Cloaks and Daggers

by Annabel Chase

  Cloaks and Daggers

  Spellbound Ever After Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Book 6

  Annabel Chase

  Red Palm Press LLC

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Also by Annabel Chase

  Chapter One

  “More tea?” I asked the man across from me—I mean, the demigod. Calix.

  My father.

  The dapper gentleman in the crisp suit waved me off. His hair was so dark that it almost appeared purple in the natural light that spilled through the window. Although he didn’t look a day over fifty, I knew he was much, much older. “Another cup and I’ll need a tonic for my sour stomach,” he said.

  “Emma suffers from stomach issues, too,” Daniel said. My angelic and well-meaning husband sat beside me, his hand resting protectively on my thigh.

  “I tend to throw up when I’m anxious,” I said. “I take an anti-anxiety potion which helps.” Although I stopped taking the potion during my pregnancy because I wasn’t sure whether it would impact the baby. I couldn’t help but smile as my thoughts turned to our sweet Diana. She was currently asleep upstairs with Magpie watching over her like a demonic, hairless nanny.

  “I’ve noticed a few new aches and pains that will require attention,” Calix said. “Being a demigod doesn’t make me impervious to inflamed joints, I’m afraid.”

  I set my teacup on the saucer in a deliberate gesture. “So, we’ve talked about the weather, the house, the state of the economy, and your inflamed joints,” I said. “How about we talk about us?”

  “I assumed we’d get around to that eventually,” Calix said. He offered an engaging smile and I briefly wondered whether that was the same smile that seduced my mother. “What would you like to know?”

  “Why are you here?” Gareth blurted from the doorway. I hadn’t even realized my vampire ghost roommate was eavesdropping, although it didn’t surprise me. Gareth was as nosy as he was incorporeal.

  Calix’s head swiveled in Gareth’s direction. “And how do you fit into the picture, son?”

  Gareth recoiled. “He can hear me.”

  “I’m a demigod and the son of Nyx, the goddess of death and darkness,” Calix said. “Of course I can hear you.”

  “I don’t know how I feel about this,” Gareth said. He shifted uneasily.

  “Can you see and hear all ghosts?” I asked.

  “As far as I know,” Calix said.

  I chewed my lip. “Why can’t I?”

  Calix motioned to the vampire ghost. “You obviously can.”

  I shook my head. “No, Gareth is special.”

  “Not from where I’m sitting,” Calix said, giving the vampire ghost the once-over.

  Gareth folded his arms and glowered at the demigod. “I know a cemetery caretaker that begs to differ.”

  Calix kept his focus on me. “Maybe you can and never noticed,” he continued. “You have to be in tune. Pry open your third eye.”

  I balked. “I have three eyes?” If that was the case, then I could’ve given the spare one to the Grey sisters ages ago.

  “The third eye is metaphysical,” Calix said. “It can wreak havoc on the mind when not properly understood.”

  Gareth offered a solemn nod. “That explains so much. Emma is plagued by demons.”

  Calix’s brow lifted. “Oh? Shall I smite them for you, princess? I may have missed your formative years, but I’m here now and willing to do my duty.”

  I slapped my forehead. “Not actual demons. Metaphorical ones.”

  “Metaphysical…” Calix began.

  “No.” Inwardly I groaned. I didn’t really want my first conversation with my father to reveal the extent of my flaws—at least let him believe he missed out on a perfect child for two seconds. “Gareth means I see a therapist to discuss some of my issues.”

  “Of which she has many,” Gareth said.

  Daniel stood and began to clear the table.

  “I don’t think I’d want to see and hear all ghosts,” I said, trying to divert attention away from my ‘issues.’ “One is quite enough.”

  “You don’t need to invite all of them to live with you, dumpling,” Calix said.

  Across the kitchen, Daniel arched an eyebrow at the word ‘dumpling.’

  “I didn’t invite Gareth,” I said. “He lived here first. He was murdered at the same time I arrived in Spellbound and I ended taking over his job and his house.”

  Calix leaned back and observed me with admiring eyes. They were a pale green—what my grandmother would have referred to as celadon. “Daughter, you’re a natural conqueror.”

  Heat colored my cheeks. “No, it wasn’t like that.”

  “Emma solved Gareth’s murder,” Daniel said. “And she broke the curse on the town. She’s been an asset to Spellbound from the moment she arrived.”

  “Not a conqueror,” I added firmly.

  “There’s no shame in it, little lamb,” Calix said. “Veni, vidi, vici.”

  “That means that you came, you saw, you conquered,” Gareth told me. “Julius Caesar.”

  Calix’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “And where do you think he learned it?”

  “Spellbound is a lovely town with a mayor and a town council,” I said. “No need for a conqueror.”

  My protest was ignored. “Now I understand why there’s a statue of you in the town square,” Calix said. “The lesser beings love to pay homage to those who rule over them.”

  I waved my hands. “No, you’re misunderstanding that. The statue was to commemorate the breaking of the town curse.”

