by Amy Boyles
He stroked my arm. “The only thing to do is let your light sing. Don’t give in to his darkness or think it’s because of you that he’s turned toward that direction.”
Axel crushed me against his chest. I wanted to melt into him and disappear. His scents of leather and musk whirled around me. I inhaled deeply. The one thing I wanted in the entire world was for him to be the werewolf. I’d climb atop his back, and we’d ride the night together.
My head snapped up.
“What?” he said.
I shook the thought away. “The craziest thing came to me. I saw myself riding atop you as the werewolf.”
His eyes narrowed to slits. I could feel anger rise in his chest. I curled my fingers into his biceps.
“Don’t you see that’s where we are? We can communicate. You can control the beast. It’s a natural progression.”
He turned his head to the left with a sharp movement. The corded muscles in his neck bulged.
“You have to trust me,” I said. “I created the potion. This can happen.”
He shut down the conversation with a look so dark it made me want to hide behind a tree. I forced myself to stare back at Axel, though. He was the alpha male, but I wasn’t about to back down.
“It was only a thought. Besides, if we’re to be mated, why wouldn’t that be a natural progression?”
The look of surprise on his face was picture-worthy. His eyes bulged and his lips parted. He took my hands and studied them, rubbing his thumbs over the delicate veins.
“You…you’re considering it, then?”
I laughed. “I’ve been such an idiot.”
“That’s true.”
I punched his shoulder. “Don’t even pretend like that hurt. I know not much hurts you. But yes, I’ve been stupid. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. We’re connected.” I sighed. “If I lost you, I’d be lost. Forever.”
He ran the pad of his thumb over my cheek. “So dramatic.”
“I want to be with you and only you. I had to be afraid for a while before I could accept it.”
“Glad you finally decided to.” He smiled and my world opened up. It was like a ray of sunshine beamed straight into my heart. “But there’s no rush. We have all the time in the world. I want you to know that. This isn’t something to take lightly.”
I exhaled softly into the cup of his hand. “I don’t take it lightly and I agree. No rushing.”
He took my hand, and we pivoted toward the door. We entered to see Betty sitting by the hearth fire, rocking back and forth.
I shrugged off my coat. “Well? How’d it go?”
“The witch claims she doesn’t know where the book is. Says she dropped it off and that someone else must’ve stolen it.”
“It wasn’t in her office, either.” I nodded to Axel. “He thinks she’s lying.”
Betty took a pull of her corncob pipe. Smoke curled from the bowl and dissipated into the room. “I think Deidre might be, too. It makes no sense. Who would be interested in that book besides her? She’s the one who ordered it.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t understand any of this. But on a side note, I ticked off Rufus Mayes.”
Her brow hitched. “Oh?”
“Yep.” I clicked my tongue. “And he’s promised to exact his revenge on me, but I’m guessing Magnolia Cove is going to be in there, too.”
“Thank goodness something’s back to normal.”
My jaw unhinged. “Are you kidding? You’re glad about that?”
“It fits the status quo.” She pushed out of the rocker, nearly catapulting across the room. “I’m going to bed. I’ve got a spell I want to work that may help us track down the book.”
“Fingers crossed.”
Betty waddled up the stairs. I yawned and stretched my arms over my head. Axel pulled me into a swift kiss that made my groin tingle.
“Off to bed with you, too. I’ll call you in the morning.”
I nodded.
“I love you.”
My teeth snagged on my bottom lip. I don’t know; I guess I was feeling shy. “I love you, too.”
We parted and I went upstairs, ready to collapse on my bed. Hugo and Mattie were in the room, waiting and ready to pounce on me. I played with the dragon for a few minutes, scratching him behind the ears, and told Mattie about the book.
“Hmm, sometimes animals can find things better than humans. You said the book was written by Ernestine?”
“Yeah.” I pulled my sweater over my head and smoothed my static-infested hair. “Betty said she lived to be really old.”
“She did. I knew Ernestine. She must’ve been close to three hundred when she died.”
I did a double take. “Three hundred?”
“Oh yes, sugar bear. She was ancient when she passed. That’s how it works sometimes. Often witches live to be old. Sometime ask Betty how old she really is. I think you’ll enjoy her answer.”
I sat on the bed and yanked off my boots. “Okay. But the book?”
Mattie blinked her green eyes and yawned. “I remember how Ernestine smelled. I’m betting I can find it if the leather still has any traces of her scent.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Sugar, do I ever kid?”
I thought about that. “No, I guess not.”
“Then open up that window yonder and let me out. I’ll go huntin’ for ya.”
I shook my head. “It’s cold outside.”
“And what do you suppose I got this winter coat for? Looks?”
I shrugged. “You’ve got a point.”
I unlatched the window and tugged. Sucker was stuck, so I hit the frame with the heel of my hand. It finally gave.
“Be careful.”
“Will do.”
Mattie disappeared into the blackness. I prayed silently for her safety. I finished undressing, changed into my pajamas and crawled under the comforter, hoping sleep would take me quickly.
I awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and well. Then it hit me that we only had a limited amount to time to find the book.
