with the hunky human boy next door. You’re off normal timelines.” Robert smiled. “This is your journey. You will be glorious. I can see it.”
    He released her hand and resumed eating his chili, letting Parris wipe the tears off her face without additional comment.
    Finished with his meal, Robert tapped the table, announcing, “Time to go see lovely Prudence.”
    She watched him walk to the sidewalk to pet a German Shepard whose owners had tied it to a pole. “He’s something else.”
    “You haven’t even seen the best of him yet. Don’t let his old fashioned ideas rub you the wrong way. If he’s in your court, there’s nothing you can’t do.” Ty stood at the end of the bench, offering Parris his hand. When they touched, sparks flew between them, making Parris lean closer.
    She drank in his smell, cinnamon, spice, and everything nice. “You and your friends are making this whole problem kind of okay. I mean, it’s a complete pile of crap The Council is making me train as a witch, let alone as a witch hunter. I just want to run my bar.”
    Toki answered her. “You shouldn’t lie.”
    She met Toki’s eyes. The fairy knelt on the seat in the next booth, looking over the top at Parris.
    “And you shouldn’t sneak up on people. Besides, nothing I said was a lie.” Parris pushed a wayward curl back behind the fairy’s ear.
    “Ha, even I know that’s not the truth. You love the training, admit it.” Ty nodded to the fairy. “It’s nice to see you again, Toki.”
    “Thank you, sir. Zander says hello. He misses you.” Toki’s eyes filled with tears.
    “And I, him.” Ty’s attention switched to the man outside. Robert had untied the dog’s rope. “I’ve got to go before he gets into trouble. We’ll wait for you outside.”
    Parris sank back into the booth, her hands resting on her knees and sitting sideways so she could talk to Toki easier. “Is there a reason you popped in, besides pointing out my falsehoods?”
    “I wanted to warn you. The man is getting close to those you love.”
    “Grans?” Parris’ heart seized and she berated herself for leaving Grans alone. She shouldn’t have gone off with Ty.
    “No, she’s protected. Your boyfriend put a warding spell on her house before he left.” Toki tilted her head. “Didn’t he tell you?”
    “Ty doesn’t tell me a lot of things. Especially on himself. What was that about someone missing him?”
    “It’s not my story to tell,” Toki hedged.
    “Come on, you can’t leave me out of the conversation. Who is Zander? A fairy, like you?” Parris took an ice chip from her tea, crunching it with her teeth.
    “He’s Ty’s fairy. They got separated