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.”

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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.

“Je me sens si sale [I feel so dirty],” she pouts at the thought of having just performed magic on Tyree

without asking his permission, “Cleansing meditation after dinner, Kas.” '

Marco looks at Tyree, “We good, T?” Tyree gives a thumbs up and wanders back to his position at the

front door.

“You ladies. 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, the saleswomen, who somehow didn't notice Leticia,

come to help us. |

When we finish our shopping trip, it's time to make our way to the restaurant. We wait in the car while

Marco speaks to the maitre d' and announces our arrival to make sure our table is ready.

One of Bronx’s biggest rules for me is to never stand around waiting where someone could approach

me without warning.

I see paparazzi loitering on the sidewalk. The longer we sit, the more crowded 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 to go inside.

In the front seat, Tyree on the phone with the local police but 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 figures still cause a stir. In the human world, Iam, unfortunately, one of those people.

°

I see Delilah looking out the tinted windows with a shocked look.

"Delilah, whatever you do, don't make eye contact. Keep your head up so they can see your face, but

look toward the ground. Don't answer questions, even if they seem innocent, okay? Tyree is going to

block their path. Marco will lead us in. Just don't stop until we're inside and at our table,” I give her the

instructions I have memorized from the MasonCo PR team and Marco and James. °

“Th-there are so many more than we have in front 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 picked out.

"If you don’t think you can control your eye color, put these on. By the time we finish eating, the police

will have made them all leave."

“Pancakes or waffles, Kas?” she asks, still looking out the window. '

“Pancakes,” I 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 hand into mine without lacing our fingers,

squeezing tightly, "Don't let go."

Tyree and Marco take their places outside the car and Marco opens the door. I step out first and pull

Delilah with me, so she won't lose her nerve.

The number of flashes going off is insane. Photographers yell out questions in English and French.

Tyree and Marco block their path and get us into the restaurant safely, but it definitely feels like more

people surrounding us than I have experienced before.

The manager of the restaurant greets us and tells me that my friend is already at the table. I blink for a

moment 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 up and gives me an enormous

hug.

“Kas! It's so good to see you! Delilah, you too!”

“Leticia! It’s so good to see you, too. Let's sit,” I grin.

“I hope you don’t mind, but requested a bottle of wine. I hear they have a master sommelier who is the

best around,” Leticia says, raising her an eyebrow as she sits down.

“Oh, I don't mind if you ordered a bottle, but I don’t drink, remember? And Delilah is pregnant, so she

can’t drink,” I say apologetically.

“I'm certain you are going to want to at least taste what this guy is going to serve us, Kas,” Leticia

winks. Delilah nudges my foot under the table in some sort of warning I don’t understand.

The chef greets us and explains what the courses will be for dinner. Even with the delicious sounding

menu, Leticia requests chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce, which makes Delilah and I chuckle.

“Wait wait wait. Let’s make a deal. You eat the eight-course meal that 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 funny. I think hearing Leticia speak so lovingly about me gives Delilah a

sense of relief.

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

familiar voice announces.

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

blue, watching us all with delight, holding a bottle of red wine.

“Dionysus,” I whisper in shock.

“That's me, Deon Nise,” he rocks on his feet slightly, shifting his eyes to 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 the evening. Tonight's selection is Greek. It may as well be directly from Mount Olympus.

Think of i tas a gift from the God of Thunder himself.”

Leticia has a sparkle in her eye as she holds her head in her hand, admiring him.

“I see,” Ilook at him carefully and flip my hair in defiance, “It’s good enough for gods and goddesses,

but what about a monstrosity like me or Leticia?”

“Kas,” Leticia hisses, “Don’t be rude to Deon.”

“Mrs. Mason. Kas, if I may. This wine is a gift,” Dionysus leans forward and grits his teeth with a forced

smile, “from the God of Thunder, himself. I suggest you don’t make him angry and try it.”

“Oh. I see,” I nod. He isn’t here on his own accord. Zeus sent him. I clear my throat and smile,

correcting my previous tone, “Well, if the God of Thunder wants us to have it, then how could we

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possibly say no.”

Dionysus gives us the best fake smile he can manage and pours three glasses of the dark red, fragrant

wine.

“Oh, none for me, Deon. I am pregnant,” Delilah quips, placing her hand on her baby bump.

“Well then, juice for the magissa [witch]. We wouldn’t want any harm to come to you or your baby,”

Dionysus sneers. He picks up Delilah’s glass and swirls the wine inside. The color lightens to what

looks like a cross between pomegranate and cranberry juice, “ There. Fermentation free. Pure as the

day I squeezed it.”

Delilah picks up the glass and smells it, then takes a small taste to her lips. Her eyes widen with

delight, “Thank you, Deon. It’s magnifique!”

I pick up my glass and smell it the way actual sommeliers taught me on a food tour during my

honeymoon. The smell alone is intoxicating. I look up to see Leticia holding her glass in front of her with

a huge grin on her face.

“Cheers!” I smile and hold up my glass. Leticia and Delilah clink their glasses against mine and I let

myself take a little sip.

It is absolutely the most delicious thing I have ever tasted in my life. Complex flavors of dark berries,

chocolate, and smokey oakiness. Smooth with a bit of spice as you swallow it.

“This is the best wine I have ever tasted,” I say to Dionysus, who is watching us intently.

“Iam so glad you like it. The owner of the vineyard sends his regards. This is for later, when you are in

a more private setting,” Dionysus places a single wrapped piece of chocolate on the table in front of

me, “Compliments of the vineyard owner.”

I pick up the golden wrapper and see a little lightning bolt imprinted on the side, “Than-”

He’s gone from his spot. I look around to see if he stepped away from our table, but he is nowhere to

be seen, “Where did he go?”

“I don’t know, maybe back to Mount Olympus?” Leticia looks around as well, “How exciting, though.

Our half brother is seIving us an exclusive bottle of his wine?”

“Well, it's disputed if we have the same mother. Regardless, I'm suspicious, Leticia. Last time I saw

him, he was not so kind to me,” I explain to her.

“Kas, do you think he could have been the shadow in our pack house?” Delilah looks at the spot where

Dionysus was just standing.

I hadn't thought of it previously. I suppose it could have been. We thought it was dark magic, but what if

it was him trying to get me to drink some sort of poisonous concoction? I look at my glass and then at

the chocolate.

“Oh. I-I think I understand,” I say, putting the glass to my lips again, “It’s obvious he was told to be here.

I think I have to drink the wine, then eat the chocolate later. Like, a request by Zeus.”

“Zeus doesn’t request anything, Kas,” Leticia looks at me with a worried expression, “He usually just

orders and demands shit from people. Please don’t make him mad.”

I look between my sister and my friend and drink deeply from the glass, “If this combo is going to let me

go see him and he says what I think he’s going to say, we don’t have to worry about me making him

mad. He’s going to make me mad.”