by Amy Boyles
“How sick?”
Axel shot me a questioning look, and I mouthed, Betty. He folded his arms. The expression of worry on his face made me feel worse.
“She’s turning pale. I don’t know what’s wrong, but you’d better come home.”
I thumbed off the phone. Axel pulled me to him and pressed his lips to my head. “Betty?”
I curled my fingers into his jacket and inhaled his scent. “She’s not okay. I think she might be sick.” Tears filled my eyes. “Axel,” I whimpered.
He gripped my hand in a vice of comfort and strength. “Let’s go.”
We reached the house a few minutes later. Mint and Licky were there along with Cordelia and Amelia.
“What’s wrong with her?” I said.
Mint ran a finger down Betty’s head. “She looks bad. When did she last eat?”
“I took her to the shop. Gosh, when was that? My days are all confused. I think it was this morning. She ate about a thousand crickets.”
Axel closed his eyes and sighed. “Has she gone to the bathroom yet?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Probably just constipation.”
Mint, Licky, Cordelia and Amelia stared at Axel. I tucked a strand of white hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry?”
Axel pressed a hand to Betty’s sides. “Constipation can cause you to feel sick. If it can do that to humans, it will do the same to animals.”
Amelia chewed her fingernail. “Hmm. Amphibian constipation. Who would’ve thought it?”
I dropped my purse to the floor. “Not me.”
Axel handed Betty to me, and when I felt her sides, I knew it was true. “Her stomach is tight, y’all.”
Axel winked. “Looks like you better rub it.”
I laid Betty on her back. She fought a little, but once I started rubbing her belly, she settled down. After about ten minutes I felt her stomach rumble. I set her in her box, and next thing you knew, she had emptied out her plumbing.
So to speak.
I was sweating, y’all—sweating when we arrived. Nerves, I guess. Betty was so fragile it was pointless to wait until we found the potion. We had to do something, and we needed to do it now.
As if he was reading my mind, Axel pulled the magical cuffs from his jacket. “You ready to try these?”
I pushed my bravest smile to my face. “Let me grab my pair.”
I dug my matching cuffs from my bedroom, where I found Mattie stretched on my bed.
“You gonna try to reach Betty, sugar?”
“What choice do I have?”
“No choice, I guess. You need some moral support?”
I sank to the bed and threaded my fingers through my hair. “Yes. I need a ton of moral support. It’s so stupid. These cuffs were for Axel and I don’t mind using them on Betty but I just always feel that every chance I have with Axel to connect with his wolf—there’s always something in the way.”
“Makes it better, don’t you think?” Mattie rubbed her face against my bicep. “When it all works out, I mean.”
“Yeah.” The frustration I felt was stupid. Inside me was a bottomless well of love for Betty. There would always be cuffs. There would always be a way to reach Axel.
I exhaled a shot of air. “Sometimes when you hold on to something too tightly, it makes it harder to stay, or work.”
“That is so true, girl.” Mattie sat and blinked. “I know when I’ve tried to keep some Tom around, the more I force it, the worse it is.”
I nodded. “Sometimes you just gotta let life click into place without pushing too much.”
“I would say so.” Mattie nudged the cuffs. “Now. Are you gonna try to reach Betty so we can learn how to make the potion?”
I pushed off the bed. Renewed energy coursed through my veins. “Yeah. Yeah, I am. Thanks, Mattie. I needed to be reminded that sometimes it’s better to give to someone else than it is to force something that might not be.”
“Everything will work on in the end, sugarbear.” Mattie jumped off the bed and padded toward the door. “It always does.”
When my foot hit the very last stair was when I noticed the house was dark except for about a million candles. Most of them sat on surfaces, but some of them floated.
Floated!
My stomach tightened. I really wished this had been a date night with Axel and not a moment when I was trying to save Betty.
Note to self—remind Axel to light floating candles the next time we were alone in his house.
