Everybody Wants to Rune the World: A Happily Everlasting World Novel (Bewitchingly Ever After Book 2)

by Mandy M. Roth

  She put her hands up. “He didn’t hurt me! I swear. He saved me from the giant killer squid.”

  “We’ve got a giant killer squid on the loose?” asked her father, arching a brow. “That part was true too?”

  “We do,” offered Morgan from behind Virginia. “And at least five Collective members who are missing their ring fingers. Betty may have eaten the evidence already. She’s baking so one never can be too sure. Her carrot cake might very well be a Collective cake and we just misheard her.”

  Her father rubbed his temple. “I’m sorry, but did you say Collective members are missin’ their ring fingers?”

  “She did,” said Virginia.

  His jaw set and his hand went to his gun belt. “The Collective is back in town?”

  “Yes. They are. Walden, there’s more,” said Morgan, sounding concerned. “Luc and Wil think they’re here for a reason.”

  “Wil as in Wilber Messing?” asked Walden.

  “Yes. He showed up with Hugh and Jake, from Everlasting, to help Sig and the others hunt the squid,” added Morgan.

  Her father stiffened. “Leo and the twins with them too? That part of Hank’s story true as well?”

  “It is,” said Virginia. “So are Luc and Petey.”

  “Why didn’t they call me?” demanded her father.

  Morgan sighed. “They didn’t stop to think much beyond hunting for the squid the second Luc and Wil pointed out their theory.”

  “Which is?” pressed her father.

  Morgan continued, “That since it’s about to be the twentieth anniversary of when the Collective tried to abduct Virginia, that they’re back to finish what they started. And that their end goal is to gain a siren and gift her to some guy who is high up in their ranks—a guy we’re all starting to suspect is the giant squid that hurt Virginia last night.”

  Her father grabbed her up and off the floor, gasping as he did. “You’re hurt? I’ll get you to your momma and grandmother. They’re good with the healin’ arts. Don’t die.”

  Morgan laughed. “Safe to say she’s not dying.”

  Virginia wiggled to get down. “Daddy, stop! I’m fine. A bit bruised but okay. Sigmund protected me. Petey and Betty helped too.”

  “That’s right,” said Morgan. “This morning I saw Sig with a gold cursed coin. Like the ones you guys told me Curt had.”

  Her father’s gaze whipped to her. “Your grandmother’s curse is at play?”

  “It is.” Virginia finally managed to get down. She took a small step back to be able to look up at her father without hurting her neck.

  Walden was quiet a moment before exhaling slowly. “That would mean a certain were-kraken we all know is your mate.”

  “Yes,” offered Virginia, wanting to keep her father as calm as she could to avoid him going on the hunt for Sigmund and the giant squid. The last thing she needed was her hunter father gunning for her husband. “He’s my mate.”

  “And I’m only hearin’ about this now?” asked her father, his voice tight. “From Hank I might add, who also told me something about you expectin’ twins.”

  “Well, um, it was all rather sudden,” said Virginia.

  Morgan snorted. “You can say that again. Seeing as how the two of you spent most of the day locked away in Petey’s version of a honeymoon suite, twins very well could be in your future. They clearly run in your family.”

  Groaning, Virginia glanced in the direction she sensed Morgan to be. “You’re a huge help here.”

  Morgan laughed. “I do what I can. Walden, they mentioned the squid tore apart the back decking at Runes. I know the restaurant is not normally open this day of the week but from the sounds of it, it might not be open for a while.”

  Virginia nodded. “It’s true. It did a number on Runes’ deck.”

  “I’m not worried about that,” said her father. “It’s replaceable. You’re not. Now, where exactly did this husband of yours take off to? And is everyone still with him?”

  “They left here hours ago and headed to Runes. We haven’t seen them since,” said Morgan. “We don’t know if they’re all still together or not.”

  Virginia touched her father’s arm. “Daddy, can you go down to the marina and see if they’re there? Can you check on them? Please. I’m so worried and no one is answering their cell phones. I’m not even sure any of them have a phone with them.”

