Amber (Jewels Cafe Book 1)

by Mia Harlan

  The doorknob rattles again, and I barely contain a sob.

  Then, everything goes quiet.

  “I’m going to go fix this, Bean. I promise,” Julian vows through the closed door.

  And by fix, I know exactly what he means. Break the mating bond so Wes and Chase no longer love me. Break the bond that makes him desire me in a way he never wanted. And break my heart in the process.

  Chapter 10

  CHASE

  Julian shoves past me and storms downstairs. I follow.

  Not really sure why, but I do. Also not sure why I followed him upstairs in the first place. Maybe it was the spell. Maybe instinct. Maybe the fact that I’m hurting inside, and Amber is, too.

  Whatever the reason, it clearly hasn’t affected Wes the same way it’s affected me. There’s no sign of the bear in the cafe. Not unless he’s secretly a chameleon like Amber and he shifted into the woman currently standing in the middle of the cafe.

  “Hi, I’m Zoe,” the woman—who doesn’t smell like a bear or sound like a bear, and so probably isn’t a bear—smiles at us. She’s got brown hair like Wes, only hers is tied back in a ponytail.

  Julian doesn’t so much as bat an eye. I’m not even sure he sees her.

  The spellcaster has this faraway look in his eyes, and he keeps glancing over his shoulder. Either he keeps expecting Amber to come after us or he’s fighting the urge to race back to her... an urge I’m suddenly fighting, too.

  It kills me, knowing she’s not actually my mate. That it’s just a spell making me feel things I didn’t think I’d ever get to feel.

  I have a constant urge to bunny-kick Julian in the face, but my mother raised me better than that. Okay, fine, I’d probably still punch him if he wasn’t already broken up over what happened.

  I watched him try to keep it together all afternoon. I’d wondered about his agitated pacing and the frequent glances he kept shooting at the door. Or why he’d sounded so upset when he was on the phone canceling lunch because of an emergency. I’d even asked if everything was okay, but the guy refused to tell me anything. He just said that he’d made a huge mistake, did something he regretted, and did he ever!

  “So... do I get an introduction?” the brunette—Zoe—finally asks.

  “Oh, sorry. I’m Chase. And this is Julian. He owns the place.” I glance toward the counter. “Did you want to order something? I’m sure Julian can make it for you.” Maybe. Not really sure at all. It just seems like the right thing to say.

  “Not really why I’m here.” Zoe shakes her head. It’s an odd thing to say at a cafe. Or, it would be if I didn’t suddenly remember where I’d heard that name before.

  “You’re the den witch, aren’t you?”

  “The Cleanly Den witch, but yeah. Guilty as charged.” She grins. Julian doesn’t so much as blink, and I force out a smile that may or may not resemble a grimace. The den witch watches us for a second, and then asks, “So... is Mr. Berrett around?”

  “Mr. Berrett?” I know who she means, I’m just surprised the bear would be so formal with his employees.

  “Yeah, you know? Boss Man? Yay tall... shifts into a bear?” Zoe gets up on tip toes and gestures up high in the air. When that still doesn’t quite reach Wes’s height, she floats up a little, until her hand hovers at seven feet off the ground.

  “I think he just left.”

  My words seem to snap Julian out of his trance. He looks around, from me to Zoe, and then shoves past her and races out the front door.

  “Julian, wait!” I shout after him. I’m not sure why I even care that he’s leaving, except that I thought he would fix things.

  Break whatever spell is causing this knot in my chest and stop Amber from crying.

  “Julian!” I shout again, but he just keeps going.

  Glass crunches loudly beneath his feet, but it doesn’t slow him down any.

  Then, it’s like he was never here. Except for my need to rush back upstairs and see Amber. That’s a constant reminder of exactly what he did to all of us.

  “Oooookay.... That was weird!” Zoe says, her back still to me as she watches the door. “Not as weird as the cursed pebble inside the daffodil pot. Or the glass on the sidewalk. Or that broom I nearly tripped over on my way in. But... still weird.”

