“Are you serious?”
“Yes,” she said hesitantly. She couldn’t tell if he was still mad, or excited.
“Are you going to introduce me as your boyfriend or try to pretend I’m just part of the pack?”
“As my boyfriend,” she said, exasperated at him now. “Look, I’m not good at this stuff. You know that. Just take the invitation and stop making me repeat it.”
He sighed. “Fine, but we’re going to hold hands, and sometime in the next month, we’re going to have a dinner with just us and your parents. No hiding behind the pack.”
“Fine. Look, I’m almost to work, I really need to go.”
“I’ll be at the house at four this evening, unless they’ll be over earlier?” he asked.
“No, they’re coming around five.”
“Okay, see you then. Have a good day at work, bye,” he said, sounding a little more chipper.
“You too. Bye,” she said, hanging up the phone. As soon as she tapped end, her heart dropped into her stomach. “Ah, hell.”
She’d completely forgotten about Evangeline. She still hadn’t told Steven about her, and he would know something weird was going on. With a sigh, she picked up her phone again, and texted Amber.
She was so busy now that she was working all the time, she felt like she’d abandoned the pack. Ceri, Amber, and Tommy had run off to rescue Evangeline without her and she hadn’t gotten there in time to help. She left before everyone was awake, and barely made dinner most nights.
Taking on this case felt like a mistake but if she hadn’t, then Davie would just rot in prison. She wished she was smarter and had a way to help him now. Paul Greer might be able to help but the full moon was still two days away. She also had no guarantee he’d want to help Davie either, especially as a new alpha.
Her fingers twitched on the steering wheel as the sudden urge to shift and run flowed through her. The wolf was restless and tired of being restrained. The more frustrated she got, the harder it was to stay in control. None of the others struggled with it as much as she did.
After the Trials, she’d thought she could just turn her life around and do something, but it was silly to assume she’d be able to succeed just like that. Maybe it had been silly to try at all.
She parked the car on the far end of the parking lot in the only space left and shook her head at herself. She couldn’t even manage to get to work on time.
Chapter 31
CERI
Ceri had a headache, and this downtown traffic wasn’t helping. “Oh my god, learn to use your accelerator,” she muttered as she changed lanes to pass a slow driver.
Amber looked askance at her. “I never suspected you’d have road rage.”
“I don’t have road rage!” she objected, glaring at the road. “Normally. I might be a little hungry and tired.”
Amber smirked and propped her foot up on the dash. “Who are we going to see today?”
“My cousin. And, just be warned, she’s awful. She actually managed to get kicked out of the coven for using too much black magic. Well, for getting caught using it by the wrong people.” She twirled a curl around her finger. That had been a huge mess. Her mother had done a lot of damage control, but it had been yet another step on her coven’s downward spiral into oblivion. Her grandmother had probably been rolling in her grave.
“Is it common for so many covens to use black magic whenever they can get away with it?” Amber asked. “I didn’t know that many witches back in Texas, or here for that matter, but I thought it just wasn’t done anymore.”
“It’s probably fifty-fifty,” she said with a shrug. “Newer covens are more likely to be completely legal, but the older covens gained their power through spells that no one could consider white magic. They aren’t about to give that up just because the laws have changed, and no one is going to rat them out.”
Her cousin worked at a beauty shop owned by some elves that sold elf-spelled cosmetics in the front, and more interesting things in the basement, if you had the money. It was in a nice part of town; the kind of place you felt comfortable letting your kids run around alone. And, to be fair, it was safe for them. You only got into trouble if you pissed someone off, and then it wouldn’t matter where you were.
The shop had a big parking lot filled with new, shiny cars. Ceri parked near the door, but didn’t get out immediately.
“What?”
She sighed and yanked down the visor to use the mirror. “You can never tell anyone about this, but if I walk in there without looking perfect, we’re just going to spend the whole time with her insulting my hair.”
Amber raised a brow. “What’s wrong with your hair?”
“Nothing,” she said as she pulled a small tub of Friz-B-Smooth out of the center console. She scooped the smallest amount possible out and rubbed it on her hands. “But she’s a pompous turd-face. If we didn’t need information, I wouldn’t bother, but I’d rather spend as little time in there as possible.”
Magic tingled on her palms. She waited for it to feel warm, then vigorously brushed her fingers through her hair. The curls detangled easily, then popped back into shape perfectly smooth and shiny. Her blonde hair practically sparkled in the sunlight.
“Will you hate me if I say that’s actually kind of awesome?” Amber asked, leaning over and sniffing slightly. “You smell like fruit.”
Ceri arranged the curls in the mirror and examined the final results. It was awesome. “I love the stuff, but it’s expensive so I save it for special occasions. I don’t need to look perfect all the time, and besides, any spellwork will make it fall out right away. This kind of elf magic is delicate.” She nodded into the mirror and steeled herself for a miserable conversation. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
They hopped out of her car and headed inside. The first thing that hit her was the impossibly fresh scent of the store. It was spotless, as always. The shop was to the right and the salon area was to the left.
