My mother’s voice trailed off as she embraced him, her relief evident in the fact that Beetle had not left town. I claimed the chair while Leo sat back on his haunches as we let Mom have some time with her fiancé.
Today was enough to have some grey hairs poke out and start singing from the rooftops. We’d basically been running around nonstop all day trying to figure out the identity of the vampire, only to discover that he was closer than any of us had ever realized.
“What is it, dear heart?” Beetle asked with concern, pulling back to grasp her hands in comfort. “What is it?”
Well, now that you asked…
I poked Leo with my shoe so that he didn’t go off on a tangent while my mother was about to make the most serious proposal of her life. This was her moment, and we were only here as backup.
You’re no fun, Raven. Those blueberry edibles are the key to my mental antioxidants. I’d say that takes precedent, especially seeing as I’m the key to our survival when it comes to the squirrelpocalypse.
“Beetle, we need to have a serious talk,” my mother began gently, leading him to the couch. Once they were settled and facing one another, she tentatively broached the taboo subject. “We’re witches, and Leo is Raven’s familiar.”
Does your mother even understand the word couth? At this point, my VVBFF—vampire very best friend forever, in case you didn’t know—is going to have a heart attack and need CPR. Seeing as I have an aversion to sharp fangs being anywhere near my stylish body, you’ll have to be the one who makes the sacrifice.
Leo did have a point about Beetle appearing shocked at my mother’s announcement, but I wasn’t sure that vampires even had beating hearts. It was on my list of questions for future discussions, but right now we needed to make our offer to him so that he understood it was safe for him to remain in Paramour Bay.
My VVBFF doesn’t need a beating heart to still be my supplier. I’m always willing to make exceptions.
“Oh, dear,” Beetle mumbled, taking a hand and smoothing down his white hair over and over as he digested my mother’s declaration. “Oh, dear me.”
“Before you get all upset, we’ve come up with a plan to let you remain in Paramour Bay.” My mother patted his knee as if that was enough of a brace for what she was about to confess. “We’re simply going to use an aging spell.”
Again, your mother continues to astound me. And to think that I had a paw in raising her, which she completely ignored and did her own thing anyway.
“Oh, dear me!” Beetle didn’t appear to know what to do with himself. He kept looking at me and Leo, almost as if he thought we were about to kick him out of town regardless that my mother was offering him a solution. “You want to use a spell on me? A spell that will age a vampire? Dear me, dear me!”
“I love you, Beetle,” my mother continued as if he hadn’t reacted in complete shock. “It doesn’t matter that you’re a vampire or that I’m a witch. I want to marry you in December and then finish out our lives together. We can simply age in unison with each year due to the spell, and then we’ll be able to share our last dying breaths with one another.”
Are you seriously not finding this morbid in the least?
Leo did have a point, but my mother was serious about having Beetle by her side for the rest of her life. If having him with her made her a better person, and he gave her reason to do good here in this home that Beetle obviously cared about, then I was all for their plan of crossing the veil into the afterlife together.
Fine. Count me in if these long lives of ours still has me consuming those blueberry edibles.
“Are you okay with this plan, my dear Raven?” Beetle asked cautiously, glancing over at CC. “I was so worried about my CC. His name isn’t actually Count Cuddles, but I do so love the nickname. The arthritis in his wing has been hard on him for years now.”
“Beetle, we can help him manage his arthritis, too,” I said, completely confident in our abilities. “Mom is right. We want you here. Paramour Bay is your home, and you should be able to stay here. We’ll make it all work, as long as you’re okay with marrying into a family of witches.”
I just had the most epic idea ever!
“I love you, my sweet Regina,” Beetle said softly, cradling her face in the palm of his hand. “I was devastated when I heard that CC was back in town, even more so when I realized how old we both were. Knowing that we can all live happily ever after has been a wish of mine since the day we met, my dear heart.”
I have a real-life vampire on my side in the war of the squirrelpocalypse. This changes everything! Skippy and his band of ninja squirrels won’t know what hit them! I’ll make Count Fangs-A-Lot over there a spy from above, hanging out in the trees to gather information. You better whip up that arthritis blend stat, because I have plans, Raven. Big plans!
While Leo continued to tell me all about his revised battle plans, Beetle and my mother continued to map out exactly how all of this would work. We wouldn’t have to utilize the aging spell right away, allowing us time to get it perfect. The tea blend for CC would have to be maintained daily, as well as his arthritis blend. Beetle could also try the special tea blend to see if it met his requirements, as well.
