Spring Magic

by T. M. Cromer

  “She creates one major earthquake, and she thinks she’s a match for me. Pfft.”

  Her laughter was pure wicked. “Oh, I think she’s more than a match for you.”

  Knox’s grin flashed, and he dove for the bed she was sitting on. Having anticipated his move, Spring teleported to the pink chaise in the corner of her room.

  As she watched, he rolled onto his back and tucked a pillow under his head. His shirt rose and provided a glimpse of his perfect six-pack. She found it impossible to look away from the smooth, tan expanse of skin that narrowed to a V and disappeared into the waistband of his belted pants.

  Just when she would’ve taunted him a second time—or maybe jumped his bones—a knock sounded at the door, and Autumn peeked her head in. “I’ve dispatched those weakling Carlyles. I’ll be back in five minutes to help you pick out an outfit after I’ve changed.” Her sparkling amber eyes darted between Spring and Knox. “Unless you want Studly to do it. Then I can give you about a half hour or so.”

  Knox rose. “Studly needs more than a half hour to do it properly. I’ll make sure the cleanup downstairs has been done right.” He pulled Spring to her feet and kissed her, light and lingeringly. “I’d love it if you wore something short and sexy.”

  “We’ll come up with an outfit that would make a man sit up and beg.”

  He groaned at Autumn’s response, evoking a giggle from Spring.

  “You are a cruel woman, Autumn Thorne-Carlyle, but I adore you for catering to my inner pervert,” he told her sister.

  “Don’t I have a say in what I wear?” Spring asked haughtily.

  “No,” Autumn and Knox chorused.

  Knox cast a quick, discerning eye over her body and snapped his fingers. In his hand was a stunning green dress. From the lack of material, Spring feared it might not cover all her assets.

  He leaned in and bussed her forehead. “All kidding aside, if you choose to dress as conservatively as a nun, that’s always your call. But I think this might work well with your beautiful eyes if you decide you like it and want to wear it tonight.”

  Spring and Autumn watched as he sauntered out of the room, admiring the way his ass filled out his gray slacks. They sighed in unison.

  “Marry that man, sister. Marry him like yesterday, then tell me how amazing the sex is, because somehow, I know he has the moves.”

  Laughter exploded from Spring. Her sister’s pregnancy hormones were alive and well, trying to escape.

  25

  Within fifteen minutes, the women were laughing as they descended the staircase. They made an incredible picture. Autumn wore a fluid, gold, haltered maxi dress gathered high under her breasts. The empire waist allowed a cascade of material to cover her baby bump. With each step, her shapely leg played peekaboo through the side slit that ran to mid-thigh. For a heavily pregnant woman, she was sexy as hell.

  Summer emphasized her compact, curvy body in a blue sequined mini dress with a plunging neckline. Her outfit guaranteed Coop was going to have fun running off lecherous men tonight.

  Winnie was decked out in an off-the-shoulder glimmering amethyst top and billowing silver palazzo pants. Her own baby bump was barely visible in the flowing outfit. The combination of dark hair, rosy complexion, and the long lean graceful lines of her body made her an incredible sight.

  Yes, each woman was beautiful in their own right, but Knox’s attention was drawn to Spring. With her upswept, tawny hair and wide, happy smile, she was loveliness personified. Wearing the backless jade mini dress he’d conjured, she was simply stunning. His body was quick to react to the sexy expanse of skin, and he found himself shoving his hands in his pants pockets to disguise the building thickness in his groin.

  She paused two steps from the bottom. A soft, shy smile graced her lips, but her twinkling eyes belied her innocent expression. No doubt about it, she understood her effect on him. More than anything, he wanted to tell the group to go without them. Then he could rush her right back up the stairs to make love to her until dawn and possibly beyond.

  He met her at the staircase and simply stared.

  “Hi.” Spring’s light greeting wrapped around his insides and wrung him out. She was genuinely happy to see him. Somehow, against the odds, Spring had woken, taken one look at him, and fallen in love. This was their second time around, and he’d gotten a fresh slate. He didn’t plan to make any mistakes if he could help it.

