To Spell With It

by Amanda M. Lee

  “I’m well aware.” Booker’s already dark eyes went almost went opaque. “I can’t believe she said that to you.”

  “I told her I was seeing Galen, but she was convinced that I was keeping you on a string, too. She said that’s why you spent all your time in the bar talking to Lilac and me instead of looking at the prime pieces of female flesh she brought for you. I added that last part. She was thinking it pretty loudly.”

  “She was thinking it?” Galen cocked his head to the side. “You read her thoughts?”

  “I picked up on the ones she couldn’t let go of,” I corrected. “You know I can’t control any of that. It comes willy-nilly. As soon as I can make it happen at will, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Booker snickered, genuinely amused. “She has you there.”

  “Shut up,” Galen snapped. “You’re lucky I’m even talking to you after you were hanging around with my girlfriend at the bar in the middle of the day.”

  “Oh, trust me. I would much rather be working than hanging out at the bar, but I don’t have any control over my life when my mother is around. You know that.”

  “I well remember.” Briefly, Galen looked as if he pitied Booker. He shuttered his emotions quickly, and focused on me. “And what about Darlene?”

  “Well, that’s what was even weirder,” I admitted. “She was waiting outside. She said she knew I was a witch — I swear I didn’t tell her — and she wanted to talk to me about my powers.”

  Galen and Booker exchanged conflicted looks.

  “We’re talking my mother’s nemesis, Darlene, right?” Booker asked after a beat.

  I bobbed my head.

  “I wonder how she knew Hadley was a witch,” Galen mused.

  “I asked her that. She said she hired private investigators during the run-up to the convention because she wanted to know who was a danger to her. I thought that was weird, but she seemed to believe it was perfectly normal.”

  “Private investigators?” Galen straightened. “Did she say who?”

  “No. I didn’t know that was important.”

  “I don’t like hearing that our people are talking out of turn.”

  “I asked who else was on her list,” I added. “She said both of you were on it ... along with Lilac. She didn’t make it all the way through all the names.”

  Booker furrowed his brow. “What list? I’m confused.”

  “The list of creatures that could be a risk to her.”

  “And she put you on the list?” Galen asked.

  “Along with you, Booker and Lilac. Yeah.”

  “Huh.” Antsy, Galen ran his hand along his jaw as he thought about the bomb I’d just dropped. “I guess it’s not altogether out of the realm of possibility that she really was trying to protect herself.”

  “I wouldn’t trust anything Darlene says or does,” Booker countered.

  “Are you sure you’re not just saying that because she’s a super villain in your mother’s comic book?” I teased.

  His expression remained dark. “Listen, I wouldn’t trust anything my mother does either. That doesn’t mean Darlene is trustworthy. Together or apart, they’re both manipulative jerks.”

  I risked a glance at the congregated looky-loos and had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at Judy’s expression. If I didn’t know any better, I would assume she’d heard what Booker said.

  “I don’t trust either of them,” Galen said calmly. “We need answers, though. I don’t know this guy, but I’m guessing it’s not normal for him to walk into choppy waters and try to drown himself.”

  As if on cue, the man who had just been prone on the beach suddenly bolted to a sitting position and looked around. “What am I doing here?” His voice was rough.

  “We were just about to ask you that.” Galen hunkered down in front of Mark and fixed him with a flattened smile. “My name is Galen Blackwood. I’m the sheriff on Moonstone Bay. I don’t suppose you could tell me why you were walking in the water even though the beach is closed?”

  Mark was handsome. He was blond and fair, chiseled cheekbones. I tended to trend toward darker and brooding, so he did nothing for me on the physical front. I could see why he would attract women, though. He had a certain ... something.

  “I most certainly didn’t walk into the water,” he argued, annoyance lighting his features. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “I’ve got witnesses who say the exact opposite,” Galen countered.

  “Then they’re lying.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Hey!”