  “Sorry about the broom.” Even if I wasn’t the one who dropped it in the middle of the sidewalk... Then again, I’m pretty sure my dustpan is out there next to it, so I’m at least partially responsible.

  “No worries. So, what happened here?”

  “It’s kind of hard to explain.” I shrug.

  I doubt she’s asking about the attraction spell Julian cast on Amber—though why he didn’t just kiss her is beyond me. So I settle for, “Someone might be trying to sabotage the cafe...”—that belongs to the woman I briefly thought was my mate—”But it could all be a coincidence...”

  “Doors don’t usually explode by coincidence.” Zoe rolls her eyes. “Trust me.”

  “Not the door. Julian did that.”

  “The owner? Did he curse the place, too?”

  “Not that I know of. And the door was an accident.”

  “See? Weird!” Zoe exclaims, and she’s right.

  What are the odds that I’d decide to work from Jewels Cafe today, of all days? Especially when I’d been a regular at Spell—the public library in Silver Springs—since moving here?

  Spell has magically fast internet—no pun intended—so I do all my client work from there... everything from scheduling social media posts, to creating graphics, to running analytics. I even have this one particular upstairs window seat that I’m attached to. Ruins my entire day if anyone else ever tries to sit there.

  But today, I didn’t even check if it was occupied. I’d walked past Jewels Cafe and thought hey, why not try a change of scenery? Right after Julian cast his spell. Despite a curse that should have prevented me from being here.

  “Shall I get started?” Zoe asks.

  “Sure, go ahead.” I shrug, because on top of everything else, apparently I’m now in charge of Jewels Cafe.

  “Great. Now, what would you like me to do with your door?”

  “Fix it?” I raise an eyebrow.

  “Yes, I know I should fix it. But I need specifics. Glass type? Signage? Magical enhancements?”

  “We’d have to ask Amber.” Which sends a jolt of excitement through me, even though it shouldn’t. I have to remind myself that Amber isn’t actually my mate. The last thing she wants right now is to see me. Or answer questions about a door.

  “Who’s Amber?” Zoe asks.

  “The owner.”

  “I thought you said Julian was the owner?”

  “They both are.” Which is the only useful thing Julian told me this afternoon. “I’ll be right back.”

  I head back upstairs. The apartment door is still gaping open, and my Doc Martens slap loudly against the living room floor. The sound reverberates through the silent living room, and I suddenly feel like I’m intruding. Especially when I catch a sniffle coming from Amber’s room.

  When I reach her bedroom door, I rest my palm flat against its wooden surface. Another sniffle echoes from inside, and my heart nearly breaks. Because even though, logically, I know it’s just the spell, Amber’s pain is my pain.

  Before I can think better of it, I knock. Loudly. Angrily. Channeling all the hurt that I’ve been bottling up inside.

  “Go away, Juli,” Amber shouts, her voice breaking. “Haven’t you done enough?”

  “It’s not Julian. It’s Chase. Do you think you could open the door?”

  “Go home, Chase.”

  “I can’t just leave!”

  “You can! I don’t want you here.”

  I feel a tightening in my gut and clench my hands into fists.

  “I’m sorry, Chase!” Amber throws the door open. “I didn’t mean that. And I know none of this is your fault... I just...”

  “I know, sweetheart.” I wrap her in my arms and ho
ld her tight. I never want to let go, but I know I have to. “The den witch is here. She needs to know what to do with the door...”

  “Can’t Julian handle it?” Amber takes a step back and leans against the door frame. “Or is he too busy casting more spells?”

  “I hope not,” I say earnestly, because there are still plenty of things left for him to break. Things that aren’t one of our hearts. “He isn’t here.”

  “He left to get the spellbook, didn’t he?” Amber whispers. And her words—and the reminder that Julian plans to tear the bond that makes her mine—is enough to make me want to punch a hole through the wall.

  Not that I ever would.

  It would scare Amber.

  It would be a pain to repair.

  It would really suck to have to do my freelance work one-handed.

  I’m still trying to convince myself it’s a bad idea when Amber places her hand gently on my arm.

  “Chase?” She looks up at me with tear-stained eyes.

