Motor City Witch (17 page)

“The djinni suicided before the queen’s guard could get him to talk,” Elise told the others in disgust. Aidan had been livid when he’d come back from Court with that news.

“We’ll keep at it,” Ric promised. He sipped from a long-necked beer bottle. “Moving on to happier news, they accepted our offer on the house in Grosse Pointe Shores. Which means Jase and George, you can sign the papers on Meagan’s place in Royal Oak anytime you want.” They’d decided Meagan’s tiny bungalow wasn’t big enough for her painting and a family. It was perfect, however, for George and Jase, who had no plans to add kids to the mix anytime soon.

“I love our new house.” Meagan waved a breadstick as she talked and beamed at Elise. “Wait until you see it. It’s close to the portal so we can hop back and forth to Rosemeade, plus we can visit you in the process.”

Elise reached over and squeezed her hand. “And we’re thrilled that you’re going to be so close. Really.”

A knock sounded at the kitchen door, and somebody yelled, “Come in,” which would have probably horrified any of Aidan’s security staff if they’d been in the room. To no one’s great surprise, Greg stood at the door, but what did shock Elise, was when instead of entering, he held the door open for Fianna, who was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater.

Elise immediately leapt from her seat to hug the other woman. “I’m so glad you came.” Elise had come a long way toward being able to express her emotions—at least around this group, who were as much family as friends.

“Told you.” Greg smiled at Fianna before he turned to stare down Des, who’d opened his mouth, but wisely popped it shut.

“Aidan’s upstairs putting Dina to bed.” Elise crossed to the refrigerator to fetch drinks. “Greg, you’ll want a beer. Fianna, we have wine, soda—whatever you’d like.”

“Beer is fine.” Fianna sent Elise a shy smile. “Thank you. I can’t—it’s hard to believe I’m welcome in this house again.”

“You saved our daughter’s life.” Aidan entered the room at that point and held a chair for Fianna at the table. “I’m sorry the queen didn’t overturn your sentence, but you’ll always be welcome here.”

“Her Majesty doesn’t like to change her mind. Thank you for suggesting it, though.” Fianna accepted a slice of pizza and picked it up with no trace of the snootiness she’d
supposedly had before she’d been turned human. “I’ll be…okay.” She sent a furtive smile through her lashes at Greg.

Aidan and Elise shared a grin as Elise handed over the beers and returned to her seat. It would be interesting to see how this played out.

“Speaking of the queen.” Aidan rubbed the bridge of his nose in a manner that meant he was troubled. “She called tonight and demanded to meet Dina. I’d really hoped to put that off for a while.”

“Is she going to ask for a DNA test?” Elise asked. “I mean, we’re
pretty
sure, but we may never be one-hundred-percent certain. Will the queen do anything to her if she’s part demon?”

“What the hell are you two talking about?” Greg asked. “Not sure about what?”

Oh, crap, they hadn’t told the wolves about the demon. Elise squeezed her eyes shut and prepared to explain.

“Any idiot with a nose could tell you she’s Aidan’s child.” Greg shook his head in disgust.

“Her scent is damn near a perfect blend of the two of you.” George took a swallow of beer. “No mistaking the Fae in that girl.”

“Duh. Demon? You’re kidding me.” Lana shook her head and snagged another slice of pizza. “You people are nuts if you thought that for a second.”

Aidan and Elise gaped and stared, first at the Novaks, then at each other. Was it really that simple? How had they overlooked the fact that some of their friends could scent the difference? After a long pause, they both started laughing.

Des rolled his eyes. “I need another beer.” He got up and walked to the fridge.

“No, what you need is to get the stick out of your ass,” Lana muttered under her breath.

Chuckling, Elise lifted her wineglass and touched the neck of Aidan’s beer bottle. “Life is good.”

His smile was the sweetest, sexiest thing she’d ever seen. He glanced around at friends, at family, and flicked his eyes upward to encompass their daughter asleep upstairs. “Yes,” he said. “Even with a maniac out there trying to take over our city, if not the world, right here, right now, life is damn close to perfect.”

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