To Spell With It

by Amanda M. Lee

  I was dying to hear this. “And how is that?”

  “Just ... trust me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  That was easier said than done because I was the one wandering around unprotected in my sleep. Still, he’d never let me down. I very much doubted he was going to start now. “Sure. I trust you. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

  WHAT HE HAD was a crabby siren with an attitude. Aurora King, her long auburn hair damp from the water, stalked around the lighthouse making ridiculous sniffing noises as she proceeded. Galen had called her while I was in the shower. I could hear them arguing — loud and long — until she finally acquiesced and agreed to stop in at the lighthouse. It had been days since I’d seen her. In fact, now that I thought about it, she’d been scarce since the cupid convention came to the island.

  “You definitely had something here,” Aurora announced once we’d circled back to the window beneath my bedroom. “My guess is a cupid, but I can’t be sure because they all smell different. Whoever it was spent a lot of time right here.”

  “Can you tell who it was?” Galen asked. He was somber as he watched the siren work.

  “I’m not a drug-sniffing dog or anything,” she reminded him. “I have no idea who it was. I don’t think it was Booker. He has a distinctive smell and he’s careful about reining in his pheromones.”

  I was utterly confused. “Nobody thinks it’s Booker.” I turned to Galen for confirmation. “Right? We don’t think it’s Booker.”

  “I’m doubtful it’s Booker,” he clarified, his expression telling me he was choosing his words carefully. “I just want to rule him out. It will be easier for everybody once I do.”

  He was lying ... and I didn’t like it. “Booker would never hurt me.” I was sure of it. “He had plenty of chances before this. I can’t believe you think it’s him.”

  Galen extended a warning finger. “I didn’t say I believe it’s him. Don’t put words in my mouth. I trust Booker ... as much as I trust anybody other than you. I trust you implicitly.”

  I shot him a dirty look. That wouldn’t placate me. “Booker would not hurt me.”

  Galen threw up his hands in defeat. “I don’t think it’s Booker. I’ve told you that multiple times now. It’s not Booker. That doesn’t change the fact that I have to rule him out. It’ll be worse for us if I don’t.”

  “He’s telling the truth,” Aurora interjected, hunkering down to study a patch of ground behind some sea grass. “Cupids are a funky bunch. Why do you think I’ve been laying low? I want nothing to do with them.”

  “You’ve been laying low because if you catch a whiff of one of them you’ll want everything to do with him,” Galen shot back. “Don’t confuse her with half-truths. She’s still trying to learn about all the intricacies of paranormal relationships.”

  Aurora pinned him with a withering look. “Thank you for spreading my private business all over the beach. I’m not the only one who has a bad cupid experience in her past. I don’t suppose you remember Garnet Redfern?”

  Galen’s cheeks turned a fiery shade of red. “And thank you for bringing that up,” he muttered under his breath.

  “I don’t understand.” I was intrigued, but confused. “Who is Garnet Redfern?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Galen offered up a dismissive wave. “Aurora is just trying to cause trouble. She’s good at it.”

  “I am good at it,” Aurora agreed, amusement sparking in the depths of her eyes. “But that’s neither here nor there. Galen and I both have experience with cupids and we’re very careful around them.”

  I needed a translation. “Meaning?”

  “Sirens are especially susceptible to cupids if they turn on the charm,” Galen volunteered. “The magic — or whatever you want to call it — wears off fast, though. Once the insta-lust is gone, all that’s left is two people who want to rip each other’s hair out. There’s a reason we are warned against siren-cupid relationships.”

  “Because they turn volatile?”

  “Exactly.”

  I folded my arms over my chest. “What about you? You’re not a siren. It sounds like this Garnet person was a cupid. What happened between you and her?”

  Galen lowered his gaze. “It doesn’t really matter. We should focus on the problem at hand.”

  “Oh, let it go.” Aurora delivered a sharp elbow to his stomach and then focused on me. “Galen met Garnet when he first started as sheriff. She was here visiting and caught his attention on the beach.

