The leprechaun said something in another language and I felt pretty certain I wouldn’t want a translation.
Nick took a step to the side and stooped over to pluck something off the sidewalk. “He dropped this.”
“Aha!” I took the small pad of green sticky notes from Nick. “So, you’re the scavenger-hunt mastermind. Hmm. There goes Mrs. Grady and Brooks’s pipe dream of getting the organizer on city council.”
“Give me those!” the small man demanded, pumping his fists. “They’re mine! You can’t have them!”
I held them up. “Not until you tell us what’s going on with the gnomes.”
Nick glanced around. It was creeping up on dawn and a lot of the older citizens of Beechwood Harbor stirred early. Believe me, I knew. I worked the morning shift at Siren’s Song three days a week.
“Come on, we don’t have a lot of time,” I told the leprechaun.
“Let me go and I’ll talk!”
Nick and I exchanged a quick glance and he tucked his chin. I released the magic spell and the leprechaun popped up to his feet. Before I could draw my next full breath, he lunged at me, snatched the sticky notes from my hand, and blasted off—this time into a row of hedges, preventing a clean shot with another stunning spell.
“Bat wings!” I growled.
Nick threw his hands up. “Great!”
The lights went on in a house at the end of the street and Nick wrapped an arm around my shoulders and steered me in the opposite direction. “Come on, we’ll figure this out later.”
“I don’t know what the rush was all about,” I said, opening the passenger door of Nick’s sedan. I grinned at him over the top of the car. “Maybe he was late for shooting his next cereal commercial.”
We laughed together but a hollowness sucked away the joy all too soon as we climbed into the car. Nick’s smile faded first, his jaw returning to the same tense hold as the afternoon before. I bit my lip and buckled myself in. He didn’t want to talk about it. I would have to learn to live with that.
“Sorry I dragged you out on a wild goose chase,” he said after a moment, his fingers stilled on the keys.
I cocked my head and smiled. “I think you mean wild leprechaun chase.”
“Holly…”
“What? Not funny? All right.” I laughed softly. “I’m sorry, Nick. I guess I’m just feeling a little helpless right now.”
He sighed and dropped his head back against the seat. “Safe to assume you’re not talking about losing our lucky thief?”
“I’m trying to respect your privacy, Nick. Really, I am. But it’s hard for me. I feel responsible for everything that happened and I want to help. It’s the only thing I can do.”
“I know, Holls.” He reached over and placed his hand over mine. “I really do appreciate it, but it’s just a little too close to the surface right now.”
“I get that.”
Silence engulfed us once again. Nick started the car and pulled away from the curb.
“You’re still planning on taking Adam up on his offer, right?” I asked when we neared the manor.
Nick nodded. “I’m taking tomorrow off work to … prepare. Adam told me to meet him in the woods at dusk.”
I wrung my fingers together and swallowed hard. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you then. Let me know if you—”
“Holls.”
“Right.”
Nick pulled up in front of the manor, which glowed bright against the forested area that surrounded three sides of the stately home—the very woods that would conceal Nick on his first run as a werewolf the following night.
“Come on, Rivers, hurry it up,” Adam called, his voice carrying through the trees.
An orb of light dangled from the tips of my fingers as I followed him through the woods. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the glowing ball soaring in Adam’s direction. His silhouette flashed and I hurried forward. “Give him a minute,” I hissed. “He has to do this in his own time.”
Adam glanced at me, his face half concealed in shadows. “No offense, gorgeous, but we’re not working off Nick’s timetable here. The curse isn’t going to wait for him to work out his heebie-jeebies, all right?”
I wanted to argue. To shout at Adam for being an insensitive jerk, but I couldn’t. He was right.
Night was falling fast and once the darkness took over, he wouldn’t have a choice in the matter.
I glanced behind me and the magic ball of light zipped to light the way. “Nick? Are you all right?”
An irritated growl replied.
