by Amy Boyles
I tried to calm myself, but it was no use. Frustrated and annoyed, I shouldered my purse and climbed out of the SUV. I marched across the parking lot, my head full of Dot’s antics.
Tension tight as a ukulele string built inside me. I brushed past the sliding doors, grabbed a cart and started weaving through the store. I barely noticed the whispers behind me.
Until I noticed them.
Every aisle I entered, there stood a housewife, gaping at me. I hurried as quickly as I could, grabbing a bag of corn flour, a giant turkey and a bottle of wine. I had a feeling it was about to be that kind of day.
I made it to the cashier. I piled my groceries on the belt. The checkout girl touched my goods as if they carried herpes that would jump on her lips, leading to an immediate and nasty cold sore.
I had my cash in hand, ready to pay, when a voice spoke behind me.
“You’re not welcome in this town.”
Missy Burke, who also worked at the preschool, stood with one arm crossed over the other.
“Missy,” I said, “shouldn’t you be screaming this from your car?”
Her lips curled into a sneer. “I’m just voicing what everyone else is too scared to say to your face. No one wants you here—you and your devil-worshipping ways.”
I crushed the bills in my fist. “I don’t worship the devil.”
In fact, I’d done things in the past to stop demons. But I couldn’t tell her that.
A pile of women circled around Missy. Some of them I recognized, some I didn’t.
“Get out of town,” Missy said. “That’s what we all want. We want you to leave and never come back.”
The words couldn’t have hit me any harder if they’d been a steel arrow to the heart. I threw my crumpled money at the cashier and grabbed my bags. I struggled with the turkey. My hold slipped, and the bird thundered onto the linoleum floor, plodding and rolling onto one frozen wing.
Red-faced and with heat rising to the tips of my ears, I scrambled to shove the bird back in the bag. The stupid plastic ripped, sending the bird spiraling to the floor again.
Missy and the flock of women giggled behind me. “Maybe Satan will help you,” she sneered.
“I’ll Satan you if you so much as say that one more time,” I snapped.
The women gasped as if I’d slapped them.
“May the Lord have mercy on your soul,” Missy said like a pious nun.
“Oh, shut it,” I said.
Since I couldn’t be any more humiliated, I clutched the bird to my chest and left.
No one had stood up for me. Not any of those women. For all they knew, I was a witch. I was evil incarnate, sent here to steal their children. Or worse, boil them up and eat them for breakfast.
Tears streamed down my face as I headed home. So much confusion whirled in my brain. I had taught their children and loved the kids at my school. I’d made friends with some of the moms and dads and always had their children’s best interests at heart.
I’d cared for them as if they were my own.
Now they were all turning on me. Every single person who I’d helped, or at least tried to, didn’t want me around anymore.
Well, that was fine by me. I didn’t need them; I didn’t need this town. I didn’t need anything. In fact, if it was a witch they wanted, then that’s what I’d give them.
Starting now.
ELEVEN
I barreled into my house and dropped the turkey in the sink.
Dot ran in. “Andie, I thought you were a robber, come to plunder our wares.”
I raised a hand. “I can’t right now.”
“What happened?” she said.
Gabby toddled in behind her. “Mommy!”
I gave my darling a hug, rubbing my cheek against her cotton-soft hair. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Mommy, I love you.”
My heart swelled. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”
Then she waddled out of the room, presumably to go play with one of her thousands of toys. Kidding. She didn’t have thousands, but it definitely seemed that way since I could never get her toy box shut.
Dot put on a kettle of water. “What happened?”
I sank onto chair, letting my forehead rest on the slick counter. “My life here is over. The town knows I’m a witch, and the supernaturals think I murdered one of their own. Well, you know what? If they want a witch, that’s what they’ll get.”
Vordrid sailed into the room. “Andie, I’m glad to know you’re finally embracing what you are, but I want you to think carefully about this.”
“Oh? You’re back from working with the traitor?” I said.
“You volunteered me,” Vordrid said.
I scoffed. “I know. Listen, I’m having a bad day.”
“Well, I know something that might make your day a bit better.”
I pushed off the counter. “What’s that? And unless it’s a massage, I’m not sure I want to hear it.”
Vordrid dropped down in front of me. “No. It’s better.”
“I doubt that,” I grumbled.
“I’ve done some testing of the sample taken from the victim.”
“And?”
“It had heavy traces of wolf’s bane.”
I pinched my brows together. “Wolf’s bane?”
“From the family aconitum. A highly poisonous plant. It can be used to kill werewolves the same as silver.”
I chewed on that for a minute. “Wolf’s bane. You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
I drummed my fingers on the tabletop. “So who would have access to that?”
Dot plumped her pink curls. “My guess is your new boyfriend, the angel who may or may not become immortal, may know.”
I leaned back in the chair. “I thought you liked Stone.”
Dot smiled. “I do like him. I’m only pointing out the obvious. That has nothing to do with whether I like him or not.”
“Whatever.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Stone. Can you come over?
He texted back almost immediately. I’ll be there in ten.
