Derrick kicked the door, his boot leaving dirt on the surface. He shouted my name, and my lips trembled. I didn’t want him to watch me die.
“Go away!” I screamed.
He listened. The pounding stopped. When I looked up, he was gone.
Maybe he was never even there.
Tears streamed down my face, blurring what little vision I had through the smoke. At least Abrams was dead. He couldn’t hurt anyone else now. Vivian would get my share of the reward money and she’d start her horse farm or some other nonsense just to spite me. I smiled, then felt my lips flatten. So much for not ending up in the papers again.
The wall shattered.
Strong arms scooped me up and carried me outside. The air cleared, but everything tasted like smoke, and I couldn’t drag in a clean breath. Voices shattered the silence, shouting for water. All around me, chaos seethed as people ran to extinguish the fire.
I was placed in the cool grass, where someone knelt over me, calling my name. Fingers gently probed the sore bruises on my neck, and I heard a fierce growl.
“Am I dead this time?” I croaked, rolling onto my side. Each cough made my ribcage throb.
“No,” Derrick’s voice broke low. He gathered me in his arms, and I felt him shudder. “But not for lack of trying.”
“At least I didn’t faint.”
His lips pressed to my temple. I wound my arms around his neck, trying to get as close as I could, not satisfied even when I felt his heart pounding against mine.
“I’m getting your coat dirty.”
He exhaled a shaky breath. “After today, I’m going to start charging you for them. I think that’s the only way to keep you from getting hurt.”
I laughed, and it scratched my throat. “You might be onto something. Anything to save a coin.”
“I didn’t think I’d find you in time.” He smoothed the hair out of my face, wiping at the soot on my cheeks.
“How did you find me?”
Derrick’s features hardened, and his mouth curled down. “Argus.”
“What? I didn’t hear you correctly, there’s smoke in my ears. Did you say, Argus?”
“Two of Argus’s men saw Abrams take you out of the house. They followed you and then reported back. Argus found me at the agency. He demanded I meet him on the street. Told me what happened.”
“Wow. I didn’t see that coming.”
“Neither did I, but he was right. I’d just found out about Abrams. The king confirmed everything, even his son’s middle name. I couldn’t believe it…all this time. He was right there. When I found out he took you—” Derrick pulled me against him, and I nuzzled my forehead into his neck.
“Abrams told me everything. I’m sorry, Derrick. I’m sorry about Sophie and the others. I’ll tell you everything he said. There’s evidence, too. Letters.”
“Later. Tell me later.” His fingers sifted through my hair.
I watched over his shoulder as the greenhouse burned. Officers attempted to douse the flames as smoke billowed into the dark sky. There would be nothing left, the final rose incinerated to ash.
A light appeared, glowing brighter and moving closer. It took form as the temperature plunged and my breath fogged in front of my face.
“Do you feel that?” I whispered. Untangling from Derrick’s embrace, I climbed to my feet. “It’s Ella. She’s here.”
Derrick stood and peered into the shady canopy. “I’ll have to take your word for it.” He rubbed my shoulders and wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me warm.
Ella floated to a stop in front of me, her pale features serene. Peace radiated from her body in waves of light
“Thank you, Tessa, for everything. You might not believe me, but I’m glad I visited your shop the night of the ball. You’re a good witch. You might fail a spell or two, but I’m lucky to consider you a friend.”
“You too, Ella. I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be! I got to wear a beautiful gown and a pair of glass slippers. I even danced with a man I thought was a prince. Not every girl gets to live a fairytale.”
My throat felt tight with unshed tears. “Fairytales don’t end like this.”
Behind Ella, a new white light formed. She turned to look at it, and her face brightened.
“Daddy?”
A man stepped from the beam, holding out his hand. She took it, and her ghostly form flickered.
With a smile, Ella glanced over her shoulder at me. “I have to go. Tell Vivian goodbye for me.” She paused. “And you’re right, fairytales don’t end like this, but maybe this is only the beginning.”
Father and daughter disappeared as they stepped into the light.
I took a deep breath and let the tears cascade down my face. The symbols on my palm blinded me with brilliant light and then faded altogether. I closed my fist, almost sad to see them go.
“Is she gone?”
I nodded.
Derrick pressed a kiss against my hair. “Then it’s finally over.”
No. Ella was right.
It was only the beginning.
Chapter 31
The bag of coins thumped onto the desk. “Consider me paid in full.”
Argus eyed the bag. “You’re two days late.”
I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. “But who’s counting? You knew I was good for it.”
He spilled the coins onto the desktop and made a quick count. Satisfied, he tucked them away inside a drawer then reached for a crystal decanter of dark liquid.
“It’s not every day the king bestows a royal reward on a commoner, especially a witch. You’ve made the front page of the Gazette every day this week.” He poured two glasses and nudged one toward me.
I swirled the amber shot in the glass and inhaled the thick aroma of bourbon. It was easy to make light of it now, but the past week had been a whirlwind. The prince had been cleared of any involvement in Ella’s murder, and we’d closed the cases for both Jane and Sophie. There was something about boxing up their belongings and taking down the roses from the board that brought home the finality of it all.