“Hold up.” I tugged at Adam’s sleeve, forcing him to slow down. He ran the woods in his own beast form, purely as a form of exercise, and moved through the woods with an instinctual grace. He didn’t need light. He barreled forward, without so much as snapping a twig.
Nick, on the other hand, was more accustomed to cushy, luxury cars, suede furniture, and if he’d ever gone camping before, I had a feeling it had likely involved a cushy RV complete with all the creature comforts of home.
“Argh!” he cried out. “How many spider webs are you two planning on dragging me through?”
Adam sighed. “Great. A werewolf that’s afraid of spiders.”
I elbowed him in the ribs. “Be. Nice.”
I funneled more magic into the orb, making it grow so that light could reach Nick and assist the small, pinpoint flashlight he carried. He came into sight, wiping at his face, and scowling. “Don’t you think we’ve gone far enough?”
Apparently, his anxiety over the change had turned to sheer irritation. I wasn’t sure which was worse.
“Not even close,” Adam replied, his own tone surly. “We don’t know how fast you’re going to be. The farther we get from town, the better.”
Nick stopped sputtering and scrubbing the cobwebs from his face and stared at us. “I thought the whole reason you are tagging along is to keep me from town.”
Adam tensed. “That was the idea. But I’d rather keep you distracted and busy, rather than having to get into a brawl with you.”
Fear clutched at me as I stared at the two men. They were both so important to me. I hated the idea that they might end up battling deep in the forest, coming home battered and bruised. Or worse.
I shivered at the thought.
“Holly, you want my coat?” Nick asked, catching the slight shudder. “I don’t think I’m going to need it much longer.”
“She won’t need it,” Adam interjected before I could reply. “She’ll be safe and warm back at the manor.”
My eyes snapped open wide. “Excuse me?”
He groaned. “Gorgeous, this isn’t up for debate.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” I crossed my arms. “I’m going with you.”
Adam rounded on me, his voice a deep growl. “Oh, no, you are not! I need to be able to concentrate. I can’t do that if I’m worried about you getting mowed down by him.” He jerked his head in Nick’s direction. I glanced at him just as he tucked his chin and stared at the tops of his brand-new looking hiking boots.
Anger singed my skin as I returned my glare to Adam.
“Holly, please,” he said, dropping some of the attitude, but keeping the firmness. “I need you to go back to the manor. We will be back at dawn.”
“I’m not some damsel in distress, you know! I can actually help. Nick isn’t going to—”
“Holly, it’s okay,” Nick said. “I’d feel better knowing you were safe.”
I bottled up the frustration surging through me and stuffed it down deep. With a curt nod, I spun on my heel and started back through the woods.
“Holly, wait!” Nick called.
I turned and saw he’d shrugged out of his coat. He handed it to me wordlessly and for a moment, I saw the fear flicker in his eyes. “Thank you,” I said, before setting off again.
When I passed through a cluster of trees, I stopped to put on Nick’s coat. It was still warm from his body and I burrowed deep in the fabric, breathing in the smell o
f his cologne mixed with pine. I craned around as I zipped up the front and watched Adam and Nick get swallowed up into the night.
“Dear, why don’t you sit down?” Posy suggested once I finished ranting and raving about how unfair—not to mention shortsighted and possibly sexist—Adam was being. “Or maybe make some of your soothing tea. That always helps in times like these.”
I managed a smile. Since her late husband’s return to the manor, Posy was like a completely different ghost. One thing was for sure; Earl made her feel like a natural ghost. They were equal parts adorable and insufferable. Luckily, Earl was out playing ghost poker—apparently that’s a thing—and Posy wasn’t being distracted by his knowing glances and whispered jokes. Considering the fresh argument with my own beau, I had a feeling their candy-sweetness would have turned my stomach.
“Tea is always a good idea,” I agreed, setting about starting the kettle.
“I’m sure Adam meant well,” Posy continued, pacing to the kitchen sink to stare out the large window that overlooked the tree line at the back of the property. “He only wants the best for you.”
