by C. W. Gray
“It’s a good holiday.” Miles looked up from where he was scratching Ravenpaw’s belly. “It’s worth celebrating well, Sonny.”
Sonny squealed and hugged Janine, dancing her around the room.
Leo grinned. Yeah. My mate is a lot damn happier.
Rosemarie stood up. “Okay, we got a lot of flowers and straw here. Myrtle says we need to work on making wreaths for protection and prosperity. I want those blue flowers. They remind me of Kate’s eyes.”
Sonny stopped dancing and arched a brow. “She has brown eyes.”
“I didn’t say they remind me of her eyes.” Rosemarie huffed. “They have anything brown here anyway.”
Leo chuckled. “Let’s make some wreaths.”
“And a besom!” Miles jumped up. “Mom and I made our besom this morning. Come on, Sonny. I’ll help you.”
Sonny clapped. “Okay. First, let me put the soup on, then we’ll get started.”
Chapter 20
Leo stood up from where he sat on the floor and stretched his back. A freshly made besom, which was apparently a broom made from twigs, stood next to the door to sweep away the old and make way for the new. Each of his family members now had a wreath. Some, like his grandma’s, were put together well, while others, specifically Thorwald’s, looked ready to fall apart.
They had spent the past few hours talking and laughing while they worked. It had been really nice. Leo had to admit this was a lot better than Valentine’s Day.
Aaron checked his phone, then nodded at Leo. Sonny’s next surprise is ready.
Leo sniffed the air. “Is it lunch time? That soup smells really good.”
Sonny jumped up from where he sat with Miles and Coleen. “Yes. Let’s have lunch.”
“Oh, you sit down, sweetie.” Janine stood up. “Ronald and I will feed you kids.”
Leo’s grandpa laughed. “You’re always volunteering me for work.”
Janine winked at her husband. “It keeps you young.”
Sonny surprised Leo with a hug. “Thank you for doing this, honey bear. I’ve never had so much fun.”
Leo squeezed him tightly. “The day isn’t over yet. I have to admit that Coleen helped me quite a bit.”
Sonny looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah. She wants you to like her.”
Sonny frowned. “I do like her.” He looked around until he spotted Coleen talking with Miles. Ravenpaw sat on her shoulder. “Apparently, she needs more hugs from me.”
Leo snickered when Sonny surprised Coleen with a hug.
“That’s a good person you have there.” Katrin wrapped her arms around his waist. “Myrtle stole his handfasting diary, and we’ve been looking it over. Did you know he’s been planning his handfasting since he was a kid?”
Leo groaned, guilt filling him. “I’m a horrible mate.”
“No, you’re not.” Katrin smacked his side. “Sonny could have told you about handfastings at any time, and absolutely no one is perfect, Leo. You’re going to make mistakes. Sonny will make mistakes. The key is to not let them ruin you. You two need to talk more and fool around less.”
“Mom.” Leo’s cheeks heated. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”
She snickered. “Because it’s true. Let’s eat lunch.”
They ate their bread and soup and chatted for another hour. Aaron started bouncing in place, and Leo knew he needed to move this along or Sonny’s best friend would.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Leo stood. “Part of celebrating Imbolc is honoring the earth and our ancestors. If you all will follow me to the roof of the building, Aaron, Miles, and I have a surprise for Sonny and Myrtle.”
Sonny gasped and clapped. “More surprises? You’re raising the bar for Imbolc, Leo. Are you sure you want to do that?”
Myrtle gave him a curious look. “Sonny and me?”
“Yeah.” Miles grabbed Myrtle’s arm. “You’re gonna love it, Myrtle.”
Leo wrapped an arm around Sonny and went to the door. “I think you’re going to like it, sunshine.”
Thorwald picked up his wreath. “I’m taking Betty with me. I’ve never made something like this, and I think I have a real knack for it.”
Burkhart snorted. “You named it?”
Thorwald growled when Niels snickered.
“Boys!” Katrin glared at them. “Behave.”
They all took the stairs to the roof, and Leo unlocked the roof access door.
“How did you get that key?” Myrtle asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
Leo shrugged. “I stole it.”
Myrtle chortled. “That’s my catbear.”
