Sidhe followed Fredi. “Just in case someone remembers what they just saw and starts yapping about it, I’ll slip them a hex and erase their memories.”
Miss Dahlia headed into the crowd. “I’ll cast an enchantment and make sure all the children find their parents and all the parents find their car keys.”
Val took hold of Estele’s hand. “I think we should take a walk on the beach. I want to hear about everything that happened inside the lamp.”
“Really?” The way he looked at her with such a dreamy expression made her heart race. Everything about him, from the way he touched her to the patience in his voice, gave away his interest in her. It felt great too. “That’s a good idea. I think I need to chill.” And what would be better than sitting on the sand dunes with Val and watching the waves roll in while she attempted to process her brief meeting with her late father?
She glanced at Blackjack. “After the fair is put right, somebody needs to help this pony. Luther trapped a gambler inside.” She petted his silky mane. “What was your name, sir?”
The pony stomped its front hooves, pulled back its lips, and spoke in a gruff male voice. “Harold Rosecrans.” He turned to Marge. “Hey, beautiful. Would you get me a carrot?”
Epilogue
Four months later
THE STREETS OF SAN Buena were decorated for the holidays with thousands of colorful lights strung from lamppost to lamppost. Their cheerful glow chased away the chill of evening fog.
Estele drove her little red VW Bug around a deep pothole. She glanced over to the passenger seat to smile at Val. “I’m so happy you’re with me tonight. This is so important to me.”
Val reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. “It’s important to me too. I’m proud of you, Esy.”
Esy. She loved the pet name Val had given her. In past months he’d given her a nickname, confidence, and so much more. Dare she say it, but Val was turning out to be someone she could she see herself loving for the rest of her life.
“We’re almost there. The downtown area is going to be crowded with holiday shoppers.” She opened the glove box and cracked the window. “Parking Fairy, do your thing.”
An emerald green spark darted out of the glove box, zipped around the interior of the car, and settled on the steering wheel.
Buzz, buzz, buzzzz, buzz buzz.
“I’m happy you noticed, Fae.” Her Parking Fairy had been a dream to live with lately. No tantrums, no vendettas. In fact, everything about her life seemed to be coming together. “Yes, this is a fresh manicure. I love purple too. This shade is called Eye of Newt. I’m glad you like it.”
Fae flew toward Val’s cheek and affectionately rubbed against it, purring. Buzz, buzz, buzzzz.
“You’re being a little flirt.” Estele laughed and opened the window another inch. “Fae, find us a parking space as close to the Master Mage Magic Academy as you can get.” She almost said thank you, but bit her lip to keep from making such an embarrassing faux pas.
Buzz. Fae flew out the window and raced ahead.
Estele reached over to squeeze Val’s hand. “Fae will be back in a minute with recon and she can guide us in.”
Val was dressed casually but elegantly in a pair of black jeans and an eggplant-purple silk shirt. Looking at him now, with his dark hair swept away from his rugged face and sparkling eyes, it was hard to believe there was a time in her life when she hadn’t loved and trusted a brujo.
Straightening his sleeves, he buttoned his cuffs. “You never told me, why are we going to the Master Mage Magic Academy in the first place? Is it a Christmas party?”
Why were they going? Miss Dahlia had insisted she show up at a certain time and it had never occurred to her to question it. “I’m not sure what it is. It’s a celebration of some sort. We just have to show up. We don’t need to stay.”
Fae returned and zipped back and forth in front of the windshield, pointing the way to a prime parking space situated near the entrance of the school.
“Ah. Parking Fairy found us a great spot. Considering how much traffic there is downtown, I don’t believe it.” She pulled the car over and parked. “Hey! Look at that, the Brujo Tacos truck is here. What’s Tio Bruno doing in San Buena? I thought he was down south this weekend working the San Diego Convention Center?”
Val smiled and glanced away. “We’re both here for something exceptional.”