  Calix shook his head, as though lost in happy thoughts. “I wish I had known about you sooner so I could have found you. Gotten acquainted. There’s so much potential in you.”

  It felt surreal to be seated across from my biological father discussing my potential the way Daniel and I had sat here just the other night and discussed our own daughter’s. Of course, our conversation had been in the vein of whether she’d be good at math and enjoy reading, not whether she’d eventually march on Europe.

  “Do you think Diana will have a third eye?” I asked.

  “My genes are strong,” Calix said, puffing out his chest. “There’s every chance.”

  Daniel’s gaze shifted to the doorway, to the ghost he could neither see nor hear. “I’ll be the odd one out?”

  “You’re always the odd one out,” Gareth shot back.

  Calix chuckled. “I sense a little tension in the household.”

  “There’s no tension,” I said quickly. “Everything’s fine. We’re one strange, happy family.”

  “Which is ideal for me, seeing as that’s the reason I’m here,” Calix said. “I wish to be part of a family. Yours, specifically.”

  My chest tightened. I knew exactly how he felt. I’d been given up for adoption and then my adoptive parents died, leaving me with my grandparents. When my grandparents died, I’d never felt more alone—until I came to Spellbound and created a family of my own. How could I deny Calix the very thing I’d wanted most?

  “Nyx isn’t known for her maternal affection.” Calix chuckled. “When you’re the son of a goddess—let’s face it—family life isn’t going to be Sunday pancakes and trips to the cinema.”

  “Emma lik
es pancakes, too,” Daniel said.

  “Because I have taste buds and a stomach,” I said. “Duh.”

  “You’re a demigod,” Gareth said. “You must have children all over the world that you don’t know. Why not hitch your godly wagon to one of them? Be part of that family.”

  Calix fixed the vampire ghost with a weighted stare that sent chills down my spine. “Are you suggesting that I’m promiscuous, you floating set of impotent fangs?”

  Daniel stifled a snicker. He seemed pleased that someone was finally giving Gareth the hard time that the vampire ghost frequently unleashed on Daniel.

  “Nothing of the kind.” Gareth backed away, causing part of his body to merge with the wall. If he still had insides, I had no doubt they’d be quivering.

  “I would like a relationship with my child,” Calix said, and his eyes locked on mine. “It isn’t an unreasonable desire.”

  I wanted so much to believe him, but I felt wary. After all, my biological mother had possibly been afraid of him and so determined to keep me hidden that she gave me up. Even without all the information, I couldn’t ignore those details.

  “How did you find me after all these years?” I asked.

  “From what I gather, your existence had been hidden by a powerful cloaking spell that finally broke,” Calix said.

  “I did perform a locator spell recently,” I admitted.

  “To locate me?” Calix’s brow lifted in pleasant surprise.

  I hesitated. “I just wanted to know where you were,” I said. “If you were even alive.”

  “I don’t think a simple locator spell would’ve been enough to blast through whatever spell had kept you hidden,” the demigod said.

  Daniel cut a glance at me. “I think I know.”

  I frowned at him. “Did you do something?” Daniel’s angelic powers were different from mine and he tended not to use them, but the possibility existed.

  My husband’s expression softened. “Diana.”

  I tapped my fingernails on the table. “What do you mean? The baby’s birth flared the Bat…demigod signal?”

  “The birth was fairly traumatic,” Daniel said. “You almost died.”

  “The Winged Wonder is right for once,” Gareth said. “The wee one could be responsible for breaking your mother’s spell.”

  Calix smothered a laugh and Daniel folded his arms, looking cross. “Gareth said something insulting about me, didn’t he?”

  Calix maintained a straight face. “No, no. Nothing of the kind.”

  “How long do you plan to stay in town?” I asked.

  “As long as I’m welcome,” Calix said. “I still have a long life ahead of me. Plenty of time.”

  “Same,” Daniel said with a weary sigh.

  Calix held up his hand for a high-five. “Up top, ageless brother.”

  Daniel came over to the table and slapped his hand, grinning. He seemed to have taken a shine to the demigod. Stars and stones, I had so many questions for Calix, but now didn’t seem like the right time. I decided it was best to keep the conversation at surface level until I felt more comfortable.

  “This is far too civilized,” Gareth complained.

  Calix looked at him. “Is this what you do all day? Comment from the sidelines? You’re rather like a god yourself, aren’t you?”

  Gareth’s shoulders straightened. “I suppose I am. I hadn’t really thought of it that way.”

  Thanks to the baby monitor, I could see Diana stirring. “Break time’s over, folks. The pelican is landing.”

  “Do we need to speak in code?” Daniel asked. “We can all see her on the monitor.”

  Calix cleared his throat. “Would it be possible to see her? Up close.”

  I froze. “You want to meet my daughter?”

  “Is it so strange that I’d like to meet my granddaughter?”

  “No, I guess not.” I gestured lamely to the monitor. “You can see her right there.”

  Calix pressed his lips into a smile. “How about in the flesh? Perhaps even hold her? Breathe in that scent of innocence that I find so intoxicating.”

