by Amy Boyles
“First of all, either a werewolf would be killed by the vampire, or the vampire would be killed by a werewolf; that’s number one. The second is, what if the vampire was male and he took advantage of Johnny’s niece? What if they had a child? The creature would be some sort of vampire and werewolf hybrid. An abomination, according to both groups of creatures.”
“Sounds a lot like that Underworld movie.”
Donovan leaned forward and spoke in a dark voice. “The difference is that’s fiction and this is reality. If such a creature existed, it would be hunted to extinction on both sides. In fact, witches might even take up a wand against the innocent victim of the union.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Think of the unmatched strength such an animal would have. It could create vampires, but it would also be feral as a wolf. The creature would be nearly unstoppable.”
I paused. “Axel is nearly unstoppable, and he’s not part vampire.”
Donovan’s mouth curled into a smile. “So you’ve met him.”
My face heated as if I’d stuck it in front of a roaring fire. “Yes, you could say that.”
He gave me a nod of understanding. “Axel is part wizard and part werewolf. He’s strong, there’s no doubt about it, but he can’t create vampires.”
“So are vampires made the way movies portray it?”
He took a long pull of his water before setting it down. “There are two ways to become a vampire. The first is that a human is bitten and then changes. The second way is when a child is born to two vampires. The offspring will have the strength and blood of the creatures coursing through their veins, but there’s generally a ritual that occurs to actual turn the person into a blood-sucking creature. A hybrid of werewolf and vampire could create new vampires—creatures of the undead, at the snap of its fingers. I don’t know if that’s what happened between Johnny’s niece and the bat. Problem is, no one does.”
“Because she’s disappeared.”
“Right.”
“And you’re on the run because of it?” I said.
He deflated into his chair. “Yes. Because I didn’t vet the creature. But how was I supposed to know?”
I cracked my knuckles. “Okay. Go back. I still don’t understand what happened that puts this blame on you. The niece could’ve disappeared for a thousand reasons.”
“Because,” he said slowly, “from what my sources told me, someone went to check on the niece one morning after she hadn’t come down for breakfast. What they found was enough.”
“And that was?” Good grief, couldn’t he just come out and tell me? My impatience would be worn threadbare by the time Donovan spewed what had happened.
“What was found were two small trails of blood on her pillow. They were small, and not far apart. The bites were deemed to have come from a bat based on the width. Now Johnny, being a nice guy, came to me and explained what had to happen next.”
“Which was?”
Donovan scratched his thinning hair. “He said since I had sold the vampire bat, I was directly to blame. However, I could make it up one way.”
“Which was?”
“I had to find the bat myself and kill it.”
“What?”
He nodded, embarrassed. “Those were the terms. I had to find it, kill it and return Princess to Johnny.”
“Princess?”
“That’s her name—the niece.”
“You’re kidding.”
He shook his head.
“And if you don’t?”
Donovan cringed. “Let’s just say it won’t end well for me.”
I rubbed my temples. “This whole thing is just awful. It wasn’t your fault the von Trapp family or whatever sold you tainted goods.”
“Tell the werewolves that.”
I cringed. “I’m guessing they’re not the easiest to reason with.”
“Oh, they’re easy to reason with if you’re another werewolf or if you’ve got something they need.”
“That puts you on the outs.”
“Tell me about it.”
I threaded my fingers through my hair. “So what’d you do?”
Donovan shrugged. It was done in defeat, as if his course had been laid out for him years before. “I did the only thing I could when I realized I’d never be able to track down the vampire bat.”
“What’s that?”
“Faked my own death and went into hiding. At the same time I knew you were coming of age, so I shipped a key to you. I figured the werewolf mafia wouldn’t bother you since you didn’t know anything about the transaction.”
I tapped my fingers on the desk. “But why are you here now? Why come back from the grave? Why not just stay hidden?”
The look on his face changed dramatically. Donovan appeared to be a man with good intentions who probably let most things run off his back like melted butter. Oh, melted butter. Y’all ever tried that deep-fried butter? I haven’t, but boy, it suddenly sounded really good.
Right on cue, my stomach growled.
Apparently I needed some lunch before I bumped into a big tub of Country Crock and ate the entire contents with nothing but a spoon. Then I’d have to undo the button that cinched my jeans because I’d clearly gain ten pounds in one sitting.
Donovan cleared his throat. I must’ve gotten a glazed look in my eyes from thinking about food. That’ll do it every time.
“I would have remained hidden, but the thing is, Johnny discovered I’m alive.”
“Oh, that’s not good.”
He smoothed a palm over his thinning hair. “No, it’s not. I guess Johnny’s got the bright idea that if I’m alive, then you might know where I am—seeing as how you inherited the shop from me.”
I shook my head so violently I almost fell out of the chair. “Me? I didn’t even know you were alive until now.”
He patted the air. “I know. I came to you first, to make sure you’re safe. The next place I’m headed is to find Johnny, let him know you’re innocent.”