  With a sigh, he bent and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll go look for them. You stay here with Morgan. Call your momma and grandmother. Don’t go lettin’ them hear you’re married from someone else in town. You’ll never hear the end of it. They’re still mad they weren’t there for Missi and Curt’s weddin’. I tried explainin’ it happened in the middle of a street, with no warnin’, by a crazy man, but you know the way of it.”

  She nodded. “I will. I promise. You’ll call me straight away if you hear anything?”

  “I will, darlin’,” he said softly. He turned to head off the porch just as Darrell was walking up the front path.

  Darrell had a black eye and a bandage on his left hand. His step was a little off. As if he might have pulled a muscle or something.

  Her father slid her a sideways look. “Does he know you’re taken now?”

  She cringed. “I don’t know.”

  “If he doesn’t, he will soon,” said Morgan with a small snort.

  Her father stepped back out of the doorway as Darrell jogged up the stairs on the porch. “Darrell.”

  Darrell offered a broad smile. “Hi, Sheriff. How’s everything in your world going?”

  Her father glanced back at her. “It’s been an interestin’ day to say the least. You get that shiner at Howlers last night? It matches York’s. Your face get in the way of Petey’s fist too?”

  With a small laugh, Darrell touched under his eye with his bandaged hand. “Got it right after. I was at the high school, waiting on Virginia, who was supposed to be bringing out food for the dance, and my two left feet got the best of me. Took some sleeping pills to help me rest and got a late start to my day. I went by Virginia’s house to check on her, but she wasn’t there. I was going to Runes next but saw her standing up here talking with you.”

  Virginia sighed. “Oh, Darrell, I’m sorry. I should have called. Something came up last night. It threw a wrench in everything. The food is over at Runes in the refrigerator. My SUV is still in the shop, but Sunshine is parked out front. Petey’s keys should be around here somewhere. If you want, we can load up the van and get all the food moved out to the school.”

  He stared at her for what felt like forever. “I was worried about you…when you didn’t show and I didn’t hear from you.”

  “I’m so sorry. I should have reached out,” she said.

  Her father gave her a knowing look. “Got somethin’ else you want to tell him?”

  Virginia swallowed hard. “I do. Maybe he should come in and have a cup of tea.”

  “As if that will help the news go down better,” said Morgan.

  “I’d love a cup of tea,” added Darrell.

  Walden squared his shoulders. “Darrell, you mind stayin’ here for just a bit to watch over Virginia and Morgan? Not that she needs much watchin’ over or anythin’. I’ve got to go check on everyone who is out huntin’ that giant killer squid.”

  Darrell’s eyes widened. “Giant killer squid?”

  “Never a dull moment around here,” said Walden as he stepped closer to Virginia, bent and kissed her temple. “You stay close to Darrell. Don’t go off alone. Not with the Collective bein’ back in town. Call your momma. Tell her the news.”

  With that, he left.

  She eased out of the way so Darrell could enter the bed-and-breakfast. She closed the door behind him and took a deep breath before motioning to the sitting room. “Come on in and have some tea. Betty made it.”

  He stilled just inside the foyer. “Betty is here?”

  “She’s making a carrot cake or a Collective cake,” said Morgan with a sm
all laugh. “We’re not really sure.”

  Darrell smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  An uneasy feeling settled over Virginia. Her focus moved to his bandaged hand and then to his black eye. As she stared into his gray-blue eyes, her gut clenched.

  No.

  It couldn’t be.

  Could it?

  Was Darrell the were-squid?

  She had known was something supernatural, but it wasn’t polite to ask what. Unless someone offered the information, one didn’t inquire.

  “Sugar or cream?” asked Morgan from what sounded like the coffee table area in the front room.

  Darrell shook his head. “No thank you.”

  “Suit yourself. I’m going to grab another cup and saucer,” said Morgan. “Virginia, wait until I’m back to share all the news. I don’t want to miss anything.”