  “Oh, sweetheart.” I hug her again, and it feels like a goodbye.

  Because Amber wraps her arms around my waist and holds on for dear life. Because she makes it clear she doesn’t want to let go any more than I do.

  “How could he do this to us?” she whispers against my chest, and I close my eyes against the sudden onslaught of pain.

  “I’m sorry I kissed you, Amber.” I should never have believed I’d won the bunny shifter lottery and that someone as beautiful and perfect as Amber could be my mate. “If I'd known...”

  “You never would have done it?” She pulls away from me, her eyes swimming with hurt.

  My shoulders slump. “I still would have done it. And now, I’ll never be able to forget.”

  Because even thinking about the kiss now, when Amber and I are both hurting, makes my carrot harden. And the fact that I’m calling that particular appendage a carrot in my head, not just aloud to tease Amber, is telling enough.

  Maybe the elders were right, and I never should have left home.

  “Let’s go downstairs,” Amber says softly. “Just let me quickly wash up first? I promise I won’t be long.”

  I go wait in the living room and take in the decor... if you could call it that.

  There are three couches pushed against the wall, two wooden tables stacked one on top of the other and nine... no, make that ten mismatched chairs scattered throughout the room. Aside from the path to the bedroom, every surface is littered with stuff: sweaters, jackets, socks, blankets, jeans, a cell phone, several dozen plates, twice as many glasses, and more takeout containers than I can count.

  It’s such a contrast to my own bachelor apartment, with its one foldable mattress and lone bar stool. Which makes me wonder... is this place weird? Or is mine?

  “Okay, how do I look?” Amber asks when she rejoins me in the living room. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her reddened eyes, but there’s only one answer I can possibly give.

  “Beautiful,” I tell her, and it couldn’t be more true.

  “Thanks, Chase.” She gives me a soft smile.

  “Always.” The response is automatic, but I know it’s the worst possible thing to say. Because there won’t be an always. Not once the spell is broken.

  Amber knows it, too, and when her face falls, my gut clenches. Because once the spell is broken, this perfect, gorgeous woman won’t want me around.

  “Is Wes waiting downstairs?” Amber changes the subject.

  “He... left.”

  “With Juli?”

  “No.”

  “Right...”

  “I’m sorry, Amber.” I take her hand in mine.

  “It’s fine, Chase. Really...” she says, but it doesn’t sound like she really means it.

  When we get downstairs, I introduce her to the den witch and let the two of them get down to business. They discuss the merits of shatterproof glass and decide on the logo placement. Zoe takes notes on her phone, and when all the important decisions have finally been made, Amber sighs in relief.

  “Long day?” Zoe asks.

  “Bad day, more like.” Amber groans. “I honestly feel like drowning myself in ice cream.”

  “Ice cream’s great,” Zoe agrees. “But you know what’s even better? Magic!”

  She flicks her wrist, and the broom flies through the gaping doorway and lands softly at our feet. The dustpan races in next—and I do mean races, since it seems to have grown blue plastic feet.

  “Don’t know about better, but I’ll take it,” Amber says as she shows the broom and dustpan to the storage closet in the back room of the cafe. Once they’re inside, the dustpan circles around a few times and settles at the broom’s bristles like an obedient pup.

  “Ready for round two?” Zoe asks as she heads toward the still broken front door.

  “What’s round two?” Amber’s eyes light up, and I’m almost too caught up watching her to notice that all the pieces of glass outside are hovering a few inches above the sidewalk. Almost.

  Zoe flicks her wrist again and each tiny shard of glass suddenly grows tiny, transparent wings. They glisten in the sun, and even though I know I’m missing an amazing magic show, I’m much more interested in watching Amber’s reaction.

  When the garbage bag opens up wide and starts chomping the glass out of mid-air while Zoe swings her arms like a conductor, Amber’s lips turn up in a tiny smile. And when there isn’t any glass left, and the bag ties itself up with a pretty little bow and floats towards the nearest recycling station, her smile grows.

