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Wynona used her magic to set the last of the food on the table, then sat down herself. “Alright. Let’s have it,” she said to Prim.
Violet sniffed.
“Violet,” Wynona warned. “I know you have news as well, but we’ll get to everyone. Why don’t you enjoy the cookie I promised you?”
Daemon, Rascal and Prim all sat around Wynona’s dining room table. Celia hadn’t been home when they’d arrived back at the cottage and Wynona had proceeded to fix everyone's lunch while they waited for the black hole to arrive. As far as Wynona knew, Prim and Daemon hadn’t gone out on a date yet, but their chairs were noticeably closer together than normal.
Violet’s nose twitched and she gave in, nibbling to her heart’s content.
Wynona looked back at Prim.
The attention must have been exactly what the fairy wanted because she preened a little under all the gazes.
“Prim,” Wynoan pressed.
“Alright, alright,” Prim muttered. She fluffed her pink hair. “While dear old Mumsy was blabbering away about celebrities and such to you, I took a listen to the plants.”
“You can actually hear plants?” Daemon asked, his awe evident in his tone. “I didn’t realize they were sentient like that.”
Prim nodded. “A common mistake. They’re simple minded creatures, but they understand us, can follow commands and can usually communicate well enough to tell a creature what’s been happening around them.” Prim’s excitement became visible. “Especially conversations.”
“And?” Rascal drawled.
Wynona knew he struggled with her best friend’s dramatics. Getting straight to the point was more Rascal’s style, especially when dealing with a case.
“And the begonia in the corner mentioned that Mr. Pearlily and Thallia fight...a lot.”
Wynona frowned. “I think we could have guessed that, though having proof is helpful. He’s a bully.” She tapped her red fingernail on the table. “Though, I’m surprised they actually fight. It seems to me that Thallia is much more like her mother. I assumed he ran right over his daughter.”
“In public maybe,” Prim offered. “Thallia was always really big on public persona.”
“That I can agree with,” Wynona said with a sigh. “She’s only working for me because she thinks it will get her in the public eye to be working for a member of the royal family.”
Prim wrinkled her nose. “Are you kidding?”
Wynona shook her head. She opened her mouth to say more, then shut it. It probably wasn’t fair to share everything that had happened in the interrogation room, though Wynona sort of wanted to vent a little.
“Huh.” Prim pursed her lips. “I guess that explains why someone living on Daddy’s dime would bother getting a job at all.”
Rascal huffed a little, his brows furrowed in thought. “Did the plants say anything else? Fighting with her dad doesn’t help us put her in jail.”
Wynona gave him a look, but Rascal ignored her and Wynona forced her shoulders to relax. She had to admit that she had no idea how to prove Thalia’s innocence. The deeper things got, the more it looked like the young fairy was guilty, and she’d already known that she wasn’t exactly in touch with reality.
Still...the thought simply didn’t sit well with Wynona. Thallia was naive and spoiled, but she wasn’t a killer. I think.
Thinking isn’t enough, Violet shot back.
I know, Wynona lamented. But we’re not making any headway toward an actual arrest either. The evidence seems to be a big moshpit of opinions rather than facts.
Violet nodded, her mouth full of cookie.
“Fathers and daughters probably fight a lot,” Daemon mused. “Did your...begonia...say what they would fight over?”
Prim nodded. “Apparently, he wasn’t very fond of her friends.”
Rascal snorted. “We knew that.”
Prim’s cheeks began to turn red. “Well, now you have proof.”
Somehow I doubt the judge is going to take testimony from a plant, Rascal sent to Wynona.
She frowned at him and he shrugged. Why are you so mad?
Rascal looked at her cooly. I thought we’d talked about this. You weren’t going to put yourself at risk anymore.
We did, Wynona said carefully. In this case, I was trying to keep Prim from putting herself at risk.
By endangering yourself and the chief’s reputation.
Wynona leaned back. He was really upset about this. “I’m sorry,” she said out loud, knowing the other two were probably wondering what was going on. “I was only trying to help.”
A frustrated growl grew in Rascal’s throat and he jumped to his feet, storming from the room.
