by Cindy Stark
All their emotions lit inside her, building and building until she thought she’d explode.
“Enough!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
The room hushed for a long second. Vines dropped in lifeless heaps to the floor, and all eyes turned to her.
Olivia must have planned that as part of her curse. Her betrayal. Just like Cora and her mother had warned. She must have known Hazel would do something to save people, and that very fact put her directly in the spotlight.
The fearful looks in everyone’s eyes told her of their realization.
“Witch,” they whispered. “She must be a witch.”
Panic enveloped her, and she struggled to breathe. Though no one moved toward her, the wall of people seemed to close in.
She searched for a friendly face and found none.
Samuel Canterbury emerged from the crowd with a smug look of satisfaction. “Just as I thought,” he said with mirthless laughter in his voice. “A witch. A vile, disgusting witch.”
He gripped her, his fingers digging into her bare flesh, and lifted his gaze to the group of shocked townsfolk. “I suspected we had one amongst us.”
Hazel caught sight of her mother who shook her head, wearing an I-told-you-so look.
But there was no sign of Peter, Cora, or even Victor. She was on her own, and she now understood the fear Clarabelle must have faced when she’d been confronted.
Hazel turned a fierce gaze to Samuel. “Let me go.”
Pure evil poured from him, leaving her nauseous. “I don’t think so.”
The click of a gun being cocked echoed throughout the room. “Unhand my wife, Samuel, or pay the price.”
Hazel whipped her gaze around to find Peter coming up behind her with a pistol in his hand. She had no idea who it must have belonged to because it wasn’t his. One of his officers, perhaps.
“Don’t get in the middle of this, Parrish. I’m sure she’s put you under a spell. The sooner she’s gone, the sooner you can have your life back.”
A battle of testosterone-fueled wills filled the room with immense tension. From her peripheral view, she watched some leave the room to escape the line of fire. Others watched with inexplicable fascination.
“Let. Her. Go. If you do right now, you can walk away from this. If not, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The men held each other’s gazes for several long seconds, and the scent of Samuel’s cologne tainted the air.
Then Samuel released his grip and stepped away from her. “Fine, Parrish. But you know she can’t stay. I’m not saying I’ll do anything to her, but you know someone will.”
Peter waved his gun toward the exit. “Get out now. Don’t let me catch you around Hazel again.”
Samuel cast a sneer in Hazel’s direction and then turned. Hazel spied Timothy as he fell in beside him.
The moment they were gone, the speculation began again.
She glanced at Peter with tears in her eyes. “I’d like to go home now.”
He nodded and placed a protective arm around her. “Thank you all for coming,” he said in a loud voice. “We apologize for the disruption and any problems you’ve encountered because of it. Please take any injured outside. We have officers on the scene and an ambulance on the way.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he held her tightly to him and ushered her out a side door and to a squad car that waited for them.
When they were both safely ensconced in the backseat, she turned her gaze to him. “What about your truck?”
“One of my men will bring it. Larsen, here, will drive us home and remain stationed outside the house throughout the night. We’ll figure out where to go from there tomorrow.”
She sighed and leaned against him. She couldn’t have a proper conversation in the car with his officer, so she held her tongue during the short ride home that seemed to take forever.
When they reached her house, Peter helped her from the car. Hazel watched a wispy cloud drift across the moon while Peter spoke in a low voice to his officer. An eerie silence surrounded them, and she feared what the future might bring to them both.
Peter finished and escorted her up the porch steps. He opened the door, but she didn’t step inside.
Her bruised and battered soul ached to erase the worry from his face. “I’m so sorry, Peter. You don’t deserve all this. If you want to back out, I’ll sign the annulment without question.”
He drew his brows into a deep frown. “Don’t ever say that to me again, Hazel. I’ve accepted you for who you are and what you are. I love everything about you, and I’m going to be by your side forever. Tonight doesn’t change anything.”
Tears flooded her eyes, and she threw her arms around his neck for a big hug that she needed desperately.
Instead of hugging her back, he slipped an arm behind her knees and lifted her against him.
She gasped in surprise. “Peter. What are you doing?”
A sly smile crossed his lips. “What any decent husband would do. I’m carrying my new bride across the threshold. I imagine there’s all kinds of bad mojo if I don’t.”
A genuine smile grew from deep inside her, and she held tight as he carried her into their new life.
Once inside, he set her down, closed the door behind them, and clicked the lock in place. He turned to her with a curious look. “If there are any protective spells you’d like to add to that, I wouldn’t object.”
She lifted her brows and gave him a sheepish smile. “I’ve had spells in place for a while now. After Fauna was attacked and I had my first run-in with Samuel, I warded the heck out of it.”
He gave her a swift nod. “Good. A woman of action. I like it.”
She tried to hold onto the small bit of happiness he’d inspired, but it faded away. “What am I going to do now, Peter?” she whispered as tears gathered in her eyes. “They all know.”
