Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“Leticia, what are you doing here?” I whisper loudly, taking her by the elbow. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Marco step forward and unholster his gun. Tyree also shifts his position. Securing the door so no one can get in or out. I put my hand up and motion for them to stand down.

“Hello, you must be the light witch,” Leticia says sweetly to Delilah, “Since you're Kas’s friend, I will let it slide that you tried to hit me with a blasting spell.”

“Leticia,” I growl, putting my arm protectively in front of Delilah, “Why are you here? And be nice to my friend.” “I'm protecting you. And I'll be nice, but she was the one who threw a spell at me, So maybe tell her to be nice too,” Leticia retorts in a low tone.

“I appreciate you protecting me, but my guards are on duty. You don’t need to be here, darling,” I move my hand from in front of Delilah to take Leticia’s hand. I feel our energy start to merge and comfort both of us.

I see her face turn down slightly, “Oh. Okay. I-I just wanted to help.”

“Leticia, I apologize for attacking you in the packhouse. I was trying to protect my Alpha,” Delilah speaks up, “I would like to make it up to you, if you'll let me.” Leticia looks at Delilah suspiciously, “ How do I know you won't trick me?” “Because Kas has told me how important you are to her, Leticia. And if you're important to Kas, you're important to me. Even if our magic is on opposite ends of the spectrum,” Delilah reassures her.

“Okay, so how do you want to make it up to me?” Leticia clasps her hands together in front of her, trying to act as professionally as possible. Anyone walking by the window would assume she was a regular employee helping clients.

“We are going to a Michelin rated restaurant for dinner tonight. Why don't you glamour, so people don’t think you are a Kas copycat and join us? I would love to get to know more about you,” Delilah uses her most diplomatic tone. She sounds so much like Lady Camille. It’s uncanny. She would have made a great Mother to the Coven.

“Really? You want to eat with me?” Leticia looks surprised and confused.

“I would like to show you my respects. I want to show you I’m willing to give you achance. Please don’t make me regret it,” Delilah clarifies. °

“Alright. Where are we eating? Hopefully, somewhere with chicken fingers,” Leticia says innocently. Her ageless features are happy, but she also looks like she could lose her shit at any moment and start attacking people, too.

We give her the details for the restaurant and time to be there. She giggles and turns around, opening a glowing purple portal in the middle of the store, and disappears. The lights flicker again and everything around us seems to be normal again.

“Kas, why did you stop me?” Marco rushes forward, Tyree is right behind him, with his back facing us just in case Leticia comes back.

“She won't hurt me, Marco, and I need her to trust me. I need her help. Besides, I definitely didn’t want her to hurt you,” I explain my actions.

‘I'll call the restaurant. Ask them to update the reservations. Do you think she was serious about the chicken fingers?” Marco asks earnestly.

"Wait, wasn't that the sister we're supposed to be protecting you from?" Tyree asks, "You just invited her to dinner like it was nothing.”

Delilah approaches Tyree and looks him directly in the eyes. A slight sound of tinkling bells fills the air when she speaks to him, “What are you talking about, Tyree? That’s the Luna’s friend. They met at a MasonCo event. They get together every time Kas is in Paris.”

“Oh yeah, I-I forgot about that. Yeah. Okay, the Luna’s friend,” Tyree says in a bit of a daze. Delilah looks at him sympathetically, then comes back over t ome.

sale [I feel so dirty],” she pouts at the thought of having just performed magic on

at Tyree, “We good, T?” Tyree gives a thumbs

Sometimes you scare the shit outta me in ways I don’t even get,” Marco shakes his head and goes back to his position as well. Behind us,

wait in the car while Marco speaks

never

the sidewalk gets as the crowd of people wanting to get someone’s photograph builds. Somehow, the word must have gotten out that a public figure is waiting

they won't make it in time to make the growing crowd disperse. The privacy laws in France are much better than they are in the United States, but certain public

looking out the tinted windows with

Don't answer questions, even if they seem innocent, okay? Tyree is going to block their path. Marco will lead us in. Just

of the bakery,” her voice is hollow with disbelief. I rummage through one of the shopping bags and hand her a pair of sunglasses she just

your eye color, put these on. By the time we finish eating, the police will

waffles, Kas?” she asks,

say, trying not to smile. It's her way of asking how she should hold my hand. Waffles means we lace our fingers together, pancakes means we keep her fingers between my thumb and forefinger. She nods, slips on the sunglasses, and slides her

car and Marco opens the door. I step out first and pull Delilah with me, so

out questions in English and French. Tyree and Marco block their path and get us into the

and realize it must be Leticia. When we get to the table, a tall, muscular, dark-haired woman with eyes so dark brown, they are almost black, greets us. She gets

so good to see you! Delilah, you

to see you, too. Let's sit,” I

have a master sommelier who is the best around,” Leticia

drink, remember? And Delilah is pregnant, so she can’t drink,”

guy is going to serve us, Kas,” Leticia winks. Delilah nudges my foot under the table in

will be for dinner. Even with the delicious sounding menu, Leticia requests chicken fingers with honey mustard

we are going to be eating, and I will try the wine the sommelier brings,” I smile warmly at Leticia. She sits up straighter and looks at me curiously. She nods in agreement and asks the chef if she can have the chicken fingers in a to go box. We fall into a somewhat comfortable conversation while we wait. Leticia and Delilah trade stories about me that are actually pretty

Ladies, I have a treat for you this evening! A wine truly worthy of gods and goddesses!" A

look up to see a tall man with dark ringlets pulled back into a ponytail. His eyes are a piercing light blue, watching us

I whisper

make sure no one heard me before he gains his composure again, “You can call me Deon, Mrs. Mason. I will be your master sommelier for

she holds her

defiance, “It’s good enough for gods

“Don’t be rude to

grits his teeth with a forced smile,