  Zoe flicks her wrist one more time, and the garbage bag suddenly grows arms and legs. It scales the recycling station like a koala, raises its arms above its head, and then swan dives inside the garbage slot with a loud thump.

  Amber giggles, and it’s the most beautiful sound in the world. Until her face falls and the sadness returns. I pull her into my side, even though I know I shouldn’t, and Amber leans into me.

  “Don’t think I forgot about you,” Zoe says.

  I glance away from Amber in surprise, but the den witch isn’t talking to us. She’s scooping out the pebble from daffodil pot.

  “How do you know that it’s spelled?” Amber asks curiously.

  “It glows more than any piece of rock ought to.” Zoe holds the pebble up.

  “Yes, but why can’t Chase or I feel its effects?” Amber presses. “Other people won’t go near the cafe, but the two of us are fine. Julian was too... and Minerva!”

  “That’s because it’s a Travel Spell.”

  “What’s that?” I ask.

  “I’ve never heard of a Travel Spell,” Amber adds. “I don’t think Julian has either.”

  “It’s more common in big cities.” Zoe shrugs.

  “So, what is it, exactly?” I press.

  “Well...” Zoe mulls it over for a second. “You know how when some people go on vacation, they leave their lights on?”

  “It’s easy to forget.” I have, multiple times, since moving to Silver Springs. “We used candles growing up, and we never forgot to turn those off. No one wanted to come home and find out their house burned down.”

  “You used candles?” Amber asks me in surprise.

  “Our community doesn’t believe in technology. No lights, no computers, no cell phones.”

  I start to feel awkward about it, because I know how unusual the way I grew up is compared to the rest of the world, but luckily Zoe changes the subject.

  “On the subject of lights, I didn’t mean people forget to turn them off... some people do it on purpose to deter robbers,” she explains. “Obviously not here in Silver Springs... but down in the city? Different story.”

  “What does that have to do with the pebble?” I ask.

  “It’s a huge pain to leave the lights on or ask friends or neighbors to watch your place while you’re away, so supes invented the Travel Spell.”

  “Which is what, exactly?” I ask. “An anti-robber spell?”

  “Not anti-robber, exactly. Jus
t anti-stranger. That’s why it doesn’t work on you two.”

  “It scares off strangers with bad vibes?” Amber asks.

  Zoe starts to nod, but I shake my head. “If it did, it wouldn’t have scared Wes off. You invited him in, so he shouldn’t have felt the curse.”

  “Boss Man’s not a vampire, Chase!” Zoe laughs. “He doesn’t have to be invited in.”

  “But he still felt the bad vibes,” I point out. “And I don’t.”

  “That’s because you were here before it was cast. So it doesn’t consider you a stranger.”

  I quickly shake my head. “Today’s the first time I’ve been to Jewels Cafe.”

  “He’s right,” Amber agrees. “I’d remember if we’d met before.”

  “So would I,” I say automatically, because I could never forget that long blonde hair or those expressive hazel eyes.

  “Huh.” For a second, Zoe looks stumped. “So you’ve never passed by here, Chase? Maybe on your way to somewhere else?”

  “On the way to the library, sure, but...”

  “Well, there you go. Mystery solved.”

  “But what about the other townspeople?” Amber frowns. “Shouldn’t they have all passed by here at some point?”

  “Amber’s right. We’re on Main Street. I think everyone’s been here at least once this year.”

  “This year, yes. But not since this place changed ownership. Anyone who’s been here before Amber and Julian bought Jewels Cafe would still feel the effects of the spell. Only those who walked past right after the new cafe opened, but before the spell was cast, would be immune.”

  I nod as it all finally starts to make sense. “Is there any way of knowing who cast it?”

  “Not with a Travel Spell.” Zoe shakes her head. “They’re extremely common. You can even buy them online nowadays.”

  “So what do we do?” I ask. Because someone must have cast that spell for a reason, and if it didn’t end up here by accident, then they might be back. And next time, they might do something worse. And I can’t let that happen to Amber.

  “We do this.” Zoe waves a hand over the pebble. “There. Now the spell’s gone.”

  “Just like that?” Amber stares at the no-longer-glowing pebble.