  “I dinnae like the creepy way that sounds,” Gareth said. “What if he wants to eat her?” He clamped a hand over his mouth. “I dinnae like that he can hear me either.”

  Diana whimpered softly and I knew it was only a matter of minutes before the wailing began. I was beginning to think she also had banshee blood—maybe from my mother’s side of the family.

  Gareth floated over to the table and looked coolly at Calix. “Visiting hours are over. The wee bairn needs to feed. Trust me, I ken these things.”

  I cast a sidelong glance at him. “Why do you suddenly sound more Scottish?”

  The vampire ghost shrugged. “Hormones?”

  Calix moved to a standing position. “I thank you kindly for your hospitality. It’s been wonderful. I hope we can see each other again soon. I’ve made getting to know you my top priority.”

  He said the last sentence as though I should be grateful. “Where will you stay while you’re in town?” I asked.

  “I’d considered the inn next door, but something about the energy there unsettled me.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. My father had good instincts, I’d say that much for him.

  “That’s the Harpy’s Nest,” Daniel said. “And it’s exactly as described.”

  Calix rubbed his chiseled jaw. “I’ve never met a harpy I liked, and I’ve met quite a few over the centuries.”

  “They certainly wouldn’t be the first,” Gareth said. “Except maybe Calliope.”

  “Darcy’s fine too,” I said. The blond harpy was uptight, but perfectly acceptable.

  “I’d rather not take the risk,” Calix said. “I’m happy to stay at the new hotel that everyone’s raving about. It seems up to my standards.”

  “You must mean Markos’s new place,” I said. I’d heard the minotaur had cut the ribbon during the grand opening on his boutique luxury hotel when I was confined to bed with Diana. I was sorry to miss it.

  “I don’t know the owner, but if it’s this Markos, he has exquisite taste,” Calix said.

  “I’ll be sure to let him know he has a demigod’s stamp of approval.” I smiled. “It was nice to finally meet you.” I accompanied him to the front door, and Gareth and Daniel maintained a respectful distance.

  “How about dinner this week?” Calix asked, stepping onto the porch. “My treat.”

  “Can I let you know? Even though I’m on maternity leave, my schedule is iffy with the baby.”

  Calix frowned. “How will you alert me?”

  “I have an owl,” I said. “His name is Sedgwick and he’s more than capable of delivering messages.”

  “An owl.” Calix sighed dreamily. “The wise and wonderful symbol of Athena. How I miss the glory days.” He leaned down and pecked me on the cheek. “I look forward to our next engagement. It’s been a pleasure.”

  I watched in a daze as he walked down my front porch steps with a spring in his step. Slowly I turned to face Daniel and Gareth, my insides churning. How I’d made it through the entire meeting without falling to pieces was beyond me.

  Daniel must’ve sensed my distress because he took a step toward me, ready to offer comfort. “Emma?”

  “That was my father,” I said, and emptied the contents of my stomach all over my husband’s shoes.

  Daniel stared at the mess with resignation. “I told him you had stomach issues.”

  Gareth laughed as he gingerly floated toward the staircase. “For once, I’m happy to be a ghost.”

  Chapter Two

  The wind chimes tinkled loudly and the baby opened her eyes. Gareth’s ghostly face grew purple with rage, a seemingly impossible feat given that he had no blood running through his veins.

  “We have to replace those wind chimes,” he seethed. “They’re nothing but a nuisance.”

  I stroked the back of Diana’s head. “Relax. She’s fine.” She’d slept ple
nty during my father’s visit, so this nap had basically been a bonus round.

  Gareth jabbed a finger at the infant’s head. “She opened her eyes. That means she’s not asleep.”

  “Very good, Gareth,” I said. “You’ve mastered the basics.”

  The wind chimes sounded again.

  “Is anybody going to get the door?” Daniel called.

  I walked to the top of the stairs, holding Diana. “You’re closer.”

  “But he’s lazy,” Gareth said, appearing beside me.

  “He’s not lazy,” I shot back.

  Daniel blinked up at me. “Who’s lazy?”

  “Just answer the door, please,” I said.

  Ever agreeable, Daniel opened the door to reveal a slender elf with straight blond hair and a winning smile. “Hi there.”

  Gareth rolled his eyes. “What happened to the no solicitation sign?”

  “I think it might have blown away,” I said. “We had that windy day recently.”

  “Good afternoon,” Daniel said. “Can I help you?”

  “My name is Andrea Morton and I’m the associate producer of Home Invaders.” She looked at him expectantly.

  Daniel scratched his head. “You’re here to invade our home? You’re certainly being polite about it.”

  Andrea threw her head back and laughed like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “Did you miss the part where I said I’m an associate producer?”

  “No.” Daniel glanced over his shoulder at me. “What’s an associate producer?”

  I walked downstairs and joined him at the door. “It must be for a television show.”

  Andrea smacked her forehead. “This is Spellbound. I totally forgot. Of course you wouldn’t know our show. I can assure you it’s very popular in the paranormal world. Couples search for their forever home and we think yours would be perfect for one of our house-hunting couples.”