A tall, willowy elf with pastel pink hair was shampooing a customer’s hair. Her hands danced through the air as she guided the water –– spelled to the perfect temperature of course –– over the woman’s scalp. Elves used an elemental type magic and could manipulate the base elements, like water, fairly easily. The stronger and older they were, the larger quantity of the element they could manipulate. Even an elvish child could do what she was doing though.
“Welcome to Glow Up,” a cheery saleswoman said, appearing from behind one of the shelves. Her ears weren’t as pointy as an elf’s usually were, so she probably had some human in her heritage. “How can we help you today?”
“Hi, I needed to see Siobhan,” Ceri said, forcing herself to keep her hands where they were and not fidget with her hair. “I heard she has something in stock for discerning witches.”
The saleswoman’s smile stiffened slightly. “Of course! Come right this way.”
Amber stuck close to her as they followed the woman through the shelves filled with glittering potions and spells that promised beauty, happiness, and confidence. It all worked, but it was also all very expensive. Witch’s potions could do many of the same things, but anyone who could afford it used elf products instead. They were just classier. And tasted better if they were the sort you had to drink.
“If you can wait right here I’ll see if she’s free,” the saleswoman said, gesturing toward a plush, red velvet couch. “Can I get your names?”
“You can tell her that her favorite cousin is here,” Ceri replied with a smile. She didn’t want anyone here having their names, it was bad enough they’d had to stop by.
“Alrighty, be right back!” The woman hurried through the ‘Employee Only’ door a few feet away, letting it swing shut behind her.
“Why do I feel so…refreshed?” Amber asked, sniffing slightly. “The air smells odd.”
“They spell a little more oxygen into the air to give you an energy boost every time you visit the shop. It’s all part of the experience.”
Amber wandered toward the shelves and picked up a little vial that promised to change your eye color. She coughed when she saw the price tag on the bottom and quickly set it back down. Shaking her head, she walked back over to Ceri, putting her hands in her pockets.
“That cost more than I made in a month as a nurse,” she said with a shudder.
Ceri laughed. “It takes them almost two weeks to make, and it’s permanent, unlike most cosmetic spells. This is why elves have money coming out of their long, pointy ears.”
The door the saleswoman had disappeared through reopened and she peeked her head out. “Siobhan will see you now.”
They followed her into the back room. It looked completely normal. Concrete floors, stacks of boxes, and a small table for the staff to eat lunch at. The door that led to the basement was easy to miss. It was tucked behind some industrial shelving in the corner of the room.
“Go ahead,” the saleswoman said, pointing at the door. “You can leave out the back when you’re done, please.”
Ceri nodded and took a brief second to compose herself before pulling the door open. Soft, flickering light shone at the bottom of the stairs. It was warm and inviting, but she knew that was all an illusion. Siobhan was as mean as their grandmother, but not quite as talented, which had made her bitter. It was an unfortunate combination.
The stairwell led them down into a cozy room. The light came from a fireplace, but the room wasn’t hot like it should have been with a huge fire in one corner. Siobhan stood over a large cauldron stirring what smelled like chicken noodle soup. Knowing her, it could be anything.
Her long, red hair cascaded down her back in perfect, effortless waves. She turned to them with a welcoming smile that made her baby blue eyes sparkle. Nothing about her was real anymore. She’d darkened the red of her hair, lightened her eyes, erased all her freckles, and doubled the size of her boobs.
“Ceridwen! It’s been too long,” she exclaimed, hurrying over for a hug. Ceri endured the brief hug, patting her once on the back, before untangling herself from Siobhan’s grasp. The witch’s eyes turned to Amber, examining her intently. “Who is this with you? You’ve never brought company here before.”
“This is my friend, Amber,” Ceri said.
“Hmm, the rumors said she was your alpha,” Siobhan said, cocking her head to the side. She walked toward Amber and held out her hand, which Amber shook firmly, never dropping her cousin’s gaze. “You’re definitely a werewolf, and surprisingly an alpha. I guess the rumors are true.”
“That’s not why we’re here.” She didn’t want to spend forever down here discussing her personal life with the town gossip.
Siobhan turned back to Ceri and rolled her eyes. “Are you here to finally get that hair under control? The Frizz-B-Gone can only do so much, sweetie.”
“Oh, come on, Siobhan. You can do better than that. Where are the insults about me getting kicked out of the house?” Ceri asked with a grin.
“That’s too easy of a target, besides, your hair always bothered you more whether you admit it or not. Why else would you try to fix it just to see me?” She sashayed back to her cauldron, her tight pants accentuating her curves.
“I thought Ceri was exaggerating, but you really are a bitch,” Amber said, crossing her arms.
Siobhan looked back over her shoulder with a smirk. “It’s a family trait.”
“Speaking of family traits, have you been selling supplies to any sorcerers lately?” Ceri asked.
Siobhan stopped stirring and turned around, raising a brow. “Not since Grandmother died, may her soul burn in hell.” She narrowed her eyes at the two of them. “Why?”
“If you do, be a good cousin and let me know, please,” Ceri said with a smile.
“Why should I? You aren’t even in the coven anymore,” she said, cocking her hip out to the side.
