Wands Upon A Time (Spellbound Ever After Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 3)

by Annabel Chase

  “Is that why the bird was almost extinct?” I asked. “Were they being hunted for feathers the way angels were hunted for dust?”

  “Seems so,” Laurel said. “Much harder to find rocs, though. They tend to live in remote mountain regions.”

  “I wonder if they always have, or if they migrated there for survival,” I mused.

  “I wouldn’t blame them if they wanted to protect themselves,” Laurel said. “The world can be a brutal place.”

  I softened as I looked at her. I wanted her help because of her cynical outlook, yet, at the same time, I wanted her to be more like Begonia and see the good in everything. To know that for every roc feather or angel dust story, there were ten more stories about small acts of kindness and love. The world was much more of a loving place than we often gave it credit for, especially when experience clouded our vision. Deep down, I didn’t want Laurel to be jaded, certainly not at her age. Let that come later if it had to.

  I reached across the table and clasped her hand. “You know, Laurel. I’m really excited to have you around when this baby is born.”

  She arched a thick, dark eyebrow. “Why? Free babysitting?”

  I laughed. “Of course not. I think we’ll have more than our share of volunteers, though some I’d rather not use.” I shuddered at the thought of the Gray sisters standing around the cradle and speaking in their creepy, singsong voices.

  “Because I’ll be the closest in age to it?” Laurel released my hand and folded her arms. “I hate being the baby of the group.”

  “No one thinks of you as a baby,” I said. “We all recognize how incredibly mature and intelligent you are. Laurel, we look at you and see a future High Priestess.”

  Her shoulders straightened. “You do?” She paused. “But not like Marjory Limpet, right? She’s vile. I wouldn’t mind being like Lady Weatherby. She was cool, aside from the whole criminal element. I have no interest in that.”

  “Lady Weatherby has her positive attributes,” I said. “Nobody is all good or all bad. Even Marjory.” Though we’d yet to discover her full personality. Only time would tell.

  “You’re always so open-minded about everyone,” Laurel said. “How can you still be like that after everything you’ve gone through in life?”

  “I have my share of healthy suspicion,” I said. “But I’ve been graced with many friends and loved ones who remind me every day that the world is a wonderful and forgiving place.”

  “Yet, here we are, researching the awful methods some paranormals use to help themselves at the expense of others.”

  I pressed my lips together. “We do our part to make the world a better place.” I rubbed my stomach. “And I feel more strongly about that now more than ever.”

  Laurel watched me for another beat before returning her focus to the books. “There are smuggling rings on every continent that specialize in shifting these illegal items. It’s gross.”

  “I think there’s a smuggling operation happening in Spellbound.” I shared everything that had happened recently. The missing items from Paws and Claws. The feather. The angel dust. Darcy’s comment about unusual nighttime activity.

  “Do you think that’s why you’ve been cursed?” Laurel asked. “Maybe you were getting too close to the truth?”

  “The more I learn, the more I think that has to be the reason,” I said.

  “I bet it’s someone who knows you’re defending Percy,” Laurel said. “They must know you’ll keep digging until you have enough evidence to avoid conviction.”

  “Or I’ve already stumbled upon evidence and don’t realize it,” I said. “They’re using the hex to keep me in a holding pattern until they can finish what they started without interference.”

  “Like moving inventory in the middle of the night through the lesser used tracts of land in Spellbound,” Laurel said.

  “And dropping a little angel dust along the way,” I said, which my client happened to discover the next day during his nature walk. I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. “I still need to go to the Spotted Owl tonight.”

  “Have you been going to there every night in your cursed day?” she asked.

  “I’ve been doing lots of things on repeat that I’d rather not,” I admitted. “Not that I don’t enjoy a night out with everyone, but it’s crowded and Millie….” I stopped.

  Laurel beamed. “Millie what? What happens?”

  “Millie isn’t at her best in crowds,” I said, and left it at that.

  “If you have more sleuthing to do, I can carry on here,” Laurel said. “Research is my specialty.”

  “Thanks, Laurel. That would be great.” I knew the old Laurel was still in there.