“It’s not me that I’m worried about. I mean really, whose idea was it to put a werewolf just getting to know his strength with a shifter with a slight temper together in the forest all night? There are two dozen things that could go wrong. And now, there’s no one out there with them to put up safeguards!” I shook my head, the anger rising all over again. “Reckless. That’s what it is. Stupid and reckless.”
Posy turned away from the window and offered me the serene smile she wore most days, now that Earl was back. “I’m sure Adam knows what he’s doing.”
I folded my arms, still encased in Nick’s coat. “I liked you better when you thought he was a hopeless scoundrel.”
She laughed, a soft, fluttery sound I was still getting used to.
Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I would have thought there was some kind of case of the body snatchers going on, except that Posy hadn’t had a body for the better part of a century. Minor detail.
I threw my hands up. “It’s done now. I guess all we can do is hope both of them come limping back to the manor in the morning.”
Posy’s smile faded. “I’ll stay up with you if you’d like, dear. We can watch one of those terrible romantic comedy movies you like so much.”
I shrugged. “That’s all right, Posy. I think I’ll take this tea to my room and try to get some reading done. I’m working on a new potion and need to brush up on my medicinal fern varieties.”
“Sure thing, dear.”
Truthfully, reading was the last thing on my mind, but if I was going to watch a so-called terrible rom-com, I’d rather do it with Boots. He didn’t talk through the whole thing, unlike certain ghosts.
It took three-quarters of You’ve Got Mail to quiet my nerves. It was a toss-up as to whether or not the dashing Tom Hanks or the three cups of tension tea were the solution. Either way, I was finally drifting towards dreamland when I all hope of sleep was yanked away from me.
By the sound of a gunshot ripping through the night.
Chapter 4
The shotgun blast paralyzed ever cell in my body, freezing me in place for a split second, before I launched out of bed. I threw Nick’s coat on over my pajamas, shoved my feet into a pair of flip-flops and tore out into the hallway. Boots raced ahead of me and made a beeline for the back door. My hand slipped on the doorknob when a second shot tore through the night. Silently pleading with every deity I’d ever heard of, I yanked the door open and pounded down the back steps. Boots and I darted into the woods. I had an orb of light flying ahead of us and used my free hand to conjure a shielding spell. It wouldn’t stop a bullet, but it protected me from the low hanging branches as I barreled through the woods, back to where I’d last seen Adam and Nick.
“Adam! Nick!” I screamed, before realizing that maybe alerting the entire forest to my presence was a bad move. “Boots, find them!”
The chubby tabby was a far cry from being a prized bloodhound, but he had his own set of abilities. As my familiar, he could understand more than the average house cat and I would have put money down on him having some kind of magical intuition.
Boots charged through the brush and I did my best to keep up with him, stumbling over rocks and unearthed tree roots every few yards as I trained my eyes on his bottle-brush tail instead of the ground underneath my feet.
A low howl vibrated on the air, shaking me to the core. I whipped back and forth, trying to figure out where the menacing sound was coming from. “Boots?” I whispered, realizing he was no longer in the circle of light. I reached up and drew the orb back to me.
Another shotgun blast sounded, followed by a sharp yelp.
Adam.
My legs buckled. “No. No, no, no.” I shook my head violently.
Tears ran down my cheeks, hot and furious. I’d never felt so helpless before. I wanted to scream and fight and tear my hair right out of my own scalp. I drew in a shaky breath and closed my eyes, forcing my heartbeat to slow.
A loud roar sent my pulse skyrocketing again. My eyes snapped open. “It’s okay. He’s okay. They’re both okay.”
The words were a chant. My mantra.
The roar died off and the woods went eerily quiet.
Then a twig snapped.
I jumped a foot off the ground, whirling around toward the sound, only to see Boots slither out from under a bush, flat on his belly. The tears pricked at my eyes again as I dashed forward to gather him into my arms. “Bootsie, what happened? What did you see?” I whispered against his fuzzy head.
