Emma watched Derek’s eyes glaze over for a second before re-focusing on her, and she concluded that it was exactly the same look she had seen on Melvina’s face back at the cafeteria two days ago—including the faces of the other people in the cafeteria.

  She pondered the issue, rubbing her fingers along her jaw intermittently. Were they psychics or mind-readers?

  She couldn’t understand the mystery behind the eye glazing. Perhaps she would ask Derek later; now that they were dating, they shouldn’t be hiding things from each other.

  With that thought settled in her head, she walked over to Derek, who seemed to be looking at her but who she knew was also spaced out.

  “Derek…” she called, touching him on the chest. The motion snapped his gaze to her immediately.

  “Hey…” he muttered slowly.

  Emma thought he must be tired from all the cooking.

  But he was just playing with you, her mind whispered.

  Emma couldn’t argue with her mind. Something was up to keep the tiger like this, she thought, looking into Derek’s eyes, which now seemed worried.

  There was no way her boyfriend was just swinging moods like a pregnant woman—something must be going on.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Your face just lost its color.”

  “Nothing really. I just remembered something,” he replied, stroking her cheek lightly.

  “What did you remember? Can you tell me?” Emma asked, her eyes brimming with expectancy.

  Derek stared at his little witch and sighed. He knew he couldn’t tell her the truth—not yet.

  Why not? She’s our mate. She’ll understand, Maru said.

  “No, Maru. She won’t. She’s human; humans are not our favorite people.”

  She’s not just any person—she’s our mate. You’re underestimating her.

  “Okay, Maru. I’ll tell her. But not now,” Derek said conclusively. He didn’t want to argue with his wolf; there were more pressing matters, like why Clem had mind-linked him. He hoped no attack had started yet.

  “Derek…” he heard his little witch call again. He sighed; he had spaced out again.

  “I remembered a friend of mine,” he finally said.

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  “A friend of yours? Male or female?” she asked.

  “Female,” he replied, smiling as he noted the shade of jealousy flicker across her eyes.

  “She was my mother’s friend—and my godmother,” he added, not wanting her to misunderstand as she had with Cassey.

  “Oh, okay. Is her name Sheila?” Emma asked, recalling her conversation with Melvina a few days ago. Melvina had mentioned a woman named Sheila, her best friend who had disappeared some time ago.

  Derek was astounded. He had just brought up his missing godmother to avoid telling the truth because she reminded him of his little witch. They both had red hair, though Emma’s was a deeper shade.

  “How did you know that?” he asked, placing his hands on her shoulders and gazing into her eyes, as if searching for something.

  “Well, Melvina mentioned her,” Emma said.

  “And why do you think she is my godmother? You haven’t met her or my mother…”

  “Well, I just guessed.”

  “Just guessed?” Derek found it hard to believe. His little witch didn’t yet know the woman she had spoken to a few days ago was his mother—so how could she guess Sheila was his godmother?

  “Yeah, a wild guess. Her name was the only one I heard from Melvina, and her face was sad when she mentioned the lady,” Emma said, feeling a little uncomfortable. She wished she had kept quiet.

  “Okay, but Melvina isn’t connected to me. So how did you…?” Derek lifted his hands and flung them slightly to show his curiosity.

  “Be ready to explain that when she finds out Melvina is your mom,” Maru said.

  Derek shrugged. They would cross that bridge when they got there.

  “I don’t know, okay? I just felt that she was the one!” Emma exclaimed, stepping away from Derek, already frustrated. She didn’t know if it was his incessant questions or her inability to explain how she figured it out.

  She just knew. A hunch, perhaps.

  “Okay,” Derek said, taking steps toward her, sensing her irritation. “I’m sorry.”

  “What actually happened to her?” Emma asked.

  “She disappeared during a crisis in our county.”

  “A crisis? What kind of crisis?” Emma’s curiosity fanned. Was she a spy or a scapegoat?

  Derek was speechless. He had never been good at lying.

  “Well…” he started, when a knock on the door interrupted him.

  “Do you have an appointment with someone?” he asked, part relieved the discussion was cut short, part confused. His little witch was new here; she shouldn’t have visitors already.

  Her nearest neighbor lived in another block. He didn’t think Mr. Kletch would visit her anytime soon.

  Or was it Clem? The thought didn’t help his ego.

  “No, I don’t,” Emma replied, surprised. “Maybe it’s Clem,” she added, ignoring the flash of anger in Derek’s eyes.

  “I’ll get the door,” she muttered, walking toward the sitting room.

  But Derek walked past her and headed for the door first.

  “Hey!” Emma shouted, surprised by his sudden overtake.

  “What?” Derek asked, winking. “I’m just getting the door for my mate.”

  “Mate?” Emma laughed. “We’re not animals, Derek. You could call me something sweeter.”

  Derek swallowed, nodded, and cursed himself silently for saying the word aloud.

  Heaving a sigh, he turned and opened the door.

  “Mom??”