“What?” A thrill of excitement shot through her. All her intuition told her something good was happening, but the skeptic in her had to ask anyway. “We’re not in trouble, are we? Please tell me we haven’t been named in a group lawsuit from the international djinn community?”
“No.” Val unfastened his seat belt. “It’s nothing like that.”
“I know! Fredi and Gus eloped and this is their secret reception party?”
He climbed out of the car and shut the door. “Nope. The wedding is still on.”
“Good, because I already bought my bridesmaid dress and I actually love it. You’re still coming to the wedding, right?”
“Yes.” Val strode to Estele’s side and took her hand. “You know I wouldn’t miss it.”
They climbed the front steps together. “I take nothing for granted. You and Tio Bruno are so busy. The truck’s booked solid every day.”
Estele pushed the glass doors open and entered a long hallway leading to the inconspicuous staircase at the end.
Val walked at her side, looking nervous. “I want to run something by you. Soon, I’m going to be even busier. My dad’s setting me up in business with my own Brujo Tacos truck.”
She stopped to throw her arms around Val’s neck and hug him. “That’s so wonderful! Congratulations.” The thought occurred that he’d be way too busy to commute the three-to-five-hour drive from down south as often as he did now. “This is good news. We’ll find a way to see each other, won’t we? I won’t be in school forever. It’s maybe another year or two until I graduate. I’m not screwing up nearly as badly as I used to.”
He kissed her lips and brushed a lock of hair from her brow. “You haven’t been screwing up at all. Give yourself credit, sweetheart. Your magic has been pristine. Your father, grandmother, and all your ancestors would be so proud of you.”
When she looked into his eyes as she did now, she saw a beautiful future. Without doubt Val was the one, she just didn’t know how to bring it up. “You say the nicest things to me.”
“I didn’t say it to be nice. It’s true.” Leaning close, he kissed her again. This time the kiss lingered, soft and sweet on her lips. “I want to relocate to San Buena to be closer to you. What do you think of that idea?”
“You mean work your own truck apart from Bruno? Are you kidding me?” She returned his kiss and tangled her fingers in his thick hair. “I think it’s a great idea. You can do it!”
“Tio and I would work big events together, like the Coachella festival. You could come with me.”
“I would love that.” A breathless sensation washed over her. It was as if all her wildest dreams were coming true at the same time. “Maybe you could move in with me?” The large apartment was so lonely during the week now that Captain Manx had moved on. “At least think about it.”
Val wrapped his arms around Estele and drew her against his chest. “Only if you allow me to pay the rent.”
“Is that a macho brujo condition?” She laughed.
“Yes.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Esy. I want to take care of you. I’m offering my heart, good food, rent, and more if you want.”
She sensed he was going to offer marriage, but was she ready for that? Hopefully, someday soon she would be. If a psychic had told her six months ago that she would be living a balanced life and standing beside a good man who loved her, she would have thought them a complete charlatan.
A puff of steam materialized beside them. Witch Griselda appeared in the hallway, looking disheveled and confused. She turned in a slow circle, thumping her staff on th
e floor and making the Heart of Hecate glow crimson. “I heard talking. Where am I? There you are! Miss Esposito, why aren’t you inside already? Everyone’s waiting for you to arrive.”
Estele hooked her arm through Griselda’s and led the elderly lady down the stairs. “Grissy, as usual, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but let’s walk into the Master Mage Magic Academy together. I would be honored to escort you.”
Griselda patted Estele’s arm. “You’re such a sweet little seraphim. I have no children, but if I did, I’d like to think they would have turned out just like you, dear.”
How lovely to be praised! It was as if the day just got better and better. Estele felt as if she might cry tears of joy.
“You’re just as crazy,” Griselda muttered, “and dangerously unpredictable as I would expect a child of mine to behave. Estele, you are the category-five hurricane that may or may not reach shore. You are the shake-up the enchantment community has needed for a very long time.”
