“You want to walk?” I could think of a hundred different activities I would rather do. “I guess.”
“Some of the cupids are expected to come in on this evening’s ship,” he offered.
I perked up exponentially. “Why didn’t you just say that? I’m dying to see these cupids in action. I’m still not sure what they can and can’t do, but I’m definitely willing to watch and learn.”
“Somehow I knew you were going to say that.”
“I’m nothing if not predictable.”
2
Two
Galen was the tactile sort. He was also easily amused, which meant we spent the next hour laughing as we bought ice cream and held hands on the dock. When the cruise ship finally docked, I was awestruck.
“No way!”
He grinned as he used his napkin to dab at the corner of my mouth. I loved ice cream beyond reason, but it melted fast in Moonstone Bay’s infamous humidity. “Do you like it?”
“It’s ... got huge hearts on it.”
“It does at that.”
“There are arrows through the hearts.”
“There are.”
“No fat babies in diapers with bows and arrows,” I noted, disappointment getting a foothold. “That’s a little sad.”
“You know the babies-in-diapers thing isn’t real, right?”
“You don’t have to ruin everything.” I licked my ice cream. “I like the idea of Booker floating around with a bow and arrow when he was a toddler.”
“Only you would find that image comforting,” Galen muttered. “Still, I thought you would want to see the ship.”
“You have no idea.” I moved to one of the benches at the side of the dock and sat, Galen wordlessly joining me. We’d been together for a few weeks but he already recognized the things that excited me. “How many cupids are coming to town?”
“Seven-hundred.”
“Seven-hundred?” I was flabbergasted. “Wow! Is that ... all of them?”
“Do all humans go to conferences?”
“No, but ... I thought maybe it was a thing.”
“I already told you that it’s mandatory. I should’ve explained it was mandatory for working cupids and they only need one representative from every family. Not everyone is a working cupid.”
He settled on the bench and draped one arm around my shoulders as he continued eating his ice cream. “Remember when I told you that the conference hadn’t been held here for a bit? Well, there’s a reason for that. There’s been a power struggle brewing in the cupid ranks for a very long time.”
I had no idea what to make of that. “A power struggle?”
“That’s what I said.”
“But ... what do cupids have power over?”
“I already told you. They can affect moods and influence relationships.”
“But ... you also said it came down to free will,” I remembered. “You said we have control over our own destinies.”
“We do. I don’t think I’m explaining this very well.” He licked the ice cream dripping down his cone and changed tactics. “If I were a cupid, I could use my magic to try to make you fall in love with someone,” he explained. “If you were open to that suggestion, you might willingly embrace it. If not, then you can fight it.”
“Can the cupid overpower you?”
“Technically.”
He definitely wasn’t explaining it well. I had the feeling that was because there was something he was desperately trying to keep from me. Now to figure out what that something was. “Have cupids ever forced humans to do things they didn’t want to do for sport?” I played a hunch. I would’ve gotten to it eventually, but I decided to push forward now because I couldn’t wait.
He sighed. “I should’ve known you would sniff that out.”
“Yes, I’m like a dog that way.” I finished my cone and wiped the corners of my mouth. “You might as well just spill it. I’m going to find out eventually.”
“By peppering Booker with questions until he answers them.”
“Or just ask Lilac.”
“I had not considered that.” Conflict, obvious and stark, flitted over his features before he regrouped. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But I expect you to keep it to yourself.”
“Who am I going to share it with? The only people I know on this island probably already know.”
“You can’t ask Booker about it.”
That didn’t sound like something I would agree to. “Why not?”
“Agree or I won’t tell you.”
I hated being backed into a corner. “Maybe I would be better off chasing down Lilac and asking her. She wouldn’t make me agree to anything.”
He lowered his voice. “Agree.”
“Fine. You can have your way. I won’t mention it to Booker.” I didn’t add that I wasn’t opposed to working a conversation to my benefit, to the point Booker had no choice but to mention it to me. “Tell me.”
He looked around as if making sure nobody was eavesdropping and then continued. “The last cupid conference held here was about fifteen years ago. I would have to look up the exact date. Booker and I were in middle school.”
“You’re dragging this out to excruciating levels. What happened?”
“It was ... ugly.” He took on a far-off expression. “Cupids can affect moods. They’re not supposed to and most have honed their skills. There’s a strict licensing board if you want to work as a cupid these days. As with anything else, there’s bureaucracy.”
“Okay.”
“There are several powerful cupid families,” he continued. “They’re kind of like dynasties. That might not be the right word but it’s the only one I’ve got.”
“And?”
“And Booker is a member of one of those dynasties. His mother is a powerful force in cupid circles. When he refused to join the profession it was a big deal. He got a lot of grief for it.”
“You’re still not explaining what happened at the last conference. You’re stalling.”
“I’m not stalling.” His lips twisted as he shot me a pointed look. “I’m laying the groundwork. These family dynamics are important.”
