Sophie gave her a quick hug. “It's just your nerves talking. Don't listen to them. Listen to us.”
We went in different directions to find our seats. Millie was in the first row between Rodrigo and Gina. I took my place between Meg and a middle-aged wizard called Godfrey. Begonia ended up in the row in front of me with a seat on the end. She kept the tote bag on her lap. Sophie had the crystal ball that we intended to use as a security camera. The plan was to slip away once the speeches got started and activate the voodoo doll when it was Millie's turn. Laurel would be our eyes and ears in the assembly hall. Hopefully, the Black Dog’s watch ended once everyone was inside. We didn't need him questioning us. At least I had the pregnancy as an excuse to use the restroom every five minutes.
Wearing an apricot-colored suit beneath her open cloak, the High Priestess kicked things off with a self-congratulatory speech and two fluffy white dogs at her heels. Her canine companions seemed unimpressed with her oratory skills, as they sprawled across the floor and rested their chins on their paws.
“Without further ado,” she continued, “it’s time to sit back and listen to the dulcet tones of our first contender—Rodrigo Arroyo.”
Rodrigo stepped up to the podium. His dark hair was neatly combed to the side and I caught a glimpse of a bow tie where the clasp of his cloak would normally be. He began to speak about community spirit and the importance of open communication with the other residents. The rest of the coven wasn't wrong—Rodrigo's voice melted like butter and I could tell he was milking it for all it was worth. During the Q&A portion that followed, he fielded a lot of questions and I started to believe the sole purpose was to listen to him speak for as long as possible. That worried me.
He finished to thunderous applause and Rodrigo gave the room a blinding white smile as he returned to his seat. He was definitely going to be tough to beat. That being said, I felt that he was all sizzle and no steak.
Next up was Gina Salt. To be honest, I wasn't even sure how Gina made the cut. She seemed out of her depth even during her speech, and I suspected her presence on the shortlist was some kind of repayment of a favor. Gina’s parents were one of the wealthier magical families in the coven and the cynic in me wondered whether they’d promised to offer financial support to advance Limpet’s coven reform in exchange for their daughter’s inclusion.
As Gina continued her speech at the podium, I couldn't help but notice her older model cloak and hat. Although they'd clearly been carefully preserved, it was obvious that they’d been handed down by previous generations. Gina was exactly the kind of witch Marjory Limpet wanted in the coven. Never mind that her magic was underdeveloped and her participation generally involved handing over a bag of coins. Usually I didn't let things like this bother me, but I was acutely aware of the baby I carried with me—that one day he or she might face the sting of rejection thanks to attitudes like Limpet’s. It wasn't that I was desperate for the baby to join the coven. I wasn't a joiner by nature, but I hated knowing that there was no chance we’d ever participate in ceremonies together or share coven secrets. On the other hand, I understood that the coven was strictly for witches and wizards and that I’d been lucky to be accidentally initiated. I hoped that one day my baby would be fortunate enough to have friends like Laurel, Sophie, Begonia, and Millie—coven or no coven.
Begonia turned around to give the signal before Gina finished. We left the hall one at a time, so as not to arouse suspicion. Sophie left first, followed by Begonia. I waited until the Q&A began. As I slipped out of the room, I heard Professor Holmes ask how she would deal with an epidemic within the coven when the rest of the community was in panic mode, wondering whether an outbreak was imminent. Unsurprisingly, Gina stumbled over her answer. To be fair, I would have, too—it was a tough question.
By the time I arrived in the adjacent classroom, Sophie had the crystal ball set up on the desk so that we could monitor what was happening in the assembly hall. Begonia clutched Voodoo Millie, keeping her in an erect position.
“Posture is important,” Begonia said as I approached the desk. “It's part of poise.”
“She looks good right now,” I said. Millie had just stepped up to the podium and stopped to pet one of Limpet’s dogs on the way. A nice touch. She seemed cool and confident. “Did you already start the spell?”
“Not yet,” Begonia said. She held up a charmed pin and stuck it into Millie's chest. “Starting now.”
