Arcane Magic (Stella Mayweather Series) Read Online Free PDF

I promised.
    "Good. Now we have that business arranged, shall we have lunch? I've mentioned to a few colleagues that you're here for a social visit. It would be good for us to be seen."
    My stomach gave a small rumble. "Sounds fine to me."
    "Excellent." Étoile stood, rounding the desk. "What's wrong?"
    "Nothing." Too late, the feeling of disappointment, and dread, escaped me again.
    "Evan Hunter won't be in our restaurant." Étoile joined me, the paperwork forgotten on her desk. "He returned with his father to their quarters. As far as I know, they're leaving the city today."
    "I was just surprised to see him," I said, shrugging it off as I walled my feelings away.
    "He's been at his father's side at every meeting we've held, not that there were many. He's deeply embedded into their politics now."
    "So you've seen Evan before? You never said!"
    "It never came up. Let's not talk about this."
    "Don't you think it's strange though? He hated his father, he didn't want anything to do with them, and now he's involved in their politics? He made a public outcry against it too," I said, recalling the moment I saw him standing with the demon faction at Étoile's election. "Them versus us. Don't you think...?"
    "I don't think anything," Étoile cut in abruptly. "Leave it be, Stella. Don't interfere. Evan has chosen his path and you have your job. I'm hungry. Let's eat. Kitty is joining us. She wants to know all about the baby." And with that, Étoile refused to talk anymore about Evan and I was left just as confused as ever.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    The Amethyst restaurant was surprisingly quiet. The last time I visited, every table was at full capacity. One fatal poisoning had also occurred. Today though, our table, set for three, was right next to windows overlooking the misty city. There, waiting for us, was Kitty. She sprang up to hug me as we approached and I embraced her warmly. I missed her.
    "England, huh? You've been gone so long! Are you home to stay now?"
    "I still have a couple weeks of vacation, but yes, I'm home," I said, relishing how easily I called it "home," and even better, to have a place that was just that. "It looks like I'm back to work though. Well, kind of."
    "Maybe we should take that trip we talked about," Kitty suggested, looking from me to Étoile. "The three of us? We would have a blast."
    "I don't know," said Étoile, typically offhand as she picked up the menu, perusing it. "Maybe."
    "You can take some time off from the vampire boyfriend to hang out with your friends for a weekend."
    "He's not my boyfriend."
    "Matthias totally is her boyfriend," said Kitty, glancing at me for confirmation. "You can't date someone that long and not call him your boyfriend."
    "We don't date."
    "He stays over."
    "Different thing entirely," Étoile replied dismissively, apparently unaware of, or ignoring, Kitty, who stuck her tongue out at her.
    "I get the feeling I missed something," I said, picking up my own menu. The food all looked extremely appealing, and once again, I was ravenous. My slightly depleted power supply seemed to need more sustenance. "What's happened since I've been gone?"
    "What hasn't happened?" asked Kitty.
    At the same time, Étoile snipped, "Nothing."
    "Tell me," I demanded with exasperation. "And don't say ‘nothing,’ Étoile."
    Étoile rolled her eyes, remaining silent, and leaving Kitty to lean forward and tell me the latest which included: Étoile and Matthias were seeing more of each other and she knew he stayed the night several times, not to mention Étoile, who had also spent several nights away, herself. "Plus," Kitty finished, "he obviously adores her. You can see it in the way he follows her around the room."
    "Probably hungry," I said and Étoile laughed.
    "Fine," Étoile snapped as she lay down her menu. "Yes, we've been seeing each other more lately since I returned to the city, but it's not like I can seriously get involved."
    "Why not?"
    "Really?" Étoile arched one