“Then allow me to do the honors.” Demetrius appeared by Begonia’s side, planting an affectionate kiss on her cheek. The pretty witch’s cheeks grew flushed. They were one of the sweetest couples in Spellbound and I was so pleased that they’d found each other. Begonia had harbored a crush on the vampire for quite some time before he showed any interest in her. In Begonia’s case, patience was a virtue. If I had been patient for Daniel, he’d still be married to Elsa Knightsbridge. My stomach knotted at the thought of a life without Daniel.
“The usual drinks for us, please,” Begonia said.
“But hurry,” Millie said. “The undesirables are circling.”
I glanced around us to see a variety of ogres, shifters, and trolls eyeing us with interest. “No one worth talking to, Millie?” I asked. She’d been complaining about wanting a boyfriend.
“Here?” She scrunched her nose. “No thanks. I have this crazy thing called standards.”
“Whatever you do tonight, don’t use any spells, Millie,” I warned. “Not with the High Priestess here.” We already had a reputation issue to overcome.
Millie’s eyes rounded. “How did you know that I was thinking about doing a spell?”
“Lucky guess,” I replied. I didn’t need to see ogres in the air tonight. Once was enough, although the ale on Millie’s head had been a classic moment. As I was a good friend, though, I decided to spare her the humiliation.
“It’s so crowded,” Millie complained. “I want to be able to move without some ogre rubbing against me.” She scooted forward as another ogre passed behind her. This one tweaked her bottom and Millie turned around and walloped him in the nose with her fist.
“Stars and stones,” the ogre cried, rubbing his sore nose. He staggered into the crowd, in shock over the violent rejection.
“Millie,” I said in amazement.
“What? You said no spells,” Millie said.
“Remind me never to make you angry,” I said.
Millie glanced over her shoulder in the direction of the ogre. “He touched me inappropriately, so I responded in kind.”
“I guess you did.” I spotted a familiar werewolf at the entrance. “Perfect. There’s Alex.”
Sophie followed my gaze to the door. “Alex Ricci? Why is that perfect?”
“I need to talk to him,” I said. And I wanted to intercept him before he reached the booth. I pushed my way through the crowd and got to him in the nick of time.
“Hey, Emma.” Alex smiled. “If it isn’t my favorite sorceress.”
“Hi, I have a big favor to ask, if you don’t mind.” I gave him the rundown of Darcy’s sightings and my client’s arrest. “Would you mind doing a couple of sweeps of the secluded areas in town the next few nights? Especially the area around Sacred Spruce Trail.”
“No problem,” Alex said. “I know a few pack members that would love any excuse to go for a midnight run.”
“Thank you, Alex. I appreciate the help.”
“That’s what a community is for,” Alex replied.
“Darcy might have more details if you want to speak to her.” I hesitated. “But maybe don’t show up at their house.” Unless you wanted to be manhandled. “She’s always volunteering in town. She rides a bicycle with a wicker basket. You can’t miss her.”
“Right. I know who she is,” he replied. “The pretty blonde with the nice jewelry.”
“That’s her,” I said.
“I’ll track her down tomorrow,” Alex said with a smile. “That’s what I do best.”
I slipped away before Lorenzo began to wonder what we were talking about. The less he knew, the better. He’d probably tell Alex not to investigate the activity out of spite. The werewolf alpha really despised me.
The rest of the night felt relatively normal. My friends sang and I cheered them on. I didn’t feel well enough to get on stage. I’d embarrassed myself enough recently with my vomiting prowess. No need to christen the Spotted Owl too.
The crescent moon was high and bright by the time I arrived home. Gareth was nowhere to be seen, probably hitting up a nightclub or spending time with Igor. Magpie lurked in a dark corner, however, ready with a violent hiss when I entered the house.
“Thanks for that,” I said. “Try not to give the pregnant woman a heart attack. If I die, I’ll come back and haunt you.” I hissed back at him for good measure.