He fought to get loose and after one more squeeze, I placed him carefully back on the ground. He remained at my ankles, his tail wrapped around my calf.
The light from the orb flickered and I sent out another pulse of magic to keep it lit. The soft blue light created a circle around us. I kept one ear cocked, waiting for any sign of Adam and Nick. I knew I couldn’t charge forward. Not while some madman with a gun was roaming through the forest. All at once, I felt stupid for barging into the woods in the first place. My magic was worthless without a clear target. I couldn’t protect Adam or Nick if I couldn’t even see them.
But I couldn’t turn back and go to the manor, climb into bed, and wait for their return, either. The yelp I’d heard echoed through my mind. One or maybe even both of them were injured. All I could do was implore the stars that it wasn’t bad.
I took a few steps into the next cluster of trees and peered around a huge pine. A small clearing was fifty paces away and as I stared at it, a figure caught my attention. I gasped and snuffed out my light as the silhouette of a man turned toward my hiding place, followed by the sound of branches and twigs snapping and breaking. I ducked behind the tree right before another shot sounded. It whizzed past my tree and I bit down hard on my lip to keep from screaming.
A split second later, someone burst past, rustling bushes and breaking twigs. “HOLLY! Run!”
“Adam!” The light orb illuminated again, almost without my conscious effort as I tried to see where he’d gone.
“Kill the light and run!” he screamed.
Streaking out in front of me was Adam and he was, well, literally streaking. He’d shifted back to his usual, human form and was racing buck naked ahead of me through the forest. I had no idea where he’d left his clothes, but that was obviously the last thing he was concerned about.
I snuffed the light orb and started after him, but not at a full run. I didn’t know the woods the way he did. I’d break an ankle—or my face—if I even attempted his speed. Boots barreled ahead and I followed him, picking him out in the dapples of moonlight sprinkled through the thick trees.
“Get back to the manor, Holly! I’ll hold them off!” Adam shouted over his shoulder, veering to the left.
“Who’s them?” I demanded, trying to pick up my speed without kissing the ground. “Where is Nick?!”
“No time! I’ll explain later. Get back to t
he manor. Now!”
Then he was gone, his silhouette ducking behind a large tree and then zipping to another one ten yards away.
I heaved a frustrated sigh. To my left, Beechwood Manor was a quarter of a mile away. To the right, the woods. And Adam. And Nick.
Boots rammed his head into the side of my leg. I could almost hear his thoughts, spurring me to go back to the house. To safety.
“No, Boots. We’re not leaving Nick out there alone. He could be hurt.”
Boots squished his face against me once more.
“Come on,” I whispered.
Using only the moonlight to guide us, we picked our way back through the woods. On tiptoes, I crept from tree to tree until I reached the clearing I’d seen Adam running through. Boots stayed at my heels, not willing to race ahead like before. Great, now even the cat thought I was helpless.
“Nick?” I hissed, barely above a whisper.
A growl came from a cluster of saplings. My breath caught in my throat as I saw something stir at the base of the small trees. I cursed under my breath and looked left and right before darting toward them.
But whatever was at the base of the trees wasn’t Nick. It was … something else entirely. Or someone? The body was mangled, like a splicing gone wrong. The legs long and hound-like, covered in thick fur. Then, around the torso, things changed. A man’s chest was where a beast’s should have been, with its head tucked under the muscled arms.
I leaned closer and caught a whiff of Nick’s cologne. “Oh stars! Nick?” I whispered. “Can you—”
The rest of my question evaporated when I was yanked back and knocked off my feet.
I rolled onto all fours, raised one hand, and shot a stunning spell.
Adam’s face froze and he hit the ground.
“Bat wings!” I snarled, working quickly to counteract the spell.
“Holly!” Adam growled, his teeth bared. “I told you to—”
“Save it!” I snapped, holding up one hand as I pushed up onto my knees. “We’ll argue about this later. For right now, you want to tell me what in the Otherworld is going on? Is this—”
Lucky Witch: A Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery (Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Book 5) Page 3
