by Amy Boyles
Yes, chanting.
“Donovan! Donovan! Donovan!”
All of us stood silently watching the scene. Finally I glanced at Axel. “What’s going on?”
Axel’s gaze flickered to Betty and Donovan. “I don’t think that was a simple tracking spell that was put on you,” he said.
“What was it?” I said.
Axel’s face darkened. “It’s some sort of psychotropic spell. I think yes, there was tracking involved, but this sort of reaction, this mania shouldn’t happen. The entire town shouldn’t be demanding that you show your face, Donovan.”
Donovan took another deep drink from his glass. “I’m worried.”
“Me too,” Betty said.
“So am I,” Garrick said. “If they don’t see you, they will look for you and will tear this town apart to do so. That, I’m convinced of.”
“I can’t show my face,” Donovan said.
“Why not?” I said. “There’s no one here who’s going to hurt you.”
“But I’m afraid there is,” he said. “I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t want anyone to be worried.”
“Who would be after you?” Betty said.
Donovan smoothed his thinning hair when he said, “I heard Johnny Utah sent a witch hunter to find me—and that hunter won’t stop searching for me until I’m dead.”
FOUR
“A witch hunter?” I said, a shot of dread tightening my chest. “Is that as bad as it sounds?”
Please don’t let that be as bad as it sounds. Please don’t let it be as bad as it sounds.
“It’s worse,” Betty spat. “For centuries witch hunters have tracked our kind—killing us in our sleep, when we’re awake, even while we’re riding our skillets.”
A wave of nausea knotted my stomach. “But a witch hunter can’t get into Magnolia Cove, right? Only witches and wizards can find this town.”
Everyone exchanged another look.
“I’m beginning to feel like there’s a lot of stuff y’all aren’t telling me, and if somebody doesn’t start talking, I’m going to be severely ticked off.”
Axel threaded his fingers through mine. “Sometimes witch hunters are witches.”
“Say what?” I nearly fell over from shock. “How can witch hunters be witches?”
Amelia folded her hands. “It’s like people eating people, isn’t it?”
“Cannibals,” I said, horrified. I swiveled toward Axel. “How can a witch hunt another witch? That makes no sense.”
“What in the world makes sense to anyone anymore?” Betty said. “Whole world’s upside down. Yes, witches hunt other witches for money. That’s a fact. It’s a horrific, unjustifiable reality of life. Witches hunt witches.”
I exhaled a staggering breath. “So what does that mean for all of this?”
Donovan grimaced. “I’m afraid what it means is that Johnny Utah wants me exposed. He wants me out in the open so that the witch hunter can kill me.”
I released Axel and reached for Donovan, wrapping him in a limp hug. I wanted to be able to give him some of my strength, but it was gone because the idea of a witch hunter terrified me.
Still, I stuffed my fear down to the very soles of my feet. “We won’t let that hunter get you. No way. You’re only just back from the dead, Donovan. You can’t leave us now. We’ll protect you.” I whirled on everyone in the room. “We’ll protect him. We have to.”
They all exchanged glances. Garrick strode forward. “We’ll protect you, Donovan. I’ll assign a couple of my men to you for the night—or as long as you need. I suggest you get to the festivities by eight. Otherwise the town will be destroyed by your fan club.”
Donovan nodded sheepishly. “Will do.”
Garrick exited the house, followed by Cordelia. I’m sure they were going to get some kissy-face time in. Go, Cordelia!
Once they were gone, Donovan turned to Betty. “I guess we don’t have a choice in this.”
Betty smirked. “Well, what did you expect when you asked the von Trapp Family Singers to sell you a vampire bat for a mafia man’s niece? A werewolf at that.”
Donovan deflated into a chair. He rubbed the glass of sweet tea along his forehead. “I should’ve known better, but the money was too good to pass up. Besides, the creature looked legitimate.”
Betty fisted her hands to her hips. “I’m sure it smelled legitimate, too. Did it also fart legitimately?”
Amelia laughed.
Betty turned to her. “No comments from the peanut gallery.”
Amelia raised her hands in surrender. “I’m going upstairs. I’ll see y’all when it’s time for the crazy party downtown.”
That left me, Axel, Betty and Donovan. Axel glanced at me. “I’m not so sure about tonight.”
Oh my gosh, in all the commotion I’d completely forgotten that Axel was taking me out—away from Magnolia Cove.
I glanced at Donovan. “Axel and I were going out of town—just for a few hours. Do you think I’ll be safe? I don’t know if Johnny Utah is actively searching me out or not.”
Donovan glanced at Axel’s biceps. “With him, I think you’d be safe just about anywhere.”
“Don’t stay out late,” Betty said. “There’s no telling what’s going to happen. With a witch hunter after Donovan, I’m worried about your safety.”
Axel raked his fingers through his dark shoulder-length hair. “They’re right. Until this is over, let’s just wait to leave town.”
Man, the one time I was going to get out of Magnolia Cove was squashed by werewolf mafia and a witch hunter dude. Well, I wasn’t going to let them rain on my parade.
I smiled brightly. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
They stared at me until I cringed. “All right. I’ll stay in town where I’m more likely to be found by anyone who might be looking for me.”
