I looked at my bunny slippers. “There’s nothing wrong with my feet.” I peered over Britta’s shoulder. “Where are the goblin accomplices?”
Britta’s brow wrinkled. “What goblins?”
“They ran off when I left to get the sheriff,” Jasper said. “Not to worry. I’ll identify them for you.”
I cocked my head at Jasper. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I suppose I love my freedom more than I love Elsa,” he said. “I don’t want to go to prison for helping Mrs. Knightsbridge.”
Smart guy. “You may want to take care of these two before they fully recover,” I said. “They have a bad habit of not realizing when they’ve been beaten.”
“What happened, Emma?” Britta asked. “Why would you come here in pajamas on your wedding day?”
“Hugo had me kidnapped from my house,” I said. “I’ll explain everything later, but right now I need to go home and get ready or I’ll be late.”
“Fair enough,” Astrid said. “I’ll take care of this mess.”
“Be quick,” I said. “I don’t want you to miss my wedding either.”
“Seriously,” Britta added. “I’m playing a harp before the ceremony. I need to get cleaned up, too.”
Jasper made a nervous noise at the back of his throat. “I’d understand if you don’t want to, but I’d be happy to give you a lift home.”
I waved him off. “I appreciate the offer, Jasper, but it’s the flying I object to, not you.”
“I have my jalopy,” Rochester said. “I’ll drive you. I’m in a daring mood. I may even go over the speed limit.”
Astrid’s hands flew to cover her ears. “I did not just hear you say that.”
Rochester recovered his wand and we left the house together.
“This certainly wasn’t the morning I expected to have,” the wizard said, sliding into the driver’s seat.
“You’re telling me.” I joined him in the jalopy. “I’m so glad you came today, Rochester. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
“Knowing you, Emma, you would’ve found a way. But I’m certainly glad I was able to help. You deserve a beautiful, calm wedding day.”
“Well, I think we can safely say ‘calm’ is out the window, but I’ll settle for beautiful.”
Rochester smiled. “Indeed.”
Chapter 19
The sound of harps in the distance made my heart swell. “They’re not too terrible,” I said.
Gareth arched an eyebrow. “If I weren’t already dead, I’d kill myself to escape that racket.”
“Don’t be mean,” I said. “It was quite a feat to move all those harps out of the church basement. Apparently, Quinty invented something solely for that purpose.”
“Quinty would invent a space rocket if given half a chance.”
“He can’t,” I said. “That’s already been invented.”
Gareth eyed me suspiciously. “We really need to talk more.”
Less talking, more walking, Sedgwick said, circling above us.
Nice bowtie, I said.
Consider it my gift to you, Your Highness.
You look remarkably handsome, Sedgwick.
My breathing hitched when I saw the scene beside the lake. It seemed like every paranormal in Spellbound was in attendance. My bridesmaids were assembled at the back of the seating area, looking every bit as beautiful as I imagined them in their Ready-to-Were dresses. Ricardo was the best, no question. The witches’ familiars stood beside them, wearing purple bows.
“I should’ve made arrangements for Magpie,” I said. “I’ve been so caught up in the curse and the wedding…” I trailed off. There was no excuse. Magpie should have been included.
“No worries, Emma,” Gareth said. “I found a way to get a message to my friends.” He tilted his head and I followed his gaze to Samson and Edgar. The two vampires sat with a giant furball on their laps.
“Magpie’s here,” I croaked. He even wore a bowtie that matched Sedgwick’s. I could have melted into the ground.
“He didn’t want to miss it,” Gareth said. “How else can he make fun of you later?”
I watched as the Grey sisters guided guests to their seats. They seemed to have made an effort to look less like cave dwellers and more like typical residents. Effie and Petra swapped the eye back and forth, as needed.
Lucy fluttered at the front of the crowd, chatting with anyone and everyone. Although I couldn’t see Daniel, I had no doubt that he was ready and waiting.
“Emma, you look divine,” Begonia said.
“Seems appropriate, since she’s marrying an angel,” Millie added.
“Everyone looks perfect,” I said. “Ricardo is a genius.”
The harps stopped and another song began to play. I immediately recognized the main theme from Wonder Woman.
“How on earth…?” They were playing Is She With You? “This is a song from the human world.”
“We may have helped with this one,” Laurel said. “Good thing I know how to read and write music.”
“What can’t you do, Laurel?” I said. She didn’t even need magic. The teenager was amazing all by herself.
“Time to go,” Millie hissed. The bridesmaids formed a line and began their steady parade down the aisle. Each witch was escorted by her familiar.
“Not too late to do a runner,” Gareth whispered.
“Why are you whispering?” I asked. “No one else can hear you.” He offered his arm and I took a deep breath. “Here goes everything.”
I was too nervous to look up until I was nearly there. When I dared to peek, Daniel’s admiring gaze was pinned on me. My whole body tingled. I couldn’t believe this was really happening.
I joined him on the platform. “Holy Flying Hot Guy,” I said.
“You’re truly a vision, Emma,” he replied. “A dream come true.”
“Right back at ya,” I said.
“Where are the rings?” Lucy asked.