Magpie’s tail flicked back and forth, but the hellbeast remained silent. Daniel was sound asleep when I finally crawled into bed beside him, ready for this day to be over. I felt like I’d learned something important that I couldn’t quite grasp. It was on the fringe of memory, taunting me with its closeness. In the darkness, I glimpsed Sedgwick’s silhouette on his perch.
Sedgwick? I queried.
Yellow eyes appeared, cutting through the inky black of the room. You rang, Your Highness?
Do me a favor and fly all over town tonight. Whispering Woods. Sacred Spruce Trail. Enchanted Woods. Let me know in the morning if you notice anything out of the ordinary.
As you wish. He turned and flew out the open window.
I laughed quietly. I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West, ordering my flying monkey out to capture Dorothy.
“What’s so funny?” Daniel murmured.
I stroked his cheek. “Go back to sleep and I’ll tell you tomorrow.” I fluffed the pillow and made myself comfortable. My husband was beside me and all seemed right with the world.
Chapter Twelve
“Wakey, wakey.” Gareth’s ghostly face hovered over mine.
I squinted into the light. “Are you kidding me?”
“Not at all.” He tapped the imaginary watch on his wrist. “You have an appointment at the healer’s clinic in half an hour. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing tea and toast.”
I stared at him, my expression neutral. “This is a problem.”
“Not if you hurry.”
I threw back the covers. “That’s not what I mean.” I raced for the bathroom and got in position in front of the toilet, anticipating the wave of nausea.
“You’re right,” Gareth said. “This constant vomiting is a problem. The books identify many home remedies to combat morning sickness. You should really….”
The dark look I gave him prompted him to fall silent. “I’m not talking about the puking either. Something is going on.”
He hovered by the sink. “What do you mean?”
“This is the third time I’m reliving this day,” I said. “I don’t know why this is happening.”
In the human world, I’d be carted off to a psychiatric unit with undue haste. In Spellbound, however, my bizarre claim was taken seriously, at least by my dead undead roommate. There was no such thing as normal in this town.
“You’re certain it’s not a dream?”
“Definitely not a dream.” I’d been willing to entertain the notion yesterday, when the events were hazy. Today already seemed sharper, as though my mind had peeled back a layer of gauze while I slept.
“Right then. Take me through the day,” Gareth said. “What happens?”
I held up an index finger so that I could handle the heaving first. Once I finished, Gareth handed me a damp washcloth and I wiped my mouth and chin.
“You wake me up,” I said. “I have the appointment with Boyd, before I go to see the new High Priestess.”
Gareth rubbed his phantom chin. “The new High Priestess, eh? What happens in that meeting? Any chance she would’ve had a mind to hex you?”
I pulled myself to my feet. “Puking on her was an accident.”
“Not necessarily because of the public puking.”
“Then why?”
Gareth chuckled. “Where shall I start? You have successfully unseated a few leaders in this town, Emma. Perhaps she doesn’t wish to be one of them.”
“That’s Millie’s theory. That she’s sidelining me. But for how long?”
Gareth shrugged. “I’ve no idea. It’s merely a theory. What else hap
pens in the day?”
“I go to Paws and Claws to talk about my case.”
“Interesting. Could this have something to do with your client then?” Gareth asked.
“Possibly? I don’t know,” I said. “I meet with a couple of paranormals to gather information for Percy’s defense. After the pet shop, I question Sammy, one of his co-workers at Cure-iosity Shop.”
“The potions dispensary?” he queried.
“Yes.” My eyes popped as the possibility hit me. “This could be some kind of repeat spell.”
“Aye,” Gareth agreed. “Sounds plausible. Best way to find out is to test the limits.”
I went to the sink to brush my teeth. “Like leave myself a note?”
“Something more extreme so you’d be certain not to miss it,” Gareth replied. “The day starts when I wake you?”
I nodded, my mouth full of toothpaste. I quickly spit and rinsed. “So whatever I do should be here.”
“Aye,” Gareth said. “Make it count. If it is a repeat spell, then what you do now won’t matter tomorrow.”