He opened the door and led them out into the cold air. Myrtle and the apartment complex’s manager always kept the roof access to each building locked up. Leo thought that was truly a shame since there was so much available space there.
Miles’s mom and dad were already there. Trish and Raul were both garden witches and were grinning proudly. All along the edge of the roof, Aaron and Raul had built raised plant beds. In the center of the roof was a small glass greenhouse that Leo had helped Aaron put up.
Sonny and Myrtle stared around, eyes wide and mouths open. They didn’t say anything for a long time.
“It’s a community garden,” Leo said nervously. “We talked to the manager, Myrtle. He gave the go ahead to put one on each apartment building.”
“We’ve prepared the soil and blessed it,” Trish said excitedly. “Sonny and Myrtle, all you need to do is decide what you want to grow, and we’ll plant it. Everyone can help take care of it.”
Raul waved to the greenhouse. “We have plants started in here too. Take a look.”
Myrtle and Sonny peeked in the door.
“That looks like yarrow.” Myrtle grinned. “I’m always running out of yarrow.”
Sonny’s lip trembled, and he turned to stare at Leo with wet eyes. “You remembered. I told you I wished I had a garden.” Leo’s arms were suddenly full of Sonny. “I can’t believe you all did this.”
“I had help.” Leo closed his eyes and hugged Sonny tightly. “The Blackwood family has a lot of talented garden witches. They created a unique rose.”
Sonny leaned back, smiling. “I know. The Blackwood rose.”
“Trish has one starting in the greenhouse. Once it’s ready to plant, we can put it next to the door to our building.” Leo swallowed. “Grandma brought some clippings of some of her favorite flowers on the farm too.”
Sonny cupped his cheek. “Are we honoring our ancestors, honey bear?”
Leo nodded. “That’s part of Imbolc.” He smiled at Myrtle. “Your sister Hester sent a bunch of plants for the greenhouse. She said they were all grown from your mother’s clippings years ago. She said you have most of them already, but more never hurts, right?”
Myrtle sniffed and wiped her eyes. “You’re a good one, catbear.” She hugged Miles. “So are you, little witch. You and your parents knew, didn’t you?”
Miles giggled and hugged Myrtle. “We wanted to do something nice for you and Sonny. Aaron helped too.”
Aaron smirked. “I’m more than a dancing rabbit.” He ignored the curious stares and Gemma and Sonny’s laughs. “Now, isn’t there a blessing that needs doing?”
Myrtle laughed. “Trish? Why don’t you do the honors?”
Miles’s mom smiled widely. “My pleasure.” She closed her eyes and spoke an incantation, voice smooth and melodic.
Sonny leaned his head on Leo’s shoulder, eyes closed. “We honor the earth that sustains us.”
The dark soil in the flowerbeds swirled around like churning water, and Leo felt something tug at his pants leg. Ravenpaw crawled up to his shoulder, burrowing against his neck. Feels strange to me too.
A deep resonating calm filled him. Leo looked over the apartment complex grounds. The large park was bare from winter, but he could almost feel the grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers growing. He had a sudden urge to shift.
“Go ahead,” Sonny w
hispered against his ear.
Leo handed Ravenpaw to him and tugged his clothes off quickly. The shift poured over him, and his body shimmered and twisted until he stood in his bear form.
He looked around. The rest of his family had done the same. A white rabbit and a brown rabbit hopped around Miles and Cookie. Gemma and Aaron must have felt it too.
“I love your bear, Leo. I think you’re right. He needs to come out more.” Sonny curled against Leo’s furry side. “This was a perfect Imbolc.”
Leo settled down and watched the woods dance, Sonny, Ravenpaw, and Flufflepuff curled up with him. They still had a nice big dinner to cook and time to spend with their family. Today was just step one in claiming Sonny’s inner witch.
I’ll get this right, sunshine.
Chapter 21
March 19th, the day before Ostara
Sonny danced around the potion shop, restocking shelves. Ravenpaw clung to his shoulder, and Flufflepuff slept in one of the windowsills. For once, the shop was empty. Tomorrow was Ostara, and most witch families had a lot to do to prepare.
