"I hope you're right," I said. "I can't imagine a Spellbound where Hugo is in charge." I shuddered. Talk about a nightmare.
"How will we know the results of the election?" Begonia asked. "This is my first time voting."
Demetrius appeared, snaking an arm around Begonia’s waist. "I can tell you anything you like about the election process. I've been through about a hundred of them."
Begonia’s pale cheeks grew flushed at his touch. "Hello, Dem. We weren't sure if we'd see you here."
"I sent an owl to your house earlier to ask you to join me, but I guess you were already out for the day," he said.
I saw a look of excitement flash in Begonia’s blue eyes. "Oh?”
More vampires flooded the Horned Owl behind Demetrius.
“Wouldn’t your friends rather be at the Spotted Owl?” I asked the sexy vampire.
“Not tonight,” he replied. “They voted for Lucy. All of the Lucy voters want to be here when the announcement is made.”
I craned my neck to search for the fairy. “I’m surprised she’s not here yet.”
“Probably shaking more hands and kissing more babies,” Millie said, scrunching her nose in disgust. “She deserves the job for putting up with all that.”
“Hey, isn’t that Jana over there?” I asked. I recognized the succubus waitress from Red Velvet. “At least she doesn’t have to work tonight.”
Demetrius shot me a look of surprise. “You haven’t heard the news?”
“What news?”
“Jana is the proud new owner of Lumberland,” he replied. “It turns out that Marcel had no will and no heirs, so Jana has taken control of the company thanks to her small ownership stake.”
I watched as Jana huddled in a corner with Alaric, the owner of Wands-A-Plenty. They seemed to have their business faces on.
“That’s amazing,” I said. “I’m so pleased for her.”
“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” Demetrius agreed. He gave Begonia a quick kiss on the cheek. “Present company excepted, of course.”
“That’s okay,” Begonia said, enjoying the flattery. “I don’t want to own Lumberland. I might try and expand my tattoo spell and turn that into a business.”
“I love that idea,” I said.
Fireworks boomed overhead and the crowd poured out of the tavern and into the street. Bright colors dotted the sky, spelling out—Congrats Mayor Langtree.
“Lucy’s the new mayor,” I cried and the crowd cheered.
Lucy’s victory was the start of a new era. It seemed that everyone around me was beginning to hit her stride. It was an incredible feeling to be a part of it. I gave silent thanks to the universe. No matter what the future brought with my heritage, I knew that I could face it, because I had the strength of my friends and loved ones behind me.
I heard a whisper inside me, too soft to recognize. My mother? I wasn’t sure, but I took comfort in the message all the same--
When you are loved, you can—and will—endure.
Thank you for reading A Touch of Magic. I hope you enjoyed spending time with the residents of Spellbound once more. Please help other readers find this book so they can immerse themselves in the world of Spellbound too ~
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Also by Annabel Chase
Starry Hollow Witches
Magic & Murder, Book 1
Magic & Mystery, Book 2
Magic & Mischief, Book 3
A Touch of Magic Page 17
