Karen Whiddon - Tempting The Dragon

Sue nodded, her short gray pixie cut swinging. “Are you going to...the lake?” Her hushed, almost reverent tone made Jade smile. Everyone acted as if visiting Libby was some sort of sacred duty. Which in a way, it was, she supposed. Though not like the others appeared to think. She didn’t bring offerings of food, though occasionally she’d take out a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses for the two of them to share. There were no rituals involved, no magic. Nothing but a little conversation. If Libby happened to be swimming as her beast, she’d emerge from the lake and shift into her human form, heading into the small cabin she occupied year-round. There, she’d put on one of the numerous dresses she owned, some of them reminiscent of years gone by. She’d brew a pot of tea, and she and Jade would hang out.

Hanging out with the lake creature. Who knew what people would think if they realized? She supposed the shape-shifters in town wouldn’t be surprised, but the humans would be simply flabbergasted. As far as they were concerned, the lake creature was a myth, like bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. Long ago, the local shifters had made it law to keep Libby’s existence a secret from the rest of the world. This, they reasoned, was the only way to protect her.

Until Rance had shown up, this law had worked for decades.

Today Jade would take the proper precautions to make sure she wasn’t followed—Rance Sleighter immediately came to mind—and drive out to the lake to have a chat with Libby. She hated to have to ask the other woman to access her prophetic abilities, but she would. She had to ask about Diamond vanishing.

Until she knew more, Jade decided not to say anything about her cousin’s disappearance to anyone outside of the family. News—aka gossip—traveled fast in a town this size.

“Yes, I am going to the lake.” Her grin widened at Sue’s gasp. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

* * *

Though showing up again at Burnett House unannounced would have Jade Burnett considering him a major pain in the ass, Rance hadn’t gotten to be an excellent photojournalist by worrying about annoying people. Plus, if he were completely honest with himself, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Jade and her exotic green eyes. He’d actually caught himself viewing the photos he’d taken of her again and again. Even if he hadn’t been chasing a story, he knew he had to see her again.

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