Uh oh. The macho muscles were flexing. This night could go sideways if I wasn’t careful.
"Technically, you are an employee of Starry Hollow," Alec said. "If you want to be very technical, you work for all of us."
Sheriff Nash scowled. "Well, I don't have to answer to all of you. I operate independently."
"As do I," Alec said. "Need I remind you that I’m a best-selling author. Vox Populi is a labor of love rather than a necessity. Can you say the same?"
"Who's ready for another drink?" I interjected. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them peed a circle around me.
Hank appeared in front of us, as though summoned by the word ‘drink.’ "I'll pull a few more pints, then I need to get the karaoke started."
“My gorgeous and talented ex-wife is up first,” Wyatt said. “She’s been gracious enough to let me choose her song.”
Linnea poked him in the ribs. “I know how much he loves Same Spell Next Year by the Magicians.”
“It’s a paranormal band,” Alec said to me. “You won’t have heard of them in the human world.”
Hank handled the drinks and the karaoke setup with ease. Linnea took her place on the stage and blew everyone away with her rendition of the song. Although the tune was wholly unfamiliar to me, I could tell by the rapturous expressions that my cousin was knocking it out of the park.
Wyatt whistled, seemingly starstruck by his ex-wife’s performance. “Goddess of the Moon, she’s amazing, ain’t she?”
“She really is,” I replied. “Does she do karaoke often?”
“Used to,” he said. “We’d go together on Friday nights years ago. Linnea looked like an angel up there, with that serene expression and such a heavenly voice.”
“Why did she stop?” I asked.
His expression soured. “Why else? Because of me, of course. I disappeared with the barmaids one too many times. Linnea was too horrified to show her face. I humiliated her with my selfishness.”
Opposite Wyatt was very insightful.
“Do you regret it?” I asked.
“Every day,” he replied, without hesitation. “If I had the power to go back in time…” He shook his head ruefully. “Linnea’s too good for me, though. Always was. I think that’s why I acted out. Deep down, I wanted her to chuck me because I knew I didn’t deserve her.”
Typical Wyatt would squelch his sense of inadequacy and replace it with bravado. Opposite spell Wyatt was willing to admit his failures and acknowledge the reasons behind them.
“You’re very in touch with your emotions these days, brother,” Sheriff Nash said. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Regret,” Wyatt said. “Regret has settled into my cheating heart.”
Linnea stepped off the stage to a noisy round of applause, oblivious to Wyatt’s admission. He engulfed her in a hug and she beamed with pride. I was definitely holding off on reversing the spell for now. Linnea deserved this special treatment by her ex-husband.
“I’ve really missed that,” she said. “I need to sing more often.” She kissed Wyatt’s cheek. “Thank you for thinking of this. It was a lovely idea.”
"You singing tonight, Hale?” Sheriff Nash asked. The implication was clear: Alec was not the type of vampire to sing karaoke.
"As a matter fact, I already have my song selected." Alec looked at Hank. "You have Born to Run, do you not?"
My heart soared. "You’re going to sing Bruce Springsteen?"
A smile tugged at his lips. "I thought you might appreciate the choice."
The sheriff's jaw set. "How about Born in the USA? Do you have that one?"
Hank brightened. "We can do any song you like. The karaoke offerings are infinite."
Wyatt swallowed his ale and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "A Springsteen showdown. This ought to be good."
I couldn't decide whether I was entertained or embarrassed by the prospect. I knew the vampire and the werewolf had a rocky history, so I wasn’t sure how much of their competition tonight was related to me.
Alec rose from the stool with his usual grace. "I shall go first. Someone needs to set the bar high."
Sheriff Nash barked a short laugh. "We’ll have to wait about three more minutes for that."
I tightened my grip on the glass of ale. This was not the evening I expected it to be.