Of course if there were floating candles, there might end up being other things that floated. Namely me, to a land of ecstasy. It would be the first time but hopefully not the last.
But those thoughts were my own and not to be shared.
My gaze snagged on Axel’s. His eyes were dark and full of something that made my chest constrict.
I felt like he was thinking the exact thing as me. My gaze darted away as I tucked a strand of stupid white hair behind my ear.
Way to look sexy, Pepper. Thanks, Amelia, for giving me white hair.
It was all my fault. I knew it.
Mint and Licky had apparently left, leaving Cordelia, Amelia and Axel. I quirked a brow at Axel.
“We thought it best not to have chaos witches here while we work this spell.”
“Yeah, as if broken part-genies aren’t bad enough,” Amelia said.
I wanted to wrap my arms around her shoulders and give her a good solid squeeze. There was nothing worse than beating yourself up for something you couldn’t help.
“It’s not your fault my hair’s white.”
“We can try to fix it. After. My dad gave me some tips.”
Cordelia snickered. “Just don’t turn it green.”
“Why would you even say that?” Amelia brought her fists to her face. “Suggesting it makes it even worse. It puts it in my mind. That is so annoying.”
Cordelia flipped her hair over one shoulder. “That’s what you get for hanging out with our dads.”
“I thought you were getting over your anger, Cordelia.”
She turned her gaze to me. “It’s gone from red-hot rage to simmering distaste.”
“Give it time. Sometimes the best relationships start out rocky.” My gaze slipped to Axel. A knowing smile graced his lips. A rush of heat flamed on my neck. I glanced away.
“Let’s get started.”
I slid the cuffs over my wrists. This was a good look. Sort of medieval warrior woman. I liked it. I could be the next She-Ra, Princess of Power. I could definitely dig it, y’all.
I nodded to Axel. “You have your cuffs?”
He pulled them from a pocket. “Right here.”
Amelia grimaced as she glanced from one pair of cuffs to the other. “What do we do?”
Axel unsnapped the bands and walked them over to Betty. “I’m going to place these on Betty. Pepper”—his gaze flickered to me—“try to reach her. These bands should act as an amplifier. Under normal circumstances the cuffs will allow you to connect better with an animal. Since here you’re trying to establish initial connection, you may have to work harder.”
“I understand.”
Axel scooped Betty into one hand. Her short legs spindled as she pawed the air. He gently settled her on a table and placed the cuffs over her.
“There’s no way to secure them,” Axel said. “They’ll just have to remain that way.”
“What do you want us to do?” Amelia said.
“Moral support.” Axel pointed to Betty. “Send good vibes. This may feel uncomfortable for her, so we need to focus good energy toward your grandmother.”
“A lot’s riding on this.” I shook out my hands to loosen up. “Mattie said she couldn’t communicate with her.” I bit my bottom lip. “We need to establish a connection. Otherwise I’m afraid…”
“It’ll be fine,” Axel said firmly. “Fine. Don’t doubt.”
I blew a staggering breath from my lungs, lifted my chin and raised my chest. “Okay. I’m
ready.”
Axel’s gaze hit each of us. “Is everyone else?”
Amelia and Cordelia nodded. His gaze flashed to me. “Then let’s go.”
FOURTEEN
“Um. How do I use these?”
I stared at the cuffs and suddenly realized I actually had less than no idea of what I was supposed to do with them. I mean, it was one thing to tighten a connection with Axel if he was wearing the bands, and something completely different to attempt to connect with my mute grandmother trapped in a toad’s body.
Wasn’t it?
Yes. It was.
“Try to reach her like you normally would,” he said gently. “Do what you would in any other circumstance.”
That would actually mean I would grab a chocolate bar and watch someone else do the work.
Kidding. Kidding.
I closed my eyes and focused on Betty. The bands’ effects were immediate. Magic swelled in me, and I felt a rush of power. Yet at the same time all the magic became focused as if it had one primary task.