“Fine. Carry on.” I was rapidly losing interest in the conversation. I pushed for him to answer, though, so I could hardly back away now. “What happened?”
“These dynasty families get special treatment in the cupid hierarchy.”
“You have to be born a cupid, right?”
“You do, and they’re very particular. Only full-blood cupids will do. If you’re a half-breed, well, you’re out of luck.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “Basically you’re saying they’re judgmental jerkwads.”
He smirked. “You have a way of breaking things down to the basest level. Have I ever told you how much I enjoy that little trait?”
“No, and you’re stalling again.”
His smile slipped and he made an exasperated sounded deep in his throat. “There was a battle at the conference. A small but extreme insurgent faction argued that half-breed cupids should be given the same standing as those who were full-blooded.”
“I would agree with that. You can’t control your parents. Trust me. If that were possible, I would’ve stopped my father from dating people the same age as me a long time ago.”
He moved his hand to the back of my neck, to where I carried my tension. He was well aware that I had issues with my father. He’d yet to meet the man, but I could tell he was dreading it. “When I say there was a battle, I mean it got physical. Ten cupids died.”
My mouth dropped open as I swung my eyes in his direction. “No way.”
“It happened.” He turned glum. “I obviously wasn’t sheriff back then because I was still in school. I heard stories, though. Nobody was arrested because they refused to rat on each other.”
“Even though the sides hated each other?”
“There are multiple sides in cupid wars. Even those who agree in principle still find reasons to figh
t with one another.”
“They sound like a fun group.”
“They’re ... interesting.”
“If things were so bad the last go-around, why did you agree to let them have a conference here again? Why not simply ban them and make your life easier?”
“I don’t have control over that.” His lips twisted into a sneer. “The DDA banned them. It also lifted the ban.”
Ah, the Downtown Development Authority. Most communities had one. Apparently Moonstone Bay’s was made up of omnipotent hell beasts who could make virtually anything happen with a snap of their fingers. I’d yet to meet anyone on the authority, but I was dedicated to making it happen. “Did they give you any reason why?”
“No, and I’m nervous.” He wasn’t ashamed to admit he was fearful. That was only one of the things I liked about him. It ranked right up there with his muscles, eyes and the way he kissed. What? I’m not totally shallow.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” The offer was heartfelt. I was new to the community but I had magic of my own. Sure, I was still getting used to the fact that I had magic — to say nothing of learning how to wield it correctly — but I was more than willing to jump into the fire if he needed help dousing the flames. “I’ll do whatever I can.”
He briefly lowered his forehead to mine. “That’s a very nice offer. It’s probably best if you steer clear of this one. You can hang around Booker, but beware the others. Don’t volunteer anything about yourself.”
“I thought they could control minds.”
“Oh, geez. You’re going to fixate on this the entire time they’re here, aren’t you?”
He wasn’t wrong.
WE SPENT AN HOUR WATCHING the cupids arrive. Most of them disembarked from the ship in small groups. A few parents with toddlers pushed strollers or carried infants. There were no children, though, and I found that suspicious.
“Are they not allowed to bring kids to this thing?”
Galen, who was buying a bottle of water from one of the kiosks, arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know. Why do you ask?”
“Because I’ve only seen children under the age of two or so. I’m guessing they don’t want kids around in case they go to war again. There won’t be any underage sacrifices this time. Wait ... were there any last time?”
“I don’t know. It’s a good observation, though.” He cracked the bottle, downed a quarter of it and then handed it to me.
I wordlessly took the bottle and drank. Moonstone Bay’s humidity was absolutely brutal. I watched the steady stream of passengers as I hydrated, my mood picking up when I recognized a familiar face.
It was Booker, and he wasn’t alone. He pulled a huge suitcase on wheels behind him while a tiny woman — I swear she couldn’t have been more than five feet tall — talked nonstop at his side. She wore a powder pink suit with heels and an extravagant hat that would’ve been “out there” at the Kentucky Derby.
“Well, well, well.” I couldn’t contain my excitement. “What do we have here?”
Galen followed my gaze, his eyes lighting with mirth when he realized who I was studying. “Oh, well, this should go over well.” He cleared his throat to get Booker’s attention and then took a step forward. “Hello, Mrs. Pitman. It’s been a long time.”
Mrs. Pitman? The name meant nothing to me, but I watched the interaction all the same.
“Ah, young Galen. I’ve told you repeatedly to call me Judy.”
“I was never allowed to call adults by their first names when I was a kid,” Galen countered. “My mother would’ve tanned my hide.”
“Well, you’re an adult now.” She extended her hand in greeting. “You turned out to be a handsome boy, didn’t you? I knew you would.”
I pursed my lips as I shifted my eyes to Booker. He looked as if he would rather be anywhere but the middle of the dock watching his mother fawn over Galen. “Your last name is Pitman?”
He scowled. “It isn’t.”
“I took the name of my third husband,” Judy volunteered. “Booker kept his father’s name, although I have no idea why. That man never did anything for us that I can remember.”