  “All the news?” questioned Darrell, his gaze locking on Virginia.

  She froze like a deer in headlights, her mind racing with the possibility that Darrell might very well be the giant squid.

  He had always been so sweet and funny.

  Was she letting her imagination run wild?

  “Virginia, did you hear me?” asked Morgan.

  “W-what? Sorry. No.”

  Morgan snorted. “I asked if you wanted anything to eat. I can grab something from the fridge. Something that isn’t in a brown paper bag.”

  Virginia’s gaze returned to Darrell’s bandaged hand. “What did you do to your hand?”

  His gaze narrowed. “Slammed it in a door out at the high school last night.”

  “And your eye?” she questioned.

  “Virginia?” asked Morgan. “You okay?”

  She took a small step back, her gaze darting toward the kitchen and then the front door. She was closer to the door but the idea of leaving Betty alone with someone who may or may not be a killer were-squid didn’t sit well with her. Even if Betty was a demon who could probably hold her own.

  “Virginia?” asked Morgan, her hand coming to a rest on Virginia’s shoulder, letting her know she was close.

  Darrell’s lips drew in a thin line. “I was hoping we could do this the easy way. I can see that won’t be the case.”

  Virginia took another step back. “Morgan, get Howie! Now!”

  “He’s not here. He’s back in Hell visiting his mother,” she said before gasping. “You’re not thinking Darrell is…”

  Virginia took a deep breath. “I poked the squid in the eye.”

  “And Betty cut off one of its tentacles,” said Morgan. “His hand!”

  Darrell grinned. Gone was the handsome man she’d known. In his place was a sinister-looking man, his expression and the coldness in his eyes changing everything about his demeanor.

  “Run!” yelled Morgan.

  Virginia tried to run for the kitchen but Morgan spun her around and whipped open the door.

  “That way!” yelled Morgan.

  “But what about Betty?”

  Morgan grunted, shoving her more. “She’ll be just fine on her own. Go! I’ll try to hold him off.”

  Virginia ran off the porch and down the front walk path.

  There was a giant roar from within the bed-and-breakfast and the sounds of something crashing.

  Then Darrell was suddenly racing out of the inn after her. While he’d favored his leg walking into the place, he seemed perfectly fine now and fast.

  Very fast.

  Virginia reacted on pure instinct and oddly found herself running at Runes. She darted around the side of it, toward the water, which struck her as a bad idea only after she reached the pier. She had nowhere to go. If she jumped in, she’d be in his domain. He was a sea creature after all.

  Her heart beat madly as she spun around to find him closing in on her. “Come with me willingly and no one else needs to get hurt.”

  Her bottom lip trembled. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Little siren,” said Darrell, his voice sounding hard. “You are. Decide if we’re doing this the easy way or the hard way.”

  She spun and started to sing loudly. The song she went with was “Jolene.”

  Darrell slammed into her, knocking her over the edge of the pier and into the water with him.

  Fear coursed through her veins as she fought for the surface. When she got there, she kept singing loudly, hoping her husband would hear it. That he’d come like he had before.

  Darrell yanked her under once more, cutting her song off in mid-verse.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Virginia struggled with Darrell underwater, hitting at his face and arm, thankful he was still in human form. She wasn’t making much of a dent in him as it was. Had he been fully shifted, it would have been worse.

  Her chest burned and she did as Petey had told her to in the past. She went for his eye. She jabbed him in the same one she’d poked the night before.

  He let go long enough for her to surface once more. She gasped for air a second before something splashed down next to her in the water, near the pier’s edge. For a split second, she saw nothing—only Darrell who was reaching for her again.

  Then, in the blink of an eye, a pale, hauntingly beautiful woman with ink-black hair with a small bright red streak in the top of it was there, next to her, hitting at Darrell too. Virginia had seen the woman more than once in her life.

  “Morgan!” shouted Virginia, reaching for her friend.

  Morgan hauled off and socked Darrell in the face hard enough that his head jerked back.

  That was impressive, to say the least.