It was almost closing time, and Sonny couldn’t wait for the afternoon to be over. He knew Leo had plans for them. I can’t wait! The past two months had been amazing. Leo was even more attentive than he had been, and they had spent so much time talking.
Tilisha hummed a tune as she set a crate of potions next to him. “As busy as it gets, I still love this time of year. There’s an energy in the air that thrums through the body.”
Sonny grinned. “Spring is here, and everything’s coming alive. Our rooftop garden can finally be planted. Did I show you the picture of my rose bush?”
Tilisha laughed. “Only a thousand times.” She patted his cheek. “You and Leo are so sweet. I take it you’re more than ready for your Ostara scrying and proposal?”
Sonny spun around, enjoying the way his violet skirt twirled around him. “Yes! Myrtle stole my handfasting journal and let it slip that she’s already planning the handfasting with Leo’s parents.”
Tilisha gave him a fond look. “You have a handfasting journal?”
“Since I was six.” Sonny shook his ass and danced as he went back to shelving potions. “I don’t know why I thought I would be okay without a handfasting. I’m an idiot.”
Tilisha shook her head. “You’re just young. You and Leo are still learning one another. Being mates isn’t a sure ticket to an idyllic marriage. That first year of mine, I thought for sure I’d murder my Jerome. He was such a slob.”
Sonny snickered. “I’m going to tell him you –”
The door opened, and Sonny felt all the blood drain from his face. Flufflepuff stood up, hair standing on end as she hissed.
Cynthia Thornton had aged well in the last ten years, but there were a few more lines around her eyes and silver threaded through her brown hair. Her normally full lips were pressed in a thin line.
His throat was suddenly desperately dry. Today was not the day to wear my new dirndl skirt. “Mother.” He glanced at Tilisha. “Can you go check inventory in the back?”
Tilisha made a face and grabbed her phone, typing out a message. “I’ll give you ten minutes.” She glared at Cynthia before she left the room.
Cynthia ignored her and kept eyes narrowed on Sonny. “Somerset, what’s this I hear of you mating a shifter? Haven’t you harmed our family enough? My father was beside himself when he heard. Your father is so ashamed that he refuses to leave the house. The goddess would not possibly grant you a shifter as a mate. You’re being as ridiculous as you look.”
Sonny stifled a whimper and looked at the floor. He hated that her words had the power to hurt so much. “We are mates, Mother. I did a scrying, and he sensed me right away. Shifters recognize their mate’s scent.”
“No.” Cynthia crossed her arms and stepped farther into the shop. “You’ve gone too far. That creature called our house, Somerset. He told me to watch my tone.”
Sonny looked up, eyes wide. “Leo called you?”
“He said something about mating you, but I didn’t know he was a shifter.” Cynthia closed her eyes and gave a long-suffering sigh. “This has gone on long enough. Since our reputation is already shattered beyond repair, I’ll be talking to the Witches Council about you. They surely won’t approve. You will show up and agree to any action they choose to take.”
Sonny gave her a confused look. “It’s not illegal for a witch to mate a shifter.”
Cynthia snarled. “It will be by the time you explain how that horrid beast abused and mistreated you. The Council would have to take action then.”
Anger filled him. “Are you serious? I can’t believe even you would suggest something like that. Leo is the kindest and gentlest person I’ve ever met.”
“You will do as I say.” Cynthia held her finger in the air, the point glowing with a fiery green light. Sonny was well aware of how much pain her zaps could cause.
Fuck it. Fuck her. Her poisonous energy zaps had kept him in line as a child, but he wasn’t a child anymore. “Get the hell out of my shop.”
Cynthia waved her finger, and a green bolt zipped toward him, hitting him in the shoulder. Familiar pain moved through him, but he did his best to ignore it until he heard Ravenpaw yowl in pain.
“Rav!” Sonny winced as he shifted his shoulder and pulled Ravenpaw from around his neck. He checked the kitten over. He had a little singed spot on his fuzzy butt. His big blue eyes were full of fear.
Flufflepuff growled and jumped toward Cynthia, claws extended. Sonny’s mother raised a hand and spit out a quick incantation, effectively freezing Fluff in the air. Flufflepuff growled low, eyes promising retribution.
