Dead Over Heels

by Lily Webb

  “Right?” I agreed. “And just think, we never would’ve known about any of it if it weren’t for Zoe coming to town.”

  “Too bad my visit wasn’t under better circumstances,” Zoe said. “I would’ve liked to see more of Starfall Valley without being under threat.”

  “Well, you can always come back. You’re more than welcome here anytime,” I said, and Zoe beamed.

  “Thanks, Selena. I’d like that. Maybe next time I’ll bring the whole family.”

  “That sounds fantastic,” Blair said with a bright smile. “I’d love to meet your fiancé and little ones.”

  “We all would!” Kiki agreed. “It’s been years since kids have roamed these halls. I miss the sound!”

  “You might not feel that way after Ellie and Blaise tear through here,” Luna said, and everyone laughed.

  “Well, thanks for the invitation, anyway, and for taking me in from the start. I couldn’t have found a better place to call my home away from home during all this,” Zoe said. “Honestly, despite all the craziness that’s happened since I’ve been here, I’m really going to miss Starfall and you all. Especially you, Selena.”

  “Aw, I’m gonna miss you too,” I said, and pulled Zoe in for a hug. I meant it. She and I hadn’t known each other for more than a few days, but after what we’d experienced together, I felt like I’d made a new friend for life.

  Thorn stood up and held his mug over the table. “I don’t know about you all, but I think this calls for a toast!”

  Though Jadis raised her mug too, she rolled her eyes at Thorn. “We can always count on you to make things corny. Hey, that has a nice ring to it: Corny Thorny.” Despite myself, I couldn’t help laughing.

  “To new friends and our ever-expanding Kindred Spirits family, near and far,” Thorn said, ignoring Jadis and her new nickname for him I knew he’d never escape now. To spare him, I stood up and clinked my mug against Thorn’s.

  “To new friends and family!” I said, and beamed as everyone else repeated the words — until Lox and Keez swooped into the room, screeching and cackling over our heads. Arm-in-arm, they spun in furious circles.

  “Corny Thorny! Corny Thorny! Corny Thorny!” they shouted, and though Thorn’s face flushed, he burst out laughing with us.

  Chapter 16

  After a much needed night’s rest, the staff of Kindred Spirits had gathered in the foyer the next morning to see Zoe and Luna off — but none of us were looking forward to saying goodbye, least of all me.

  As if he’d sensed my sadness, Thorn squeezed my shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just gonna miss her, you know?”

  “I think we all will. Obviously, I’ve heard about how amazing Zoe is over the years, but it wasn’t until I actually met her and saw her in action that I believed it,” Thorn said.

  I glanced up at him, surprised. Thorn was a bit of an armchair expert on the history of the various magical communities, including Moon Grove, so I didn’t think he’d have any reason to be skeptical of Zoe. “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. I mean, it’s rare that you hear of one person making such a tremendous impact. Literally everyone knows the name Zoe Clarke, so I dunno. I thought maybe the reality wouldn’t live up to her reputation. I was way wrong.”

  “You can say that twice,” I said, and Thorn chuckled.

  “But now I see why Flora said you reminded her of Zoe so much. You two really are two ends of the same wand in a lot of ways,” he said, referring to the four-winged FBI agent and one of Zoe’s best friends from Moon Grove who’d helped us solve a case a few months prior.

  “How so?”

  “Well, you’re both strong willed, for starters. I don’t think anyone can tell either of you what to do.”

  I scowled up at him. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.”

  “It gets you into some sticky situations, but it never steers you wrong in the end. I mean, chasing down Marcus after his staged assassination attempt on Blackwood was crazy, but if you hadn’t done it, we wouldn’t have unraveled the whole plot — and I don’t really want to think about what might’ve happened if we hadn’t.”

  “That still sounds like a pretty backhanded compliment to me, but I think Corny Thorny’s onto something,” Jadis butted in, and I laughed, though Thorn rolled his eyes.

  “I’m really never going to escape that name, am I?”

  “Not while I’m around,” Jadis answered with a devious smile.