Wynona’s jaw dropped as she felt him shift into a wolf and leave the house. She ran after him, watching his dark body disappear down the drive.
At least he didn’t go into the Grove of Secrets, Violet muttered.
“What’s wrong with Wolfy?” Prim asked from Wynona’s elbow.
“You going over to the Pearlilys made Wynona break a promise to keep herself safe,” Daemon said from his place at the table.
Both women spun.
“Excuse me?” Prim asked tartly, putting her hands on her hips. “I didn’t break any rules.”
Daemon slowly stood up, his height suddenly feeling overwhelming in the small cottage. “The woman he loves made a promise not to put herself in danger, on purpose,” Daemon said slowly, his black eyes boring into Prim’s.
Wynona stepped back, feeling like an intruder in her own home. She was extremely glad Celia wasn’t there. Things were a little overcrowded as it was.
“Your reckless behavior caused Wynona to run to keep you safe and put you in a house that our chief has already been warned to stay away from,” Daemon continued.
Prim’s cheeks were growing alarmingly bright. The red clashed terribly with her pink hair and eyes. “Well, how was I to know?” she demanded. “Nobody tells me anything.”
“Did you bother to ask Wynona if it was okay?” Daemon pressed, now standing directly over Prim. “Did you ask me if you could be involved? Or did you just jump in without any idea what you were doing and risking any consequences because they more than likely wouldn’t have affected you anyway?”
Prim’s mouth opened and shut like a fish several times in a row before she clenched her jaw and fists. “Excuse me for trying to help,” she ground out. “You can do the rest of this alone.” Spinning on her toe, Prim marched for the door. “And you can forget dinner, buddy. I wouldn’t eat dinner with you if you were the last paranormal on Earth.”
A muscle in Daemon’s jaw pulsed as Prim disappeared in her own vehicle. He looked to Wynona. “I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll be going as well.” His words were soft, but the anger was evident.
“She doesn’t mean it,” Wynona said weakly. She knew better than most that Prim was often dramatic. It seemed to run in the whole species. When Prim calmed down, she’d definitely be willing to speak to the black hole again. But it might take some time.
“She can mean it,” he said easily. “Because I meant what I said. She’s reckless and doesn’t think through her actions. I’m interested in what I’ve seen, but most of it was when she was under duress. She held to faith and showed a backbone most creatures couldn’t dream of owning. She’s started her own business and is fighting for a place in a world that mostly rejects her because of her physical deformity.” He shook his head, sighing. “The flighty, naive Primrose Meadows I’ve watched lately isn’t who I want to spend time with.”
Wynona winced. “She means well.”
“And when she decides to be who she’s capable of being, I’ll be here,” Daemon said with a firm nod. “Until then, she needs to know that not all of us are going to put up with her nonsense.” Without another word, he left.
The house was eerily quiet after the emotional turmoil of only moments ago. She opened her mind to see where Rascal was, but he was closed off to her. Her eyes stung for a moment and she slowly turned to walk back into the house.
“Do I get to make an entrance with the same dramatic flair that your friends left?” Celia asked wryly, coming from the back of the home.
Wynona paused. “What were you doing back there?”
Celia dusted off her skinny jeans. “Porting.”
“You can port?”
If looks could kill, Wynona would have been burned to ash. “Of course I can port.”
Wynona ignored the insult. It seemed that no matter how many bridges she built between her and her sister, Celia kept trying to burn them down again. Wynona folded her arms over her chest. “And just how long have you been listening to what was going on out here?”
Celia pursed her lips. “Long enough to know that your little fairy friend needs to suck it up. She’s beyond annoying.”
Some might say the same about you, Violet shouted from inside the house.
One side of Celia’s mouth quirked up in a smirk. “I hear little mousy noises. Tell me, is your familiar making similar comments about myself?”
Wynona threw up her hands. “What is it today with everyone bickering? It’s like being surrounded by toddlers.”
Celia snickered and followed Wynona inside. “Guess you just bring out the best in all of us.”
Wynona sent an equally scathing glare to her sister, but Celia was unmoved. Sitting down at the dining room table, Wynona put her face in her hands. “All I want is to get this stupid case over with, open the shop and let life go back to normal.”