I glanced upward, to where Sedgwick was circling us. You’re up.
Bombs away, he replied, and released a tiny parcel.
You’d better not aim for the water, I warned.
I breathed a sigh of relief when Lucy caught the parcel in her hands. She unwrapped the rings and handed one to me.
“I feel stupidly lucky right now,” I blurted, and Daniel laughed.
“Better stupidly lucky than plain stupid,” Gareth quipped, and I shushed him. “What? No one can hear me except you.”
I glared at him before continuing my vows. “Today, I marry my best friend. The angel of my dreams. The one I laugh with and cry with.”
“You laugh and cry with me,” Gareth muttered.
“You’re gay,” I shot back. “It’s different.”
Lucy made an agitated noise.
“Can we keep the focus where it belongs?” Daniel asked, pointing to his chest.
“Your focus belongs on his chest?” Gareth queried. “He should at least save his kinky demands for the honeymoon.”
I longed to give Gareth a swift kick, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. My leg would just sail through the air and knock me on my bridal butt.
“I feel like I've always known you,” I continued. “Like I recognized you from a previous life. It seems that you’ve always been beside me, cheering me on and loving me. You are a gift from the gods…”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Gareth motioning to wrap it up. I stuck out my tongue and carried on.
“You have always been so much more than you believed yourself to be. You’re kind, compassionate, loving, and incredibly sexy.” Someone in the audience whooped in response. “You’re intelligent, disciplined, and hard-working. You’ve worked so hard to be a better paranormal, and you are, Daniel. I hope you never regret taking this leap of faith with me.”
Lucy sniffed loudly and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “And now we hear from the groom.” She handed him the other ring.
&n
bsp; Daniel fixed his turquoise eyes on me and my insides quivered, like they always did when he looked at me that way. Like I was special. Like I was the only one in the world for him.
“Today, I give you this ring. The day we met, I traded a piece of my soul for yours,” he said. “A decision I will never regret, not for all my immortal life.”
A few more sniffles joined Lucy’s.
“We saved each other on the cliff that day,” he continued. “Our connection was immediate, but my love for you grew and strengthened as I got to know you. Your compassion and sensitivity. Your boundless energy and positive outlook. You helped me become the angel I was always capable of being, but I was too afraid of change.”
Gareth pretended to snore. He was officially the worst best man of honor, ever.
“The bonds of love are stronger than any force, any magic,” Daniel said. “And I promise you on this day that my love for you is eternal.”
“Now for the blood oath,” someone called from the crowd. I’d recognize Dr. Hall’s throaty voice anywhere.
“No blood oath today,” Lucy said sweetly. “Daniel and Emma have opted for a more personalized wedding.”
“Nothing’s more personal than swapping blood,” Gareth said.
I cringed. “Can we stop talking about blood in the middle of my wedding vows?”
“You’d never make it through a vampire wedding,” Gareth replied.
“The only wedding I’m concerned with right now is my own,” I said.
“Good to hear,” Daniel interjected.
“By the authority vested in me as the mayor of Spellbound,” Lucy began, “I hereby recognize you as domestic partners for life.”
Domestic partners? I shot a quizzical look at Lucy.
“You can make out now,” Lucy urged. “We won’t judge.”
“I will,” Gareth said.
I moved toward Daniel and stood on my tiptoes to better reach his mouth. When my lips pressed against his, everyone clapped and cheered, and the world was right again.
The receptions were held at multiple venues around town. Daniel and I started at the Tiki Bar, which was the smallest place. Children played in the maze and drank lemonfizz, while the adults danced and enjoyed the amazing food that Markos offered.
Daniel and I danced for the crowd. It was mildly uncomfortable to have so many eyes on us at once, but we persevered. For better or worse, we were the stars of our own show today.
“Love is a many-splendored thing.” Boyd clapped Daniel on the back, as the song ended. “Congratulations, both of you.”
“Thanks, Boyd,” I said. His words reminded me of something, but I was too distracted by my surroundings to think clearly.
The druid healer polished off his ale. “You sure know how to throw a party.”
“We’re throwing several,” Daniel said. “We need to make sure we show up at all of them.”
“The country club is next,” I said. “Agnes is giving her speech there and she wants us to hear it.”
“We can censor her, right?” Daniel asked. “Someone’s been tasked with zapping her if she gets out of control?”
“Silas will take care of her,” I said.
Despite my efforts to focus on the conversation, I continued to process Boyd’s words, searching my brain for the connection. Connection!
“Love is a bridge that connects us all,” I said, reciting Heidi’s parting words.
“That’s nice,” Daniel said. “Do you regret not putting that in our wedding vows?”
“No, that’s not what I mean.” My brain synapses were firing on all cylinders now. I thought of the symbol of the harp from the coven spell to break the curse. “The Celts believed the harp symbolized a bridge of love. It formed the connection between heaven and earth.”
“Okay,” Daniel said slowly.
“I originally thought it meant we’d all have to die to gain our freedom,” I said.
“Such a pleasant thought on your wedding day,” Boyd interjected.
“We don’t all have to die,” I said.
Daniel chuckled. “That’s good news.”