I showered and blew my hair dry as quickly as possible. I really needed Cordelia to teach me how to instant-dry my hair with magic. I finished up and searched for something to wear. When I opened my closet, I came face-to-face with a frigidly cold truth.
I hadn’t done laundry in a while.
I grabbed a pair of jeans draped over the arm of a chair and sniffed them. I’d worn them the other day but hadn’t hung them back up. They smelled like outdoors—earth and leaves. Since they weren’t so dirty that they stood by themselves, I counted it a win.
I headed downstairs for coffee and a quick breakfast.
Betty was in a great mood, mumbling to herself about how we were all going to die while Amelia and Cordelia simply rolled their eyes.
I said my good mornings, grabbed a biscuit and headed out the door carrying Sylvester and followed by Hugo. The two still didn’t like each other. Hugo puffed smoke from his nostrils at the sight of the snake, while the serpent tasted the air constantly as if trying to figure out a way to strangle my dragon and eat him.
“You two need to call a truce,” I muttered as we walked to Familiar Place.
Neither animal answered. I did not take that as a good sign.
I unlocked the shop, fed and watered the animals and settled in for the day.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to do. Mattie hunted the book, which hopefully she would track down. Axel hadn’t yet called me. Maybe he had an idea to recover the book since Betty’s plan to find it hadn’t fruited any apples.
Y’all, that meant it hadn’t worked.
I raked my fingers through my hair and clenched two big handfuls. This was so frustrating.
I was contemplating how unsuccessful I’d been at finding answers when the door opened.
In strode Deidre Tipple. Her eyes flared wide as if in surprise. She reached for me like I was her only lifeline in a sea of sharks.
“Pepper, I heard about what happened to the book. I can’t tell you how shocked I am.”
I remembered what Axel and Betty both thought—that Deidre was hiding it.
I remained reserved. “Um. Yes. It’s so strange. You say you placed the book in the drop box, but it wasn’t there.” I kept my gaze steady on her. “It’s very weird.”
She pressed a fist to her heart. “I know how this looks. I know it seems like I’m keeping something from you, but trust me. I’m not.” She pressed her temples. “I was so worried about the book that I stayed up all night working a spell to find it.”
“You did?”
“You must understand how horrible I feel.” Her lips twitched as her eyes tightened with concern. “I feel responsible for this. The book was in my possession, and now it’s missing. It’s horrible. I wanted to help, so I worked a spell.”
“Like you said.”
She nodded quickly. “Yes, I worked it and received an answer.”
Deidre paused. Her expression conveyed she was being as open and honest as possible. I didn’t feel she was hiding anything. I mean, she meant to help—to make the situation right.
“What was the answer you received?”
She steepled her hands and touched her chin. “I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
My heart pounded against my chest. “It doesn’t matter if I don’t like it or not. I have to know the truth. We need that book.”
“Well.” She glanced out the window to make sure no one was about to walk in. “It took me a while to finally pin down the person who did it, but when I did, I was as shocked as you’re going to be.”
My patience thinned. Sweat poured from my palms. “Who? I have to know. I’ve got to get that book. My family’s counting on it.”
Deidre closed her eyes and exhaled. “Burt has it.”
The floor fell from my feet. I rocked forward and grabbed the counter before I toppled forward. “What? Burt? How? He hadn’t even been to the store that day. Connor told me that.”
Deidre shook her head sadly. “They’re in on it together. Burt has the book. I’m not wrong.”
“But why?” This made no sense. Why would he have it?
Deidre shrugged, palms raised. “There must be something in that book revealing why he killed Beverly.”
I gasped. “He killed her?”
Deidre knuckled a tear from her eye. “He did. And I think that book has the proof.”
I grabbed my coat. “Come on. Do you know where it is?”
Deidre nodded. “Follow me.”
TWENTY-TWO
“But Burt’s your friend.”
Deidre and I hid behind a bush, down the block from Burt’s house. We didn’t want to stand directly in front of it and talk business. You know, because it might look suspicious.
I mean, it might look like we were about to break in or something.
Deidre’s eyes narrowed. “He’s my friend and never in a million years would I think that he could commit murder, but my spell wouldn’t lie. Not about this.”
I exhaled a deep breath. “Okay. What do we do?”
She hitched a shoulder. “We go around back and get in.”
“Do you know an unlocking spell?”
Her lips coiled into a mischievous grin. She fished something from her pocket and held it up. A key glinted in the sunshine. “We’re good friends. I have a way in.”
My stomach clenched. My bowels churned with anxiety. This wasn’t good, but what choice did we have?
“We could call the police.”
She tugged my arm. “And wait how long for them to come over? No. We need to do this now. Strike while the iron’s hot.”
I closed my eyes and steeled myself. “Okay. Let’s go.”
We crept to the back door. Deidre’s key unlocked it without a glitch. I followed her inside.
Y’all, the place was immaculate. No surprise there. It was fashionable with Art Deco decor and crisp white furniture. Fresh-cut flowers dropped in vases sprinkled the surfaces.
“Wow. Sometimes I wish I was a gay man. To have all this interior decorating sense would be a dream come true.”