“Sorry, sissy,” Celia drawled, sitting down and filling a plate with the uneaten food. “Your life is never going to be normal. Or hadn’t you heard? You’re the daughter of the resident king and you have more power than any one witch should.” She paused before putting a cucumber in her mouth. “You’ll always be in the center of attention.”
Wynona huffed, but didn’t argue. It wasn’t worth it. She grabbed a strawberry and began to nibble on it. Her appetite was mostly gone, but there was nothing else to do at the moment. Prim’s information had offered little in the way of new news and now everyone was gone. Who knew when they’d calm down enough to get back together...or when Rascal would speak to her again.
The thought of Rascal caused a sharp pain in Wynona’s chest and she rubbed at her sternum. She hadn’t meant to upset him. She understood that his wolf was protective and less logical than Rascal’s human side was, but he was so angry lately and it worried Wynona. She thought he had understood that she was protecting Prim, but he sure wasn’t acting like it.
Had something gone wrong with the soulmate bond? Had Rascal changed his mind? Wynona had never been someone’s soulmate before. They weren’t an unheard of situation, but rare enough that despite all her reading growing up, Wynona wasn’t sure what to expect.
I love you... she sent into the universe, hoping Rascal would eventually get the message.
I love you too, Violet sent back. She wiped her paws together, causing the last of the crumbs to fall on the table. But I think you need to hear what I have to say now.
Wynona nodded wearily. “Sorry. You never got to talk before everyone left.”
Celia snorted.
Violet gave the witch the side eye, then turned back to Wynona. I found an appointment book in Mr. Pearlily’s office.
Wynona’s eyes widened and she leaned forward. “What?”
He had a late night meeting the night that Dralo was killed.
“What!”
Celia winced and covered her ears. “What in the world is that for?”
“His alibi is that he was home with his wife,” Wynona murmured, ignoring Celia.
Exactly, Violet said triumphantly. She preened slightly. And now we have proof he wasn’t.
“Except the judge won’t take your word for it in court and somehow I doubt I can get a warrant issued on our little visit today.” Wynona slumped in her seat.
Well, thanks a lot, Violet snapped.
Wynona shook her head. “You know I’m grateful. I’m just trying to think of how we can make this work. I believe you, Rascal and Chief Ligurio will believe you, but a familar’s accounting won’t stand up in a trial and you know it.”
Violet grumbled and began to smooth her fur.
“What exactly have you just figured out?” Celia pressed, her black eyes sparkling with interest.
Wynona hesitated. “I can’t tell you the particulars,” she hedged.
Celia nodded and waved with her hand. “That’s okay. Vague is fine.”
Wynona glanced at Violet, who shrugged. “The person I suspect of the murder has an iron clad alibi because someone else backs him up. Violet found his schedule and it shows he had a meeting the night of the murder.”
Celia nodded, a slow grin building on her face. “In other words...he lied.”
Wynona nodded in return. “Right. But I can’t prove it.”
Celia leaned back, tapping her nails against the top of a teacup. “Why not tail him?”
“What?”
“Tail him,” Celia reiterated. “Follow him. See if he meets with anyone suspicious. Figure out what he’s hiding. Even if he proves to not be the murderer, he’s obviously hiding something.” She leaned in close. “What is it?”
Wynona pressed her lips together. “I don’t think I’d be very good at that. And Rascal wouldn’t like it.”
“Rascal ran off like a dog with his tail between his legs,” Celia hissed.
Wynona stood up. “He was upset and had good reason to be. If you’re going to insult him, I won’t listen.”
Celia put up her hands in surrender. “Fine. Dog boy is off limits. But following the guy is still a good idea. They won’t know you’re there, so there’s no danger and you never know the...secrets...you might uncover.”
Wynona let two breaths go by before she answered. “I’ll think about it.”
Celia’s smirk was back. “You do that.” She put her focus on the food and Wynona left the room.
What are you going to do? Violet asked, running after Wynona.
I’m going to look through Granny’s grimoire and see if I can find a spell to help me be invisible.
Violet chuckled in delight. Oooooh, this is going to be good.