by Lauren Quick
“Since I start next week, I want to get my new office up and running as soon as possible,” Derek said. A crash sounded from inside the house. “Sounds like I better go. Good luck today.” He raced inside.
Clover cringed but shook her head with a smile. Things were about to get a lot more interesting around her house. She took Marigold with her through the old oak portal, pedaled over to Main Street, and parked her bike outside of The Charmery. Juniper rented an apartment over the shop and Clover wanted her to be one of the first witches she told, and since she was in close proximity to Lavender’s shop, Clover could tell both of them at once.
The closed sign hung in the window, but Lavender waved her in. When Clover pushed open the door, the smell of shortcake made her mouth water. “Is this still The Charmery or have I stumbled into Nocturnes?” she asked.
Lavender and Juniper were stationed on stools, having a chat-fest while shoveling strawberry shortcake into their mouths.
“It’s still a charm shop, but that might have to change. The way these babies taste, I’m thinking of opening a shortcake shop, instead,” Lavender said with a blob of whipped cream on her chin.
After locking the door behind her, Clover pulled up a stool and dove into the piece of shortcake that Juniper passed her. A few days earlier, Clover had sent a note asking the two witches to meet with her that morning.
“How are things at the station?” Clover asked Juniper.
“Moving along well. We got the tests back from the healer’s ward and it turns out that the Winters were suffering from low levels of poisoning. It explains their irrational and strange behavior.”
Lavender smacked her lips and took a long pull on a bottle of homemade lemonade. “I don’t wish poisoning on anyone, but it’s a relief. The Winters were always so kind and friendly. I’m glad this helps to explain why they were acting so harshly towards everyone, especially you, Clover.”
“I agree, but they were brutal. It still stings,” Clover said.
“Grady will have to do some time for kidnapping Clover, but technically his wife didn’t break the law, so there are no consequences to being a nasty witch,” Juniper said.
“I received a letter from them the other day, wanting to apologize. They want to meet in person to explain what happened.” Clover took a bite of shortcake and swallowed. “I said yes, but only in the presence of the sheriff. I’m not ready to trust them yet. Poison or no poison.”
Juniper finished the rest of her lemonade. “I can tell you officially what happened. Felicity poisoned their crop with the help of good old Pete, who also pleaded guilty to pushing you into the labyrinth. He was working with Felicity the whole time and now occupies a cell down the hall from her.”
“Now that explains a lot,” Clover said, letting out a long exhale. “I’m just glad Felicity confessed to her crimes so there won’t be a trial.”
“She was a mess when they brought her in that night. She eventually confessed to everything, implicated Pete, and babbled on and on about seeing Oliver Yearling. She swore he was alive and spoke to her. Can you believe it?” Juniper shook her head. “The guilt must have gotten to her.”
“Well, that and she might have had a little help seeing her dead love,” Clover said. This was her cue to fill them in on her persuasion.
“What do you mean help?” Juniper asked.
Clover couldn’t hold it in any more. “Well, remember the illusions of the mischief makers and the fairy king and queen at my summer solstice party?”
Lavender smiled. “I sure do. They were great and so lifelike.”
“I created them and that’s not all I’ve been creating over the past years.” Clover shifted and let out a deep breath. “There’s something that I want to tell you both. I’ve been hiding a huge part of my life from the world and it’s time I came out and tell everyone.”
Concern welled in Lavender’s eyes. She grabbed Clover’s hand. “You can tell us anything. We’re here for you. You’re not sick like Oliver was, are you?”
“No, I’m fine. In fact I’m better than fine.” Might as well blurt it out, she thought. “I’m the word witch, Cassandra Reason. I write the Spellbinder series and have been keeping my persuasion a secret to almost everyone.” Her heart was hammering.
Juniper snorted, arms crossed over her chest, a smile forming on her lips.
“But I’ve been to her signings,” Lavender said, her face twisted in confusion.
Clover swallowed, her throat dry. “Vivi made me a potion to alter my appearance. It’s really me under the glamor.”
Clover filled them in on more of the details and Lavender’s mouth gaped in utter shock. A few tears of joy and shock sprang from her eyes, but she was mostly thrilled. Cassandra Reason was one of her favorite writers, and she couldn’t help but feel a little peeved that Clover had been a loyal customer for years and never told her. It was something Clover knew she’d have to face.
“I’m sorry. I really am. I just hope you’ll understand in time why I did it and why I’m telling everyone now. Oliver’s death forced Derek and me to do things we shouldn’t have done, and I don’t want us to be in the situation ever again.”
Juniper didn’t feel betrayed at all. In fact she was happy Clover finally came clean and admitted to the secret that Juniper knew she was keeping. In fact, she didn’t know what the big deal was, seeing as she wasn’t the bookworm type. “What are you going to do now?”