  “Hi. You ready to party?”

  “I think after today, we have a reason to celebrate, don’t you?”

  “I do.”

  “One thing first.” Spring turned to her family. “We’ll meet you outside in just a minute.”

  They received a few curious looks, but no one objected.

  Knox didn’t know where she was going with this, but he’d indulge her if that’s what she wanted. “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “I needed to clarify a few things first.”

  His stomach flipped over. Maybe he’d gotten it wrong. Maybe she hadn’t fallen in love at first sight like Thorne lore foretold. Maybe he’d come on too fast and strong. “Like what?”

  “You and me, are we officially a couple?”

  “That depends.”

  Her dark frown thrilled him.

  “Depends on what?”

  He asked the hardest question he’d ever had to ask. “Do you want to be? No expectations of the past, no feeling as if you owe me anything. Just you wanting to be with me.”

  “When I saw you in the garden for the first time, I sensed you were someone important to me. Your light hurt my eyes, it seemed so bright. And when you touched me, when you spoke, there was a sense of familiarity.” She waved a hand. “Not that I remembered you; I didn’t. But in my world where everything is topsy-turvy, you make me feel secure.”

  Refusing to allow hope inside, he asked again, “Do you want to be a couple, Spring?”

  “I do.”

  “Good. Because I’m yours as long as you’ll have me.”

  “Earlier tonight, I had the thought that I might be considered your girlfriend…” She shrugged.

  “You’re so much more than that, sweetheart. You’re my everything.”

  He appreciated that her mouth was level with his. It made kissing her that much easier. Dipping his head a mere inch, he paused to meet her gaze. “You’ll always be my everything,” he whispered just before connecting his lips to hers.

  Like all she’d mastered since awaking, Spring seemed to excel at kissing. Her lips parted, and her tongue zipped across his lower lip, then snuck in to caress his. The steady, sensual stroke and suck shot straight to his groin.

  The door swung wide behind them. “Oh, good grief. If I knew you were only after a little slap and tickle, I wouldn’t have left you two alone.”

  Autumn smacked Knox upside his head.

  “What are you, my chaperone?” Spring snapped as she rubbed his abused skull. “Last I checked, I was a consenting adult.”

  “My little flower has grown thorns. It makes a big sister proud.” Autumn pressed a palm to her heart and batted her lashes as if to stem off tears. In the blink of an eye, she became all business. “Now get your asses in gear. I was promised a night on the town.” She patted her protruding belly. “In another month or two, I won’t be able to go anywhere but the Piggly Wiggly for pampers.”

  The night was magical. From the moment the group descended on the booming club in Nashville, the family as a whole laughed and danced. Periodically, they forced Autumn to take it easy for Keaton’s sake. The poor man looked as if he believed his wife would have their child on the dance floor.

  Spring, out of breath from dancing four straight songs in a row, held up a hand. “I need a drink,” she shouted to Knox over the thumping bass.

  He smiled and nodded his agreement, although he didn’t look winded in the least. She had to admire his stamina. Or at least she hoped to later that night when she intended to put a whole different set of moves on him.

  Coop s
topped them with a hand on her arm. “I need to take a break, too.” He looked to Knox. “Switch partners for a bit? The Energizer Bunny here is still going strong.”

  Summer laughed and accepted Knox’s hand. He spun her and proceeded to tear up the dance floor with her as his partner.

  “I’m the youngest in the lot, and yet I can’t keep up. Where the hell do they get the energy?” Spring asked.

  “Beats the hell out of me. Let’s get that drink and hang our heads in shame.” They pushed their way to the bar and waited until one of the harried bartenders leaned across the wood surface with an ear cocked in their direction. “Margarita on the rocks for her, and an Imperial IPA for me, please.”

  Once they had their drinks, they made their way to the table where a winded Winnie was being fanned by Zane. She glanced up at their arrival and grinned. “I’m glad I’m not the only out of shape one in the group.”