Alec stepped onto the stage like he was a born performer. It was a whole new side to him. His velvety voice transformed into a raspy sound that belonged to an aging rock star, rather than an ageless vampire. Suddenly, the crowd in front of the stage multiplied. All conversation ceased as everyone stopped to listen. I cast a sidelong glance at Sheriff Nash. The werewolf stood rooted in silence, sucking down his ale. I had no doubt he was regretting his threats of one-upmanship.
I moved to stand beside him. "You don't have to sing Springsteen. You could choose someone else."
The sheriff looked at me like I was nuts. "You think this guy can out-Springsteen me? I'm the jeans and boots guy. He looks like he's wearing a Halloween costume."
I suppressed a laugh. The vampire was well known for his custom suits and expensive taste.
I watched Alec perform the rest of the song and couldn't help but be impressed by his vocals and stage presence. His ninja moves truly came into their own. His body was impressive enough in a tailored suit. In jeans and a T-shirt, it was jaw-droppingly amazing.
"So is this a date?" the sheriff asked. I’d wondered how long it would take for him to ask that question.
"Honestly, I don't know what it is," I said. I couldn’t tell the sheriff about the spell, even though I knew it would make him feel better.
“Just out of curiosity, how many of us are there?" the sheriff asked.
I shot him a quizzical look. "How many of what?"
"Guys where you don't really know how to define your relationship."
I bristled. “I know how to define all of my relationships," I said. "Alec Hale is my boss and a friend. You’re the sheriff, whom I sometimes work alongside for purposes of a story. See? No ambiguity there."
“Speaking of work, I wanted to mention a report that came across my desk.”
“Something to do with the Maitland boy?” I asked.
“Not sure. A fairy called Kelsey complained about teenagers messing with her stable of unicorns the same night as the murder. Deputy Bolan handled the incident report.”
“Unicorns?” I echoed.
“Yeah, you know unicorns. Like horses but with a single horn…”
I punched him in the gut. “I know what a unicorn is, smart mouth.”
He laughed as he clutched his stomach. “How should I know? You’re from New Jersey.” He winced. “As you’ve just proven with your unprovoked violence.”
“Ha! You call that violence? You’ve never been outside a Best Buy on Black Friday.”
The song ended and everyone cheered wildly. Sheriff Nash cracked his knuckles. "Time for the real show.”
It didn’t take long for me to realize the sheriff lacked Alec and Linnea’s singing talent. To his credit, Alec remained silent, his expression placid. It didn’t matter, though. I could tell by the pained look on the sheriff’s face that he knew he was terrible.
I leaned over to Linnea and whispered, “Is there a spell we can do to make him better?” It was awkward enough that I was out with Alec. I didn’t want the sheriff to be humiliated under the spotlight as well.
Linnea made a twirling motion with her finger and said a Latin phrase under her breath. The only word I understood was ‘Springsteen.’ Suddenly, the sheriff’s posture changed and his vocals improved. If I closed my eyes, it sounded like Bruce Springsteen himself was performing for the crowd in Strange Brew. Amazing.
“Quite impressive,” Alec said. “Almost as though he’s been practicing.”
“I doubt it,” I said. “I think he’s a natural, like you.”
Alec grinned. “Thank you, Ember. Your compliments mean more than you realize.”
&
nbsp; Heat pooled in my stomach. The way Alec looked at me was distracting enough to make me forget the perfect performance happening in front of us.
“Ember,” Alec said slowly, dragging out each letter. His eyes bored into mine. “How would you like to come back to my place for a drink? I make an excellent poisoned apple martini.” He winked. “No actual poison required.”
“You’re inviting me back to your place?” I queried. I knew it was the spell. The real Alec would never invite me into his private space. He was too protective of himself.
He snaked an arm around my waist. “I understand if you’d rather not.”
Although I should have, I didn’t hesitate. I hopped off the stool. “I’d rather.”
His brow lifted. “You’re certain?”
I grabbed his hand. “Let’s go before one of us changes our mind.”
In the end, I was the one who changed my mind. It felt wrong to take advantage of Alec while he was under a spell. Even though I knew the feelings he expressed were genuine, he’d never have chosen this course of action without a magical nudge. He wanted to keep me at arm’s length, not in his arms and I had to respect that.