I groaned. I hated the uncertainty. “Okay.” I surveyed the bathroom. “Break the toilet? That would be terrible and very inconvenient.”
“Only if you’re wrong,” Gareth said. “Breaking a loo might be above my ghostly pay grade. You might need to manage the damage on your own.”
“I can magic a sledgehammer,” I said. “It might make me feel better to release some tension anyway.”
“Don’t strain yourself,” Gareth warned. “You need to be mindful of the baby.”
I shot him an annoyed look. “Gareth, you don’t need to remind me that I have a baby inside me. I am reminded several times a day, in fact.” I inclined my head toward the toilet.
“I only want to be helpful,” he said.
“And you are, but there’s no need to nag me.” I focused my will and said, “Lady Weatherby is still in the slammer/bring to my hands an effective sledgehammer.” The sledgehammer materialized in my hands, and I nearly dropped it from the unexpected weight.
“Well done, Emma.”
“Thanks. It’s a simple manifestation spell.” I stood in front of the toilet, worried that I was about to make a horrible mistake. “What if I’m wrong?”
“Then you’ll get a new loo and Daniel will help you install it.”
I laughed. “You mean magic will help me install it. Let’s remember who we’re talking about.”
“I won’t tell him you said that,” Gareth said. “You know how sensitive he is.”
“You won’t tell him because he can’t hear you,” I shot back. I took a deep breath and hoisted the sledgehammer over my shoulder. I brought it down hard on the toilet seat and heard it crack. I turned my eyes skyward. “Apologies to the porcelain gods for violating your sanctuary.”
Gareth chuckled. “I think it’s your sanctuary but never mind.”
I rushed into the healer’s clinic, knowing that I’d find Daniel nervously pacing the floor. As expected, the angel was making tracks on the hardwood floor, while the druid was seated in the far corner reading a nature magazine.
“You’re two minutes late,” Daniel said. “You’re never late.”
I took his hand and squeezed. “I love you.”
His brow creased. “You don’t need to be anxious, you know. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I know.” I peered past Daniel at the other patient. “You’re Phil Saxby, right?”
The druid stared back at me. “I am. Do I know you?”
“We’ve met,” I said vaguely. “That’s your magazine, isn’t it? You always bring something to read in case you end up waiting too long.”
Phil gave me a quizzical look. “How do you know that?”
“Like I said, we’ve met,” I replied.
Daniel pressed his lips against my forehead. “Are you feeling okay, Emma? Your crazy eyes are hard at work.”
I glared at him. “I do not have crazy eyes.”
He grinned. “You do now.”
“Actually, my head is a little woozy,” I said, because it was. The clarity of mind I’d experienced earlier had once again been replaced by the haze. I felt as though I was walking through cobwebs and pulling them down around me as I went. It was an immensely frustrating sensation. I didn’t want to repeat this day on an endless loop. I wanted to live my life the way it was meant to unfold. I wanted to watch my baby grow into a happy and healthy child. I wanted to grow old with Daniel by my side and complain about my arthritis to anyone who would listen. Tears sprang to my eyes.
“Emma, what’s the matter?” Daniel asked.
I wrapped my arms around him, clutching the strong wings on his back, and sobbed into his chest.
“Babies can make a woman emotional,” Phil offered. “It’s perfectly normal.”
“Thanks for the reassurance,” I said, sniffing. Daniel stroked the back of my hair while we waited for Boyd to call us in.
“Phil Saxby.” The healer’s assistant gave him a friendly smile. “Good to see druids coming into the clinic. Sometimes they think they have the power to heal themselves.”
Phil laughed. “Not me. I know my limits.” He followed the assistant into the back.
Once Daniel and I were alone, I told him about my predicament. “I even broke the toilet as an experiment.”
Daniel eyed me. “You did what?”
I explained my reasoning. “I feel confident that I’ll wake up tomorrow and the toilet will be fine.”
“Let’s hope so,” Daniel said. “You know I’m not the handiest guy around.” Like Phil Saxby, the angel knew his limits too.