  “They had a torrid affair,” she continued, relishing the story. “They were all over each other for a week straight. That’s usually how long a cupid can infatuate a person before holes start showing in the relationship. That’s exactly what happened to Galen and Garnet ... and when the holes showed, they were big enough to drive a Mack truck through.”

  “She’s not wrong,” Galen grumbled. “We shouldn’t be talking about this. It’s rude. Hadley doesn’t want to hear about a former girlfriend.”

  “Are you crazy?” I was incredulous. “That was long before I was part of your life. I’m not jealous. If you dated her while you were dating me I would have something to complain about. It’s not as if you were betraying me or anything.”

  Galen scowled. “I still don’t think you need to hear the story.”

  “And I think you should stuff it.” I pressed a finger against his lips and focused on Aurora. “Tell me what happened with Garnet.”

  “She used to make Galen wait on her, deliver her drinks and rub her feet.” Aurora’s eyes lit with mischief. “It didn’t last long. Once Galen woke from the pheromones, he realized what was happening and completely melted down. He called her out in front of hundreds of people on the beach and she tore off, completely humiliated and furious.”

  I felt a bit let down. “That’s it? Nothing else happened?”

  “That’s it,” Galen confirmed. “I told you it wasn’t a very good story.”

  “It was simply anticlimactic.” I flicked my eyes to where Aurora was studying the ground. “What about the cupid coming here? Can you tell me anything about him? Heck, I guess I don’t even know if it is a him.”

  “It’s a male.” Aurora wrinkled her nose and went back to sniffing. “He spent a long time under your window. If you think someone was trying to lure her out, Galen, that sounds about right to me.”

  “Is there any way to track him down?” Galen asked. “I can’t pick up a scent at all.”

  “No, although ... whoever this cupid is, he has an odd scent. It’s not like a normal cupid. It smells different.”

  “Different how?”

  “I don’t know how to describe it. Sweet, but also sour. It’s weird.”

  I rubbed my forehead, frustrated. “So, what do we do?”

  “We make sure all the windows are locked and that you’re safe while sleeping,” Galen replied without hesitation. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promised and I meant it. You’ll be kept safe first and foremost. We’ll figure out what to do after that.”

  “Okay, but I won’t handle it well if you try to put me under house arrest. You know that, right?”

  “Oh, definitely. We’ll have to come up with a compromise.”

  That sounded like an interesting possibility. “Which one of us is going to compromise?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s find out.”

  11

  Eleven

  “Give me a kiss.”

  Galen grabbed the front of my shirt and planted a long kiss on my lips when I walked him to the door to say goodbye. He’d lingered over breakfast to the point he was making us both uncomfortable — his intense stare was much more fun when he wasn’t watching me like a bomb about to go off.

  My eyebrows flew up my forehead and I was considering putting up a token fight until his talented mouth got to work. Before I realized what was happening I was breathless and a bit flustered. He looked proud of himself when he pulled back.

  “What was that for?” I
asked.

  “I happen to be fond of you.”

  “Why really?” Something occurred to me. “You think this is the last time you’re going to see me.”

  His smile fell. “No ... and don’t say things like that.”

  “It’s true. You’re afraid I’m going to walk into the surf the second you leave and that will be it.”

  “If I thought that was a possibility I wouldn’t leave you. Exactly what kind of sheriff do you think I am? More importantly, what kind of boyfriend do you think I am?”

  He had a point. “You’re a great boyfriend.” I meant it. He was everything I could’ve ever dreamed. Sure, he snored sometimes, but nobody was perfect. He said I snored, too. I was pretty sure he was making that up. “It’s just ... you’re worried. I see it whenever you think I’m not looking.”

  “You shouldn’t be looking when I’m not ready for you to look.” He kissed the tip of my nose. There was trouble in his eyes. “You’ll be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you. More importantly, you won’t let anything happen to you. You’re strong ... and powerful ... and now you can make weird bubble shields. If someone comes around, I expect you to do that again.”

