Midnight Moon (The Unbidden Magic Series)

by Marilee Brothers

  Harken to this sign and spell

  Ringing through each field and dell

  By moonlight or sun

  I bid you come

  By the power of three

  So shall it be.”

  “When you finish the chant,” she said. “Say the man’s name. If you’ve done it right, he will appear.”

  She stepped out of the triangle and pushed me inside. “Your turn. It will take practice to learn this spell, so I suggest you not repeat the man’s name just yet. I assume you’d like him to appear in closer proximity to my daughter. Correct?”

  I nodded.

  “And remember, you must do it exactly as I showed you except for the finger business. You will pull a hair from your head, dip it in the wine and drop it into the flame of each candle.”

  “This could take a while,” I muttered. “How about I just pretend to pull out a hair until I do it for real?”

  “I think not. Practice makes perfect.”

  Okay, so I’d lose a few hairs. I had plenty. At least that’s what I thought until I’d gone through the spell dozens of times. According to TurzahBelle, none of them was right. My scalp hurt and I was dizzy from all that twirling. I was beginning to think she was just messing with me for the fun of it.

  “You’ve almost got it. One more time,” she ordered.

  I sighed, stomped and commenced twirling.

  “No, no, you’re twirling the wrong way. I said widdershins!”

  “Maybe you should do it. You probably have more faery mojo than me. I’m only half fae, after all.”

  TurzahBelle shook her head. “I have summoned many men for my daughter. Each one has been turned away. No, you must keep trying. Never doubt your power, my dear fake princess. You positively glow with it.”

  “I do?”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “Enough with the compliments. Try it again.”

  I twirled widdershins. Yanked out a hair. Dipped it in the wine (gross). Dropped it in the flame. Repeat. Repeat. Recited the chant, staggered out of the triangle, plopped down on the floor and waited for the verdict.

  “What do you think, Spot?” TurzahBelle said.

  Spot made a purring sound deep in his throat.

  TurzahBelle smiled. “Yes, I agree. She has mastered the summoning spell. Now, let’s see if it works.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Summoning spell #1. Got dizzy and fell out of the triangle.

  Summoning spell #2. Accidentally kicked over the goblet of wine.

  Summoning spell #3. Managed to make it through all the parts and finished the chant. I waited a beat and opened one eye. The candles were no longer burning. The goblet of wine was gone.

  “YOU SUMMONED ME, Princess Avalon?”

  I opened the other eye and whirled toward the deep voice. Ryker Matheson was sitting at the table next to TurzahBelle, the wine goblet in his hand.

  I pumped a fist in the air and cried, “I did it! I summoned Ryker.”

  Even TurzahBelle looked pleased. “Yes, I am an excellent teacher.”

  I joined them at the table. “Now we need a plan. Ryker, did you find your father?”

  Ryker squirmed in his chair. “About that . . .”

  My heart sank.

  “It seems my father is unavailable. Love Talkers have extremely busy schedules.”

  “In other words, you didn’t find him.” I pressed my lips together in disappointment.

  Ryker gave me a wounded look. “Do you think I would return without completing my task?”

  “Well, I did summon you. Maybe you didn’t have time to finish your business.”

  “My third cousin, twice removed, is outside the castle. He, too, is a Love Talker, and he’s waiting to carry out your orders.”

  I really wanted to trust Ryker but the third-cousin, twice-removed thing gave me a bad feeling. “And you’re sure this cousin is a Love Talker?”

  Ryker avoided my eyes and mumbled. “Part Love Talker.”

  “And his other part?”

  “Parts,” Ryker corrected. “I believe he is part grig with a dash of pisky. As far as I know, that is.”

  I sighed. “Since this is a rush job, I guess he’ll have to do.”

  TurzahBelle rapped on the table. “Okay, that’s settled. Now, let’s waste no more time with trivia. Time to carry out our plan.”

  “But, we don’t have a plan yet,” I protested.

  TurzahBelle glared at me. “Of course we do. I’ll send Ryker for Luminata. Spot will fetch the grig/pisky/Love Talker creature, and you’ll summon my future son-in-law. The Love Talker will cast his spell. Luminata will be so besotted with love, she’ll hand over the moonstone and you’ll go back to Boundland. What could be easier?”

  Granted, she made it sound easy. I still had my doubts. Could I actually summon Brian Cassidy? Could the third cousin twice removed cast a love spell?

  I’d pictured it differently. Luminata reclining on the blue sofa. Brian Cassidy appearing to press a kiss on her velvety cheek. Turquoise birds singing in the background. The whole Sleeping Beauty scenario.

  But TurzahBelle was ready to roll, and there was no stopping her. She waved a hand and Ryker disappeared, presumably to fetch Luminata. She barked an order at Spot, who flapped his leathery wings, gained altitude and exited through the open-air ceiling.

  “Periwinkle! Zanthia! Refill the wine goblet. Lobelia, light the candles.” TurzahBelle then turned her attention to me. “You!” She yanked me from my chair and gave me a little shove. “Get inside the triangle and prepare to summon.”

