by Amy Boyles
Chapter 23
Axel approached. I tried to ignore the fact that he was naked, but it proved nearly impossible.
“I would put clothes on, but I think it’ll work better this way.”
I quirked a brow. “What will?”
“This. It’ll help the magic we produce.”
I leaned back. “What magic?”
He stood close enough to touch. Axel brushed a strand of hair from my face. An electric jolt zipped down my spine.
“That magic,” Axel said. “You and I make our own magic. We always have when we’re together.”
Something about that seemed right, but everything about Axel and I seemed so fuzzy, so intangible. As if it all existed behind a smudged reality with blurred lines. I couldn’t quite see it. Couldn’t quite touch it.
But that didn’t make it any less real.
Axel grazed his fingers down my arms. I jerked. “I’m only going to kiss you,” he murmured.
“I know. I just didn’t expect that.”
He nodded. “Close your eyes.”
I hesitated. What if he saw the knife? What if he plucked it from me and turned the blade against me?
I shook my head. Axel wouldn’t do that. He’d waited for me. All he wanted was a kiss, and all I wanted…was to betray him.
I tipped my chin toward him. “Go ahead.”
Axel chuckled. “You think I’m just going to smooch you on the lips and be done with it?” He shook his head. “Close your eyes.”
I squinted. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Point taken.”
He took my hands in his and squeezed them. “Now. Close your eyes.”
I hesitated. Frustration filled Axel’s eyes. “You searched me out and found me. So. If you want to know the truth that lies in your heart, close your eyes.”
I did as he said, cinching my lids shut tight. He released my hands and pressed his palm to my forehead.
I gasped as magic flurried around us. Obviously I couldn’t see it, but I could feel every inch of it. My skin tingled from the flash of power.
“Do you feel that?” he whispered. “That’s what lies between us. That’s the power we share.”
His soft breath tickled my face. He smelled of the forest—pine and grass. It comforted me.
Axel’s fingers trailed down my temples, caressing my cheeks. My flesh ignited under his touch. My head began to swim. I felt like I was under a bubble. A wonderful magical bubble that made me float on air.
His fingers wound into my hair and I moaned. His lips brushed my cheeks. My breath caught and I swayed. Axel pulled me to him. His arms wrapped around my waist, and I was reminded of the dagger I had stashed in my belt.
I nearly opened my eyes but stopped.
“Relax,” he whispered. “Just the one kiss. Remember?”
I did. That would be my moment. When his lips touched mine, that would be when I took my chance and changed all of this. Made it so that my future was locked with Rufus.
As that thought faded from my head, Axel’s lips touched mine. Power bloomed in my core. It was hot, a heat like nothing I’d ever felt. It rose scorching and fast in me, as if I was on fire.
I felt his lips and I wanted to resist—I did. I remembered my job. My duty. There was no telling how long the kiss would last.
I reached behind me. Axel’s arms shifted to give me room.
I pulled the dagger from my back.
Axel drank deeper. The kiss held a world of passion and love. I held back, afraid of what would happen if I gave myself over to the moment.
His shoulders tensed. Let go, he said in my head.
If I was going to truly take advantage of the situation, then Axel needed to relax. Hence, I needed to as well.
So I let go. I let my mind stop working and gave myself over to Axel’s mouth.
The fire intensified, sweeping over my body. I felt Axel relax, felt him give himself over to the kiss.
I lifted the dagger now, aiming it toward his back. I held it high with my fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt.
I was poised.
Then something inside me broke.
I cracked down the middle. All my feelings for Rufus disappeared, eaten by the fire that consumed me and Axel.
The love I held for Axel, that pearl that had been buried deep in my subconscious, broke free and consumed me.
My hand opened. The dagger slipped from my palm, landing softly on a bed of pine needles. I wound my fingers into Axel’s hair and let the power of our love envelop me.
All the love and kindness I felt in my heart for Axel, all the passion, all the everything filled me as if I was an empty cup and he was the elixir of life.
Coming to this strange Magnolia Cove had been a trippy dream. None of it had made sense at first and then it made perfect sense, and now I knew the truth once more.
I belonged to Axel and him to me.
He cupped my jaw, and I angled my head more. I never wanted this kiss to end. But it would, and there would be a mess to clean up afterward.
After what felt like eternity and at the same time, only a fragment of a second, our lips parted.
My lids fluttered open. Axel smiled at me.
“I’m so glad you decided not to kill me. That really would’ve ruined this.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “How could I have forgotten this?”
He closed his eyes. “There was a lot between us. You were under a spell.”
“But I’m not anymore.”
He kissed me again. “I’ve always loved you, and I always will.”
“Me too.”
I reached for him, reached out to touch Axel, but then the world shifted, becoming hazy. I could feel Axel but couldn’t see him.
Had Argus discovered I’d ruined his plan? Was he punishing me?
I reached for Axel. “Where are you?”
His fingers brushed mine. “I’m here. Right here!”
But then the cloud thickened and I couldn’t feel him anymore. I was being dragged far, far away. I screamed. I kicked. I did everything I could to reach him, but it was no use.