“Well, great,” Booker muttered. “You’ve been here exactly five minutes and you’re already complaining about Dad. I can tell this is going to be a terrific week.”
Judy’s expression turned dark. “What have I said about your attitude?”
“Which time?”
Judy rolled her eyes and focused on me. “And who are you? You have a familiar look about you but I can’t quite place you.”
“Oh, I’m Hadley Hunter.”
Judy screwed up her face in concentration. “I’m sorry, my dear. I can’t remember you. Did you and she run around in high school together, Booker?”
“We did not.” Booker found something interesting to stare at on his hand, refusing to make eye contact. “We were definitely not in high school together.”
“Hadley didn’t grow up on the island, Judy,” Galen offered hurriedly. “She’s a relatively new transplant.”
“I see.” Judy was more standoffish now as she peered down her nose at me. “And why did you decide to move here?”
“Because a grandmother I’d never met left me the lighthouse,” I answered. “It’s not every day that you get left a lighthouse, so I wanted to check it out.”
“The lighthouse?” Judy’s lips flattened. “Then that would mean ... .”
“She’s May Potter’s granddaughter,” Booker supplied. “Wesley is her grandfather.”
“Right. That makes sense. That would mean Emma was your mother.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I knew your mother a bit.” There was no warmth to Judy’s words. “She was never a fan of the island. She couldn’t wait to get away.”
“Well ... I guess.” I never knew my mother. She died during my birth. There was nothing I could say about her because I knew absolutely nothing about her life. All I knew is that her body was returned to Moonstone Bay after her death and now she got up — along with the other bodies in the cemetery — and walked around the walled-in space every night. Sometimes I sat on a blanket and watched her for hours. Other times Galen came to collect me because he said it wasn’t good to spend so much time wondering how different my life would’ve been if she’d lived. I understood where he was coming from, but that didn’t stop me from imagining a multitude of different paths.
“Hadley never met her mother,” Galen volunteered, his arm going around my waist. “If you had issues with Emma, it’s not her fault. Hadley didn’t know her.”
“Did I say I had issues with Emma?” Judy took on a petulant tone. “I was simply making an observation.”
“Yes, she was simply making an observation,” Booker echoed. “You’re imagining that snotty thing she does that everyone else picks up on.”
I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing at Judy’s dark expression. She obviously wasn’t happy with her son’s attitude. As with everyone else, though, Booker didn’t care what she thought. He was his own man.
“Is there a reason the line isn’t moving forward?” another voice interjected from behind Judy and Booker.
Judy was already scowling when she turned to face the woman waiting to pass. “Darlene.” Her voice practically dripped with hatred. “Is there a reason you can’t go around us?”
Darlene wasn’t much taller than Judy. She was much plumper, though, and could’ve taken Judy down with mass alone. She had dark hair that was pulled into a pretty bun — complete with curling tendrils that escaped to land beside her face — and she wore a printed floral skirt and matching top. She looked as if a greenhouse had exploded and all that was left was her outfit.
“You’re in the middle of the walkway,” Darlene insisted. “If you must have a conversation you need to move to the side and keep the walkway clear. Everyone knows that’s the rule.”
“What rule?” Judy made a face. “I’ve never seen any such rule.”
&nbs
p; Galen leaned closer so his lips brushed the edge of my ear when he whispered. “This would be an example of the warring families I was talking about. Judy is in charge of one. Darlene is in charge of the other. They hate each other.”
I’d already figured that out.
“We can move over here,” Booker suggested, giving the oversized suitcase a tremendous heave. “It will be fine.”
“We most certainly will not move.” Judy held her ground and glowered at the other woman. “We’re not in the wrong. All she has to do is move around us. If she’s not smart enough to do that, well, it’s frankly not our fault. She can sit there and stew.”
“It’s not a question of intelligence,” Darlene argued. “It’s a question of manners. Those with good breeding know not to take up the center aisle when fraternizing with ... locals. I always knew you had poor breeding.”
She said “locals” like my father would’ve said “off-brand liquor.” It was clear she believed herself above almost everybody, including — or perhaps especially — us.
“You’re right,” I said to Galen, keeping my voice low. “This is like a soap opera.”
“And it’s only going to get worse.” He brushed his hand up and down my back before giving me a nudge with his hip. His intent was obvious. “Why don’t we get out of your way and you can both make your way to the hotel?” he suggested.
“That’s a fabulous idea,” Booker drawled. “The faster I get my mother away from here, the better.”
“She’s not staying with you?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “That’s kind of sad. How will you spend time together?”
He pinned me with a harsh look. “We’ll spend as little time together as possible. That’s how we like it. In fact ... .” Whatever he was about to say died on his lips when a scream from down the dock cut him off.
Next to me, Galen immediately tensed as he lifted his nose and started scenting for enemies. I was still getting used to the fact he could do that. The scream was frightening enough that it sent chills down my spine, but I still couldn’t help wishing for a catastrophe so I could escape the Judy and Darlene Chronicles.
To Spell With It Page 2