  Things were moving way too fast. Still disoriented from my first successful spell, I stepped inside the triangle and closed my eyes, going over the spell in my mind. The timing was critical. I couldn’t afford to screw up, or Luminata would take off with the moonstone and I’d be stuck in Boundless forever. You can do it, Allie.

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” TurzahBelle’s exclamation brought me out of my trance.

  Spot had returned with the so-called Love Talker astride his scaly back. The Love Talker scrambled off Spot and bowed to TurzahBelle. “Greetings, Madame Queen. Filbert at your service.” His words were punctuated by a series of shrill squeaks and whistles.

  TurzahBelle turned to me and rolled her eyes. “Love Talker my sweet patootie. Those sounds he’s making? Pure pisky.”

  I was incapable of speech, partly because my mouth was hanging open. Below the neck, Filbert looked human, despite abnormally long fingers that curved up at the ends. Above the neck, it was a different story. His face was furred and elongated like a llama. Add a pair of horse ears and sweeping mane and that pretty much describes Filbert. Oh yeah, he was totally naked. Not hunky beefcake naked. More like your grandpa stepping out of the shower, avert your eyes naked. What happened to all fae must be beautiful?

  I gulped and looked over the top of Filbert’s head. “Ryker tells me you can cast a love spell. Are you ready?”

  Filbert smiled, exposing huge yellow teeth. After a couple of squeaks and whistles, he said, “I was born ready.”

  “Bull pucky!” TurzahBelle shook a finger at Filbert. “You don’t deliver, you’ll find yourself in the Unseelie Court. By the looks of you, that’s where you belong.”

  “I may not be a beauty,” Filbert said in an offended tone, “But I have many talents. I am devastated that you doubt my ability. Bring forth the subjects and I’ll prove my worth.”

  “Whatever.” TurzahBelle snapped her fingers and a surly-looking Luminata appeared. Ryker was conspicuously absent. Hmm.

  “Now what, Mother?” Luminata snapped. “I thought we covered all my personal defects earlier today.”

  TurzahBelle ignored her and turned to me. “Do it now.”

  I only had one shot, so I closed my mind to everything around me. I drew on the energy coursing through my body and focused it on the summoning spell. The world fell away, and I became the summoning spell. The sequence came to me as naturally as breathing. When I finished the cha
nt, I said, “Brian Cassidy, I summon you,” and held my breath, waiting a beat.

  “Him?” Luminata’s horrified exclamation jerked me back into consciousness.

  Brian Cassidy, in all his glory, stood next to the table, his brow wrinkled in confusion. He lifted the goblet of wine and studied it as if it held the answer to his sudden transportation.

  Luminata, hands on hips, glared at her mother. “Is this another of your schemes? You know I can’t abide this man and his superior attitude.”

  Cassidy snapped out of his trance. He took a step toward Luminata and sneered, “Maybe it’s because I am superior. But you needn’t worry. I have no intention of staying.”

  Luminata didn’t back down. In fact, she stepped closer until they stood toe-to-toe. “The sooner, the better.”

  The two began waving their arms and screaming at each other.

  TurzahBelle yelled, “Filbert, do your thing. Fast.”

  Filbert launched into his love spell. He flipped his mane, waggled his weird, skinny fingers and pranced around the couple, all the while emitting a series of loud squeaks and whistles. It was painful to watch. Nothing happened.

  TurzahBelle frowned and lifted her hands in a helpless gesture.

  Luminata was now shaking her fist in Brian’s face.

  Cassidy took a step backward. “Goodbye, Luminata. It’s been a real treat.”

  Fighting panic, I hopped up and down inside my triangle. “Oh my God! Oh my God! Uncle Brian, you can’t leave!”

  He raked me with a cold glance. “Who’s going to stop me? You?”

  TurzahBelle grabbed a handful of Cassidy’s shirt. “All I ask is a minute of your time. Surely you can wait while I confer with my colleague. She’ll have to reverse the spell.”

  Cassidy frowned. “Madame, I’m quite capable of reversing the spell myself. But, out of respect for you and simple curiosity, you may have the time you request.”

  Luminata’s angry gaze swung between TurzahBelle and me. “Mother?” Her voice resonated with barely controlled outrage. “You have formed an alliance with Avalon?”

  TurzahBelle pointed a finger at her daughter, barked, “Stay.” Luminata froze, seemingly unable to move. Apparently TurazhBelle still had a little faery mojo remaining in her tiny body. She then scurried over to me and whispered, “Summon the moonstone. With its power, you can cast the love spell yourself.”

  “But I don’t know how to do love spells,” I protested. Then, the real meaning of her words floated to the surface of my panicky mind. “Summon the moonstone? You mean I could have summoned the moonstone all along, instead of getting involved in this . . . this mess?”

  Yeah, I was a little ticked off.

  TurzahBelle gave me a sly smile. “This way, we both get what we want. You make Luminata and Brian fall in love. Luminata will give me a granddaughter. You will have the moonstone and leave Boundless.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” I snapped.

  “I know you can do it. When you summoned Brian Cassidy, a rainbow shot out of your head and formed a halo. Do you know what that means?”

  “No.”

