MERIBELLA

"What do you think about this one?" Meribella asked, holding up a lamp with a mercury glass base.

    Thorne turned her head to the side and squinted. "If it goes in the living area, you're going to need a different table against that wall."

    "I was going to paint it," she responded, setting the lamp into the cart.

    "Hmm, does he know you're going to paint all of his heavy, masculine furniture in whites and grays?"

    She grinned at the witch. "I believe he said something along the lines of not caring if I painted it pink and covered it in bows as long as I moved in with him." Her heart swelled with the memory. Raff had pulled her into his arms as she lay in their bed, her body liquid from the pleasure only he could give her. He'd begged her to move in with him. First with his words and then with his lips. How could she say no?

    Thorne puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes. "You two are gross."

    "Um excuse me," she exclaimed, turning down another aisle in the home store. "If you want to talk about gross, let's talk about the things I heard coming out of your bedroom this morning."

    Thorne preened like a cat, not having the decency to be embarrassed. "Moaning during sex is like burping after a good meal- you've got to let the cook know his food was good."

    "I can't even with you," she fussed. Even though she had her own adventures in the bedroom, she still couldn't quite discuss these things without turning beet red. But this was their new normal, and she loved it. "I have never, ever called Raff daddy, though. I don't know if I can look at Lincoln the same way ever again."

    "To each their own. In fact, let me tell you what we've figured out that helps with the erm, no penetration rule."

    "La, la, la," Meribella sang, careful to tamp her magic down as the notes slipped between her lips. In the months since she'd healed Thorne, her Sirening skills had grown stronger, and she'd stopped singing at the pub. It wasn't worth losing control.

    "Oh stop. It's really amaz-" the water witch went quiet, her limpid eyes widening before her brows dipped into sharp v's. "Is it just me or does that bitch show up everywhere we go?"

    She turned to see Mariah entering the store and frowned. Her friend was right, but still- the woman was a dear friend to Raff. "Shh, we can't talk about her like that."

    "Why not? She's catty every time she speaks to you, and she's clearly got eyes for your boo."

    "I guess it's a good thing he only has eyes for me," she responded.

This time it was a surge of jealousy she had to push down and not magic. Joe's daughter didn't make any attempts to hide her attraction to the Orion Alpha, but Meribella didn't want to create any tension between herself and her boss. She loved the old bear shifter too much to make him choose sides in that fight.

Still, Mariah was gorgeous. The woman drew looks every time she entered a room, from men and women alike. With her naturally gold skin heated to bronze by the summer sun, generous hips, and lush hair hanging to her waist, she was a fantasy woman. Meribella had to stop herself from looking down at her slender frame and measuring herself against the curvaceous beauty. Raff teased her from time to time about putting on more weight, but it never bothered her until she was near the shifter.

"Fancy running into you ladies," Mariah purred as she reached them. She looked at the items in their cart and wrinkled her nose. "Decorating for your grandmother?"

"Hello, Mariah," Meribella said, hoping the out loud tone was kinder than the snarl in her head.

"No, actually, we're decorating Raff's loft. He and B are moving in together," Thorne divulged, sounding for all the world like she was confiding in her best friend. She almost convinced Meribella, but the wicked glint to her grin gave her away.

The shifter straightened. Her cheeks flushed and her scent curdled as she surveyed the women before her. "Isn't that a little soon? You've barely known each other anytime at all."

"Your concern is touching," Meribella replied. "But when you know, you know. Soulmates and all that, I guess."

Mariah crossed her arms. "Soulmates are myths. You two are just asking for trouble. I guess you want to end up pregnant."

She felt Thorne stiffen behind her. "I'm full blooded fae; I can't get pregnant," she lied, watching for a reaction. No one but a select few knew the truth.

"Silly me. Slipped my mind," she backtracked. "I see what I came in here for. Best hurry. I've got so much to do today."

"What was that about?" Thorne hissed when Mariah was out of earshot. "Something's fishy."

She pushed the cart towards the checkout, no longer interested in shopping for pretty things for her new home. Not while Mariah was lingering in the shadows and watching her every move. "Let's not borrow trouble," she warned her friend, though she couldn't quite rid herself of the same feeling of wrongness.

"You know that was weird. She shouldn't have any clue you're not full fae," the witch said, her voice low as she took items out of the basket and handed them to the cashier.

"It was, but I also don't want to stir up drama. It's been three months since we've heard a peep about the Fae Queen, and the Starless pack members are finally settling into the Orion pack. I'd really like it if we could keep things peaceful."

"You know I want that as much as you do."

"Then drop it. Mariah lost her sister to the werewolf curse. Maybe she's just triggered by seeing women with werewolves. Until we have concrete proof and not bad feelings created by mean girl drama, we need to let it go." She

"Fine," Thorne conceded once they were in the car. She slipped a pair of large sunglasses over her eyes while she cranked the engine. But Meribella suspected the glasses were for hiding her irritation as much as they were for blocking out the strong, September sunshine.

"Good. Let's head back to the loft. I want to unload and then go for a swim."

"Sounds like a plan. I think I'll go with you. Before we were so rudely interrupted, I was trying to improve your sex life."

"Oh dear lord," Meribella groaned, pressing her head against the window. "La, la, la."