  When I finally exited the building, Sedgwick was perched on a tree branch outside. No sign of the feather. I covered every square inch between the clearing and the sheriff’s office.

  “Thanks, Sedgwick,” I said. “That’s what I expected.”

  You didn’t expect me to find the feather?

  “No, and I don’t expect you to see the bird either.”

  Then why send me out to chase my tail feathers?

  “To confirm a theory. I think someone took the feather because it was evidence.”

  Evidence of what?

  “Murder, Sedgwick. Cold-blooded murder.”

  Despite my fatigue, I lingered outside the Spotted Owl that night, waiting. I didn’t want to endure the crowd inside. I knew my friends would forgive me tomorrow, assuming there was a tomorrow.

  “Hey, Emma.” Alex Ricci emerged from the shadows. “You look like you’re waiting for someone.”

  “I am,” I said. “You.”

  He frowned. “How’d you know I’d be here?”

  “A hunch,” I said. “I have a favor to ask. Unfortunately, it involves you skipping the Spotted Owl tonight.”

  He grinned. “Fine by me. I was only coming because Lorenzo said I might want to meet the new High Priestess.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Believe me, you’re not missing out.”

  He chuckled. “I figured as much. What’s the favor?”

  “Come on,” I said. “I’ll explain on the way.”

  I drove Sigmund home and parked in the driveway of the Harpy’s Nest. Alex peered out the windshield. “You’re bringing me to an inn? Are you and your husband having problems already?” He wiggled his eyebrows in a joking manner.

  I laughed. “Not at all. We need Darcy Minor.”

  He tapped his fingers on his thigh. “Darcy? She’s the pretty blonde, right? Not one of the older, scary ones?”

  “That’s right.” For a brief moment, I debated whether he should wait in the car. In the end, I decided he could handle himself. He was the rising pack leader, after all. If he couldn’t deal with a house full of harpies, then he wasn’t the future alpha I thought he was.

  We stepped out of the car and into the crescent-shaped moonlight. I grabbed the knocker, avoiding the brass harpy’s knockers in the process, and rapped it against the door.

  “You might want to downplay your masculinity, if that’s remotely possible,” I warned.

  Alex grinned. “I’m a werewolf, Emma. There’s no downplaying raw sexuality.”

  Thankfully, Darcy answered the door. “Good evening, Emma.” Her gaze darted to Alex. “And Emma’s handsome friend.”

  “Alex Ricci,” he said.

  “Oh, yes.” Darcy fixated on him for a beat too long. “The werewolf beta.” I half expected her to lick her lips.

  “Alex has agreed to sweep the woods tonight for any unusual activity,” I said. “I thought you could show us specifically where you’ve seen movement.”

  “I’d love to,” Darcy replied. “Give me a quick second.”

  “Who is it, Darcy?” Phoebe Minor’s voice carried from inside the house.

  Darcy pushed the door so that only a gap remained. “A sales call,” she lied. “I’ll deal with it.”

  “A handsome sales call?” Phoebe yelled. “If so, invit
e him in.”

  “A woman,” Darcy called over her shoulder.

  “Pity,” Phoebe said.

  Darcy slipped through the gap and clicked the door closed behind her. “We need to hurry.”

  Alex cocked an eyebrow. “You’d get in trouble for leaving the house?”

  “No,” Darcy said. “I’d get in trouble for not forcing you into the house and making you our prisoner. Your Grandmother’s type, you see.”

  Beside me, Alex swallowed hard. “So how do we do this?” he asked.

  “I’ll shift into my harpy form,” Darcy said. “If you shift into your wolf form, you can follow my trail from below.”

  Alex looked at me. “What about you, Emma?”

  “I’ll follow in the car until I need to go on foot.”

  Darcy glanced up at the widow’s walk on top of the house. “That’s where I usually transform, but I can’t go up there now. Not without raising questions.”

  Alex looked around us. “It’s pretty quiet. Can’t you shift right here?”

  Darcy’s fingers stroked the pearls around her neck. “I’m not a werewolf. That’s not typically how I do it.”