I’d been sucked into a void.
Chapter 24
The next thing I knew I was sitting on my bed. I glanced around. Everything looked in place.
Something stirred at the foot of my bed. I leaned over, the mattress squeaking, and gasped when I saw—
“Mattie!”
I pulled the cat into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Mattie! You’re alive! You’re here.”
“Sugar,” she said, annoyed, “I don’t exactly like the sound of what you’re suggestin’. Of course I’m here, young’un. Now let me go before you slobber all over my fur. I just gave myself a bath.”
I ignored her request. “Oh, Mattie. You don’t know how happy I am to see you. You are a sight for these sore eyes.”
“I’m about to be sore all over unless you drop me right now.”
One more hug and I did as she requested. Then I jumped from my bed, ran to the door and threw it open.
“I’m back!”
I raced down the stairs. “I’m back!”
Betty stirred a goopy substance in the cauldron. I pulled her into a huge hug, lifting her off the floor. “Hey, be careful. You don’t want to get any of this stuff on you.”
I released her. “What is it?”
“Gives you permanent wrinkles. I figure if I walk around with a vial of it, none of my enemies will be enemies. They’ll think twice about it.”
I kissed her cheek. “How I’ve missed you.”
She gave me one long look and smirked. “Where’d you go?”
I considered explaining but let it drop. “Forget it. I was just upstairs in my bed. Where’s Amelia? Cordelia?”
“In the backyard with Hugo.”
I raced into the kitchen and out the back. Sure enough, I found Amelia and Cordelia playing Frisbee with my dragon.<
br />
I took one step outside, posed with hands on hips like Peter Pan and shouted, “I’m back!”
Amelia and Cordelia turned. Their jaws dropped.
“Pepper,” Amelia exclaimed.
Cordelia ran toward me. “You’re here.”
I took one look at her and cocked a brow. “Are you the real Cordelia?”
Amelia nodded. “It’s her. She arrived not long after me.”
Hugo trotted up and licked my face. I cringed a little bit. Slobber was slobber no matter what sort of animal it came from. I gave him a friendly pat.
“I’m glad to see you, too, buddy. How long have I been gone?” I directed to my cousins.
“Only a few minutes,” Amelia explained. “It seems that the wishing stone dropped us back off about the same time that we left—right after your wedding gown fitting. No one noticed that any of us were missing.”
My gaze darted to Cordelia. “And the stone?”
She lifted her palms in surrender. “Already gave it to my dad. I didn’t bother explaining what had happened, just handed it over and told him to keep it under lock and key.”
Cordelia took one look at me and smiled appreciatively. “I’m just so glad you’re back. I didn’t know if you’d make it. You were under that spell way too good.”
I scoffed. “I know. I almost killed Axel.”
“What?” Amelia screeched.
I waved away her concern. “But obviously I didn’t. And I’m here.”
“Thank goodness.” Amelia pulled us all into a hug. “I’m so glad we all are. That was one ride. I knew we weren’t supposed to go along with it. I felt that in my bones.”
Cordelia scratched Amelia’s head roughly. “I’m glad you went with your gut. It gave me the confidence to as well. And wow. You would have not liked the Amelia who took your place. She was bossy.”
Amelia straightened. “I like to think that I can be assertive.”
“Well, she was running the Vault,” I said. “So she was super assertive.”
A whimsical expression filled Amelia’s face. “She was? Life goals, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
Cordelia and I exchanged a glance, and the three of us burst into laughter.
Life goals, indeed.
I rode Hugo over to Axel’s house. We flew high over Bubbling Cauldron, but not so high that I didn’t notice Rufus Mayes and my cousin Carmen walking down the street, hand in hand.
I smiled. I’d lived a life where I’d been in love with Rufus and I had loved him, but at the same time I knew my feelings belonged somewhere else—somewhere different.
My phone buzzed as we flew. I picked it up. “Hello?”
“Pepper, is that you?”
“Betty?”
My grandmother cleared her throat. “I should have said this when you were here, but I couldn’t.”
“Said what?”
“Listen, I’m sorry about what happened today at the boutique. I’m sorry I pushed that dress on you. It’s your wedding. You do what you want.”
I thought about it. I’d nearly forgotten how angry I’d been about the whole dress thing. In hindsight, none of it mattered. It was only a dress.
“Betty, thank you for saying that. I know you want my wedding to be spectacular. I know that. I appreciate you coming to the fitting, I really do. It wouldn’t have been the same without you there. I know we’re both sad that my mama isn’t here to see the wedding, so if there’s an opinion you have about something, I want to hear it.”
“But I won’t force anything on you,” she added. “It’s your day. I need to remember that.”
“It’s all of our day. It belongs to all of us—witches, wizards, werewolves. It’s an important day for all creatures magical.”
I thought about all the dresses I’d worn throughout the past week. “Maybe we can compromise. Perhaps I won’t wear a black dress, but the wedding does take place at night and I’m pretty sure I remember seeing a blue velvet dress in Penny’s shop.”