  Galen held up a finger to silence me and kept his attention on Mark. He seemed fascinated by something in the man’s eyes. “Multiple people saw you walk directly into the surf. You kept going even though people tried to stop you. You were unconscious by the time Hadley found you.”

  Mark worked his jaw. “I have no recollection of that. How do I know you’re not making it up?”

  “What would be my rationale for that?”

  “I’ve heard horrible things about this island.” Mark made a face. “I didn’t want to come here. It’s dangerous. Mrs. Pitman insisted, though, and she always gets her way. There’s a rumor going around that she wants to thin the ranks so she can take over more management positions on the council. I guess this is how she plans to do it.”

  I flicked my eyes to Booker and found him staring at Mark with open contempt. “Mrs. Pitman wasn’t anywhere near you when this went down,” I said. “You were completely alone.”

  “That’s neither here nor there.” He appeared to be the type who wouldn’t accept blame, so I wasn’t surprised when he denied everything. “I’m sure it was her.”

  “You’re sure, huh?” Booker’s voice was edged with fury.

  Slowly, Mark tracked his eyes to Booker. It was as if he was seeing the man for the first time. “I should’ve known you would be part of this. You’re always standing up for your mother, aren’t you?”

  “Not even close,” Booker shot back. “I have no interest in taking up for my mother. But she was nowhere around when this happened.”

  “Oh, really? And how do you know that?”

  “Because he’s the one who pulled you out of the water,” Galen answered, folding his arms across his chest. It was obvious he didn’t like Mark, not even a little. He might’ve had issues with Booker at a few random turns — they liked to compete with one another, after all — but he was loyal to Moonstone Bay’s favorite cupid son. “You’d be dead if it weren’t for him.”

  “I hardly think that’s true,” Mark sputtered, his gaze bouncing between faces. Finally, he landed on me. He must’ve figured I was his best shot at hearing what he wanted to hear. “That’s absolutely ludicrous, right?”

  I shook my head. “I tried to pull you out,” I offered. “I chased you into the water. I didn’t have the strength to swim back with you. Thankfully, Booker saw me struggling and swam out to help. The rest of your brethren stood on the beach and watched. He was the only one who lifted a finger.”

  “Don’t get too excited,” Booker chided when Mark timidly looked toward him. “I only went into the water to make sure Hadley was okay. I would’ve left you.”

  I didn’t believe that for a second. “You would not have left him.”

  Booker ignored me. “She insisted I bring you back. I did it for her, not you.”

  Galen cleared his throat. He was obviously uncomfortable. “We need to know what happened right before the incident, Mr. Earle. What can you tell us? I mean ... were you trying to harm yourself?”

  “Certainly not.” Mark was scandalized as he shook his head. “I would never do anything of the sort.”

  “Then something had to happen to compel you into the water.”

  “I ... .” Mark worked his jaw and descended into silence, his mind clearly busy.

  From the sidelines, a distinctly female throat-clearing caught everyone’s attention. I was surprised to find Darlene standing there whe
n I turned.

  “You’re supposed to be behind that line,” Galen ordered, pointing.

  “I understand that.” Darlene was calm. “I think I might have some information for you.”

  Oh, well, this was bound to be good.

  “And what information is that?”

  “I was in front of the bar when it happened,” Darlene explained. “I saw everything.”

  “So did Hadley,” Galen pointed out. “We already know what happened.”

  “Yes, but I was standing with her and I believe I know what propelled poor Mark here into the water.”

  Galen’s forehead wrinkled. “You do?”

  Mark mimicked his expression. “Yeah, you do?”

  She nodded, solemn. “I think it was a spell of some sort, a curse.”

  I’d been thinking the same thing but hadn’t wanted to give my suspicion voice until I thought it through better.

  “We’ve basically already figured that out,” Galen offered.

  “It’s not just that,” Darlene added hurriedly before he could outright dismiss her. “I’m pretty sure I know who cast the curse.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Galen appeared largely disinterested but cocked an eyebrow all the same. “And who is that?”