I remembered the hair from the lock and laid the plastic bag in front of Vordrid. “Someone’s breaking into businesses in the Red Brick district.”
“Think it’s related to the murder?”
I shrugged. “No clue, but I was able to get a sample left at the last scene. Can you analyze it?”
“Of course. I’ll take it into the lab now.” Vordrid magicked the baggie into the guest bathroom and followed behind.
Stone showed up a few minutes later. He flashed a bright smile that I matched with my feeble one. “You look like you’ve had a rough day.”
I crumpled onto the living room couch. “You don’t know the half of it.”
He wrapped me in his strong arms. I buried my nose in his chest and inhaled his heavenly scent.
Literally.
He kissed the top of my forehead. Warmth immediately spread through my body. I wasn’t sure if he did that intentionally or not, but I was beginning to feel better.
“That helped,” I said, sniffling. “Did you do that on purpose? So that I wouldn’t be so down?”
Stone cocked his head. “We angels have secret powers we’re not supposed to share. I’d tell you if I could, but then I’d have to make you mute.”
I quirked a brow. “Seriously?”
He grinned. “Of course not. But it doesn’t take an astrophysicist to know you’re upset.”
“My life’s kind of a mess.”
“So join the rest of humanity. What happened?”
I decided to spare him the awful part of how my world was falling apart and instead focus on what I could do.
“Know anybody who’s growing wolf’s bane in town?”
Stone picked up a handful of nuts from a display bowl and popped them in his mouth. “That’s a tall order. I just made friends with one of the ladies at the post office. I’ll see if she knows anyone growing a garden.”
“Now. Tell me what’s really bothering you.”
I confessed it all to him. Stone listened quietly. “You know, Andie. This might be a blessing in disguise.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You won’t have to hide anymore. Be who you are. Don’t let anyone keep you back. I know things at that restaurant last night were awkward, but once it settles down, that will change. People will forget, or they’ll stop caring. Go easy on yourself.”
I shook my head. “Stone, you don’t understand. This is a small town. If they don’t want me here, I’ll be run out. One way or another.”
He wrapped me up in a hug. “Not with me by your side, you won’t.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Stone kissed my forehead and left, promising to get right on the case of the wolf’s bane.
When it was half an hour before dusk, I got ready for my night with Dex. I was a witch, darn it, and I wasn’t about to let anyone push me around.
I retrieved The Witch’s Handbook from my closet and laid it on the bed. “Open,” I commanded.
A wind whipped through the room. My hair billowed and my clothes fluttered. The cover peeled back. The sound of the spine cracking filled the room. Pages fluttered, flipping back and forth. Lightning snaked from the book, sending a stream of power sparking to the ceiling.
I opened my palms, and the river of magic flooded into me. Oh, it felt so good. Energy sang and pulsed in every cell of my body.
“If they want a witch, that’s what they’re going to get.”
I snapped my fingers, and my regular clothes disappeared. In their place I wore lace-up thigh-high boots, black leggings, a silvery tunic shirt and a black cloak with a pocket, perfect for hiding the book.
For a moment I debated a pointy hat. I decided to forget about it. Instead I made sure the cloak had a hood that I could pull way, way down.
I also decided on a silver moon pendant. Just something to really add a little shine to the outfit, because in case you didn’t know, there were four things you wanted in an outfit—color, pattern, texture and shine.
You’re welcome.
I had hooked the crescent over my neck when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.”
I didn’t want Dex to start becoming friends with Gabby. Gabby, whom I’d also decided was going to start getting witch lessons from me.
Starting tomorrow.
I opened the door, and there stood Dex. I inhaled sharply at the sight before me. There he stood, lopsided grin on his face, his amber hair freshly washed. The thick waves covered his head and curled behind his ears. His blue eyes shone brightly against his skin. He wore a simple outfit of a white button-down, black jeans, dark boots. He’d topped it off with a streamlined jacket that hugged his body just enough so that I could tell he was built.
A spicy scent drifted off him and trickled up my nose.
“Right on time,” I said, ignoring the tightening in my body. “Let’s go.”
Dex led me to a black Corvette. He opened my door for me. I sank so far into the bucket seat that I kinda feared I wouldn’t be able to get back out. Dex had always had a thing for fast cars. He was responsible about it, but he liked to fly when there was no one around.
He slid onto the seat and flipped the ignition. The engine hummed quietly. He pulled out onto the street.
“Whew, is it just me or is the scent of anger strong in here?” he said.
I wedged my eyes to slits. “What?”
“You must be really mad,” he said quietly.
I bristled. “What makes you say that?”
He glanced over, flashing a smile. “You’re dressed like a witch.”
I crossed my arms. “Well, that’s what I am.”
“Yeah, but you never show off about it.”
“Let’s just say my day went from bad to worse.”
Dex rubbed his fingers over his straight jaw. I used to do that. Whenever I was worried about something, I’d rub his jawline and curl up beside him.
I looked away and stared out the window.
“Care to talk about it?” he said.
“Not particularly.”