I was the person to create that task.
Betty? I launched the words at her like a missile. It was nearly a scream I was so desperate to talk to her, hear her smart mouth refer to me as kid and watch her light up her corncob pipe.
It was all I wanted.
Betty, can you hear me?
The power was working. How could it not be? It felt like someone had stuck my entire body in a light socket and filled me with a jolt of magic.
But still it wasn’t working. I focused on the bands and willed them to churn out more power. To burn more magic.
Power flared. It filled the room, taking up its own space and seeming to breathe its own air.
Betty!
More silence.
I blinked and caught Axel’s glance. “I can’t reach her. I don’t know what else to do.”
He folded his arms. Biceps like concrete swelled through his shirt. “More. Use all the power.”
“But I’ll burn them up.” Meaning the cuffs.
He shrugged. I tried not to feel the sting of his nonchalance, but it did hit hard. I told myself he did care about connecting with me when he was a werewolf but right now finding Betty was more important. Saving her was the one thing we needed most.
I closed my eyes and pushed, shoved, yanked and pulled. The room was so thick with magic I could’ve plucked it from the air and threw it into a stew.
Betty, can you hear me?
Pepper?
Hope flared in my chest. I pushed the bands to burn more power. Betty! We need the potion. The recipe. You’re trapped!
Pepper I’m forgetting—
A loud crack splintered the air. My eyelids flared open. The bands on Betty had popped off. Mine were smoking and ready to ignite.
“Oh no!” I flipped them off my wrists right before they burst into flames. They fell to the floor. The leather curled and charred as it was consumed.
Axel tossed the cuffs covering Betty atop mine. They smoked. Orange fingers shot out underneath. The cuffs burst into flames with a swoosh.
And then they were gone as if they’d never existed to begin with.
The room smelled of smoke and burnt leather. I exhaled a sharp breath. I glanced at Axel. He shook his head and frowned as if the whole thing were a doggone bad shame.
Cordelia clapped her hands. The candles flickered out, and the lights blinked on. “Well? What did she say?”
“Or did she say anything?” Amelia said.
“Of course she said something,” Cordelia snapped. “This is Betty we’re talking about.”
I pressed my temples. “It was hard to reach her. But when I finally did, she said something about forgetting.”
Panic filtered through Amelia’s voice. “Forgetting who she is?”
“Forgetting the potion spell?” Cordelia offered much more calmly.
“I don’t know.” I cringed under the weight of their stares. “I’m sorry but she didn’t say anything more. She didn’t reveal what it was.”
“So it could be anything.” Axel lowered his hand from his lips. It was his classic thinking look. I tried not to ruminate on how sexy it was, especially under the circumstances, but it was pretty much impossible.
I studied Betty. Her color had returned, but she was unchanged. She looked as much like a toad as she had in the beginning.
“We don’t have much choice then.” I slid a hand down my jeans. My pockets were empty. Dang it. I could really do with a handful of jellybeans right about now. There was nothing like a handful of sugar to take the edge off a situation.
“What do you mean?” Amelia scooped up Betty and studied the toad. “What choices do we even have?”
“We have to find the poppet.” My gaze cut to Axel. “Like ASAP.”
He scrubbed his fingers through his scalp. “We need Garrick for that.”
Another stranger thought struck me. “Or…we could maybe just wish her back to her old self?”
Cordelia’s eyes flared. “And what makes you think that’ll end up any better than what happened to your hair? Our grandmother will probably wind up a giraffe if you leave Amelia to the wishing.”
“Very funny.” Amelia glowered at Cordelia. “At least my wishing abilities weren’t put on hiatus.”
“I asked for it, in case you’ve forgotten.” Cordelia turned to me. “Amelia’s in the process of getting lessons from her father. I decided not to pursue my abilities—if I even have them—so I wished for my talents to be locked.”
“By who?” I said.
“My dad,” she said grudgingly.