Cynthia gave him a disdainful look. “I will happily kill this useless familiar if you don’t obey me.”
She shot another zap toward him, and he clutched Ravenpaw to his chest and spun around, taking the shot to his back. Damn, that hurts.
“I am your mother, Somerset, and you will come with me right now. I’ve had enough.”
Sonny turned back to his mother, growling. “You are no family of mine.”
She rolled her eyes. “I truly wish that were the case.”
He snapped his fingers and quickly muttered his favorite spell. His mother’s head disappeared, and a pecan pie took its place. “That should shut you up for a moment.”
Flufflepuff fell to the floor, landing on her feet. She hissed and swiped Cynthia’s bare legs several times.
If she could have, Sonny knew she would be yelling. Cynthia tried to dodge the swipes and smack at Sonny’s familiar at the same time.
Flufflepuff dodged a swat and bit down hard on Cynthia’s calf before running to Sonny’s side.
Tilisha came from the back and leaned on the front desk. “Well, that look is a real improvement Mrs. Thornton.”
Cynthia ran toward her, fingers curled into claws. The counter stopped her, so she raised her hands to her head, feeling around.
Tilisha ignored his mother and narrowed her eyes on him. “Are you hurt?”
“Just a couple little zaps.” Sonny wheezed slightly when he tried to shrug. “She singed Ravenpaw’s butt.”
Tilisha glared at Cynthia and reached below the counter, grabbing a potion. She slid it across the counter, and it crashed to the floor in front of Sonny’s mother. “Oops.”
A horrid stench spread out, saturating Cynthia’s clothing and body.
Sonny raised his brows. “I didn’t know we sold skunk butt potions anymore. Didn’t Myrtle get in trouble when those teenagers used some on their teacher?”
Tilisha shrugged. “I like to keep one behind the counter just in case. You never know when it will come in handy.”
The front door slammed open, and Myrtle rushed in. Her gray hair was a mess, and she was clearly dressed for gardening.
Sonny sulked. She’s been planting in the community garden without me!
Myrtle wrinkled her nose and eyed Cynthia. “It stinks in here.”
Sonny hel
d Ravenpaw up with his good arm. His left shoulder was still in pain, and his lower back ached. “She singed my kitten’s bottom.”
“She hurt Sonny too.” Tilisha moved to hover over him. “How’s that shoulder?”
Myrtle growled and muttered a few words. Cynthia’s body twisted and transformed into a cockroach with a pecan pie head. “You’re a foul woman, Cynthia Thornton. Get the hell out of our shop.”
Sonny’s mom scuttled across the floor, running under the chair.
Myrle stumbled forward when the door pushed open again.
Leo ran inside, eyes glowing gold. His parents and siblings were behind him, all dressed in their work clothes and looking close to shifting. “Sonny, are you alright?”
Katrin looked around. “Where’s the bitch?”
Aaron and Gemma pushed in next. Aaron was vibrating with anger, and Gemma glared around the room. She was close to giving birth, so Sonny wasn’t sure what the hell she thought she could do to help anyone.
Sonny gave Tilisha a look. “Did you have to text everyone?”
Tilisha nodded. “Yes.” She scowled. “She hurt Sonny and zapped Ravenpaw’s butt.”
Leo rushed to his side. “You’re hurt? Where? Oh, sunshine. I should have gotten here sooner.”
“I’ll be okay. It’ll just ache for an hour or so.” Sonny flushed when they all looked at him. Aaron gave him a sympathetic look. He knew every dirty detail of what Sonny had gone through with his parents.
“Why do you sound so sure, Sonny?” Myrtle gave him a hard look. “Has she zapped you before?”
“I know what you’re thinking, but they didn’t hurt me.” Sonny shook his head. “Not really. Mother just likes to zap when I get mouthy. It’s fine.”
Leo growled and pulled him into his arms. His big body shook with emotion. Flufflepuff purred as she wound around their feet. Her purrs settled into Sonny’s mind, comforting him. He felt some of the anger drain from Leo as well. Best familiar ever.
Aaron took Ravenpaw from Sonny. “You stay right there, Sonny. I’ll take a look at this poor little guy’s bottom.”