  “Her.” Darlene crooked her finger in my direction. “She’s a powerful witch.”

  Galen scowled. “She didn’t do this. She raced out into the ocean to save him.”

  “I was standing next to her,” Darlene said soberly. “I felt the power emanating from her. She definitely had a hand in this.”

  Even though I was innocent my cheeks burned. “I did not have a hand in this.”

  Galen rested his palm on my shoulder, his fingers gripping lightly. “You’d better have proof to back up that accusation.”

  “I know you don’t want to believe it because she’s your girlfriend, but it’s true. She’s an evil witch.”

  I worked my jaw, a million insults and threats on the tip of my tongue, but Booker sent me a quelling look before I could unleash my fury.

  “Hadley has done nothing but help the people of this island since she arrived,” Galen argued. “She is not a suspect. She risked her life to save this man.”

  “Even though I wouldn’t have needed saving if it weren’t for her,” Mark added solemnly. “She’s the reason I almost died.”

  “Two minutes ago you were blaming Judy Pitman,” Galen snapped.

  “Oh, I still think it was her.” Mark was serious. “I think she hired this witch to take me out because she has an agenda.”

  Galen was beside himself. “Well, that didn’t happen.”

  “It didn’t,” Booker agreed. “That won’t stop Mark and Darlene from spreading that rumor, though. That’s how they operate.”

  “I’m just trying to be a concerned citizen.” Darlene laced her fingers together in front of her. “I’m doing my civic duty.”

  “I’ll show you civic duty,” Galen muttered as he took a threatening step in front of her.

  Booker intercepted him with a hand to his chest. “That’s what they want,” he warned, his voice low. “They want to make you look deranged so no one will take you seriously and they can manipulate the situation. Don’t give them what they want.”

  “We only want the truth to be known,” Darlene countered serenely. “If there’s a dangerous witch on the loose, the people of Moonstone Bay should be aware. They could be next.”

  I felt sick to my stomach. “You’re all kinds of demented, aren’t you?”

  Galen slid his arm around my waist. “Ignore her. Don’t feed into her nonsense. She can’t touch you.”

  Darlene made a clucking sound with her tongue. “I just want everyone to be safe and get along. Is that too much to ask?”

  8

  Eight

  Galen’s anger was palpable, but he managed to hold it together. The paramedic insisted on transporting Mark to the hospital so a doctor could sign off — something Mark was bitterly against — but Galen put his foot down. Once Mark was gone and Darlene was secured back with the other voyeurs, he turned his full attention to me.

  “You shouldn’t be here.”

  The simple statement crushed my spirit a bit. “Sure. You don’t want to be seen with the evil witch. I get it.”

  “Knock that off.” He lightly gripped my shoulder and gave it a small rub. “I don’t care about that. I’m worried about you. I don’t want you out in the open like this with Darlene plotting against you.”

  That’s what it felt like. She was plotting. I felt stupid for not realizing the lengths she was willing to go to from the start. “I didn’t do this,” I offered quietly.

  He turned his eyes to me, surprised. “Of course you didn’t. I don’t think you’re capable of doing this.”

  “Because I can’t control my magic?”

  “Because you’re you,” he answered quickly. “You’re not the type to cast spells to kill people. You might only be learning how to control your magic right now, but I know you. You’re a good person.”

  “I kind of want to do evil things to Darlene. I don’t think that makes me a good person.”

  He chuckled, clearly amused. “I want to do things to her, too. I can’t focus on that right now. She played us both extremely well. I have to be careful. Otherwise she’ll have legitimate grounds to complain to the DDA.”

  The DDA again. I was so sick of hearing about it. “She can’t hurt you, can she?”

  “Not over the long haul, no. She can cause short-term damage, though. That’s exactly what she’s trying to do.”

  “Do you think she caused this?”

