Ian nodded encouragingly at him.
“Tanner Prince is a real bad guy. If there were a checklist for dark wizard crimes, he would have each box checked. He’s been missing for two weeks and I’m afraid we’ll have to make up new checkboxes for what he’s doing right now, if you catch my meaning.” He tapped the file containing Tanner’s information. Mr. Allen wasn’t completely convinced of my talents yet since the Casters of Silver Springs didn’t often use psychics to find dark wizards, but Ian and the Black Dawn Conjurers gave me glowing recommendations.
“I see. Well, we need to find this guy, fast.” I looked at Daire, who was staring off into the night sky.
Daire cleared his throat. “Please give Dahlia something belonging to Mr. Prince and tell her what you know about him. It’ll help her focus on the item.”
Mr. Allen pulled out a wallet and a photo of a woman. I took the items and held them. Clearing my mind, I listened to Daire walk me through the process we had established to control my visions. Using Daire as an anchor, I searched for Tanner Prince. He wasn’t using any kind of cloaking spell, so I was able to find him easily.
I started sketching and I let my hand go where it needed to go until a picture formed. Hearing Daire count to ten, I backed out of the vision. I looked down at the drawing to see a pier on a beach. On the pier was a teddy bear and a sign that said, “Wildwood.”
I handed the drawing to Mr. Allen. “He’s in Wildwood. You’ll find him somewhere with the word bear in the title or near a bear. It could be a zoo or a mini golf course with a bear. That’s all I’m getting right now.”
Smiling, he nodded and pulled out his cell phone. “You’re right. Get to Wildwood where he used to live. Check the pier and any place with a bear or a bear in the name.” He hung up and nodded to me. “We appreciate your help, Miss Huston.”
He shook Daire and Ian’s hands before walking down the porch and heading for his car.
Aiden came out of the house with glasses of lemonade. “How did it go?”
I shrugged. “Not sure if they trust me yet, but I passed their test. They already had an idea about where the dark wizard was. They just used me to narrow their search.”
He chuckled. “At least they paid you for your services.” He handed me a glass and sat down next to me on the couch.
“True. I hope they get the guy.” I took a sip of lemonade and sighed. Winking at Daire, I blew him a kiss. “Thank you for anchoring me.”
He nodded. “Anytime.”
Ian settled down next to me. “Had I known they were going to waste your time, I would have never agreed to the meeting.”
I stroked his thigh. “It’s fine. Once they trust me, they’ll give me something worthy, until then, I see Mr. Allen’s wife coming in for a tattoo next week. Of course, it will be a fucking butterfly, but it will be a damn pretty butterfly.” I was getting better at seeing the future without the splitting headaches now that Ian had taught me the right way to guard myself against negative energy.
I grabbed Ian’s hand and kissed the back of it. Snuggling into his side, I sighed.
“Whose turn is it to make Dahlia scream?” Aiden chuckled wickedly.
Daire and Ian both looked at each other.
“Me, right?” Daire raised his hand.
“I believe you’re right. I had her twice on Tuesday because you got held up on an install.” Ian squeezed my hand as he recalled our fun together. “I remember because she finally finished this beauty.”
He popped open his shirt buttons to show off his phoenix.
“I really want a tattoo. I just need to decide what I want.” His eyes slid up my legs as if he was picturing me tattooed on some part of him.
Daire ignored the tattoo and rubbed his hands together. “Yes! I need to make up for lost time! I have a new game to play. It’s called, guess what I’ll do next.”
I laughed at the way his mind worked. I knew it would involve a blindfold of some kind.
Hearing a jingling noise, I looked across the front yard to see a dog running free. I wasn’t really into dogs or animals in general, but this one belonged to someone.
Hopping over Ian, I winked at Daire. “Get the blindfold ready. I’ll be right back.” Turning to Aiden, I pointed to him. “Aiden. Grab the book from my purse, please. I don’t know why, but I think someone needs it more than me right now.” He nodded and sprinted into the house.
Ian raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were going to donate the spelled romance novel to the library or give it to the next spinster you saw. Why are you taking it with you to find a lost dog?”
Watching the dog run into the cemetery, my mind had heard the word “God,” not “dog”. “I’m not sure, but whoever owns that dog needs it.”
Daire leaned over the railing. “Need help?”
“Nope. I don’t want to scare off whoever I’m about to meet. Handing a random stranger a book will freak her out enough. I don’t need an entourage.” I laughed at the image of me showing up with these three to convince someone to take the book. I didn’t want to look like I was part of a cult.
Aiden came out and handed me the book. “Is it safe?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Daire hasn’t raised the dead today and I haven’t seen any dark wizards lurking around. I think I’ll be fine with a dog owner and the dead.”
He shrugged. “I hear vampires like to prey on people there.” He chuckled at his past indiscretions.
“I’ll be fine. If I’m not back in ten minutes, come in spells ablazing.”
I sprinted down the steps and followed the pooch into the cemetery. She had stopped to sniff a rose bush someone had planted a few years ago.
I carefully walked in a semi-circle to get behind her so she didn’t run. I assumed her owner would be coming from my house, so I wanted to cut off the dog’s escape.
Seeing a woman running with a leash in her hand, I nodded to her. “Is she yours?”