We drove in silence until we reached a house on the outskirts of town. Large gothic-looking stone birds greeted us from posts on either side of the front gate. The old Victorian looked more like a castle than a home, with tall, towering spires on both sides, big windows and a large, arched front door made of iron and wood.
A low whistle escaped me. “Who lives here?”
“The werewolf brothers. I know it’s nice, but I didn’t remember this as being your dream house.”
“It’s not,” I said tartly. When we were younger, Dex and I would always talk about what our dream houses were. Mine would have been a sprawling white house with a pool and big palm plants everywhere.
His always included a library. Dex wasn’t that picky when it came to houses. As long as it had built-in bookshelves and a fireplace, that was all he wanted. Oh, and a shop to do woodworking. I’d almost forgotten about that.
I started to get out. Dex grabbed my arm. I ignored the flash of heat that radiated to my shoulder.
His expression darkened. “I convinced them to talk to you, but stay close. They might not be particularly friendly.”
I quirked a brow. “If they’re related to Cal, I don’t expect them to be friendly at all.”
One of the brothers, I could only assume by the mass of chest hair, answered the door. He was tall and bulky with gold eyes that teetered on the verge of creepy and completely alluring.
“So here you are,” he said, showing us in.
Dex and I entered the home. Hunting trophies lined the hallway—heads of antelopes with curved horns, white-tailed deer with thick racks of antlers, and large-mouthed bass all perched from the walls. Dark mahogany side tables and cabin-style lamps were planted throughout the house, while rough wooden frames held pictures of the brothers dressed in hunting gear. They smiled for the camera. There were three of them, including Cal, and they looked like they had been extremely close.
“Thank you for seeing me,” I said.
The man nodded. He offered me a warm smile, and I felt that he didn’t hold any anger toward me. Maybe he didn’t think I was guilty. That would be a relief if it was true.
“I’m George. My brother, Phillip, should be here shortly. He’s running late.”
George led us into a sitting room. “I’ve made coffee. Would you care for some?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Dex waived the invitation away. I assumed he wasn’t thirsty for coffee. I tried not to snicker out loud at my thought.
George had a coffee service stationed on a side buffet. He made me a cup to my liking and set it on the coffee table.
“It’s not often I have a hunter in my home—one who’s accused of killing one of my brothers, no less.”
“George,” Dex growled in warning.
George flipped his hand dismissively. “Someone was eventually going to kill Cal. It would have happened sooner or later, and from the looks of you, little lady”—he leveled his gaze on me—“I don’t expect you did it. Now, tell me how I can help you.”
I folded my hands in my lap, deciding to take “little lady” as more of a compliment than derogatory statement. “Did he have many enemies?”
George laughed. It was a full sound that rattled the interior of the house. “If you knew Cal, you probably didn’t like him. He didn’t have many friends. Heck, he didn’t have any friends. He’d either swindled them out of money, or, if it was a woman, he’d broken her heart. I’m afraid my brother’s enemies are too numerous to name. It’s always been that way. In fact, when we were little, Phillip and I used to make up invisible friends for Cal just so he’d have one.”
I glanced past the pictures to a bench cluttered with camouflage jackets and pants. Thick winter boots were lined up beside it.
“What about the three of you? You lo
ok very happy in those hunting photos.”
“Hmm?” George said. “Yes, we were close. My brother was a son of a gun, but he was still my brother. I loved him and want his murderer brought to justice. It’s just—the line to off him might have been a bit long, if you know what I mean.”
I shot Dex a concerned look. This wasn’t exactly the sort of lead I was looking for.
“Were you at the meeting that night?” I said.
George shook his head. “No. Phillip and I had gone hunting. It’s prime-time deer season right now. The land we hunt on is full of primitive trails; it takes a while to get out and get home.”
A tall, thin man wearing a plaid shirt strode in. He had the same dark hair and golden eyes as George, but he was much skinnier. He extended a long, gangly hand for me to shake.
“I’m Phillip. Sorry I’m late.” He rubbed his hands together like he was warming up at bat. “So, what’d I miss?”
Dex took the lead. “We were trying to find out if Cal had any enemies.”
Phillip leaned against the wall and stroked his chin. “Let me think. I mean, short of everyone, there was that girl he made really mad.”
“Chloe?” I said.
Phillip snapped his fingers. “That’s the one. He’d cheated on her a while back, and she never got over it.” He scratched at his chest as if trying to think some more. Then from his chest he scratched behind his ear. From his ear he started scratching the back of his head. I wasn’t sure if the guy had fleas or simply a subconscious urge to scratch, but it started to get a bit unsettling.
“Is there anything else you can think of?” I said.
Phillip pawed his side. “No. That’s about it. Georgie here fill you in on everything else?”
“As much as I know,” George said.
Phillip raised his hands in a give-up gesture. “Then that’s all I’ve got.”
We rose to leave. “There is one thing,” I said, turning back.
Phillip stopped rubbing his elbow. “What’s that?”
“There’s been a string of break-ins downtown. Looks like it might be one of your kind doing it. Any ideas who might be running around at night in wolf form?”
George and Phillip exchanged looks.