  Alex inched closer. “Now I’m interested. Show me how you do do it.”

  Even in the inky black, I could see the color rise to Darcy’s cheeks. These two had obvious chemistry—who knew?

  “Fine,” Darcy said, straightening. She tore off her cardigan and tossed it into the bushes. “I need a little space.”

  I averted my gaze as she shifted into her harpy form.

  “Nice talons,” Alex said appreciatively, before shifting into his wolf form.

  I suddenly felt very boring standing between them. I’d shift into a mother in another eight months or so, but they’d have to wait for the transformation.

  Darcy took to the sky and Alex followed her path from below. I hurried back to Sigmund and trailed after the werewolf. I drove until the trees were too thick and close together to drive any further. I chased after Alex, but he was too fast and limber. He leaped over fallen trees and pushed through bushes, whereas I had to skirt every obstacle. I knew I was on the right track because I could see Darcy’s silhouette against the night sky. I hoped I broke the curse if, for no other reason that Alex and Darcy could realize their attraction for each other. If the day started over, then this night will never have happened. The possibility made me feel sad. Everyone deserved to find the kind of happiness I had with Daniel. That kind of love was transformative. It was more magical than any spell I could conjure.

  I stumbled forward, nearly tripping over a tree stump. Behind me, I heard the bushes rustling. “Alex?” No, the werewolf was definitely ahead of me. I stepped forward and heard more rustling. I whipped around and peered into the darkness. Nothing.

  Now I’d lost sight of Darcy, too. Great.

  “Hello?” I called into the gloom. “Is someone there?” Maybe it was another abandoned animal that I could take to Paws and Claws. One that had been left by the smugglers because they weren’t fit for purpose.

  I didn’t hear a response. Instead, pain emanated from the back of my head and I dropped to the ground. As I slid into unconsciousness, I felt the tears slide down my cheeks.

  I’d failed.

  Again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Wakey, wakey.” Gareth’s ghostly face hovered over mine.

  I promptly burst into tears.

  “What the devil?” The vampire ghost backed away. “Is this what pregnancy does to you?”

  “No, this is what a curse does to me.”

  “Now, Emma, that’s very old-fashioned thinking. Pregnancy is a blessing.”

  I glanced at the empty spot on the bed beside me. “I suppose Daniel left early to prepare for his interviews.”

  “Aye.”

  “Is the toilet broken?”

  Gareth scrutinized me. “Broken? From overuse?”

  I didn’t say another word. I flipped back the covers and ran to the bathroom to see what awaited me.

  The toilet was intact.

  “I should break it again, just for fun,” I said. Instead of frightened, I was beginning to feel angry. Whoever did this to me was putting my baby at risk.

  Gareth materialized by the sink. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “I’m trapped in a spell,” I said. I began to pace the floor of the bathroom. “I need to get out.”

  He floated over to me and placed a hand against my forehead. “Emma, you sound daft. Maybe have a lie down.”

  “I’ve been sleeping for eight hours every night,” I said. “I don’t need a lie down. I need to figure out who’s responsible for hexing me and why.” I paused. “Well, I think I’ve figured out why, but not who.”

  Gareth stared at me. “Someone’s hexing you? Who would hex a pregnant woman?”

  “Someone who wants to sideline me.” Maybe even permanently.

  Gareth’s expression grew concerned. “Emma, if you’re trapped in the same day too long, it could impact the baby’s development.”

  I clutched my stomach. “I know that, Gareth. Why do you think I’m freaking out? I was so close to the truth yesterday, but then someone hit me on the back of the head and I woke up in the same day again.” My anxiety began to swell inside me. Being forced to repeat the same day over and over was bad enough without fearing for my unborn child.

  Gareth drew a phantom breath. “Right. Let’s calm down. Stress isn’t good for the wee one. Tell me what you’ve figured out so far.”

  I held up a finger and launched myself at the unbroken toilet. I took care of business, wiped my mouth, and quickly brushed my teeth. “I have tea and toast waiting downstairs, right?”