  The worry I felt rolling through him was painful. “I’ll be careful. I plan to stick close to the lighthouse today.”

  “Okay.” He forced a smile and leaned over to give me another kiss, his fingers gentle as they moved over the back of my head. “Why don’t you stay on the first floor and sit on the couch the entire day, just to be on the safe side?”

  That sounded like a surefire way to drive me insane. “Do you want me to go crazy?”

  “It’s preferable to the alternative.”

  That was true. “I promise to be careful.” I wrapped my fingers around his wrists and gave them a squeeze. “You have a job to do. You’re the one who should be careful. You’ll be more of a threat to whoever is doing this.”

  “Obviously whoever did this doesn’t feel the same. Either way, I do have to go. I’ll figure this out one way or another. I’ll be available by phone all day if you need me. If something happens and you feel as if you hear things or feel weird, I want you to promise you’ll call me.”

  If he were being bossy I would’ve argued. His fear was obvious, though, and I couldn’t torture him. “I’ll call you if I so much as stub my toe.”

  He looked amused. “Do that.” He graced me with another kiss, this one somehow sweeter. “Okay, I have to get going. I’ll bring dinner home. What do you want?”

  “Lobster and steak.” I was being funny, but he nodded without hesitation.

  “I’ll grab it from the hotel by the office. They won’t give me grief about packing lobster in a plastic bag.”

  “I was kidding. That’s way too expensive.”

  “It’s fine.” He rubbed his hands up and down my arms. The gesture was meant to be soothing, but it only served to put me on edge. “I’ll bring back extra rolls and dessert, too.” Another kiss. He was really packing on the affection. “I’ll text you throughout the day to make sure you’re okay. Make sure you text me back.”

  I nodded. “Okay. Now ... go to work.”

  “I’m going.” He cast a worried look over his shoulder as he reached his truck. “Be careful, Hadley. Be alert.”

  “I will. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

  TEN MINUTES AFTER HE LEFT, I was antsy. Now that I knew I couldn’t leave the lighthouse all I wanted to do was hit the town. Galen would have a meltdown if he heard reports about me speeding around the beach in my cart — and that seemed somehow torturous for no good reason — but I was already beginning to chafe under his rules.

  That’s when things got worse.

  “Hey.” Booker let himself into the lighthouse without knocking. He scanned the room until his eyes fell on me ... and then he broke into a wide grin. “How’s it going, super witch?”

  I frowned. “You can’t just let yourself into someone’s home. You’re supposed to knock.”

  “I’m sorry. Do you want me to go back outside and knock?”

  “It’s kind of ridiculous now.”

  “It is,” he agreed, moving around the coffee table and throwing himself on the couch next to me. “How are you feeling? I heard there was an incident last night. Actually ... I heard there were multiple incidents.”

  That’s when things slipped into place for me. “Galen called and asked you to serve as my babysitter.”

  “I think that’s a huge exaggeration.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  “Nope.” He smirked. “He’s a little worked up. He called this morning when you were in the shower. I told him it wouldn’t be a problem because I was looking for a reason to escape from my mother. Then he called again five minutes ago to make sure I planned to stick close. He’s a little ... whiny.”

  “He’s on edge,” I corrected, lightly slapping Booker’s knee. “He’s worried about me.”

  “He’s a big, gooey marshmallow where you’re concerned,” he agreed. “It’s kind of funny. It’s the sort of thing we would’ve teased each other about back in high school. I understand why he’s worried — and I happen to agree this isn’t a good thing — so I’m kind of turning into a whiner, too.”

  “He’s not a whiner. He just ... he was afraid last night. I saw it on his face when I woke up. There was real fear there. This is something he can’t fight.”

  Booker pursed his lips, thoughtful. “How much has he told you about cupids?”

  Now we were getting somewhere. “Not much. I asked him about this mind control thing you guys can supposedly do, but he didn’t have many answers.”

  “He wouldn’t. He’d only be up on the rumors. He’s not part of the inner circle.”