  He looked taken aback by the question. “I hadn’t really considered it up until now. I guess it’s possible. She was present for both instances.” His gaze was weighted as it tracked to the woman in question, who appeared to be having a great time hamming it up with her cohorts as they watched the show. “I’ll see if I can pull some information on her. I don’t know a great deal about her.”

  “What should I do? I mean ... I want to help.”

  “I know you do.” He stroked his hand down the back of my matted hair. Thanks to the sun it was almost dry, but I had no doubt it was lacking in the style department. “We’ll talk about that tonight. I think you should get out of town for a bit this afternoon while I feel things out.”

  “Out of town? Should I hop on a boat and ride to Miami for the day or something?”

  “I thought maybe you could visit your grandfather.”

  I hadn’t even considered that. But it made sense. Wesley lived miles outside the city limits. If any place was safe, it was his farm. “I guess I could do that. You don’t want me to stay out there all night, do you?” The thought caused my stomach to flip.

  “Absolutely not.” He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss. “I’m not banishing you. I’m simply trying to figure out what’s going on. I don’t want you to be a target while that’s happening.”

  “I guess.” I exhaled heavily and met Darlene’s triumphant gaze across the beach. “I really want to punch her in the head with a brick.”

  He snickered. “We’ll consider that option later. For now, I’ll feel better knowing you’re in a spot where no one can get at you.”

  “Okay. But if I have to listen to Wesley and May argue all afternoon I expect you to fawn all over me when I get back tonight.”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  WESLEY WAS SURPRISED TO SEE me. Once I told him what went down, though, he became agitated.

  “Sit down,” he ordered as he poured me a glass of lemonade. “I know Galen has probably already handled this part of the conversation, but what were you thinking following a strange man into the ocean on a day like today? You could’ve been killed.”

  I hunkered lower in my chair. He had a lovely sitting area on his front porch, with beautiful views in every direction, but all I could see now was his disappointment. “I wasn’t really thinking about it at the time,” I admitted. “I jus
t didn’t want to be the sort of person who sits around while another person drowns.”

  He sent me an exasperated look. “I understand. Still, you could’ve been hurt.”

  “Booker followed me out. He had to swim back to shore with the unconscious guy. I had it relatively easy compared to him.”

  “Yes, well, thank the Goddess for Booker. Now there’s a sentence I never thought I would say.”

  I shot him a look. “You like Booker. I’ve seen you interacting before. Don’t bother denying it.”

  “I have no intention of denying it.” Wesley twirled his straw in his lemonade and stretched his legs out in front of him as he got comfortable. “I think he’s the best cupid I’ve ever met. But he’s still a cupid.”

  “I don’t know anything about cupids. Everything I’ve asked Booker since finding out his deep, dark secret has earned an eye roll or a laugh. Like, for example, apparently they don’t shoot random people with love arrows.”

  Wesley snorted, genuinely amused. “I bet you’ve been drilling him with a bunch of questions like that.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m curious. I want to ask Lilac about being half-demon, too, but she’s been sort of quiet since that whole thing went down.”

  “I can’t help you with Lilac.” Wesley turned sober. “That’s her story to tell when she’s ready. She’s a good girl and she’s earned the right to tell you about her past in her own time.”

  That seemed fair. “What about Booker? Will you tell me what you know about cupids?”

  “Absolutely. As much as I like Booker, I think it’s important for you to know what you’re dealing with since you seem to have been targeted by one of the fringe groups. Now, where should I begin?”

  “I don’t know. How much of the story is important?”

  “What do you already know?”

  “That cupids can affect moods and even make people act out of character. I think I might be immune. Other people claim Booker smells like pie and cookies, but I don’t smell a thing when I’m around him.”

  “Really?” Wesley looked intrigued as he shifted in his chair. “Your grandmother was mostly immune to cupids, too. There were occasions — when she was fighting off an illness or just waking up — when she could fall under Booker’s spell. Once they realized it was happening, they turned it into a game.”