I exhaled a huge sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.” Fear constricted my throat. I inhaled a staggering breath. “But if you go to Johnny and tell him that I’m innocent, he’s going to hurt you, right?”
Donovan nodded sadly. “That’s the fear. But what am I supposed to do? I can’t let my great-niece be harmed for my mistakes.”
That was true. We all had to go with whatever lemons life threw at us. “How did Johnny find out you’re alive?”
Donovan slid his hands down his thighs. “Apparently I went out for Mexican food in the wrong town, had too many margaritas and started talking about how I’d outsmarted the mob by faking my own death.”
My jaw dropped. “That was so not smart of you.”
“I know,” he said, hanging his head in embarrassment. “I should’ve stayed away from the tequila. It gets me every time.”
I smirked. “I understand that. I’ve known people who’ve made pacts with God that they’d never drink tequila again as long as they lived to see another day.”
Donovan laughed. “I don’t get that drunk.”
I shot him a dark look.
He coughed into his hand. “Well, maybe I do. But anyway, I came to tell you that I’m going to clear everything up with Johnny, that there’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“We won’t let you go to Johnny alone. The more people around, the less likely he is to off you.”
Donovan nodded. “Good point.”
I gave my uncle a wide smile. “Honestly I’m just so glad you’re alive. Now you can teach me all about these animals. There’s stuff I know, sure. But there’s so much more you can show me. I’d love to have time with the master.”
Donovan blushed. “I wouldn’t call myself a master.”
I tipped my head. “Are you kidding? According to Axel, you’re legendary.”
“Well,” he said bashfully, “maybe I’ve matched a hedgehog or two with an evil witch in the North Pole.”
“What? An evil witch in the North
Pole?”
He scratched his head. “Yeah. It’s a story.”
The welcome bell tinkled above the front the door, announcing a customer’s arrival.
I rose. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back. Maybe they won’t stay too long.”
Donovan dismissed me with a wave. “There’s no rush. Now that I’m back in Magnolia Cove, I already feel safer. No rush,” he said again, shooting me a warm smile.
I edged past the desk and out into the front room. Milling about the animals stood a young man who looked to be in his early twenties. I’d never seen him before. He had yellow eyes, a kind smile and golden hair that he’d tied back with a leather thong. He wore a suit that nearly shimmered. The material looked like it had been scooped out of a pearl. He shot me a wide, confident smile.
“Morning,” I said. “What can I do for you?”
The man pointed to the animals. “I’m passing through and thought I’d stop in. Never been in a familiar shop before, and certainly never in one as famous as this.”
I grinned. “I don’t know if this store is famous, but we do our best to match familiars with witches and wizards. Do you have one?”
“A familiar? Me? Nah,” he said, scrubbing a hand down his neck. “I’m the sort of wizard who works alone.”
I eased my shoulder against a wall. “Let me know if I can help you with anything.”
“Thank you.” He pointed outside. “Lots of folks milling about out there.”
I glanced out the window and noticed the man’s car. It had to be his car because it was sporty, silver and very foreign. So foreign I had no idea who the maker was. Past the flashy vehicle I noticed Sheriff Garrick Young directing other police officers.
The stranger scratched his chin. “There something special going on?”
I frowned. “Not that I know of.”
But from the way Garrick was pointing, it looked like something very special was going on. But right now it didn’t concern me. What did was Donovan.
I smiled. “I’ll be in back if you need help with anything.”
He nodded.
I returned to the office, where, to be honest, I half expected Donovan to have disappeared. Don’t ask me why I had such an irrational thought. I think it was because he’d appeared from the grave and part of me believed that he wouldn’t stick around forever.
But lo and behold, he sat exactly where I’d left him. The bell tinkled again, signaling that the stranger had left.
A wave of relief filled me. Not because the customer was gone, but because Donovan was here. Here. He wasn’t really dead.
“I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Really?” he said.
I clicked my tongue. “Yep. Once this is all cleared up, I’m sure the town will want to throw a party in your honor.”
He rubbed his forehead. “No, no. I don’t need attention like that. At least, not until this whole thing with Johnny is figured out.”
A flutter of panic flitted in my chest. “But how will you prove your innocence? That you didn’t know the truth about the vampire bat?”
He scratched his head. “I need to meet with the Sensational Singers, get them to admit that what they sold me was tainted goods. A vampire cursed to be a bat shouldn’t be able to bite a human. Something was wrong with the spell placed on the creature.”
“Do you know where they are?”
“They’re supposed to be on their way here, to Magnolia Cove.”
My eyes flared with surprise. “They are?”
“Yeah, they are. They can’t get in since they’re not technically witches. I think they’re some sort of relations to fairies. They promised to meet me outside of town when they arrived.”
“Do they know what you want?”
He grimaced. “Not exactly. If they knew I needed them to talk to a member of the werewolf mafia, it wouldn’t go over well.”
I crossed and sat back at the desk. “Why? Because they’re afraid of them?”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
The thought of facing off against the werewolf mafia made vomit creep up the back of my throat, so that would be a yes. “Most definitely. Okay, then. What’s the plan? I know you’re here, but I’m the only person who does.”