Everything in our proposal was definitely doable, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with Liam, Heidi, Harry, Rye, Ted, and Justine. I couldn’t forget Ivan, either. It was best that the local grim reaper know that we were helping out a vampire.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Beetle was given an invite to the Wednesday night supernatural poker games that Ivan hosted at the local cemetery. He certainly met the supernatural prerequisites.
Let’s not get carried away, Raven.
We’d created our very own supernatural family, and there was always room for more. My heart warmed at what Nan had inadvertently created in Paramour Bay, and I was so very blessed to be able to take part in this special family tree that would likely only continue to grow.
There are often rotten acorns in those types of trees every now and then, Raven. You shouldn’t get carried away. There’s nothing wrong with one of those small bonsai trees that get pruned from time to time. I can be in charge of the shears, if you’d like.
“It is so lovely to finally be home for good,” Beetle exclaimed in happiness, pulling out a secret stash of blueberry edibles that he still had in his shirt pocket. “Leo, my very best familiar friend forever, this moment deserves a treat!”
Forget the shears. I love him, Raven. I really, really do! Welcome to the family, my VVBFF!
~ The End ~
Pumpkin tea blends aren’t the only things that are being stirred up in the next baffling whodunit of the Paramour Bay Mysteries by USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne…
Click HERE
All Hallows’ Eve is only a fortnight away, and the residents of Paramour Bay can’t wait to get their hands on all the candy corn, caramel apples, and pumpkin tea blends this fall season. As a matter of fact, the highly anticipated Halloween Festival is about to kick off in town square with the reveal of the largest pumpkin that has ever been grown in their very own local pumpkin patch.
There’s only one itsy-bitsy problem—someone has stolen the town’s prized jack-o-lantern! Raven ropes Leo into solving another mystery, but he goes all in when he realizes that a pilfered pumpkin is the least of their worries!
Fill up your candy bowl, grab your favorite pumpkin-flavored drink, and get ready to solve the perplexing case of the missing prized pumpkin!
Books by Kennedy Layne
The Widow Taker Trilogy
The Forgotten Widow
The Isolated Widow
The Reclusive Widow
Hex on Me Mysteries
If the Curse Fits
Cursing up the Wrong Tree
The Squeaky Ghost Gets the Curse
The Curse that Bites
Curse Me Under the Mistletoe
Gone Cursing
Paramour Bay Mysteries
Magical Blend
Bewitching Blend
Enchanting Blend
Haunting Blend
Charming Blend
Spellbinding Blend
Cryptic Blend
Broomstick Blend
Spirited Blend
Yuletide Blend
Baffling Blend
Phantom Blend
Batty Blend
Pumpkin Blend
Office Roulette Series
Means (Office Roulette, Book One)
Motive (Office Roulette, Book Two)
Opportunity (Office Roulette, Book Three)
Keys to Love Series
Unlocking Fear (Keys to Love, Book One)
Unlocking Secrets (Keys to Love, Book Two)
Unlocking Lies (Keys to Love, Book Three)
Unlocking Shadows (Keys to Love, Book Four)
Unlocking Darkness (Keys to Love, Book Five)
Surviving Ashes Series
Essential Beginnings (Surviving Ashes, Book One)
Hidden Ashes (Surviving Ashes, Book Two)
Buried Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Three)
Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four)
Rising Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Five)
CSA Case Files Series
Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files 1)
Sinful Resurrection (CSA Case Files 2)
Renewed Faith (CSA Case Files 3)
Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4)
Internal Temptation (CSA Case Files 5)
Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files 6)
Redeem My Heart (CSA Case Files 7)
A Mission of Love (CSA Case Files 8)
Red Starr Series
Starr’s Awakening(Red Starr, Book One)
Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, Book Two)
Targets Entangled (Red Starr, Book Three)
Igniting Passion (Red Starr, Book Four)
Untold Devotion (Red Starr, Book Five)
Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Six)
Fated Identity (Red Starr, Book Seven)
Red’s Salvation (Red Starr, Book Eight)
The Safeguard Series
Brutal Obsession (The Safeguard Series, Book One)
Faithful Addiction (The Safeguard Series, Book Two)
Distant Illusions (The Safeguard Series, Book Three)
Casual Impressions (The Safeguard Series, Book Four)
Honest Intentions (The Safeguard Series, Book Five)
Deadly Premonitions (The Safeguard Series, Book Six)
About the Author
First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister… and a writer.
I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Erotic romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.
Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
facebook.com/kennedy.layne.94
Twitter:
twitter.com/KennedyL_Author
Website:
www.kennedylayne.com
Newsletter:
www.kennedylayne.com/meet-kennedy.html
Batty Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 13) Page 15