Deidre flipped her hair over a shoulder and laughed. “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of decor sense. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “Okay. Where should I look?”
“Start in the living room. I’ll take the bedrooms.”
“Right.” I headed out of the kitchen and into the living room.
I realized I hadn’t heard from Mattie. Surely she would be back at the house by now.
I mused aloud as I scanned the room. “I still don’t understand how the book fingers Burt in this.”
It was strange because I’d seen Burt the night before, when we’d found the divination. He had acted like the slip of paper was his saving grace. He hadn’t tried to take it from us. He’d pointed the finger at Prissy.
But wouldn’t you point the finger at someone else if you’d committed murder?
“I’m not sure what’s inside,” Deidre admitted.
I nibbled my bottom lip in thought. “Maybe it has to do with the divination powder. Apparently the book and the powder weren’t getting along.”
I opened up a side table that had cupboard-like doors and peered inside. No book.
“Oh really?” Deidre said. “I didn’t know the book and the powder had issues.”
I frowned. “I thought you were there at the time. Connor said you were.”
I shut the door and noticed a note sitting atop the table. It was handwritten. Mama always said to keep your chin up. Deidre had signed it to Burt.
There was something about that m that tickled a memory in the back of my head. But I couldn’t remember what it was.
“I must not have noticed about the book and the powder. I had a lot of other things to purchase that day.”
“Ah,” I said, barely remembering what we’d been talking about.
I slid my hand over a glossy-topped antique table. “Not here.” My gaze snagged on Burt’s couch. Resting flat on a cushion sat the book!
“If you find the book, be sure not to open it,” Deidre said.
My fingers curled around the leather binding. “Why not?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Burt may have placed a spell on it to harm anyone that opened it.”
That seemed unlikely seeing as the book was simply sitting in his living room. Also, he couldn’t open it, could he? Not without a Craple. It wasn’t like he expected anyone to break in and find it. If he had, Burt would’ve hidden it in his closet or under his bed.
I was sure of that. I peeled back the front cover and stared. Thick black ink filled the pages.
It was all wrong. This isn’t how the book had looked before. Before, they had been blank and only a Craple could read it. But now it looked like someone had gone over the pages with their own pen.
And changed everything.
The list of Magnolia Cove’s inhabitants had been altered. Sitting at the very top were the Tipples.
The Tipples.
Puzzle pieces clicked into place. It all made sense. Every single thing I’d seen and heard. It had started in the beginning, when I’d taught my first class at the school.
I had been such an idiot. I quickly shut the book and rose. “I found it! Found the book.”
I whirled around. Deidre stood a foot away from me.
I did my best to keep the tremble from my voice. “I found it.”
She frowned. “You opened it.” She sighed dramatically. “I really wished you hadn’t. All you had to do was find it. Then I’d do the rest.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t open it. You must be mistaken.”
Anger filled her eyes. “I’m not mistaken.” She raised a finger. Before I could knock her hand away, she tapped me in the center of my forehead.
“Sleep,” she whispered.
I did everything I could not to sleep. I turned to run from the room, but my k
nees wobbled. My legs gave, and I slumped to the floor. The last thing I remembered were Deidre’s feet standing in front of me.
Then blackness swallowed my vision.
TWENTY-THREE
I awoke with a stuffy head that felt like I was swimming in fog. I didn’t know which way was up. I sure as heck couldn’t find down if I didn’t know where up was, could I?
The feeling of compression vanished when I remembered that I’d been in Burt’s house. Suddenly everything shifted. My mind snapped to attention.
I blinked. A heat pump kicked on. The smell of coffee wafted up my nose. It also smelled of something else—laundry. The blinds were drawn and the curtains cinched shut. The house was dark—dark wood, burgundy cloth covered the couches. I wasn’t in Burt’s house anymore.
I raised my head. It felt like a boulder. So did my arms and legs. I glanced down. I sat on an old horsehair-cushioned chair. My arms and legs were free, but they wouldn’t move. Try as I might, I was plastered to the darn thing.
“She got us both, sugar bear.”
My gaze snapped up. Mattie the Cat sat on the couch. She looked like a perfect Egyptian cat statue with her long neck and coiled tail.
The sound of humming drifted in from another room. Deidre. Oh my gosh. I remembered everything. Deidre had zapped me with her magic after I’d discovered that she’d manipulated the book. She’d rewritten it to suit her academic paper—that the Tipples were one of the first witch families in the region.
“Mattie,” I whispered. “Can you get us out of this?”
“No, sugar. I’m spelled same as you.”
“Crap.”
“Is that talking I hear in there?”
Deidre.
I had to think fast. There must be a way out of this. Maybe if I concentrated on my powers, I’d be able to free us.
Deidre appeared in the doorway. She draped her arm on the frame and smiled. “How’re we feeling? Like you can’t move a muscle?”
“Maybe you’ve got a cure for that.” I mean, what else was I supposed to say? Something horribly cliché like, you’ll never get away with this?
Problem with that was, Deidre held an entire deck of cards against me. It appeared that she might get away with whatever she planned.