“Next, I’m going to tell Bear over at Goodspells and then I’ll let the news travel from there. I was thinking of doing an interview with Witch World Daily in a few days. I just hope Bear doesn’t kill me for not telling him sooner.” Clover hopped off her stool.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Juniper asked with a grin. “For protection.”
“No, I can handle it.”
“He’ll be fine. Bear isn’t the sentimental type like me. He’ll be very proud of you,” Lavender said and gave her a big hug.
“I hope so.”
Clover headed out into the warm summer morning. She had a few minutes to kill before Bear’s shop opened and sat on a bench.
That’s when she spotted Bradley Adams coming out of the tavern from his morning delivery run. They eyed each other warily until he started to walk her way. Her pulse jumped. The last time they spoke, Clover had gotten the impression he was angry with her and she’d been meaning to rectify that.
“Hello, Bradley.” Butterflies swarmed in her stomach.
“Hope you don’t mind my interrupting you. I’ve got a few things I wanted to get off my chest,” he said, shoving his hands into his pocket and rocking back on his heels.
“Sure. Why don’t you have a seat?” Clover patted the spot on the bench next to her. “What’s on your mind?”
He sunk down onto the bench. “I wanted to apologize about what happened with Belinda and the swarm of bees. I had no idea she would go that far.” He glanced sheepishly at her.
“Oh, that. It’s not your fault. Belinda was under the impression I was interested in you romantically. I didn’t realize you two were dating.”
“We’re not. That’s the problem,” Bradley said. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer, but after what she did with the bees, I told her we couldn’t be friends. She was really angry, but I had to cut off all contact with her.”
“That’s good…I mean for you…and well, she had a really bad temper.” Clover grinned in spite of herself. Excitement filled her. She was actually a little relieved. “I thought you were angry with me. I want you to know I didn’t try and turn the police against you. I was stuck in the middle of the murder investigation and was doing the best I could. Even when I saw the amber glass on my porch, I knew you could never practice black magic. I never suspected you.”
“I figured that out after Felicity w
as locked up and reports came out about what she’d done in Witch World Daily. She tried to frame me. You and the police didn’t know that. The past few weeks were a confusing time for me, especially with Gwen Winters reminding me about my sister’s troubles with the labyrinth. But she was playing me the whole time.”
“That must have been hard. Gwen was playing a lot of us. But I’m glad you understand.”
Bradley shifted his weight. “I have an embarrassing confession.”
“What’s that?” Clover asked.
“I have your scarf. The one you left at the bar. You dropped it and I picked it up. I wasn’t going to keep it. I swear. I thought I would send you a note and see if you wanted to get together sometime for coffee and then I could return it to you.”
“I see.” Her heart raced. “That’s okay.”
“So you don’t think I’m a creep?”
“No, not at all.” She smiled. Sweet and adorable, but definitely not a creep.
“Good. That’s a relief. So would you be interested in getting together sometime soon? We could go to dinner or have coffee or a beer.”
Clover’s face flushed. “Coffee sounds great. It’s a date.”
Bear unlocked the door to Goodspells Grimoire and waved at Clover. “I’ve got an important meeting with Bear. I’ll see you soon.” It was turning out to be an interesting day.
Clover ducked inside the warm and inviting bookshop, one of her sanctuaries from the world, and gave the affable bookstore owner a big hug.
“I’ve got something important to tell you. Something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.” She took a deep breath and steadied her nerves.
“I know, dear,” he said as a wide grin spread across his bearded face. “I was wondering when you were going to finally tell me about your amazing persuasion. I figured you would tell me when you were ready.” He ambled over and slid a Cassandra Reason book off the shelf and held it up with a wiggle. “Look familiar?”
Her eyes widened. “You’ve known all along.”
“Of course, sweet witch. My business is books. I know everything about them and I can always see the ending coming.” The kind demeanor of her good friend instantly settled her nerves.
The two let out raucous cackles and relief washed over her. She should have known that Bear was all the wiser to her magic.
“Now you just have to worry about me bugging you for you next novel. I want to be the first one to get a copy,” he said.
“That I can arrange.”
Afterword
Thank you for purchasing this novel. I really appreciate it. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review. Also, if you’re interested, check out my Facebook page for the latest news on the Mayhem sisters.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks once again to friend and editor extraordinaire Elizabeth Buck for helping make the book as nice and polished as possible. I couldn’t have done this without her.
About the author
Since she was a little girl, Lauren Quick has been a believer in the unbelievable. She loves all things fantasy from fables and fairy tales to high fantasy and urban paranormal and everything in between, especially if witches are involved. “The more magic, the better” is her motto, and if a mystery is involved, then she’s all in. She lives in Maryland with her family and familiar cat, Sadie, that has so far shown no magical tendencies, but there’s always hope. For more visit her website at www.laurenquick.com.
Also by this Author
The Mayhem Sisters
Fly By Midnight, Book 2
Midsummer Night’s Mayhem, Book 3