Millie winced slightly, likely the result of the pinprick.
“Oh look, it's Chairman Meow,” Begonia said.
I followed her gaze to where Lady Weatherby’s familiar was curled up on the windowsill. He had taken to stalking the rooms at the academy ever since the former head of the coven’s arrest. At the mention of his name, he lifted his head and glanced in our direction. A yawn erupted from him, stretching his jaws and showing off his sharp little teeth. He no longer wore the tiny set of antlers that matched Lady Weatherby's twisted antler headdress. Still, he seemed content to roam the building freely. Better than a prison cell anyway.
“She's gesticulating too much,” Sophie complained. “Keep her arms steady.”
I glanced quickly at the crystal ball to see Millie's hands flapping and waving, a nervous gesture.
“I’m on it.” Begonia used another charmed pin to control Millie's arm movements.
Chairman Meow jumped down from the windowsill and sauntered in our direction, no doubt to stick his whiskers where they didn’t belong.
Real Millie appeared to calm down and continue her speech with poise and grace.
“Can you turn up the volume on the crystal ball?” I asked. “I can't hear what she’s saying.”
Sophie aimed her wand at the ball and said, “Pump up the volume of this ball/so we can hear Millie in the assembly hall.”
Millie's voice came through loud and clear. “As some of you likely remember, I was instrumental in assisting Emma Hart, the town savior, in retrieving the sacred unicorn horn that helped break the curse on Spellbound.”
A smattering of applause followed that statement. I had no doubt that Millie's involvement would gain her many votes. Breaking the curse changed the lives of everyone here and coven members were bound to take that into consideration.
“She's doing really well,” Sophie said. “Everyone seems engaged.”
“Of course they do,” Begonia said. “We charmed this doll to within an inch of its life.”
Begonia continued to stick Voodoo Millie with charmed pins and manipulate her movements. There were no nervous habits. No odd gesticulations. Thanks to Voodoo Millie, Real Millie seemed at ease at the podium. Confident without a trace of arrogance. I was relieved when she finished her speech and moved on to the Q&A portion of the event. The finish line was imminent.
Chairman Meow leapt onto the desk and the swish of his tail nearly knocked over the crystal ball. Sophie’s quick reflexes saved the ball before it could roll off the desk and smash on the floor. Unfortunately, Begonia also attempted to stop the ball from rolling, which resulted in her dropping the voodoo doll. I watched in horror as Real Millie jolted from the impact.
“Chairman Meow, no!” Begonia said.
My head swiveled in time to see the large cat grab the doll with his teeth and drag her away.
“Oh no,” Sophie said.
The crystal ball showed a shaking Millie. The struggling witch managed to hold up a finger, signaling the audience to hold on. Begonia chased after the cat, calling his name.
“Use a freeze spell,” I called after her. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the crystal ball. Millie’s body was reverberating so hard that I worried her head would pop off her neck.
Begonia pulled out her wand and took aim at the cat, but she wasn't fast enough. Chairman Meow scooted out the door with Begonia hot on his tail. Sophie and I watched with our mouths hanging open as the cat burst into the assembly hall and ran straight down the center aisle. Marjory Limpet's previously sleepy dogs sprang to life a
t the sight of a running cat and joined the fray. Meanwhile, Millie continued to thrash and jolt at the podium. Chaos erupted as Chairman Meow jumped onto Ginger's lap and proceeded to run across every lap in the row. The dogs darted after him, ignoring the High Priestess’s cries to stop.
Sophie and I abandoned our plan and returned to the assembly hall to help get the situation under control—not that we had any clue how to do that. In the end, it was Real Millie who demonstrated composure in a crisis, despite her rattled body. As we tried to trap Chairman Meow in order to retrieve the doll, Millie managed to raise her wand and perform a magnet spell that drew the doll to her awaiting hand. Chairman Meow screeched in protest as the doll was torn from his mouth. Real Millie then conjured a counterspell that undid the magic on Voodoo Millie. As the doll sagged, Millie regained complete control of herself. She aimed her wand at the mischievous animals and performed a relaxation spell. The cat and dogs instantly calmed down—Chairman Meow slunk out of the hall and the dogs returned to Limpet’s side. Millie then stuffed the doll into her cloak pocket and clasped her hands on the podium.