  “Out of shape?” Coop growled. “Your sister is relentless. Besides, I have to conserve energy for later tonight. I’ll be doing the bulk of the work.”

  Summer’s laugh rang from behind them. “Bulk of the work? Pul-eeazzz!”

  Coop’s unabashed grin flashed as he swept her in his arms and kissed her. Spring loved watching them interact. Their love was pure and sweet, with a spark of sassy, just like Summer.

  Mind on love, Spring’s eyes drifted to Knox, who stood to the side. Their eyes locked, and she drew in a deep breath from the sheer force of the emotion she witnessed in his soft gaze. She stepped into him and rested her cheek against his chest.

  “Ready to call it a night?”

  “After this drink, I think so.” Spring glanced around. “How about everyone else?”

  The group as a whole looked ready to depart. Five minutes later, when Autumn and Keaton strolled up hand-in-hand, they all headed for the exit. The family laughed and traded good-natured jibes as they strolled down the side alley by the club.

  They’d just rounded the corner when a prickle of awareness struck Spring. A quick glance around showed nothing. Maybe she was jumping at shadows, but the sensation was real all the same. Like a million little beetles crawling under her skin.

  Knox, attuned to her every need of late, asked, “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “I’m not sure. A bad feeling.”

  Her unease transferred to the others, and each of them searched the darkness around them. Knox stepped in front of her, providing a shield against whatever might be lurking in the night.

  After a moment or two, everyone relaxed, and Knox spun to face her. “Nothing seems amiss.” He leaned down to rub his nose to hers. “You okay?”

  “I’ll be happier when we’re home in bed,” she admitted.

  His grin turned decidedly wicked. “Me, too.” Shifting to whisper in her ear, he said, “Balls deep, buried inside of you.”

  A gasping laugh escaped her. “That’s rude, crude, and socially unacceptable! Your place or mine?”

  His bark of laughter was cut short, and his body jerked against hers. The happy light taking up residence in his gaze gave way to surprise, then regret. Finally, the light died from his eyes altogether as he sagged against her.

  It happened in an instant, but she was sure she’d replay this horrific moment for the remainder of her days at this torturous slow-motioned pace. Hysteria clouded her brain as she fell under his heavy weight. “Knox!” Disbelief warred with terror. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath to scream. The chaos around her was muted as she stared down into Knox’s beloved, still face. “No! No! No!” She couldn’t seem to say anything else. Couldn’t seem to grasp what was happening or form a coherent thought.

  Rough hands grabbed her and tried to lift her from where she rocked back and forth.

  “Spring, we’re not safe here. We have to move, love,” Coop urged. “I’ll come back for him. I promise.”

  “Go!” she screamed. “Just go! I—” A warm throb started mid-chest. Her hand flew to the spot and encountered the shape of the amulet underneath her dress.

  “What the hell is that glowin—” Coop’s question was cut off as his body was slammed backward into the wall. His hand flew to his shoulder and came away coated in blood. “Jesus! Everyone, get the fuck out of this alley. Now!”

  Another bullet slammed into his leg and took him down. Summer screamed.

  Sound stopped. No traffic clamor, no low thud of music, no distant sirens, or noise of any kind penetrated the night.

  “Teleport before time snaps back,” Winnie shouted. “Hurry.”

  Spring wrapped herself around Knox and visualized her garden. Her cells heated to the point of burning, but when she opened her eyes, the two of them were beneath the tree where she’d first seen him.

  The amulet was setting fire to her skin. A memory penetrated her grief-stricken fog. “Keep this on you at all times. The day will soon come when you need its power.”

  Wasting no time, she tore open Knox’s shirt. The initial bullet had pierced his heart. How she was expected to heal the wound and bring Knox back was a mystery. Acting on instinct, she removed the amulet and placed it over the wound. “Goddess hear my plea and assist me in my time of need. Restore what was taken from me.”

  The runes carved into the small sphere glowed a fiery red, and a single beam of light shot through the inky night, straight toward the sky. Once again, she gave rein to her instincts and curled against his side. “Come back to me, my love. Please, come back to me.” She pressed her lips to his and infused all the love she felt for him into the gentle kiss. “Please, Knox. Don’t leave me in a world without you.”