  Morgan looked out from wide green eyes at her. “Go!”

  Darrell selected then to begin to change shapes. His clothing ripped from him as he did. He whipped out with one tentacle and struck Virginia, slamming her into the side of the pier.

  Something grabbed hold of her from above and ripped her with such a force that it made her stomach drop. She found herself being plunked down on the pier next to Betty who was there in her pale yellow housecoat and white apron.

  On the pier next to Virginia was a sweater that looked to have runes knitted into it.

  Betty glanced at her. “You okay, child?”

  “I am, but Morgan is…”

  Before the words had left her mouth one massive green tentacle flung Morgan high into the air.

  Virginia watched in stunned horror as her friend slammed down onto the pier. Morgan didn’t move, and Virginia scrambled toward her, worry lancing through her as she did.

  Betty merely stood there, staring at the water. She pointed, and her finger was slightly bent. “You’ve been a very naughty boy.”

  The squid lashed out, and Virginia moved off the ground quickly, planting herself in front of Betty. She reacted without thought, seizing hold of the tentacle with a strength that shocked her. She yanked hard, and the entire squid was ripped toward her. It hit the pier’s side, and Virginia released the tentacle.

  Betty glanced over the edge and into the water. “Hmm, would you look at that. You do have a bit of hunter in you. Good girl.”

  “Morgan!” Virginia cried out, turning to go to her friend only to find Morgan had vanished. “Morgan, where are you? Are you hurt?”

  “I’m dead. Does that count?” asked Morgan, sounding more annoyed than anything else. “And soaked.”

  Just then the same noise she’d heard the night before, when Sigmund had attacked the squid, sounded once more.

  She turned and stared out at the water in time to see a wall of water coming at them. While the squid had looked large when it had raced toward her by Runes, Sigmund looked like an ocean liner coming at them.

  Virginia grabbed Betty’s hand and tugged, pulling the woman from the edge of the pier as the kraken came up and out of the water partially, slamming into the squid.

  Betty lifted a fist and pumped it in the air. “Give him hell, Sigmund!”

  “Betty?” asked Virginia quickly.

  With a shrug, Betty co
ntinued to watch the battle with nothing short of delight on her face. She made motions with her hands, which were clenched into fists as if she were a boxer.

  “Nice left jab!” she shouted.

  Virginia stared at Betty, realizing she really did not know the woman at all.

  “Save me the tentacles, Sigmund,” said Betty loudly. “I’ve family coming over soon. I can use squid in one of the dishes I’m making.”

  “Virginia!”

  She twisted around at the sound of her name to find her father, Louis, and Petey running at her from the street. The others, minus Sigmund and York, were behind them.

  Leo had a harpoon gun in his hands.

  She gasped. “No! You could hit Sigmund!”

  Leo lifted a brow. “I wasn’t going to shoot it at him.”

  “Then why are you carrying it?” she asked.

  Jake and Curt shared a look before Curt stared at her. “Because it’s cool.”

  She groaned and pointed at the water. “Help Sigmund without shooting him with a harpoon.”

  The men all stared at her like she was nuts.

  Petey shook his head. “Girl has no sense. Look at your husband. Does it look like he needs our help?”

  She did.

  The kraken had the squid lifted entirely out of the water. It made short work of it before tossing it like a rag doll into the air. A massive great white shark breached the surface, its jaws clamping down on the squid before it vanished below the water.

  She gasped. “York?”

  Louis groaned. “He’s such a showoff.”

  Betty moved as quick as he could back to the edge of the water. “York, don’t you go eating him! He’s my squid. I called dibs.”

  Her father grabbed her. “Darlin’, are you hurt?”

  She shook her head as water streamed off her. “W-what about the other Collective members?”

  “It would appear the squid ate them. Betty apparently scavenged what she could from the kills,” said her father.

  The squid came up and screeched at the kraken. Sigmund seized hold of it with three tentacles and squeezed to the point the squid stopped wiggling or moving at all. Once it was totally limp, Sigmund tossed it toward the pier.