“Just one of us does,” I said, and his expression clouded over. “That’s the act of love we need to complete the spell. Sacrifice.”
“Sounds extreme,” Boyd said.
“That’s what the horn is for,” I told them. “It’s not a symbol. It’s a tool. A weapon.”
Daniel’s brow creased. “A paranormal sacrifice? That’s so barbaric.”
I agreed, but I knew in my gut it was the only way to break the curse without Raisa’s help.
“We should do it now,” I said. “With so many paranormals assembled, we can magnify the spell. A handful of coven members weren’t enough, but I know I can generate enough power with half the town.”
Daniel stared at me. “Emma, it’s our wedding day. What about the receptions?”
“No one will care,” I said. “We’re talking about breaking the curse, Daniel. This is about more than just us.”
“I understand that, but…” He couldn’t finish. I recognized that look. Daniel was worried.
I took his hand and squeezed. “It’s going to be okay.”
He gave a crisp nod. “Yes, it will.”
I hiked up my dress and climbed onto the bar. “Attention!” I clapped my hands, but the music was too loud. I needed a spell. I gathered my will and said, “Calm this riot/make it quiet.”
The room fell silent.
“I need everyone to make their way to Curse Cliff,” I announced.
“Curse Cliff?” they murmured.
“And why in the devil’s name would we do that?” a vampire asked. I realized it was Piotr Underkoffler, the creepy vampire that owned the funeral home.
“Because I think I know how to break the curse,” I replied. “And it would be best to have as many of us there as possible.”
Excited chatter erupted.
“How will you do it, Emma?” someone yelled.
“No time for that now,” I said. “Let’s get as many residents as we can near the cliff. We’ll form a chain.”
“A chain?” Fabio echoed. I knew from personal experience that the werelion was deathly afraid of Curse Cliff.
“She means holds hands,” someone said.
“If you see anyone on the way, grab them, too,” I said. “Every resident matters. The more paranormals, the better.”
Guests began to file out of the Tiki Bar.
“Daniel, can you fly me to the other receptions?” I asked hurriedly. “Let’s get everyone there.”
“Are you sure this will work?” Daniel asked.
“Of course not,” I replied. “That won’t stop us from trying, though.” The fact that it was a challenge never stopped me from trying. Spellbound needed my help, and that was my talent. Even though I was never very good at helping myself, it didn’t stop me from being helpful in the lives of others.
I delivered the same message to those assembled at the country club. The manager swiftly lined up magical golf carts for non-fliers to use, while witches and wizards grabbed their broomsticks. Although Agnes expressed displeasure over her interrupted speech, she went willingly.
Daniel and I moved on to the next location to shepherd the rest of the guests to Curse Cliff.
“This is gonna be epic,” I heard a young elf say.
I hoped so. I wanted this spell to succeed. The paranormals of Spellbound had waited long enough for their freedom. It would be my wedding gift to the town that gave me a better life than I’d ever dreamed of.
Chapter 20
I tasked Meg and Ginger with retrieving the horn and parchment from the coven vault and meeting us at the cliff. There was still the matter of the sacrifice, and I had no idea how to resolve it. I only knew that it had to be done for the spell to work. That may have been one of the reasons the coven dragged their feet when they originally began piecing together the spell. They weren’t prepared to make the necessary sacrifice.
By the time the required items arrived, there was a chain of paranormals as far as the eye could see. Sedgwick flew above us, reporting on the scene as it unfolded. My critical eye in the sky.
“Are you sure about the need for sacrifice?” Meg asked, handing over the unicorn horn.
“I’m afraid so,” I said. “This is reversing a powerful curse. It takes more than true love’s kiss.”
Professor Holmes patted his forehead with a handkerchief. “I do believe Emma is on the right track, although I wish it weren’t so.”
In the distance, I saw Agnes elbowing her way through the crowd of linked paranormals. For an elderly witch, she moved at an impressive pace.
“What’s this I hear about a sacrifice?” she asked, planting herself in front of me. “Nice horn.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I need to stab someone with it and kill them.”
She flicked the horn with her bony fingers. “Sounds fun. I’ll do it.”
I inclined my head. “Do what?”
“Be the sacrificial lamb,” she said. “What do I have to lose? I’m old. My daughter is a traitor. I’ve lived my life. I’d gladly give it in exchange for their freedom.” She nodded toward the long chain of paranormals.
Impulsively, I threw my arms around Agnes. “I do love you, you old witch.”
“Don’t get sentimental on me.” Agnes untangled herself from my grip. “If I’m about to die, I’d like to maintain my reputation as a crazed curmudgeon.”
“It’s a selfless thought, Agnes,” Professor Holmes said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think it will work.”
She squinted at the kindly wizard. “Why not?”
“How to say this delicately?” He rubbed his hands together. “You said it yourself. You lived your life already. You essentially have nothing to lose.”
Understanding flickered in the old witch’s eyes. “So it doesn’t count as a sacrifice.”
Professor Holmes shook his head. “I don’t believe it would.”
Agnes kicked a stone. “Bummer.”
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder. “It has to be me, Emma.”
I spun toward him. “What are you talking about?”
All Spell Breaks Loose Page 17