I did my best not to laugh, but my best wasn’t good enough. “I hope you’re not getting cozy with him.”
“Don’t worry,” Cordelia snipped. “I’m not.”
Axel threaded his fingers through mine. “Before anyone makes a serious wish, why don’t we do something simple?”
Amelia smiled brightly. “I can do simple. I love simple.”
Axel whispered in my ear. “Wish for your hair color back.”
I shivered as his breath tickled my flesh. “Okay. Amelia, I wish for my hair to return to its natural color.”
Amelia brought her hands together like a caricature of a genie and snapped her head. “Your wish is my command.”
Cordelia’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh God. It’s…”
My hopes plummeted to the ground. “It’s what?”
“It’s fixable,” Amelia shrieked. “It’s totally fixable. That’s what my dad says. Everything can be fixed.”
Cordelia grimaced. “Well if by fixed you mean Pepper may have to shave her head and start over, then sure, it’s fixable.”
Now I was seriously freaking out. Like completely. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and gasped.
Green. My hair was green. It was horribly, evilly slimy green. It was the color of algae or mold or mildew or gross baby pea poop.
It was green!
My breath came in ragged gulps. I was hyperventilating. Cordelia was right. I would have to shave it off and start over. I would have to buy a wig or hide in a cave for months.
“Don’t panic.” Axel’s words floated into my ear.
I could not have an epic freak-out in front of him. “It’s fine. It’s totally fine.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder. Warmth floated over my skin like I was being submerged in water.
“It’s going to be fine,” he murmured.
Then, starting at my scalp, the green vanished as red and gold washed down the tendrils like liquid fire. The mold and mildew dissolved and was replaced by my regular hair color.
I exhaled with relief. I hated to admit it, I really did, but if I had to walk around town with green hair, I would be the laughingstock of Magnolia Cove. No one would buy animals from me. It would be terrible.
When he was finished, Axel hooked a finger with mine. “It’s only a glamour. Until Amelia can figure out how to return your hair color, this illusion will remain in place.
”
I sank my head to his chest. “Thank you.”
He kissed my forehead. “You’re welcome.”
From behind I heard Amelia say, “Well, no one thanked me. I did my best to help. I think that deserves a little something.”
“How about a little hint not to grant wishes?” Cordelia said. “Looks like your powers need to be put on hiatus, too.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I was dead tired by the time I hit my bed. I awoke stiff but ready to help Axel however I could.
New Year’s was officially over, and it was time to return to work. Since I had a shopful of animals, it made the most sense for Betty and Hugo to come with me.
But first thing’s first.
I showered, dressed, ate breakfast and headed out of the house with the intention of making a pit stop first. I’d texted Axel about where I was going, and he’d promised to meet me there.
Lucky enough, we arrived at the Magnolia Cove police station at the same time.
“How’s the hair holding up?” He said.
I fluffed one end. “Perfect. Thank you.”
We found Garrick Young in his office glancing over a stack of papers. He took one look at Axel and leaned back in his chair.
“So, Reign, what’d you uncover about the poppet?”
Axel and I took seats in front of the desk. I held Betty in a new box and had left Hugo with the desk sergeant.
“Rotten eggs make the sulfur smell,” Axel said.
“Riddle me this, Reign.” Garrick twirled a pencil between his fingers. “Why would you need rotten eggs if you have a poppet?”
“You need certain elements to bond a poppet to your target—hair, blood. But to actually make it work and if you want it to work powerfully—”
“Meaning cause death,” Garrick interjected.
“Yes. If you want to kill someone using a poppet, then you have to use more. You need a spell, and that spell includes rotten eggs.”
“And dragon’s breath,” I added. Garrick shot me a questioning glance. “We discovered dragon’s breath is an ingredient in the spell.”
Garrick nodded. “Ah.”
“Not only that,” I said, “but one of the potion contestants just about attacked Hugo the other day.”