  “I dunno. I think it’s kinda cute,” I said.

  “You’re the only one I’d ever let call me that,” Thorn said with his face flushed.

  Thankfully for him, the elevator dinged as it arrived on the ground floor, interrupting the awkward exchange. Zoe emerged from the elevator carrying Luna in her carrier and beamed at the sight of us all.

  “Aw, you didn’t have to do this,” she said.

  “Of course, we did!” Blair said. “We couldn’t let the great Zoe Clarke leave without a proper goodbye.”

  “How are you all so chipper this early in the morning?” Luna groaned from her carrier. But I knew the cat well enough now to know she wasn’t as grumpy as she played.

  Zoe hoisted the cat carrier up to eye level. “Probably because the rest of us don’t spend sixteen hours a day asleep.”

  Luna yawned and curled up into a ball. “Your loss.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes and set the carrier on the ground to approach me. She took both my hands in hers and smiled. “I’m tempted to say thanks for a good time, but considering you almost got me killed…” Zoe trailed, and I burst out laughing; I couldn’t help it. “Kidding, obviously. Putting myself in dangerous situations is kind of my M.O. these days,” she continued when I’d gotten myself together.

  Jadis clapped me on the shoulder. “It’s Selena’s too. No wonder you two got along so well.”

  “Great minds think alike,” I said.

  “More like reckless ones, but sure,” Zoe said and winked at me. “Try to stay out of trouble when I’m gone, okay?”

  “I can’t make that promise any more than you can.”

  Zoe chuckled. “Fair enough. Trouble seems to find people with powers like ours, doesn’t it?”

  “Or is it our powers leading us to trouble?”

  “Oh, so now she’s a philosopher, too?” Luna asked from her cage, making everyone crack up.

  “Hey, do you need any more practice with the silencing spell?” Zoe asked me, then turned to Luna in her carrier. “I’ve got a perfect target for you.”

  “You wouldn’t dream of it,” Luna countered.

  “Oh, I’m dreaming in vivid color right now,” Zoe mumbled, then turned back to me. “Anyway, I’d better get out of here before that cat drives everyone nuts. I’m sure you’re all sick of her commentary. Lilith knows I am.”

  “I’m gonna miss her, actually,” Jadis said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had someone with her sense of humor around here.”

  “Are you looking to adopt?” Zoe asked, making everyone laugh again.

  “Somehow, I don’t think Lox and Keez would mind,” I said. Despite the cat-and-mouse game that’d developed between the imps and Luna, they seemed to enjoy each other’s company.

  “It would certainly keep them occupied and out of our hair,” Blair said.

  “I’m flattered, really, but I think I’d prefer the twin terrors I have at home pulling my tail over those imps,” Luna said.

  “Oh, goodness. You must be sick missing your little ones, Zoe!” Kiki said.

  Zoe sighed. “Coming here was a pleasant break from motherhood, but yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing Ellie and Blaise again.”

  “Then we’d better not keep you any longer,” Blair said. “Is there anything we can get you before you go?”

  “A nice serving of tuna would be great if—”

  “She wasn’t asking you,” Zoe interrupted Luna, and I had to bite back a laugh. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep her? I really wouldn
’t mind.”

  “As lovely as Luna is, I think we’ve got our fair share of mischievous miscreants here already,” Blair said with a warm smile.

  “Well, if you ever change your mind, I guess you know where to find me,” Zoe said, and hoisted Luna’s carrier off the ground. “This is it then, everyone. Thank you so much for having us, for being so welcoming, and for putting up with Luna.”

  “It’s been our pleasure, Zoe. You and your family are welcome here anytime,” Blair said, “Though hopefully the next time you make it to Starfall Valley it’ll be for recreation rather than an investigation.”

  “Here’s hoping,” Zoe said. “Hey, Selena. Before I go, do you think you and I could have a word alone?”