He shrugged. “Maybe it’s time they did. The town loves you, Hazel. They might need some time to get over the shock, but maybe everything will be okay.”
A loud meow came from behind Peter, and she glanced around him. “Mr. Kitty?” she asked as she stared at his soft orange body.
Peter chuckled. “I think he’s come to congratulate us on our wedding.”
She blinked watery eyes and smiled. “I think he’s letting me know he’s on our side, too. He’s the best guard cat I know.”
“That he is. He loves you and will protect you with all he has.”
Peter’s pocket vibrated. He pulled out his phone, read the screen, and then glanced at Hazel. “It’s Cora. I guess she’s sent messages to you, but you’re not answering. She wants you to know the authorities have dealt with Olivia and Harriett, and that you don’t have to worry about them any longer.”
She nodded, feeling grateful. Whatever the future would bring, she’d have her loved ones to help her. “What about the Sons of Stonebridge?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, but this is my wedding night. I’m not going to discuss those heathens. We’ll figure out a plan for that tomorrow. I have ears on the ground to catch the latest gossip and get a feel for how the townspeople are reacting. We’ll decide after that.”
She nodded, still uncertain.
He pulled her close and smiled down at her. “How about if you’re just my witchy wife for tonight and nothing else exists? Just us.”
She exhaled and focused on his handsome face. If she let the ugliness of the world ruin her wedding day, that would be exactly what Olivia, Harriett, and Samuel would want. She could put away those feelings, or at least try.
This was her wedding night, and she would enjoy it.
She placed her hands on both sides of Peter’s face and kissed him hard. “Take me upstairs, Chief Parrish. Let’s start this new life of ours the right way.”
He grinned. “I’d carry you, but I’d probably trip and fall.”
She laughed and held his hand as they ascended together. He led them into the bedroom and kissed her a
gain.
A whoosh brushed past them, causing her hair to stir and giving her a startle. She glanced upward. “Clarabelle?”
Soft laughter echoed through the room.
Peter shook his head. “Oh, no. She’s not invited to this party.”
He glanced toward the ceiling. “Grandma Clarabelle? We love you and all, but the bedroom is off-limits from now on.”
A vase on Hazel’s dresser shook.
“Sorry. Pouting won’t work. You can go anywhere else you want, but not here. At least not while we’re in here.”
Energy swirled in circles around them, and Hazel feared they’d stirred the angry monster inside her.
Then it stopped.
The bedroom door slammed shut.
She glanced to Peter. He lifted his brows, and they both laughed.
He opened his arms. “Come here, wifey. Let me show you how much I love you.”
She happily entered his embrace and accepted his kiss. “I’m scared, Peter, but so grateful I have you with me.”
“We’ll find a way.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Always, my love. Always.”
****
Dear Reader:
I’m sorry I don’t have firm date or pre-order link for the next in the series, Nefarious Nine. Life has been crazy with overtime at work and the upcoming holidays. My tentative release date is before mid-January. If you’d like to be notified of its release, please sign up for my VIP Club newsletter or follow me on one of the links below. Thank you so much for your support.
If you enjoyed reading this book, the greatest gift you can give me is to tell a friend and leave a review at Amazon or Goodreads. It helps others find stories they might love and helps me to continue pursuing this crazy writing career.
Newsletter signup: www.CindyStark.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Stark/e/B008FT394W
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cindy-stark
Thank you and happy reading,
Cindy
The End
Book List
TEAS & TEMPTATIONS COZY MYSTERIES (PG-Rated Fun):
Once Wicked
Twice Hexed
Three Times Charmed
Four Warned
The Fifth Curse
It’s All Sixes
Spellbound Seven
Elemental Eight
Nefarious Nine
BLACKWATER CANYON RANCH (Western Sexy Romance):
Caleb
Oliver
Justin
Piper
Jesse
ASPEN SERIES (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Wounded (Prequel)
Relentless
Lawless
Cowboys and Angels
Come Back To Me
Surrender
Reckless
Tempted
Crazy One More Time
I’m With You
Breathless
PINECONE VALLEY (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Love Me Again
Love Me Always
RETRIBUTION NOVELS (Sexy Romantic Suspense):
Branded
Hunted
Banished
Hijacked
Betrayed
ARGENT SPRINGS (Small Town Sexy Romance):
Whispers
Secrets
OTHER TITLES:
Moonlight and Margaritas
Sweet Vengeance
About the Author
Award-winning author Cindy Stark lives with her family and a sweet Border Collie in a small town shadowed by the Rocky Mountains. She writes fun, witch cozy mysteries, emotional romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romance. She loves to hear from readers!
Connect with her online at:
http://www.CindyStark.com
http://facebook.com/CindyStark19 (follow me)
https://www.facebook.com/cindy.stark.96780 (friend me)
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895446.Cindy_Stark
https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Stark/e/B008FT394W