Derrick had left four days ago to visit his family and tell them the news. He’d missed my audience with the king and the opulent ceremony where I’d received the reward in front of a crowd of onlookers. Apparently, I wasn’t allowed to take the money and run; I had to be feted. Fine by me—the buffet was immense. Vivian’s eyes had nearly popped out of her head. I was pretty sure she’d stuffed food in her pockets. I certainly had.
Then, things had settled back to normal. Well…as normal as things could be when you were the most popular witch in the kingdom. So far, I hadn’t turned anyone’s hair green—or any other color for that matter. There was a small incident with a charmed medallion, but I was able to fix it before things got out of hand. All said, the shop was booming, and my debts were paid.
So, why did I feel so unsettled?
“As much as it pains me, I should thank you for…” I paused and cringed, my mouth unable to form the words. I might be grateful but I still detested the man. One good deed didn’t erase a lifetime of corruption.
“Saving your life?” Argus finished.
“Yeah, that.”
He smirked. “I can’t get paid if my borrower is dead, can I?”
And there it was. I clenched my teeth.
“That would have been so disappointing for you.”
“What can I say? It’s not good for business.”
I lifted my glass in a mock salute. “I think we’re done here. No more following me around. Steer clear of my shop. In fact, let’s see if we can go the rest of our lives without running into each other again.”
Argus clinked his glass against mine. “Fine by me. You can see yourself out.”
Finishing off the bourbon, I placed the empty glass on his desk and stalked toward the door. His deep voice followed me down the hall.
“Don’t forget to tell the ghost hunter I said hello.”
***
&nbs
p; “He’s still not back? It’s been almost three weeks.” Vivian followed me onto the porch of the magic shop.
I sighed and picked up a hammer, then held the sign to the right of the door, trying to find the perfect spot. “No. I thought he’d be back by now, but it must be difficult for his family. It’s good he’s spending time with them. How’s this?”
Vivian squinted and angled her head. “A little to the left. He didn’t ask you to go?”
Making the adjustment, I nailed the sign into the wood. “He did. I said no. It wasn’t the right time. His parents don’t need an outsider—especially not a witch—intruding on them during such a private family moment.”
“Yeah, meeting the parents is hard enough, I suppose.”
It was, but that wasn’t the only reason I’d said no. Not that I would admit it to anyone, but I’d chickened out. For weeks, we’d had the case to drive us, bring us closer, and now, it was over. What if things were different? We hadn’t talked about what would happen next, and with each day that passed, I became a little more nervous, to the point I regretted my decision not to go. When Derrick returned, he’d resume his work at the agency without me, and, well…I’d started a little endeavor of my own, and I wasn’t completely sure how he’d react to having direct competition.
Ella had said this was the beginning, and in many ways, it was.
I stepped back to admire the sign. The bronze plate, mounted on a cedar plank, glinted in the sunlight. At the top, a simple gold ring had been welded to the metal surface. It wouldn’t have gone for much at the pawnshop, but to me, it was priceless.
Vivian hooked her arm around my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Tess. The sign looks great.”
It really did. Daniels Curses, Cures, and Crimes. A little wordy, but it covered everything.
All I had to do now was wait for my first case. Thanks to the articles in the Gazette, I was a household name, finally known as something other than the witch who failed her spells. I might not have turned out exactly the way my mother wanted, but I’d made a name for myself doing something that gave me a purpose.
Vivian sighed and glanced at the early morning sun. “I have to go, or I’ll never make it to my grandmother’s house and back before dark. I swear, that woman lives deep in the woods just to vex me. What’s wrong with living in town? At least then, I wouldn’t have to hike through the forest every time I visit.”
“Winifred’s back from her trip?”
“Yes, and apparently, I’m in heaps of trouble for not watering her ficus. The thing is dead with a capital D. I couldn’t even find one close enough to replace it this time of year.”
“I’m surprised she put you in charge of it. As an oracle, she might have seen its untimely fate. I can’t tell the future and I know you would have killed it, so that’s on her.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her you said that.” Vivian went back inside and retrieved her cloak. She swung it over her shoulders and tied the ribbon at her neck, the deep red fabric skimming the tops of her boots and a wide hood draping down her back. She reached for a basket on a side table and slung it over her arm. “I’m taking her a couple bottles of elderberry wine to smooth things over. You know it’s her favorite.”
My mouth dropped open as a realization formed. “You don’t think she saw you were going to kill her plant and used the opportunity as a devious way to get free wine, do you?”
Vivian paused in the doorway, her brow creasing. “Well, I do now.” She tsk’d. “Honestly, some days, I wish I had her powers. Imagine what you could do with that kind of knowledge…” She trailed down the steps, waving a hand over her shoulder. “Wish me luck!”
“Watch out for wolves!” I teased, then laughed as Vivian made a rude gesture and slipped through the gate.
I remained on the porch for a while longer, fawning over my sign. Using my sleeve, I blew a hot breath onto the metal and polished away my fingerprints. Perfect.
The gate creaked as it swung open. I bit the side of my cheek to keep from laughing.