“And protected by your family,” Betty said.
I clicked my tongue. “Yes, and protected by a grandmother who snorts magic from her nose.”
Axel left, and my hopes of ever getting out of Magnolia Cove for a night on the town, any town, crashed and burned.
I stretched my arms over my head. “I’m going upstairs to shower and get ready for the town party.”
I padded upstairs to Amelia’s room and knocked.
“Come in,” she said.
I found her standing in front of a jacket draped on a hanger attached to the top of closet door. My cousin bumped the jacket and pulled out what looked like a wallet.
“I came in to talk to you about Donovan, but I see you’re busy stealing wallets from inanimate objects.”
Amelia glanced over her shoulder and smiled. My cousin had spiky blonde hair, a lithe body and bright blue eyes that beamed at me.
“I’m learning to pick pockets.”
“Why?” I said, sinking a shoulder onto the wall.
She shrugged. “Because I thought it would be fun.”
“Sounds fascinating.”
“Pepper, you never know when you might need vital information from someone.”
I quirked a brow. “I’m not convinced that’s the way to get it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”
“Why don’t you just take someone’s wallet using magic?”
“Because that would be obvious,” she said, slipping the wallet back in the jacket.
“Right.”
She turned to me. “Here. Let me show you.”
“I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
She dragged me over. “It’s a great idea. Best ever.” She grabbed the wallet and slipped it in her back pocket. “Okay, say I’m your mark.”
“You’re my mark.”
“You don’t have to say it out loud.”
“But you said to.”
She smirked. “It was a figure of speech. Anyway, I’m who you’ve targeted. What I need you to do is bump me on my left side and then take my wallet on the right side. Be sure to add some pres
sure as if you almost made me fall over.”
I sighed. “Okay.” I wasn’t in the mood for this, but whatever.
So I did as she instructed. Bumped her on the left to gain her attention and then fished the wallet from her pocket.
“Wow,” Amelia said. “Have you ever done this before?”
I held the wallet up like a trophy. “First time.”
“You’re really good.”
I shrugged. “I guess I’m a natural.” I handed it to her. “But that’s not why I came in. What do you think about this whole Donovan mess?”
She tossed the wallet on her bed. “I don’t know. Seems like a big bowl of mashed up biscuits with gravy and eggs on top.”
“Hmm. That sounds good.”
She pulled a face. “It wasn’t supposed to. Anyway, the sooner he gets his name cleared with this Johnny guy, the better.”
“Yeah, I agree. But Johnny’s really kicked it up a notch by adding the witch hunter.”
“Sounds like something a werewolf would do. He can’t get to Donovan himself so he sent someone to do his dirty work for him.”
“It’s all a mess.”
Amelia studied me. “I don’t think you should be worried.”
I rubbed my shoulders. “Oh, I’m not.”
“We’ll protect you.”
“I know.”
She crossed over and wrapped her arms around me. “After all, we’re the sweet tea witches. We stick with each other through thick and thin.”
I smiled wanly. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
I left and went to my room, where I found Mattie the Cat curled up on the window seat while Hugo, my baby dragon, snored on the bed. I’d recently taken to letting him out of his cage every once in a while, and I think he was happier because of it.
The hinges on my door whined as if begging for me to douse them with WD-40. Hugo awoke. He thwacked his tail on the bedspread and yawned. I gave him a good scratch behind the ear, stroked Mattie, and headed into the bathroom for a shower that would hopefully get rid of the stickiness clinging to me.
Fall was just about here, but the days were still warm and muggy, the proof being the frizz in my hair.
I let warm water roll down my back for what felt like half an hour before I finished scrubbing and shaving everything that needed it. I toweled off, dressed and was putting on the last touches of my makeup when a noise came from the window.
Clink.
“What’s that?” I said to Mattie.
The gray cat yawned and stretched to a C shape. “Looks like that boyfriend of yours is throwing rocks at the window.”
“What?”
“Come see for yourself, sugarbear. I ain’t lying.”
I tied a knot in the wrap shirt I wore and crossed to the window. Sure enough, Axel stood on the ground throwing pebbles. I unlocked the latch and slid the window up.
“What’re you doing?” I said.
He grinned at me. “Breaking you out.”
“What?” I said.
He folded his arms as if he was super impressed with himself. “I’m breaking you out.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He shook his head in frustration. “Will you just come down here?”
I glanced over the edge of the roof. “It’s a long way. I’m not that talented a witch.”
“I suppose being the man in this situation means I have to come get you,” he said, half joking from the sound of it.
“Not because you’re a man, but because I’m chicken.”
He grinned again and in one, two, three seconds launched up the slanted roof, plucked me tenderly from the window and jumped to the ground.
I clutched his shirt for dear life as jitters teemed in my belly. Fright bubbled in my gut, shooting from my body in a fit of laughter. “Holy shrimp and grits.”
Axel winked. “Liked that, huh?” He settled me softly to the ground. “Want to do it again?”
I grabbed my belly. “No, that’s okay. I mean, that was great, I just don’t want to do it again so soon. Maybe later. Like when I know it’s coming.”