She nodded and tried to catch her breath. “Yes. Thank you.” She looked down at the dog. “Bad Mika.”
“I’m Dahlia. I saw her running across my lawn. I’m not a pet lover, but I didn’t want her to get hurt.”
“Well, I appreciate it. I’m Willow.” She extended her hand to me.
Though I was getting better at protecting myself when touching people, something told me to take a chance and read her.
“Nice to meet you.” I touched her hand and immediately saw a place that resembled Hell, though I got the impression this lady was old school and would call it the Underworld. A cold feeling shot up my arm and I felt death. It wasn’t the kind of cold feeling I got when someone’s parent or friend died, but a blistering cold feeling like a whole lot of people had died.
The word goddess came to mind. While Willow was pretty, I felt like goddess was more of a job title than a beauty reference. It sounded impossible, but I believed was related to some kind of goddess.
More than the cold feeling of death, I felt her sadness and loneliness.
Willow pulled her hand away when I held it too long. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Dahlia. Thank you for helping me.”
I awkwardly stepped in her path. “I’m sorry to pry, but are you okay? I get the impression you were upset about something. Did you just break up with a guy or do you have bad luck with men?”
Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “That’s an understatement.”
I nodded. “I know what it’s like to have a crappy love life. Thankfully, things changed and I found the right guy. Well, I found a few right guys, but whatever. I feel like you want to give up on men.”
She let out a sigh and nodded. “It’s hopeless really. My mother believes that I’ll find the right…well, the right person. Personally, I hate romance and anything to do with it.”
I raised my hand. “I’m guilty of that too. There’s nothing worse than seeing a couple all gushy and mushy.”
“Right?” She shook her head. “I’m better off alone.”
I s
hrugged. “I thought the same thing, until love kind of crashed into me. We’re still working out the kinks, but I couldn’t imagine my life without them. I’m really good at listening if you want to tell me what happened.”
She looked down at Mika. "Nothing bad really happened. I was the one who broke it off. He deserved better than me. Someone that was his equal. I just hope I made the right decision."
“Oh, well. I hope everything works out. All I can say is that I went from pushing everyone away because I was afraid of who and what I was. Because of them, I’m learning to accept myself. I know if you found the right someone, all of that bad stuff would seem a little better.” I could see how skeptical she was, but I truly believed that something good would come her way, with a little help.
“I hope so.” She bent over and attached the leash to the pooch.
Pulling the book out from behind my back, I handed it to her. “A friend gave this to me when I needed help. It might sound strange, but I think you could use it.” Willow held out her hand to object to the romance novel, but I tossed it at her so she was forced to catch it. “Trust me. I read mostly art books and magazines, but this book honestly changed my life. Give it a try.”
She stared at the cover and frowned. “Umm, sure.”
Laughing, I nodded. “I know. I know. A random stranger hands you a romance novel in the middle of a cemetery. Totally not creepy. Regardless, I know in my gut that it will help you, if you let it.”
She gave me a small smile and looked around as if she were planning her escape from the crazy lady who was acting like a bible salesman.
“Anyway, thank you for helping me with Mika. And for the book.” She the corner of the book as if she would throw it in the first trashcan she saw.
Stepping away, she whistled and pulled her pooch along.
“Hey, Willow. If you are interested in a tattoo with a hellscape or twin lit torches crossed over a key in the middle, I’m really good at red and orange flames. I’ll give you a discount if you drop by Lady Blue Tattoo.”
Seeing her eyes widen and her mouth fall open, I knew my vision of the Underworld had been real, which was much creepier than standing in a cemetery. Poor woman. She had some serious issues to deal with.
Waving, she nodded. “I’ll definitely stop by if I have a chance. Thank you for the book, psychic.”
For the first time, the word psychic didn’t bother me. As long as I could use my abilities to help people, I could learn to accept them and accept myself.
The End
Ready for the next book in the Spell Library Series?
Willow (Spell Library #6) by Elena Gray
I'm Willow and this is my life story...
Be warned, there will be plenty of awkward moments. The most humiliating happen to be with my mother.
She's a Goddess who is determined to get me laid. What extent will my mother go to to achieve her goal? The Gods only know...
Oh and let's not forget...zombies, a chupacabra and my ex-boyfriend are also part of the fun.
Goddess help me, what more can go wrong? Wait no! Mom, I meant Goddess in general, not you specifically.
Willow is a standalone paranormal reverse harem romance. It's part of the Silver Springs shared universe and can be read in any order.
One-Click to read this awkward and crazy romance today!
If you liked Dahlia, you’ll love these other Spell Library books:
Violet by Mia Harlan
Juniper by Eva Delaney
Lupine by Hanleigh Bradley
Calluna by Jewels Arthur
Dahlia by Tabitha Barret
Willow by Elena Gray
Tiger Lily by May Dawson
Sage by J.E. Cluney
Iris by Aspen Black
Buttercup by Helen Scott
Magnolia by Melissa Adams
Jasmine by Crystal North
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About the Author
Tabitha Barret is a Multi-Genre Romance author who graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in English. She married the interesting guy from her Creative Writing class and together had two amazing children. They live together in a quiet town in New Jersey with their four rambunctious dogs. To learn more about her other books and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website at www.tabithabarret.com.
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