“Although I guess if I break the spell today, then the toilet will still be broken tomorrow.” A minor flaw with my plan but worth it if it meant escaping the loop.
“Who would hex you like this?” Daniel asked. “Is it meant to be a practical joke?”
“Doubtful. It might have something to do with the new High Priestess or my new case,” I said. “He’s a faun named Percy accused of smuggling.” As far as Daniel was concerned, this was the first time he was hearing about Percy. A brand new day with brand new information.
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “You think Percy did this to you because he doesn’t want you to discover he’s guilty?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I don’t suspect Percy at all. I’ve been trying to review the day in my mind and connect the dots, see if I can find a link to the facts of his case.”
“What’s he accused of smuggling?” Daniel asked.
“Angel dust.”
He grimaced. “Wow. That’s serious.”
“I know. What can you tell me about it?”
He stroked my hair. “You want details about my dust? I would think that’s a turn-off for most women.”
“Sadly, for me, nothing about you is a turn-off.” I had no doubt Gareth wished I had a different attitude regarding my husband.
He wrapped his arms around me. “Glad to hear it.”
I gave him a gentle push. “Stay on topic, Romeo. Angel dust.”
“Right.” Daniel took a step back. “It has transformative powers.”
“Transformative?” I echoed. “I thought it had healing abilities.”
“On its own, it can heal,” Daniel replied. “That was its most common use. Combined with certain other substances, it has even greater potential. Angels were once hunted for our dust. Thankfully, I never lived anywhere that I was at risk.” He spread his arms wide. “Being trapped here had its advantages.”
“They killed angels for their dust?” I asked. “Why not just take it?”
“Because it’s not that simple,” he said. “You haven’t seen mine, have you? Sometimes, angels would be left alive but their wings would be clipped.” He shook his head. “For an angel, you may as well be dead.”
The thought of Daniel being butchered for the dust from his wings was almost too much to handle. “Daniel, this is awful. I had no idea.”
Ang
er blazed in his turquoise eyes. “I hope this isn’t a sign that angels are being hunted again.”
Me too. “It was only a small amount. Hopefully it’s an isolated incident.”
“Where was your client arrested?” he asked.
“In Whispering Woods. Britta saw him with the angel dust.”
“Whispering Woods?” Daniel repeated. “Isn’t that near where Sedgwick found the elf’s body?”
“Yes, apparently they’re adjacent,” I said. I dropped into the nearest chair. “But that’s not indicative of anything. Amos died of natural causes.”
Boyd popped into the waiting area. “Come on back, you two. Let’s see how you’re progressing.”
Daniel leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “Try not to worry, Emma. Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out together.”
We followed Boyd into the exam room where the druid patted the table. “Have a seat here, Emma.”
I climbed onto the table and stretched out on my back, my mind still racing.
Boyd scrutinized me. “I can sense your rapid heartbeat from here, Emma. Have you been taking your anti-anxiety potion?”
“No,” I said. “I stopped taking it when I found out I was pregnant.”
“We might need to find an alternative,” Boyd said. “Elevated blood pressure is no good for you or the baby. You can’t go through an entire pregnancy like this.”
“Are you sure that our baby’s gestational period is comparable to a human’s?” I asked.
Boyd wiggled his fingers, preparing to examine me. “Nope. No idea.”
“Then how will you be able to tell whether the baby is growing at an appropriate rate?” I asked.
“The further along you get, the clearer the information will be,” Boyd explained. “Each examination should yield more answers.”
“So it won’t be eight more months?” Daniel queried.
“Might be. Might not be.” Boyd rubbed his hands together and then held his palms open over my midsection.
“Still a strong heartbeat?” I asked. I prayed the answer was yes. Whatever was happening to me, I didn’t want it to harm the baby.
“Still?” Boyd echoed. “Yes, indeed. Are you worried about something in particular or is this generalized anxiety at work?”
Wands Upon A Time (Spellbound Ever After Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 3) Page 12