  “Spring!” The sound of hurried footsteps thumped against the path. “Spring! Where are you, sister?”

  Spring didn’t have the energy to answer Autumn. Didn’t have the will to do more than rest her head on Knox’s oddly still-warm chest. She swiped at the tears rolling down her face and touched the ancient disc. “For all the good you did us,” she whispered.

  The light on the amulet’s runes shifted to a deep amethyst. Spring frowned and sat up just as Autumn reached her.

  “What the hell is that?”

  “Thor’s Hammer.” She shook her head at her own stupidity. “I’ve been praying to the wrong entity.”

  For once, Autumn seemed at a loss for words.

  “Have you ever heard of a book called the Chronicles of Wōden, sister?”

  “I can’t say that I have.” Autumn moved closer and bent over her as far as her bulbous belly would allow and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let us bring him to the house now, Spring.” She spoke as if Spring were out of her mind with grief. As if she were guarding a body that no longer needed protection.

  Spring shoved her hand away, enraged to her very core. “Don’t talk to me like a mental patient. I had enough of that when I first woke. I can save him. I just need that damned book!” Inhaling a deep breath, she forced herself to calm. “Nephthys came to me in a dream. She told me what I needed to do, and until this minute, I’d forgotten. I need that book, Autumn. Someone in the family has it or she wouldn’t have mentioned it, I’m certain.”

  Indecision was plainly written on Autumn’s troubled face. “Nash or Alastair, maybe. I’ve never seen anything in Father’s library by that name.”

  “It would be written in the Norse language.”

  Autumn’s dark eyes narrowed in thought. “I think I know which one you’re referring to. Be right back.” She teleported, leaving Spring alone with Knox.

  The light from the Mjölnir amulet dulled, but remained a soft pulsing purple, and she worried they might be losing their window to bring him back to life. “Hurry, sister,” she urged on a whisper.

  The plants and trees around her picked up on her distress. The roots of the old oak vibrated beneath her. She welcomed the tree’s attempt to help her. If only she could utilize all the magic her garden contained. She jerked upright and smacked herself on the center of her forehead. Of course! The Gods of the Old World believed life was c
ontained within the elements around them. For that matter, Spring and her sisters did, too. They were elemental witches for crying out loud.

  “My beautiful babies, I need your assistance.” All the trees and plants in the garden leaned toward with rapt attention. “Once I have the spell, I will need your magic.”

  The quiver of the plants and ground signaled the agreement of the living foliage around her.

  “Thank you.”

  The atmosphere took on weight, and a crack echoed through the garden. Alastair stepped through a seam in space with another blond man by his side. The two looked enough alike to be brothers.

  “This is your cousin, Nash,” Alastair said by way of greeting. He squatted beside Knox’s lifeless body. Other than a tightening of his mouth, he revealed no other emotion. “Nash and I will assist you with the spell. My sister, GiGi is with Winnie healing Coop. The shooter struck an artery in his leg. Autumn should be here any moment with the book you requested.”

  As if on cue, her sister reappeared. Excitement radiated from Autumn, and she waved the old, leather-bound journal as if she’d won it at the town fair. “I’ve got it!”

  Nash grabbed the book. “Illuminate,” he murmured. The space around him lit up and provided the light he needed to see the writing. He thumbed through the pages with a speed that made Spring’s head dizzy. “We need an air element.”

  “I’ll grab Winnie.” Autumn was off again.

  Spring smoothed back the shoulder-length blond hair from Knox’s face and neck. “What else to do we need, cousin?”

  “According to this, we need broadleaf plantain, comfrey, and burdock root.”

  She was loathe to leave Knox’s side. With a hard look in Alastair’s direction, she said, “I’ll be right back.”

  He nodded his understanding. If she came back and they’d moved Knox, there would be hell to pay. She flung open the door to her workshop. She gathered the necessary plants in live and dried herb form. Her return coincided with Winnie’s arrival.