“Did you decide to bring extra wine, Viv?”
There wasn’t an answer.
I turned and peered into the yard, but it was empty. Maybe the wind had opened the gate? Climbing down the steps, I examined the latch, and sure enough, it was jammed. I smacked the palm of my hand into the bolt, but it didn’t budge. It needed something stronger. I searched the ground for a rock and found one just the right size.
“Is there a problem?”
The rock slipped from my fingers and landed at my feet.
Derrick was leaning against one of the gateposts, his eyes lit with amusement. He’d traded his expensive wool jacket for the tweed we’d purchased in town, and he wore the flat cap at an angle over his dark hair. He was back, and it took everything in me not to launch myself at him.
Until he opened his mouth.
“I’m looking for the owner. Are you the witch?”
I narrowed my eyes at his little game. Did he think this was funny? He’d been gone for three weeks, not a single letter! I’d checked—every day.
My arms crossed over my chest. “No, I’m not.”
“That’s too bad.” His brow wrinkled. “I heard the witch had opened up a side business, and I happen to have a new case. I was looking for a partner, someone who might be an asset to the investigation.”
I left the gate ajar and walked back to the magic shop, speaking over my shoulder, “Assets are hard to come by.”
“They are.” He followed, boots crunching in the gravel.
“Well, Detective, I hope you find someone.”
He reached for my arm before I’d made it up the porch steps and spun me to face him. “I already did.”
“Wow, that was easy.” I tilted my head back to meet his determined gaze.
“It really wasn’t. I had to put up with a lot. There were ghosts, near-drownings, irritation spells, poisonings…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I hear she may have even started a plague.”
My lips flattened on an emerging smile. “The horrors! She sounds like a ton of trouble. Maybe you should keep looking.”
“Not a chance. There’s no one else for me.”
Were hearts supposed to stutter like that? This probably wasn’t a good sign.
“I think you mean there’s no one else for the case, Detective.”
“No, I got it right the first time.” Derrick took my hand and led me up the stairs. “Nice sign,” he commented, pushing open the door.
Inside, he surveyed the shop, his gaze roaming over the shelves of potions and display racks loaded with tonics and powder. In the corner, I’d set up a desk. Fresh notebooks were stacked on the surface, ordered and neat, not a speck of dust. He smiled and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
“What is that?” I asked.
“It’s an agreement from the agency. We would like to hire Tessa Daniels of Daniels Curses, Cures, and Crimes to support current investigations on a contract basis.” He lifted his shoulder in a sheepish shrug. “I stopped there first, I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t want to show up empty-handed, especially not when you’re in such high demand.” His gaze shifted toward the entrance, where the bell above the door remained silent.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
“The mornings are slow. It picks up.”
He cocked a brow. “Don’t make me check your ledger.”
“I missed you.” The admission slipped from my lips, and I felt my cheeks heat. So much for playing it low-key. I’d figured I’d last a little longer than that, at least. “You were gone for so long, I was worried. How is your family?”
He placed the agreement on my desk and pulled me to him, fingers sifting through my hair. “They’re good. Telling them about Abrams was a little like losing Sophie all over again, but now, everyone has a chance to heal and move forward. A lot of that is thanks to you.”
My blush heightened. “A witch does what she can.”
“So modest.
” He smiled. “You must have missed me a lot considering you’re not even asking how much we’re going to pay you.”
“Oh.” I tilted my head to peer around him and glance at the agreement.
Derrick chuckled as my eyes went wide. I untangled from him and rounded my desk, moving the document closer.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Reading the fine print. I need to know if this contract is worth signing.” I reached for a pen and made a notation.
He read the amendment over my shoulder. “Lunch breaks?”
“They’re mandatory, Detective.”
“Will you be taking them alone?”
Ignoring his question, I kept reading, dipping the pen in ink and crossing out the figure at the bottom to add a little extra.
“Are you negotiating with me, Miss Daniels?”
I flashed him an innocent smile. “It’s a fair amount. I’d never gouge you.”
“Yes, you would. You have, in fact. Multiple times.” He slipped the pen from my fingers and initialed my new terms, then tapped the signature line and handed it back. “Are you ready to sign?”
My name flowed across the page. I sprinkled a little powder on the parchment, drying the ink and sealing the deal.
Derrick refolded the agreement and tucked it back inside his pocket before pushing my notebooks and folders aside, a few of them landing on the floor. His hands circled my waist, lifting me up to sit on the desk.
I made a sound with my tongue. “How dare you? Those were ordered alphabetically.”
“No, they weren’t.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I scooted closer. “You caught me, Detective.”
“It’s what I do.” His head dipped, and his mouth captured mine, cutting off my sarcastic remark. Not that I minded. Much. I’d get the last word in later.
He deepened the kiss, holding my face in his hands. After three weeks without him, I couldn’t get enough. The shop faded away. The bell could ring a hundred times, and I wouldn’t even hear it. Taking a breath, Derrick smoothed his fingers across my cheekbones and locked our gazes.
Spellbound After Midnight (Ever Dark, Ever Deadly Book 1) Page 28