“And that’s the way we need to keep things,” Donovan said. “The fewer people who know about me, the better, because if word gets out to Johnny before I have a confession from the Sensational Singers, I’m dead meat.”
I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one finds out about you.”
A snap, crackle and pop sounded from the front of the store. I rose, uncertain what I had heard.
A short, squat body that was mostly boobs filled the hallway. Betty Craple, my grandmother and Donovan’s sister, entered.
She pulled a corncob pipe from her mouth and sized up Donovan. “It’s too late. The whole town already knows you’re here. And as far as I can tell, they’re on their way to greet you.”
THREE
My jaw fell. “How does the entire town already know about Donovan?”
Betty strode in wearing a bright orange jumpsuit with racing stripes zipping down the sides. Even though I was tempted to comment on how glaring the color was, under the circumstances I kept my mouth shut.
Betty shot a line of fire from her finger into the pipe. Smoke immediately filled the room.
“There’s no smoking in here,” I said.
Donovan waved me away. “I told her for years. She never listened.”
Betty pulled the pipe from her mouth and glared at him. “You son of a gun. Faking your own death. I knew there was something smelly about the whole thing, and it wasn’t that decaying-scent spell you cast on yourself.”
“I’m sorry, Betty.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it.”
“How did you know he was here?” I repeated.
“Some sort of magic spell,” Betty said. “Soon as your feet touched the store, I had the strangest sensation that you were back, Donovan.”
Donovan rubbed his tired-looking face. “A spell. Johnny had a spell cast on the town.”
“What kind of spell?” I said.
He rubbed his face. “A spell that would alert him if I ever entered Magnolia Cove again. He must’ve gotten a hair off me at some point to have a wizard or witch work such magic.”
Betty snorted. “Not a very good spellcaster since it let the entire town know that you’re back. It’s one thing to cast magic that will alert one person, quite another to announce it to an entire town.”
“Yeah,” Donovan said, “that’s a problem.”
My brain raced into damage-control mode. “Okay. What can we do? Can we hide you? Tell people it was a mistake? Putting you out in the open exposes you. If Johnny Utah wants to hurt you, you’ll become an easy target.”
Betty exhaled a plume of smoke. “What’s this? Who’s Johnny Utah?”
Donovan rubbed his face. “Let me explain.”
I shook my head. “No time. Let me sum up—Johnny Utah is werewolf mafia hell-bent on either killing Donovan or making him kill a vampire bat that was supposed to stay a vampire bat but apparently sucked on some chick named Princess and may or may not have turned her into a Princess Vampire Werewolf.”
I inhaled a deep gulp of air. “Got it?”
Betty nodded. “Got it.” She turned to Donovan. “In that case, let’s see if we can sneak you out the back door. I won’t work magic on you. That may send another signal to Johnny.”
“How?” I said.
“Because it may bounce off Donovan and register like a satellite ping to the witch who’s tracking him.”
Realization hit me. “So it’ll make Donovan easier to find.”
“Right,” she said, taking Donovan’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I reached the hall right as the back and front doors slammed open. A wave of folks streamed in.
Betty froze. Her body went all popsicle and became stiffer th
an a wooden board.
“Donovan,” someone called out.
“We heard you’re here,” said someone else.
“We can’t believe it,” came another voice.
Betty shot my uncle a look filled with fear. “Quick,” she whispered, “hide.”
But it wasn’t done quickly enough. Suddenly, what appeared to be the entire town flooded into the cramped office. Folks I’d never seen before spilled into the room, all hugging and kissing Donovan.
I sank a shoulder onto the wall. “Well,” I said to Betty, “looks like the cat’s out of the bag, just like you said it was.”
Eventually we were able to get the throng of folks away from Donovan, but not before the rest of town discovered that my uncle had come back from the grave.
I sat on the porch swing at Betty’s house, taking a minute to enjoy simply being alone. After having a gazillion people swarm me in my own store, I had felt overwhelmed. My nerves were fried, to say the least.
A car squealed to a stop in front of the house. I glanced up to see the cherry red Mustang come to rubber-burning stop.
The engine died, the door flew open and Axel Reign filled my line of sight.
His blue eyes speared my heart to my spine. I inhaled a sharp breath and watched as he strode toward the house.
Every step he took oozed animal sexuality in a way that electrified the air and caused every hair on my body to whip to attention.
“Hey,” he said in a husky voice.
“Hey yourself.”
He studied me as if trying to read my mind. I wasn’t sure if he could or not but I sure as heck couldn’t read his. The very air around him seemed to solidify and contract with a primal energy that made me salivate.
“I hear Donovan’s back,” he said.
“You want to see him?” It was more a challenge than anything else. Did he want to spend time with me or see my supposed-to-be-deceased uncle?
“I like laying eyes on you,” he said.
“Then lay on.”
He paused. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I mean, you can look, for goodness sake. Are you here to see me or Donovan?”
His mouth quirked into a smile so delicious I wanted to lick it. “How about both?”
