by Amy Boyles
Judd glanced at me, and then he looked at his hand. He uncurled his fingers and smiled before plunging to his death.
TWENTY
“So Judd was an elf all along,” I said to Roman once he’d woken up.
He rubbed a knot on the back of his head. “Yeah, appears so. He’d left his woodland friends and had taken over here. From what I can gather in a few journals he kept, he was always searching for a way to prove he was a good elf, a real elf worth his salt, so to speak.”
I brushed a finger over my bottom lip. “Then he saw the needle and instantly recognized it for what it was.”
Roman grunted as he pulled his hair back into a ponytail.
“Is it still tender?” I said.
He nodded. “It’ll be okay.”
“Want a cold compress? That’s what I’ve seen them do in the movies for people with knots. Or do you think we should put a steak on your head?”
He chuckled. “A steak is for shiners, black eyes. I really want to keep as much hair out of any steaks as possible.”
I shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
We stared at each other for a moment. The pause was full and bloated between us.
“Dylan,” Reid said, barging into the room. “You’re alive!”
Sera, Grandma Hazel, Milly and Nan followed after her. They waddled in, sticks and leaves stuck in their hair. But no broken bones, which was a relief.
“What happened to y’all?” I said.
“We got stuck in the forest,” Nan said. “I had to slash us out.” She lifted her sword. “Thank goodness I brought this fine piece of weaponry along. I don’t know what we would’ve done without it.”
I frowned, confused. “You got stuck? How?”
Grandma wiggled her fingers over her mouth. “Just a little magical spell gone wrong. Nothing serious.”
“So that’s why you didn’t come find me. Wyrm brought us here to Judd’s room. I kept thinking someone would barge in, someone would save me, but the only person who figured out what was going on was Roman. Thank goodness.”
“Yeah,” Reid said, “thank goodness.”
“Judd admitted to using Wyrm. He saw the needle and recognized it,” I said.
Grandma shook her head. “And now he’s gone. It’s better for all of us. I’d hate for someone to see the needle again and try to use it for diabolical purposes.”
“Yeah,” I said. “But the one thing I can’t figure out is that Roman and I saw someone put a picture of me beneath a cedar tree last night. I don’t think it was Judd.”
Milly’s mouth tightened. “It was me, toots.”
My eyes flared wide. “You? Why?”
She rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t anything malicious—just a spell to bring you happiness. I want to make sure my granddaughters are content people.”
“Oh, okay,” I said. “But you don’t have to do that anymore. I can find my own happiness.”
“Whatever you say,” Milly said.
Reid shook out a clump of burgundy curls. “Well, since I’m covered in mud, I’m going to shower, and then I’m ready to blow this joint. What do y’all say?”
My family nodded. They grumbled as they walked off, retreating down the stairs.
The mansion was pretty much empty. The guests had left as they were clearing Judd’s body from the pavement.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Claire and Rose Wood. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Roman.
“Hey, y’all,” I said, coming up.
Rose visibly stiffened, and I noticed that Claire wasn’t wearing the veil anymore. Her skin was clear, and it looked beautiful.
“You look great,” I said to her.
Claire beamed. “Thank you. It just vanished. Overnight. Like magic.”
I smiled. “That’s wonderful. I know you’re thrilled.”
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” she said. “Dylan, I want to thank you for all your help here, and I’m so sorry that man tried to hurt you.”
I dismissed her with a wave. “Oh, it’s fine. No biggie. Wouldn’t be the first time.” Mother and daughter exchanged nervous glances. “I mean,” I said. “It’s okay. I’m all right. Anyway, Rose, I wanted to apologize for my family once again. Sometimes they get some harebrained ideas and go with them.”
Rose nodded. “It’s okay. I understand. Sorry I tried to have you kicked out.”
I twisted a strand of hair around my finger. “It’s all good. No biggie. But are you going to reschedule the wedding?”
Rose shook her head. “No, it seems I’ve found out some things about Dave that aren’t going to work for me. We’re calling it quits.”
I cocked a brow. “Oh?”
She nodded. “Yeah, it’s for the best.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
Claire gave me a hug. “Take care of yourself, Dylan.”
I hugged Rose. “Y’all do the same.”
With that, they left. I walked back to Roman. My feet fell heavily on the tile floor. It sounded hollow, empty, as if I was the only person in the big, vacant mansion. For a moment I felt all alone. I brought my hands behind my neck and unclasped the necklace. I let the diamond ring slip from the chain into my palm.
I’d learned a lot in the past few days—a lot about family, about friendship and about love. I’d learned that the changes are going to come in life whether you want them to or not, and you’ve got to be prepared and ready at bat. If you don’t embrace them, you often make life a lot more difficult on yourself.
“Everything okay?” Roman said when I returned.
I smiled. I could feel the curve of my lips as they tilted upward. “Everything’s great.”
Roman relaxed back into his chair. “You know, I could use a nap.”
I squeezed my fingers together. “The medic said you were this close to getting a concussion. No naps.”
He rose. Roman wrapped his arms around me. “Then how about you just lay beside me, then?”
I giggled. “You are something else.”
“That’s why you love me.”
I nodded. “That is true.”
I raised my hand and wiggled my fingers. His brow narrowed, and then a huge smile splashed across his face. The corners of his eyes crinkled, and he hooted in laughter. He picked me up and twirled me around twice before setting me on the floor.
He brushed his lips against mine and squeezed me tightly to him. Roman released me and held my hand to the light. The diamond sparkled as it caught the sunlight, seeming to brighten the ring finger of my left hand.
“So it’s a yes?” he said.
I grinned. “Yes,” I said breathlessly, “I’ll marry you.”
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THANK Y’ALL
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Don’t miss FRIED GREEN WITCH, Bless Your Witch Book Eight, releasing January 17, 2018. Get your copy HERE.
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Also by Amy Boyles
BLESS YOUR WITCH SERIES
SCARED WITCHLESS
KISS MY WITCH
QUEEN WITCH
QUIT YOUR WITCHIN'
FOR WITCH'S SAKE
DON'T GIVE A WITCH
* * *
SOUTHERN SINGLE MOM PARANORMAL MYSTERIES
The Witch’s Handbook to Hunting Vampires
The Witch’s Handbook to Catching Werewolves
The Witch’s Handbook to Trapping Demons
About the Author
Amy Boyles grew up reading J
udy Blume and Christopher Pike. Somehow, the combination of coming of age books and teenage murder mysteries made her want to be a writer. After graduating college at DePauw University, she spent some time living in Chicago, Louisville, and New York before settling back in the South. Now, she spends her time chasing two toddlers while trying to stir up trouble in Silver Springs, Alabama, the fictional town where Dylan Apel and her sisters are trying to master witchcraft, tame their crazy relatives, and juggle their love lives. She loves to hear from readers! You can email her at [email protected].
She can be found here:
www.amyboylesauthor.com
[email protected]
