“I get that, but listen, her ex is playing games. Sending her notes, leaving messages on her car, and generally freaking her out.”

“What?” Delaney’s eyes flashed with indignation, and she snarled, baring her fangs. “That lowlife piece of—are you doing anything about this?”

“I am. I’ve made the other deputies aware, in fact, one of them is sitting outside her place right now keeping watch while I’m gone, and we’ve been actively searching for him in town. Nothing yet, but we’ll find him. I also plan to stay at her place tonight and I hope to lay hands on the man.”

“Are you also going to put a little supernatural fear into him?”

Alex nodded. “When I’m done with him, he’ll be begging to sign those divorce papers and leave Roxy alone. Hell, I doubt he’ll ever step foot in Nocturne Falls again.”

“Good.”

“So then we tell Roxy.”

Delaney pushed the remains of the cookies around on her plate, her expression tortured. “I just… I don’t know how to tell her. I always pictured doing it over a girls’ night, after a couple of drinks and when the mood was just right. But thanks to my pregnancy, that hasn’t happened. Now there’s all this stuff with her ex going on and I worry that I could be telling her something that could do more damage than good.”

“She writes paranormal romance for a living. She’ll probably handle it better than you think.”

“But in her current state of mind?”

“I think she would find it a great relief to know she’s not actually having a break with reality.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Delaney tipped her head. “Do you think her job is why the magic in the water isn’t working on her? She’s already so connected to the supernatural. She writes about it, so she must think about it all the time. Maybe her subconscious already knows better and just won’t let the magic take root.”

“Is that possible?”

She shrugged. “I’d have to ask Alice Bishop. It’s her spell, after all.”

Alex thought for a moment. “You’ve known Roxy a long time. Any chance she has a little supernatural blood in her? That could keep the magic from working, right?”

“It absolutely could. But whether or not her background includes supernatural bloodlines is beyond me. Remember, I was as human as she is when we first met. And if she does have some supernatural heritage, it’s so small that neither Hugh nor I have picked up on it.”

“Did I hear my name?” Hugh Ellingham walked in, a newspaper under one arm. “Hello, Deputy.” His brows lifted. “Everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine. I’m not here on official business.”

Delaney stood and kissed her husband on the cheek. “He’s here about Roxy.”

Hugh nodded and slid his arm around Delaney’s waist, but his concern remained. “She’s not in any trouble, is she?”

Alex frowned. “Her ex is giving her some grief, but I’m on top of it.”

Hugh’s expression shifted to confusion. “Is there something we can do to help with that? Because we will. Just say the word.”

Alex looked at Delaney. He didn’t know what she’d told Hugh and what she hadn’t. “That’s not really why I’m here. But if things escalate, I may take you up on that.”

Delaney sighed. “He’s here because he wants to let Roxy in on the truth about Nocturne Falls. The magic in the water isn’t hiding the supernatural from her, and according to Deputy Cruz, she thinks she’s going crazy because of the things she’s seeing.”

Hugh’s brows knit. “Then by all means, tell her.” He shook his head. “I said you should have told her when she first moved here.”

She barked out a laugh. “You remember how I reacted when I found out you were a vampire?”

He leaned back. “Very well. You climbed out of a second-story window with your cat in a backpack in the middle of the night and took off.” He snorted. “I had to follow you through the woods and convince you that I was telling the truth.”

“Exactly. So can you imagine how Roxy will react on top of the stress of her looming deadline and going through this awful divorce? I just don’t want to push her over the edge.”

Alex cleared his throat softly. “Not telling her is already pushing her over the edge.”

“And it’s my fault.” Delaney put a hand on her belly. “Again, you’re right. I need to tell her. I think this pregnancy is scrambling my brain a bit. As much as I’d rather put it off until morning, it needs to be done tonight, doesn’t it?”

Alex didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I can’t keep withholding the truth from her. We like each other, and that’s just not a good way to start any kind of relationship.”

Hugh nodded. “I agree. And not just for that reason.” He looked at Delaney. “I’m sure you’re tired, my darling, but your friend obviously needs to understand what’s happening around here as soon as possible.”

Delaney nodded. “She does. And I think Alex needs to go with me. She obviously trusts him and that way, if she runs off like I did, he can go after her. Are you good with that, Deputy?”

“Absolutely,” Alex said. That was exactly what he wanted. “It’ll be easier to show her that what we’re talking about is real if she sees two of us for what we truly are. And if she runs, which I don’t think she will, I’ll definitely go after her.”