  “Uh, yeah. Sure,” I said and freed myself from Thorn’s grip. He shot me a look that warned me not to do anything crazy as I followed Zoe to the front door. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing major. I just wanted to tell you personally how much I enjoyed meeting and getting to know you and your friends. Despite everything that brought me here and everything that happened while I was in town, I’m glad our paths crossed.”

  I fought the urge to cry. “Thanks, Zoe. That means a lot to me, and I’m glad too.”

  “And hey, about that whole paranormal investigator business? Don’t forget what I said. I think you’d be great at it.”

  “Trust me, I haven’t forgotten,” I said. Truthfully, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Zoe’s suggestion that I start my own business. I wasn’t sure I agreed with her assessment of my skills, but if Officer Aimes was willing to offer me a job at the SVPD then I had to have something going for me, so why not capitalize on it?

  “Now that’s the thinking I like to hear,” Zoe said with a wink. “If you’re serious about it, I know more than a few people I could put you in touch with who know a thing or two about detective work.”

  “I dunno, I still need to think it over.”

  Zoe nodded. “Understandable. Anyway, if you change your mind or just want to chat, here’s my number,” she said and reached into her robes to pull out a business card. She passed it to me, and the gothic script font of the Moon Grove Messenger’s logo caught my eye. Beneath, it read: “Zoe Clarke, Senior Politics Reporter” along with her phone number and p-mail address.

  “Hey, that reminds me. Are you still going to write a story about this, or was that just your cover all along?”

  “I didn’t have you take all those pictures for nothing, Ms. Julia Feron,” Zoe said, and we shared a laugh. “Who knows? Maybe my grouchy editor Mitch will actually let me run a few of them if they turn out all right.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked, unable to believe I’d captured anything interesting, much less good.

  “Do you not want me to?”

  “Oh, no, I don’t mind, I’m just surprised.”

  “Well, how should I credit you? As Ms. Feron or Ms. Smith?”

  “Let’s go with Feron. I don’t want to blow my PI cover before it’s even started,” I said, and Zoe beamed at me.

  “Take care of yourself, Selena, and let me know if you ever make it to Moon Grove. I’d love to show you around. If I can get someone to babysit, we could even do a double date.”

  “That sounds great. You take care too, Zoe,” I said and, surprising myself, I pulled her in for a hug that she didn’t fight.

  After we parted, Zoe waved past me to the rest of the staff. “Thanks again, everyone! I’ve had one spell of a time.”

  “Hasta la vista, babies,” Luna said.

  “Bye, Zoe and Luna!” everyone called in unison, and with one last smile at me, Zoe pulled her wand from her robes, muttered, “Evanesco,” and vanished in a pop.

  Despite the sadness I felt at her departure, I turned back to my friends and family, and a fresh surge of appreciation for them coursed through me. Each one of them had played a critical role in bringing down Leo Blackwood, and I truly doubted Zoe and I could’ve gotten justice for Rory and Officer Dunham without their help.

  Like Thorn had said during his toast the night before, Kindred Spirits really was a family, and I felt the truth of that statement stronger in that moment than I ever had as I glanced at them all.

  “Are you okay, Selena? You look like you’re gonna cry,” Thorn said with his arms open to receive me.

  “I feel like I might, but it’s only because I love you all so much,” I said, and with a collective “Aww,” everyone threw their arms around me. When they finally released me, Jadis looked me in the eye.

  “Get it together, Sappy Selena,” she teased, but I was too happy not to laugh, even as Lox and Keez came hurtling into the room in a wild, screeching tangle of wings, limbs, and brightly colored hair.

  They danced in the surrounding air, bouncing from foot to foot as if there were a hard surface beneath them. “Sappy Selena! Sappy Selena! Sappy Selena!” they chanted, and all I could do was laugh along with everyone else.

  Because as quirky as this family was, it was mine — and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  Broomsticks and Burials: When broke reporter Zoe Clarke moves to a small town and uncovers paranormal mysteries and magical powers of her own, will she find the killers or an early grave?

  Turn the page to start reading Zoe’s series, or download Broomsticks and Burials for free now!