“You still want the spell, don’t you?”
A muscle in Siobhan’s jaw jumped as she ground her teeth together. The pleasant facade dropped from her features and she glared at Ceri. “She did not give it to you.”
Ceri grinned, taking sick satisfaction at finally putting her cousin on the defensive. “I was her favorite. That’s why you always hated me.”
Siobhan’s hands curled into fists. “I want it now.”
“Grandmother would come out of her grave and strike me down if I just gave it to you,” Ceri said, shaking her head. “You can have it for information. The name and the location of the sorcerer that just showed up in the area. I know you’ve heard something.”
Siobhan’s fingers twitched like she was considering throwing an attack. She straightened her shoulders instead and turned back to her cauldron instead. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Always a pleasure seeing you,” Ceri said with a smile while nudging Amber toward the stairs. Siobhan didn’t bother with a reply, she just glared at them while they headed back up to the storefront.
Ceri’s hands were shaking by the time they made it outside. They hurried through the parking lot and climbed back into the car.
“What the hell was that about?” Amber demanded as soon as both doors were shut.
She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face. “My grandmother left me a spell that isn’t in the family spellbook. It’s something she created, one of dozens of powerful spells actually. The family thought she died without sharing them with anyone, but she gave them to me. All of them.”
Amber sat back in shock. “Why you?”
She picked at the seam of her dress. “When I was around seventeen, I made a conscious choice not to follow in my family’s footsteps. Before that, I was my grandmother’s favorite. And her experiment, most likely. I got all the attention, all the lessons, and it made the rest of my family jealous. But, anyhow, I have the spells, and there’s one that Siobhan has always wanted.”
“What does it do?”
“It binds a demon to your control for one night,” Ceri said quietly. “It’s supposed to be a way to get what you want from a demon without having to pay the price.”
“Shit,” Amber said, sitting back in her seat.
“It doesn’t…” Ceri hesitated, shaking her head. “It doesn’t work. My grandmother died trying to use it, but, uh, no one knows that.”
“Did they think she just fell over dead?”
“No, I made it look like an attack by another coven,” Ceri whispered, her hands shaking. She’d never told anyone this before. That one little lie had launched a war between their covens. The Blackwood coven had been trying to ruin them before that, so they’d been the perfect cover. “I hated my grandmother, but watching that demon kill her was terrifying. And I blamed myself for a while even though it was my grandmother’s own fault. What she did was insanely stupid, but she thought she was invincible.”
“Seeing that demon show up in our house must have been a shock then,” Amber said, staring out the passenger window with a guilty expression.
“It was, and I still don’t trust him, but he’ll abide by the bargain,” Ceri said with a shrug. “When my grandmother tried to bind the demon, it pissed it off. This is a different situation.”
Amber laughed humorlessly. “Pissing them off is definitely not a good idea.”
“Yeah,” Ceri said with a weak smile.
“Well, let’s get that stuff Tommy wanted for dinner,” Amber said, visibly shaking off her thoughts.
Ceri nodded and put the car in drive. They’d keep searching for the sorcerer, but Siobhan’s contacts were their best bet for finding him before he found them.
Chapter 32
TOMMY
Tommy signed no emphatically, then crossed his arms. Woggy’s bottom lip trembled and he signed outside again before throwing himself down on the floor and squealing.
“What the hell is that noise?” Derek shouted from the living room.
“Woggy,” Tommy shouted back. He headed toward the kitchen with a sigh. He was going to have to bribe the pixie with chicken again to get him t
o calm down. Woggy hated being cooped up inside, but if he let him out, he was going to get attacked by the other pixies that had moved into the yard.
“Did you pinch him or something?” Derek asked walking up next to him at the end of the hallway where Woggy was having his temper tantrum.
“No, I just won’t let him outside,” Tommy said tiredly, tugging his beanie down on his head.
“Because of those other pixies?”
“Yeah.”
Captain Jack peeked around the corner, watching the scene disdainfully with his one good eye. He prowled toward Woggy, sniffed him, then planted his paw on the pixie’s head. Woggy’s squeals were cut off and he flailed, trying to get free.
“No, bad kitty,” Tommy said firmly, pushing his paw off of Woggy’s head.
The cat swished his tail and gave him a dirty look.
“I think Captain Jack had the right idea. You’re encouraging Woggy if you keep giving him treats when he acts like this.” Derek took another bite of the bread he was holding. “Why don’t you just get the other pixies out of the yard?”
“I’m not sure how to do that without hurting them.”
“Then Woggy is just going to be stuck inside,” Derek said pragmatically. “You want to get a little training in while Amber and Ceri are out?”
Tommy nodded. He’d been feeling especially useless lately. Amber had asked him to stick around the house while they were out so Evangeline and Eloise weren’t left alone, but it felt more like she was just worried about taking him somewhere potentially dangerous.
He sighed. At least everyone liked his cooking. Maybe he’d just be a werewolf chef. Make food, not war.
“Yeah, let’s go ahead and train. I just need to go check on Eloise real quick,” he said, pushing himself back up to his feet.
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