“The entertainment portion of our event has now concluded,” she joked. “Let’s resume the Q&A portion, shall we?”
The coven gaped at her as the rest of us scrambled to our seats. The High Priestess was still on her feet.
“I have a question,” Limpet said, appearing dazed and confused. “What just happened here?”
To her credit, Millie remained cool. “I apologize, High Priestess. This was all my fault. I felt that I needed magical assistance in order to win the role, so I crafted a spell on this doll and used specific charms on the pins that would help me with my performance here today.” Millie produced the doll from her pocket and held it up for all to see. “I realize now what a mistake this was and I ask for your forgiveness.” Her gaze swept the room. “By intending to deceive you, I disrespected all of you and I’m truly sorry for that.”
The assembly hall fell silent. Finally, Professor Holmes spoke. “You certainly got that situation under control quickly.”
“And you picked up right where you left off,” Meg added. “I don't think I would have had your poise in that situation.”
Millie's chin lifted a fraction and I got the sense that she was fully in command now. “Thank you, Meg. I'm happy to answer any further questions.” She held up her hands. “I promise there's no magic involved—maybe just a little charm that's one hundred percent mine.” She winked and the crowd laughed in response.
She’s winning them over after all that, I said to myself in disbelief. I hoped that Rodrigo’s velvety voice was now a distant memory.
The Q&A ended and the High Priestess thanked everyone for coming. “And now let the voting commence.” She gestured for Ginger to come forward and the redhead left her seat to stand beside the oversized goblet on a small round table that was covered in a purple cloth.
“Cast your secret ballot here,” Ginger called. “First, whisper the name of your candidate in the hole here.” She pointed to the tiny dot on the left side of the goblet. “Second, whisper the name you’d like to see for the academy. Remember the options are the Arabella St. Simon Academy, the Sun and Moon Academy, or another name of your choice. The votes will accumulate inside the goblet and tallied at the end.”
“A formal announcement won’t be made until the end of the week,” the High Priestess added. “Please approach the goblet one at a time, beginning with the first row. Candidates may, of course, vote for themselves.”
“And stay behind the purple line on the floor until you’re waved forward,” Ginger said. “It’s important for privacy purposes.”
Voting began with Millie’s row and someone murmured “nice recovery” as Millie passed by.
We each cast a vote and met in the corridor to exit together. Millie seemed pleased with her performance.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a slam dunk, but I feel good about it,” she said.
Begonia hugged her. “You should. You were amazing.”
I noticed Sheriff Astrid pacing outside the academy.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
She met my inquisitive gaze. “You’re going to want to join me for this.”
I squinted. “For what?”
She approached me and lowered her voice. “Two witnesses say they saw Finian Kaminsky on Starlight Street with a pair of garden shears. When she noticed a jalopy in the driveway, she fled.”
Starlight Street sounded familiar. “Jerry’s house?” I asked.
Astrid’s expression was grim. “You got it.”
My heart skipped a beat. “That’s great news.” If Finian was also responsible for Mr. Geary’s condition, then Althea might be free within the hour. “Does she know how to turn elves into stone, too?”
“Only one way to find out.” The sheriff beckoned me to follow her. “Come on, flat foot. I’ll drive.”
Chapter Eighteen
Xavier Kaminsky’s garden was just as beautiful as the last time we were here. No smashed ornaments or crushed flowers here. As I continued to the front door, I lost my balance and nearly tumbled forward. Luckily, Astrid’s fast reflexes saved me from being scraped off the walkway.
“Easy there,” she said. She held my elbow until she was certain I wouldn’t topple over. “This whole equilibrium thing will end once the baby’s born, right?”
“I hope so. My center of gravity is off, but it should revert to normal once I’m not lugging around an extra body.”