  “Are you?” I had my doubts. “The way people have been talking, you’re not considered part of the ‘in crowd’ of the cupid circle.”

  “I don’t want to be part of the ‘in crowd.’” He made a face that would’ve been comical under different circumstances. “If Aurora says that a cupid was outside the lighthouse last night, I have to believe her. She knows what she’s doing when it comes to tracking.”

  “You look as worried as Galen.” That only made my stomach flip harder. “What aren’t you guys telling me?”

  “We’re not keeping anything from you.” He was firm. “It’s just ... cupids are supposed to live by certain rules. We’re supposed to be above the follies of men.” His smile was snide. “That’s what cupids say, by the way. They pat themselves on the back and place themselves higher than all other species of paranormals. As for humans, they’re considered pets.”

  I felt sick to my stomach at the admission. “Pets?”

  “Like cats.” His eyes fired with unhappiness as he held my gaze. “Cupids like playing with their pets, but they’re still just animals.”

  I swallowed hard. I couldn’t remember ever seeing him this upset ... or cynical. He was generally a pretty “go with the flow” guy. “I think you should probably start at the beginning,” I said. “I need to catch up.”

  “There isn’t a beginning. Not really. Cupids held themselves separate from other paranormals for centuries. They played with emotions, enjoyed setting factions against each other for war, and essentially played games while others suffered.”

  “Wow. Tell me how you really feel.”

  “I really wish I wasn’t a cupid and could completely sever ties with my kind.”

  He wasn’t kidding. “I don’t think that’s a possibility, so why don’t you finish with the rest of the story?” I suggested.

  “Some paranormals are immune to cupids and eventually figured out what was going on.”

  “What sort of paranormals are immune? Shark shifters?”

  His lips quirked. “You need to let it go with the shark shifters.”

  “I can’t. I need to see one. I hear they’re like unicorns.”

  “Perhaps one day you’ll luck out.” He absently patted my hand and stared at the ceil
ing as he rested his feet on the coffee table. He appeared lost in thought. “Vampires are immune to cupids. Apparently they think cupids stink, too. That makes it easy for them to stay away. It’s actually kind of funny. That’s why I can’t attend funerals.”

  I thought about the ghoulish — and altogether creepy — funeral home director, who also happened to be a vampire. I’d met him only once, but he’d left a lasting impression. “That’s probably a good thing.”

  “Yeah. Pixies are immune to cupids, too. They’re from a different plane, though. It only makes sense that they wouldn’t fall in line and follow the rules our cupids set.”

  “I’ve never met a pixie.”

  “You will one day. They’re more common than you think.”

  “Anyone else?”

  He flicked his eyes to me, his expression unreadable. “Certain witches.”

  I frowned. “I’m obviously not immune to cupids,” I argued. “Galen found me in front of the window last night. He’s still messed up over it. That’s the only reason I agreed to stay close to the lighthouse and not get in trouble today. I don’t think his poor heart can take much more strife.”

  “Oh, you’re a big, gooey marshmallow, too.” He poked my side, hoping for a laugh. When he didn’t get one, he sighed. “You’re immune to me,” he pointed out. “We already tested that. You remember your friend Aisling? She was a reaper and fell all over herself even though she was with her husband. You’re at least partially immune to cupids.”

  “Then how do you explain last night?”

  “I have a few ideas.”

  “Oh, well, good. I love ideas.”

  He laughed at my exaggerated expression. “The first revolves around the cupid himself. He might not be a full-bred cupid. That would mean he only has partial powers. Cupids are influencers. It could be our cupid is focusing on one thing to influence and that he’s not very good at it.”

  “David Fox is dead. Your buddy Mark the cupid almost joined him. He has to be better than you’re giving him credit for.”

  “Or maybe he managed to make it work because the individuals he approached were weak of spirit. Mark is definitely a douche canoe. He’s always been a mealy-mouthed little ferret. I didn’t know David very well, but I never heard anything good about him.”