We’d only made it as far as the entryway of his house before the kissing began. He lifted me like I was weightless and pressed me against the wall, gently exploring the curve of my neck with his fangs. When I felt a slight prick, I cried out, but it was in pleasure rather than pain. I’d been wanting to have this experience with him since the moment I met him. With my legs wrapped around his waist and my lips nibbling all available real estate, I was in heaven. It was only when he began to carry me toward what I assumed was the bedroom that my mind cleared. He’d never forgive himself if he went through with this. Once I reversed the spell, he’d be mortified.
It took all my strength to stop kissing him. It was, in all honesty, one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
“I need to go, Alec,” I said, sliding down the length of his body until my feet hit the floor.
His hands were still tangled in my hair and our lips were equally swollen. Okay, mine were a little more swollen thanks to his fangs getting in the way. He couldn’t keep them retracted no matter how hard he tried.
“The bathroom is this way,” he said in a raspy voice.
“No, I don’t need to pee,” I said, although I wasn’t surprised by his assumption. Everyone knew my bladder was the size of a pumpkin seed. “I need to go home.”
He released his hold on me. “Home? Are you certain?”
I gazed into his eyes and pondered the question. As much as I wanted to stay, I was certain I had to leave.
“I’m sorry, Alec. It’s for the best.” My chest tightened. What was I doing?
He traced my jaw with his thumb. “Did I do something to upset you?”
“Of course not,” I replied. “I worry you might regret this later, and I don’t want that.”
He pressed his forehead against mine. “There is something very special between us, Ember. We’ve been foolish to suppress our feelings.”
Ugh. Yes, that was how I felt, but I knew perfectly well that wasn’t how ‘normal’ Alec viewed the situation.
“Like I said, it’s for the best.” I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and darted out the door before I had a change of heart. Ever the gentleman, Alec didn’t try to stop me.
Tears streaked my cheeks as I signaled for his driver to take me home. As we passed through town, I stared out the window at the night sky, silently taking myself to task for this mess. If I hadn’t wanted to play a joke on Hazel, none of this would have happened. I’d potentially destroyed my relationships with both Alec and the sheriff and for what? A hot make-out session? Was I a teenager all over again where hormones ruled the day? I touched the spot on my neck where his fangs had pierced me and sighed. Despite the pang of regret I felt over the incident, there was something to be said for heightened emotions. They reminded me of what I was capable of feeling—the highs and the lows. They reminded me that, although Karl was dead, I was still very much alive.
Chapter 16
I linked arms with Aster and entered the impressive marble building that served as the Silver Moon coven headquarters. We passed through the six enormous columns at the front and I tilted my head up to admire the barefoot witch statue on the rooftop. I smiled, thinking of Sheriff Nash and his fear of heights.
"Five minutes to spare," Aster said. "Mother will be pleased." Aunt Hyacinth did not tolerate tardiness or social missteps of any kind. As the de facto head of the coven, she preferred to set the standard for the rest of the members.
"Good evening, Dillon,” I said. Dillon Stanton-Summer was Wren’s fraternal twin and the Watchman, the head of security for the coven.
"Good evening, witches," Dillon said. "Any items to declare?"
"Just our handbags," I said. "If you feel like thumbing through tampons and a packet of tissues, be my guest."
He grinned. "You're not going to put me off with talk of lady products. I’m a pro.” He wiggled his fingers. "Let's see."
We handed him our bags and he gave them a quick sweep before returning them.
"No Sterling tonight?" he asked.
"Not tonight," Aster said. "He's working late and then promised to be home to tuck the boys into bed."
“Sterling is the hardest working wizard in Starry Hollow,” Dillon said. “It’s a shame he doesn’t put the same effort into his family.”
Ooh, snap.
Aster maintained her regal air. “Come along, Ember. Time to mix with the rest of the coven."