Astrid gazed at me with admiration. “The female species is an amazing achievement.”
“It’s not too late for you, is it?”
Astrid barked a short laugh. “I’ve worked too hard to wear this star.” She tapped the badge on her chest. “Besides, Britta’s enough to worry about.”
“Britta is your sister and a grown Valkyrie.”
The hint of a smile appeared. “Okay, maybe that’s an excuse. The truth is I’m just not interested.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “You don’t need to explain or make excuses. There’s no rule that requires you to want children.”
Her smile broadened. “Doesn’t mean I won’t volunteer for babysitting duty, though.” She paused. “As long as I can give her back at the end of the evening.”
“You’re going with a girl, huh?”
Astrid offered a firm nod. “I’ve got good money riding on it, too, so don’t let me down.”
I eyed her curiously. “Who’s in charge of this pool?”
Her brow lifted. “What pool?”
“It’s Lucy, isn’t it?” Only the fairy would turn my pregnancy into a competition.
Astrid lowered her gaze. “She may have taken bets at your baby shower.”
“What are the odds?”
“Pretty evenly split, actually, which I guess makes sense.” She stepped up to the door and knocked.
Finian Kaminsky opened the door and her eyes widened in surprise. “Is Xavier okay? Please don’t tell me he’s been turned to stone.”
“Your husband is fine, Mrs. Kaminsky,” Astrid said, switching back to sheriff mode. “I’m here to ask you a few questions. Can we come in?”
Finian backed away, a nervous tic causing her cheek to pulse. “Why do you need to talk to me? You don’t want to arrest Xavier, do you? I swear he didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No,” the sheriff said, “but you did.”
“We know you destroyed the gardens,” I said. “Witnesses saw you fleeing the scene. Did you also turn Albert Geary to stone?” She dabbled in magic, so it was possible.
Finian stared at me with solemn eyes. “I swear on my mother’s grave that I had nothing to do with turning anyone to stone.”
“You’ve been caught destroying gardens in the competition,” I said. “Why should we believe you?”
Finian fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “Because I saw an opportunity and I took it.”
I frowned. “What kind of opportunity?”
; “To help my Xavier.”
“Help him what?” Sheriff Astrid asked.
I smacked my forehead. “You were hoping that whoever’s responsible for turning Mr. Geary to stone would also be blamed for ruining the gardens. You hoped to use it as smokescreen.”
Finian lowered her gaze to the ground, confirming my theory. “You don’t understand. All Xavier talks about for months on end is that competition. I dread the time of year when he starts preparing again. It’s like I don’t exist.”
“You could’ve just destroyed your own garden and left everyone else’s intact,” Sheriff Astrid said. “I wouldn’t arrest you for tampering with your own garden. A win-win.“
“Except it wouldn’t be,” Finian said. “It would only make him more determined to win next year. It would never end.”
“You figured if he finally won this year, that he would scratch the itch and stop obsessing,” I said.
Finian nodded. “With Al’s garden out of the way, I thought it might be easier. I had to start with Adam because he was most likely to win.”
“Just out of curiosity,” I began, “why tamper with Marty McTavish’s garden?” It was highly unlikely the leprechaun had a shot at winning.
Finian bit back a smile. “I considered that a public service. No one should have to look at that garden. It’s a crime against good taste.”
“So you decided to improve it with a phallic shrub?” I queried.
Finian squeezed her eyes closed. “I’d forgotten about that. Yes, I may have gone a little overboard with that one.”
“You think?” the sheriff said.
Finian’s voice dropped to a whisper. “There may have been alcohol involved.”
“Does Xavier know about any of this?” I asked.
The color drained from Finian’s face, her pink-hued skin fading to a milky white. “Please don’t tell him it was me. He’ll never forgive me.”
“He’s going to have to be told, Mrs. Kaminsky,” Sheriff Astrid said, “if only to bail you out of jail.”
The sound of the front door opening caught our attention. Finian promptly burst into tears.
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