“I took you for someone who enjoys rides at the amusement park.”
“Some rides. The kiddie ones.”
Axel laughed. “Okay. I won’t do it again unless you’re ready for it.” He threaded his fingers through mine. “Come on.” He led me to the street, where his Mustang was parked off to the side.
“Are you capturing me?”
“I’m not a pirate,” he said over his shoulder.
“You would be if you put on an eye patch, lashed a parrot to your shoulder and had a hook hand.”
“Not a pirate,” he repeated.
“Okay, I get it. You’re not into role-playing. Not even werewolf?”
He barked a laugh and opened the door on my side. He looped around and slid into his seat. The car was already running. The humming engine made the vehicle vibrate softly.
“So, what’s going on?” I said once he maneuvered onto the street.
He flashed me a devilish grin that made my insides coil. “How many times have I said that we’re leaving Magnolia Cove for a date and how many times has that actually happened?”
“About two and none.”
“Right.” He tapped the steering wheel. “Except for today.”
I folded my arms as the cool air prickled my skin. “So you are capturing me.”
“I thought you wanted to go on a date,” he said with an obvious bite in his tone.
I smiled. “I do. I’m kidding. Lighten up.”
“It’s hard when you discover a friend has risen from the dead, is wanted by the mafia and I might have to protect him.”
“With one hand, I might add.”
Axel tipped his head toward me. “I’m not worried about this sling. If I have to, I’ll heal myself and throw it in the trash.”
My mouth fell in mock shock. “No. Say it isn’t so. I thought you were punishing yourself for things you couldn’t control—like Rufus forcing you to turn into a werewolf. That’s why you still wore the thing.”
Axel smirked. “You make it hard for a guy to have fun sometimes.”
I threw my head back and laughed. Strands of crimson and honey hair fell into my face when I straightened. I caught Axel staring at me.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t make me blush.”
“But that’s all I want you to do.”
He pulled over onto the shoulder. The houses had disappeared. We’d left the cove behind, and what greeted us now was the tree canopy that lined the dirt road leading into town.
I nibbled my bottom lip nervously. “What’re you doing?”
We came to a stop, and Axel turned to me. “I haven’t been alone with you all day. I don’t count the swing.”
I giggled. “If I remember correctly, the last time the two of us were out here in the boondocks, Rufus Mayes attacked me.”
Axel’s gaze flashed to the woods. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
I curled my fingers into his shirt. “But I do have to worry about some witch hunter.”
Axel exhaled and sat back in the seat. “Do you think I would bring you out here if I was worried about you?”
“No.”
“I think Donovan is in danger, yes. He got mixed up in something he shouldn’t have. He’s now in Magnolia Cove, a town full of witches, many of whom would give their lives to help each other. I’ve left with you to take a small detour, and we’ll return before eight, when he’s supposed to make his big debut at the mob-infested party downtown.”
“That was a mouthful.” I waited while he sat staring at me.
“I just wanted to get us outside that town for once. You haven’t left since you arrived.”
“It seems like someone always wants to kill me.”
Axel rubbed my head. “No one’s going to harm you. Not while I’m here. Think about it—how scared are you sinc
e Rufus was banished? You faced off against him and won, Pepper. You won. Few can say that. So are you really afraid of anything anymore?”
I tapped the corner of my mouth. “Sure. There’s tornadoes, earthquakes, floods.”
He grabbed my hand. “Seriously.”
I shrugged. “I guess I haven’t thought about it. I haven’t had time. Donovan appeared, told me he was in danger and that I was, too.”
Axel unbuckled his seat belt and pulled me to him. He rested his forehead against mine before brushing his mouth to my skin. Heat blazed across my flesh where his lips had left a trail. I raised my head and felt myself gazing at him expectantly. He smiled. The corners of his eyes crinkled. He rubbed the pad of his thumb over my lips before kissing me fully.
I relaxed into him. Well, as much as I could with a gearshift poking me in the ribs. I sighed. My toes curled while my fingers twisted into his black T-shirt.
I have no idea how much time had passed when we separated. All I knew was that my chin was definitely going to be raw the next morning. Great. I’m sure Betty would notice and have something to say about that. She enjoyed commenting on my private life. It was like a thing with her—a weird, compulsive thing.
When we came up for air, I leaned against the car door. “So. If you’re taking me someplace, we’d better get on it. Eight p.m. isn’t far away.”
Axel adjusted in the seat. “You got it. I know a great little place where you catch your own catfish and then they cook it right in front of you.”
I quirked a brow. “How about a picnic with the catfish already cooked? I’m not feeling like catching my own meal tonight.”
“We can do that, too.”
As we slid back onto the dirt road, I saw headlights up ahead. The sun was sinking down the sky, but it hadn’t burned all the way to the horizon. As the vehicle neared, I realized it was a passenger van and inside I counted at least six people.
But it wasn’t the head count the made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. It was the blue lettering painted on the side of the panels.
THE SENSATIONAL SINGERS
My heart pounded. I grabbed Axel’s arm. “Those are the people Donovan said he bought the vampire bat from. They’re heading into Magnolia Cove.” I twisted to look at him. “Can they do that? I don’t think they’re witches.”