Across the room, I glimpsed Argyle Pennywhistle, the Purse Warden. He was an elderly wizard with thinning gray hair and a pinched expression.
"If it isn't the beautiful descendants of the One True Witch," a voice sang. Camille Poppywick appeared in my line of vision. The musical director, or the Bard as she was known in the coven, attempted to wrap me in a bear hug. Thankfully, I managed to extricate myself without losing consciousness.
"Nice to see you again, Camille," I said.
She studied me. "Please tell me you’ve reconsidered the opportunity to participate in the musical this year."
"Can't say that I have," I said. "I'm surprised Linnea doesn't want to sign up, though. Her voice is incredible."
Aster gently kicked the back of my heel. Oops.
"Linnea?" Camille frowned. "Any time I've heard her sing, she sounds completely tone deaf.”
No doubt because she was trying to hide her talent from Camille.
"You know, I don't have much of an ear," I said. "If I think someone sounds great, they probably sound like a dying cat." I spotted Wren as he threaded his way through the crowd. Just the wizard I needed to see. “Excuse me. I need to grab Wren before the meeting starts. A question about our last lesson.”
He raised a thick eyebrow when he saw me coming. “You’ve got that determined look. Should I be concerned?”
I tried to relax my facial features. “Sorry. What my brain is thinking usually gets translated by my face. They’re in cahoots.”
His mouth twitched. “Yes, I’m familiar with your fascinating variety of facial expressions. What’s up?”
I glanced around furtively before responding. “Remember the spell you taught me? The special one to calm a certain crazed clown?”
His brow furrowed. “Did it misfire?”
“I haven’t used it on her yet,” I whispered. “But I may have accidentally used it on someone else. How long before it wears off?”
Wren sucked in a breath. “It doesn’t wear off, Ember. You need to reverse it.”
Right. “Okay, so how do I do that?”
Wren fixated on me. “Do I need to get involved?”
“No, absolutely not,” I reassured him. “I can handle it. I just need to know what to do.”
“You focus your will and make sure it’s clear that you’re reversing the opposite spell. Then you point your wand and say ’novis.’”
“Novis?” I repeated.
“That’s right.” He hesitated. “Do I want to know who the unfortunate victim is?”
“Probably best if I’m the only one with that information,” I said. “Don’t worry, Wren. I’ll fix it. Promise.”
He pointed a finger at me. “You’d better, Ember. I don’t want this blowing back on me. I did you a favor.”
“I know and I appreciate it.” And if I wanted him to keep doing me favors, I had to take care of this mess without any fallout. “I’ve got it under control, Master.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I do like it when you call me that.”
Ringing bells signaled the start of the meeting. I entered the cavernous hall and marveled once again at the hundreds of candles that lined the room. Three was a sacred number to the coven. There were three candlelit chandeliers dangling from the ceiling. Three enormous wooden tables in the middle of the hall. Three women that represented the phases of life — the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.
I sat beside Aster at the front of the room, along with Linnea, Aunt Hyacinth, and Florian. I surveyed the area for familiar faces. Every month, I recognized more and more. I smiled when I noticed Delphine, the librarian, seated at the far end of the table wearing a bright shade of pink gloss.
“Delphine looks pretty tonight,” I said, mainly for Florian’s benefit.
His gaze meandered around the room. “Who’s Delphine?”
I grimaced. Naturally, Florian didn’t remember the librarian. Next time I’d suggest that she douse herself in glitter.
A softer bell rang to introduce the High Priestess, Iris Sandstone. She swept into the hall in her silver cloak, her silver moon crown glistening on her head. She took her place at the head table and gave thanks to the Goddess of the Moon. Flames flickered and I felt a tiny thrill as the meeting began.
"The monthly Silver Moon coven meeting is now called to order."
I noticed Gardenia, the Scribe, busily typing notes on her iPhone. The Purse Warden gave the financial report and, finally, the floor was open to new business. Aunt Hyacinth stood and everyone gave her their full attention. I’d never seen someone with such a commanding presence.
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