  “Aye,” Gareth said.

  “Great,” I replied. “Let’s break it down over food before my appointment. I know there isn’t much time.”

  I got dressed and hurried downstairs to review the information with Gareth. “I think it has something to do with the Percy Atkins case,” I said, crunching on breakfast. Magpie lingered nearby, hoping for a toast mishap. I glared at the hellbeast. “It hasn’t happened the last three times. I’m not going to drop anything now.”

  Magpie hissed and stalked out of the room.

  “That’s your defendant in the smuggling case?” Gareth queried.

  I nodded and slurped my tea. I could tell I was slurping by Gareth’s curled lip. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “I blame the baby.”

  “The baby makes you slurp instead of sip?” he asked. “I can’t say I’ve read about that phenomenon in any book.”

  “Whatever.” I continued to think about Percy in connection with the rest of the day. “After my appointment, I see Marjory Limpet. Then I talk to Chip in Paws and Claws and I visit one of Percy’s co-workers.”

  “Hmm. The timing is curious,” Gareth said. “If there’s a new smuggling operation in town, it coincides with Marjory Limpet’s arrival.”

  I gaped at him. “You can’t be serious.”

  “Perhaps the rule-abiding witch is compensating for extracurricular illegal activities.”

  I groaned. “We can’t have another criminal heading up the coven.” Still, she had the skills to hex me and the timing was suspicious. Plus, there was the matter of her dogs being brought into this realm from the human world. She claimed the paperwork was in order, but what if that was a lie?

  “You need to go,” Gareth said. “You can’t be late for your first appointment with the healer. Word will get around that you’re a neglectful mother.”

  My mouth dropped open. “It will not!”

  “Go on,” he said, shooing me out the door. “Go see your husband and make sure this baby is thriving.”

  Yes, he was right. I had to keep checking on the baby as long as I was trapped in this day. I gulped down the last bit of tea and dropped a piece of crust on the floor. “There,” I told Magpie on my way out the door. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

  I pushed open the door to the healer’s c
linic. “Yes, yes. I’m two minutes late and I’m never late. I know.”

  Daniel stopped pacing and stared at me. “Okay.”

  I slammed into the seat and slumped over. “This is the worst day ever.”

  “It’s only morning,” Daniel said. “What happened? Did Gareth try to force you to do pregnancy Pilates again?”

  “No, he wouldn’t dare.” I glanced at Phil Saxby. “That guy brings his own nature magazines to appointments.”

  The druid looked up in surprise. “I do. How’d you know that?”

  “I’m psychic,” I replied, feeling defeated.

  Phil smiled politely. “I’ve known a few of those in my day. They tend to attract trouble.”

  “Ha!” Daniel said. “Sounds like Emma.”

  “I do not attract trouble,” I said heatedly. “Trouble hunts me down and ties me to the railroad tracks. I’m sick of it.”

  Daniel laughed awkwardly. “You have to excuse my wife. She hasn’t been sleeping well.”

  “Eight hours,” I shot back. “Over and over again. Not a minute more or less.”

  “Phil Saxby.” The healer’s assistant entered the waiting area. “So pleased to see a druid coming into the clinic. Sometimes they think they have the power to heal themselves.”

  “Ugh. Can’t you say anything else clever about druids?” I moaned. “They’re not one-trick ponies.”

  The assistant gave me a curious look. “I guess so.”

  Once the druid disappeared into the clinic, Daniel faced me. “What’s going on?”

  I groaned in exasperation. “I’m so tired of this. I want out.”

  “Out of being pregnant? I would think you’d be excited.”

  “No, not that,” I replied. “That I’m stuck in a time loop. Someone hexed me.”

  Daniel studied me. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure,” I yelled. I clamped a hand over my mouth. I never, ever raised my voice. Blargh, this curse was taking its toll on me. I could only imagine what it was doing to the baby. I wanted to throw myself on the floor and weep. My body and mind felt exhausted.

  “It’s okay, Emma.” Daniel came and put his arm around me, pulling me close. I leaned into his chest. He smelled like fresh baby powder.