  Broomsticks and Burials Excerpt

  Chapter 1

  Zoe Clarke, Sugar, I swear I can read your mind sometimes,” Grandma Elle said, jolting me out of my daydreaming. “But if you don’t quit makin’ that face, it's gonna get stuck that way.”

  The ice in the sweet tea Grandma held in one hand clinked as we rocked on the front porch swing, and the hand-knitted afghan she’d draped over our laps swayed with us.

  “What face?”

  Grandma smiled. “The one that makes it look like you been suckin’ on a lemon. It ain’t very ladylike.”

  I snorted. “I can always count on you to keep it real, can’t I, Gram?”

  Grandma stared at me while she rocked, her snow-white curls shuffling in the breeze. Her brows slowly stitched together. “Keep it real? What does that mean?”

  “Never mind,” I said, and reached for her hand. She smiled as I stroked her thumb with mine and jutted her chin toward the yard that stretched out in front of us.

  “Ain’t it beautiful?” Grandma asked.

  “Sure is.” The fresh-cut grass sparkled in shades of gold as the sun set behind the pine trees that lined the edge of the Clarke family farm.

  Grandma and I had sat together to watch the sunset like this on so many Sunday evenings I’d lost count, but it never got old.

  “You been awful quiet today, baby girl. Penny for your thoughts?”

  I sighed. “I’ll take all the pennies I can get at this point.”

  Grandma chuckled. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, Sugar, you’ll find work soon enough. I’m sure of it. Besides, anyone who don’t hire you is a darn fool.”

  “Thanks, Gram.” Though I appreciated her support, I wasn’t sure I agreed.

  Besides, it wasn’t like journalism jobs in the backcountry of North Carolina were easy to find. After I’d gotten laid off from my last gig in Charlotte, I’d come back to Lumberton with my tail between my legs and moved in with Grandma — again.

  Since then, I’d applied online for so many jobs all over the country but gave up when no one called back after three months.

  “You know, farm life ain’t all bad. Worst comes to worst, you’ll always have that,” Grandma said, and I scoffed.

  “Right, lucky me.”

  Grandma snickered. “Oh, come on, we both know you were never meant to stay here shoveling pig poo. There ain’t no farm in the world big enough to hold your personality. I knew that from the get-go.”

  I stared her in the eye. “What are you trying to say?”

  “That you was always meant for big things, and this farm ain’t ever gonna give you that.”

&n
bsp; I sighed. “Tell me about it.”

  Grandma laughed and patted my hand. “Keep your chin up, buttercup. Somethin’ll come along before you know it, just like magic.”

  “Trust me, if I knew waving my hand and saying a few silly words would make a job appear out of thin air, I’d do it, no matter how stupid it made me look.”

  “It ain’t always like that, Zoe. Magic is in the mundane and works in mysterious ways. Or at least that’s what your momma used to say.”

  “And what do you think she’d say if she could see me now? I’d hardly call my life as an unemployed bum magical.”

  Grandma clucked and shook her head. “I think she’d be darn proud of you, and for what it’s worth, so am I. So what if you hit a lil’ bump in the road? Who ain’t at some point in their life?”

  I shrugged. “Fair enough. I’m sure you’re right, but I wish I could hear it from Mom herself. And I wish Dad was here to tell me what to do. God, I miss them.”

  Grandma frowned and linked her fingers with mine. “I know, Sugar. So do I.”

  My parents had died in an accidental car crash on their way home from a date when I was a little girl. I’d slept over at Grandma’s that night and since then it’d been me and her against the world. She was the only family I had left.

  Grandma searched my face. “Somethin’ else got you blue?”

  “Not really, no.”

  “You swear?”

  “Please, I couldn’t lie to you even if I wanted.”

  Grandma smiled at me over the lip of her glass as she sipped her tea. “You got that right. But I can tell somethin’ ain’t right with you. So whatever it is, spill it.”

  My phone vibrated in my lap, and I jumped — saved by the phone call. I turned it over, saw “Number Blocked” on the screen, and automatically went to decline the call but Grandma stopped me with a slap on my wrist.