Betty practically salivated into the phone. “It’s another traditional witch color for a wedding. It would look beautiful on you.”
I smiled. “I’ll make a phone call and see what I can do.”
We hung up just as I spied Axel’s house in the distance. Soon it would be our house—one we would share together.
A shiver raced down my spine as Hugo landed softly in the grass. Leaves and grass clippings lifted into the air as he flapped his wings, settling gently on the ground.
I hoisted one leg over his spine and slid from his back.
I patted his neck. “Thanks, buddy. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I sprinted up the steps and knocked. Within seconds Axel opened the door, a questioning look on his face.
“You okay, Pepper? You didn’t call.”
I didn’t let him say one more word. I threw my arms around his neck and planted my lips on his.
“I’m so happy to see you,” I nearly screeched.
Axel pulled back and looked at me with surprise. “I just saw you yesterday. We’re having dinner tonight.” He cocked a brow. “Or at least we’re supposed to. Is everything okay?”
I took his hands and squeezed them. “Yes, everything is fine. Great. I’m just happy you’re here and that we’re together and that we’re getting married soon.”
Axel smiled down at me. The corners of his eyes crinkled. I touched the lines, admiring the warmth that filled his gaze.
I snaked my arms around his waist one more time and held tight. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
“I think so.” His hands slid down my back. “But I’m not going to argue if I have to hear it again.”
I giggled, sighing and relaxing against his chest. “I love you to the moon and back. I love you as big as the galaxy and am so elated that we’re going to be spending the rest of our lives together. It’s a dream come true.”
“And I love you to infinity,” Axel replied softly. “You’re about to make me the happiest man alive.”
“I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“I don’t even want to try.” Axel kissed my nose. His eyes narrowed. “Is anything wrong? Are you okay? You’re acting like something bad just happened.”
I debated telling him but decided against it. Some things were best left secrets and never talked about. I’d lived a life without Axel and didn’t want to experience that again.
Once had been enough, thank you very much.
“Nothing bad happened,” I said brightly. “I just wanted to tell you how I felt, is all. In another month we’ll be married and our lives together will begin.”
Axel pulled me to him one more time. “I can’t wait.”
We stared at each other for a moment. “Well, I just wanted to say hello and tell you that. Can’t wait for our date tonight.”
Axel swept his hand across the threshold. “Sure you don’t want to come in? Stay a while. We can always start our date early.”
I’d spent a week away from him, and the last thing I wanted was to be separated from Axel again, if even for a few minutes.
I smiled. “Sure. I’d love to come in.”
We spent all afternoon and well into the night in each other’s company. There was a lot of laughter and hand touching, arm linking and kissing.
I’m not ashamed to tell you.
When it was time to go home, I pulled myself onto Hugo’s back, then leaned down and gently kissed Axel once more.
“See you tomorrow?” I said.
He scrubbed a hand down his jaw. “See you then.”
Hugo lifted me into the air. The streetlamps that lined Bubbling Cauldron road winked through the trees. I was about to head straight home until I thought of something.
“Over there, Hugo. Land there.”
He landed, his wings kicking up a flurry of debris. I slid off his back and faced the alley behind Familiar Place.
“Are you here?” I whispered.
A body scurried acr
oss the alley, and metal fell, clattering onto the street.
Hugo exhaled a snort.
“It’s okay, boy.”
I slowly padded down the alley, listening for any sound.
“Come here, you,” a familiar voice said.
I smiled. His voice came from behind a cardboard box. I slowly lifted it to find a raccoon holding a doughnut.
Ratchet took one look at me and startled, threw the Krispy Kreme into the air.
“Ah!”
He scampered behind a trash bin, out of sight.
“Wait,” I called.
No sound.
“Ratchet?” I called. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. My name’s Pepper, and I thought that maybe we could be friends. You can keep your Krispy Kreme doughnuts.”
At first nothing happened. But after a few long seconds the raccoon popped into view. “How do you know my name?”
I leaned down, getting a good look at the scrappy critter. His fur was a tad matted, but it was the same Ratchet.
I smiled widely. “There’s a funny story about that. I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you, but it’s interesting.”
“Who did you say you were?”
I extended my hand. “Pepper Dunn. I own the familiar shop in town. You ever thought of being a familiar to a witch? You’d be a great one.”
His gaze darted from me to the shops that lined up behind me. “A familiar?”
I nodded. “Yep. Let’s just say I have a feeling you’d make a witch or wizard very happy.”
He glanced down at the trash that surrounded him. “And I wouldn’t have to eat trash anymore or live back here?”
“You’d probably get a bed. Or at least a corner of one.”
Ratchet stepped out of the shadows and inspected me. “How do you know my name?”
I opened my hand, and the raccoon slid his paw inside it. “Would you believe it if I told you I met you in another life?”
He scratched his head. “I’d believe it if there were Krispy Kremes involved.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “There weren’t doughnuts, but there was plenty of food. You offered me good advice.”
Ratchet nodded. “I can believe that. Hey. Where are we going?”