Wow, that compliment took a hard left, but it was still a compliment. Somehow, someway, she’d arrived. People treated her with affection and respect instead of dread. The incident at the fairgrounds had triggered a change, but Val’s love had taken everything over the top. His belief in her proved to be an act of healing alchemy for her soul. “Thank you.”
Val walked ahead and opened the door to the academy. “Come inside, ladies.”
Estele took slow, careful steps so Griselda could keep up. Once she reached the deliberately nondescript threshold of the Master Mage Magic Academy, she peered into a darkened room. “Why are the lights out? Someone could get hurt.” She reached for the switch.
“Surprise!” a chorus of voices rang out.
The lights flicked on and everyone in the enchantment community that Estele knew, from Sidhe the Fae to Fredi and Gus, and even her usually sour mother, who’d been remarkably civil lately, was looking at her with rapt attention. “What’s going on? It’s not my birthday.”
Griselda smiled and her left eye wandered up and down. “It’s your graduation day, Estele. You’ve worked hard and surpassed all expectations to become one of the most powerful and creative witches the San Buena enchantment community has ever produced. We want you to start the coming year with the proper title attached to your name.”
Miss Dahlia and Madame Shamansky, who now worked at the school full time teaching Psychic Predictions 101, stepped forward. Together they presented Estele with a rolled papyrus.
Estele studied the document in her hand. “What is this?”
Miss Dahlia pushed her glasses up her nose. “Unfurl it and take a look.”
With Val reading over her shoulder, she unrolled the papyrus and scanned the handwritten page. Her chest tightened as she read the words aloud. “The Master Mage Magic Academy by the Sea wishes to recognize excellence in magical craft and character in Estele Ernestina Esposito, by bestowing on her the well-earned title of Mistress of Enchantment.” She glanced around the room, scanning faces for signs it was a hoax or a mistake of some kind. “Are you kidding? Is this real?”
“It’s real.” Miss Dahlia smiled. “Your improvement has been astounding, a glowing example of what’s possible when a talented person applies focus.”
She read it again just to make sure she was reading things right. The school was recognizing her for doing something right, and it felt so good. A lump of emotion rose in her throat and she’d didn’t trust herself to say another word. She glanced around the room, and so many happy faces looked back. Emily the closeted psychic and Hector the weird Goth boy both looked overcome with emotion. Some kind soul had even brought the shrunken heads from the Voodoo Hoodoo cocktail lounge especially for this occasion, and for once they were silent and smiling through stitched lips.
Numbed, she reread the papyrus. “Is this a mistake? Mistress of Enchantment is the equivalent of a magical master’s degree. Does this mean I passed the Master Mage vocational program?”
Miss Dahlia placed her hand on Estele’s shoulder. “It means you have so much to teach the rest of us. Estele, we would be honored to have you as an instructor.”
Witch Griselda pounded her staff on the floor. “If I die, which I don’t plan on anytime soon, you might eventually replace me as the headmistress.” She tossed the staff into Estele’s hands. “Catch!” she cackled.
Estele caught the staff in one hand and held it aloft. This was almost too much to take in. “Master Mage Magic Academy! Freaking yeah!”
Fredi clapped loudly. “To Estele Esposito, my best friend! Everybody give the newest Mistress of Enchantment a round of applause!”
“To Ernesto, the bravest brujo!” she added. By some strange but wonderful transmutation, she’d become dependable. All around the room, the cheers continued, but all she could focus on was the love in Val’s eyes as he gazed back at her.
THE END.
About the Author
KATALINA LEON IS A USA Today best selling author who can't commit to a single romance subgenre. Her favorite playgrounds are Urban Fantasy, historical, and most of all paranormal realms. Lately, she has paranormal romance and vampires on the brain. Katalina brings a sense of adventure and a touch of the mystical to romance. She believes there's a daring heroine inside every woman who wants to take a wild ride with a strong, worthy hero.
www.katalinaleon.com
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