Page 4 of Curse of Ancients

“And that has nothing to do with a certain rock star, does it?” Carleigh asked. Christina and Jacoby, the lead singer for Jupiter Madness, were thick as thieves. She swore they weren’t mates, and Carleigh believed her because there was no way they could live on opposite sides of the country if they were.

“No. Summer and I became close when I visited, plus I miss Abbi and Amelia. But enough about me. June showed me a picture of Connor’s drawing. Any closer to figuring out the meaning?”

Carleigh shrugged while finishing her sandwich. She set her empty plate on the coffee table and wiped her hands on the cloth napkin. Juniper had an issue with using paper towels. “No, but I’m not giving up.”

“If anyone can figure it out, it’s you with that big, beautiful brain of yours.”

Carleigh downed the rest of her soda. “This big, beautiful brain is ready to shut down. I’m going to try and get some sleep. If I’m not here in the morning, you know where I’ll be.”

Juniper stood and took the plate and empty can. “Please rest, Sis. I know the drawing is important, but you aren’t any good to yourself or your job if you’re running on fumes.”

“You’re right. Thanks, June. Goodnight.”

“Night,” Juniper and Christina said together.

Carleigh took the guest room she’d slept in more times than she could count. Juniper had her old room at Carleigh’s house, which had belonged to their parents. Their mom had gotten pregnant with Juniper when Carleigh was only six months old. Her parents had planned to have a houseful of kids, but for whatever reason, they stopped after Juniper. Carleigh loved kids, and her job was one she could do from anywhere, so if and when she found her mate, she would love to stay at home and raise a houseful of little shifters while still working.

She placed her phone on the charging pad on the nightstand before sliding under the covers. Hoping to get a couple hours of sleep, she curled up on her side and did her best to free her mind of everything, the way her uncle Frey had taught her. It had been a hot minute since she meditated, but it did the trick, allowing her brain to shut off and sleep to take over. When she woke, the sun was peeking through the slats of the blinds. She reached out with her shifter senses for movement in the apartment, but all was quiet. Tossing back the covers, Carleigh sat up and reached for her phone to check for emails or texts. When she found neither, she stood and padded to the bathroom. She took care of all necessary morning business, then changed into something suitable for the office. She and Juniper were the same size with the exception of shoes and pants. June’s feet were half a size larger, and her legs were longer, and they borrowed each other’s clothes often. When she reached the kitchen, Carleigh found a note leaning against the coffee machine. She dropped a pod in before reading the message.

C,

There’s a breakfast sandwich in the microwave. Depending on when you wake up, it might be shit. Christina and I are going to see Connor and Alyssa so we don’t wake you.

She signed off with two hearts intertwined. Gods, her sister was the best. They didn’t spend nearly enough time together considering their jobs, and Carleigh missed her when she was gone. While waiting on the coffee to do its thing, she checked the sandwich. Considering it was past noon, the eggs were rubbery, but Carleigh didn’t care. A few seconds in the microwave would make them more palatable. When the coffee finished brewing, she transferred it to a travel mug. Carleigh ordered a ride since her car was at the office, ensuring the driver was a woman. She then grabbed her purse and dropped the wrapped sandwich inside. By the time she was downstairs, the car was waiting out front. That was one good thing about living in such a busy city – rides were quick. The driver didn’t make small talk, probably because Carleigh was eating her sandwich. When the car stopped in front of Walnut Street Towers, Carleigh thanked the woman and got out.

“Good morning, Miss Stone. Everything okay?” Wylie Johnson was a retired policeman who manned the security desk in the lobby.

“Good morning, Wylie. My sister drove me home last night, so I grabbed a ride share this morning.”

Wylie tipped an imaginary hat. He was aware of the Trio’s cyber security business, but it was rare for her or Harlow to use the front door, thus his inquiry. When Carleigh entered the elevator, an exotic scent hit her nose. She hit the button for the fourth floor where her office was, and by the time the car started moving, the aroma hit her and not in a good way. Her stomach lurched, and Carleigh slapped a hand to the elevator wall. As soon as the doors opened, she crossed the hall and scanned her badge to unlock the biometric panel outside the double wood doors to the office. She then placed her thumb on the scanner, and the lock clicked. All the lights were on, indicating Harlow was already there.

“You don’t look better.” Harlow was leaned back in her chair, her bare feet propped against the edge of her desk, with her keyboard on her lap. Not only was she a Gargoyle-Gryphon hybrid, but Harlow was also a princess. Her father, Tamian, was the Italian Gargoyle King. She had learned her computer skills from her Gryphon mother, Lucy.

“I was until I got on the elevator.” Carleigh placed her coffee mug on her desk and put her purse in her desk drawer.

Harlow gave Carleigh her full attention. “What happened on the elevator?”

“Pretty sure I smelled my mate.”

Harlow dropped her feet, placed the keyboard on her desk, and jumped up. “C, that’s wonderful!”

“It is if I can find them. You know how many people come in and out of this building.”

“True, but it has to be a visitor and not someone who works here, or you’d already have noticed. Follow the scent and track them to whatever floor they visited, then we’ll start searching the camera feed.”

“That simple, huh?”

“Maybe not, but we haven’t had a challenge since Tabitha’s case, and I’m ready for some sleuthing.”

“No time like the present.” Carleigh took one last sip of coffee before going hunting. She entered the elevator and punched the button for the top floor where Sebastian’s company was located. She figured working her way down would be easiest. The doors opened and she stuck her head out. The scent was strong, and she knew she’d hit the jackpot. Carleigh pushed open the glass door into the lobby. Grace was sitting at the receptionist’s desk. She was so much more than that, being both Sebastian’s and Travis’s assistant, but like Willow had, she preferred to sit out front where she could greet anyone who stepped into their office.

“Good morning, Grace.”

“Hey, Carleigh. What brings you up to our world?”

Grace was human, but her adoptive dad was a Gargoyle, so she knew all about shifters. “When I was getting on the elevator earlier, I smelled my mate, and now I’m trying to figure out who it was. I don’t have to look further because his scent is strong in here.”

Grace clapped her hands together. “Your mate? Oh, Carleigh, that’s wonderful.”