  “You’re the half-human, half-fae version of a mini power plant. Add the moonstone and you’re capable of almost anything.”

  Was TurzahBelle shining me on to build my confidence? Probably, but after Filbert’s miserable performance, I was the only game in town.

  I said, “Okay, say I succeed in getting the moonstone off Luminata. Then what? Doesn’t a love spell have a certain order like the summoning spell?”

  TurzahBelle heaved an irritated sigh. “For pity’s sake, it’s not that hard. Just focus your energy and say something lovey-dovey. And be sure to mention their names, or it will affect everybody in the room. I certainly don’t want that damned pisky to fall madly in love with me.”

  Still ticked off, I whispered, “If it’s so easy, why don’t you do it?”

  “Because my daughter has developed resistance to my spells. You’ve got the juice, girl. I’ll clear the room. You, get to it.” She clapped her hands and the remaining faeries fluttered away. The only occupants left were Luminata, Brian Cassidy, Filbert, TurzahBelle and me.

  I checked out Luminata and Brian. They were still glaring at each other in fury, neither one willing to give an inch.

  I went through the summoning spell again, calling the moonstone to me. Just to make sure, I closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and said, “Moonstone, we belong together. Come to me. Now.”

  I heard Luminata’s gasp of surprise and sensed the moonstone’s presence even before I felt the silver chain slip around my neck. The moonstone settled into its usual spot, warming my skin and echoing the beat of my heart. Smiling for the first time since I arrived in Boundless, I opened my eyes and wrapped both hands around the moonstone. Maybe TurzahBelle was right. Maybe I was a mini power plant.

  “Love spell. Quickly,” TurzahBelle hissed.

  I had no idea how to do a love spell, but after watching Filbert, I knew how not to do one. I clutched the moonstone and asked for its help. Once again, I focused on the power rising from deep within me, stronger than before. Hastily, I repeated the following words: “Brian Cassidy and Queen Luminata of the Seelie Court, look into each other’s eyes. You are destined to be together. Your hearts are overflowing with love. May your union be blessed with daughters and your lives filled with bliss and happiness.”

  I said it twice, just to make sure.

  I know. The words were totally hokey. But hey, it was a spur of the moment love spell. Was it working? I blew out the candles and stepped out of the triangle.

  Chapter Nineteen

  THE ROOM WAS eerily silent. TurzahBelle was frozen in her tracks, gazing at her daughter. I noticed her fingers were crossed. Filbert appeared to be in the process of sneaking out of the room. He stood on his tiptoes, one hand on the door while he looked fearfully over his shoulder at TurzahBelle. Luminata, who’d been shaking a finger in Brian’s face, lowered her hand and placed it on his arm. One eyebrow shot upward and she looked at her hand as if it had acted of its own accord. Brian Cassidy cocked his head to one side and studied Luminata’s face, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  “Did it work?” I hissed at TurzahBelle.

  She turned to me and smiled. “Looks promising. They need some alone time, if you get my drift.”

  “Too much information,” I muttered, trying not to focus on the aftermath of my love spell. Trust me, I didn’t need that particular image in my mind. What I did need was to get away from TurzahBelle, find Ryker and summon Sammie. “So, now what?”

  “Now I deal with the so-called Love Talker and you go back to Boundland.”

  TurzahBelle marched over to Filbert, who squeaked in terror and began babbling. “My humblest apologies, dearest Madame. I’m a bit rusty as a Love Talker, which you may have already surmised. Please don’t send me to the Unseelie Court. I could not bear to be away from your shining presence.”

  TurzahBelle snorted. “Utter hogwash. This is the first time you’ve been in my shining presence. Trust me, I would remember.” She thought for a moment and then flapped her hand. “Oh, very well. You may go. Skedaddle. But, no more love talking. You don’t have it in you.”

  Filbert took off like he had a rocket strapped to his bare butt.

  “Come, my love.” I whirled at the sound of Brian Cassidy’s deep voice. I watched in amazement as he and Luminata walked hand-in-hand through the castle wall and, thankfully, disappeared.

  TurzahBelle rubbed her hands together. “Well done, my dear fake princess. I’ll have Ryker transport you safely back to Boundland.”

  “Ryker!” she screeched. “Show yourself.”

  I jerked in surprise as Ryker suddenly appeared. “Where have you been, hawk boy? You missed all the fun.”

  TurzahBelle cackled. “Yeah, hawk boy, where have you been? I’m thinking you didn’t want to stick around to see Filbert do his thing. Were you, perhaps, a wee bit worried about the love-tal
king ability of your third cousin twice removed?”

  Ryker stiffened. “I did the best I could under the circumstances.”

  “Oh, lighten up.” TurzahBelle patted his arm. “I’m only teasing. All’s well that ends well, as they say in Boundland. Now, would you kindly see this young lady home? I need a nap.”

  She snapped her fingers at the dragon. “Come, Spot.”

  Before I could say thank you, goodbye or nice to meet you, she and the dragon disappeared. Gone. Kaput. Swear to God, I would never get used to the way folks come and go in Boundless. Her sudden absence had solved one problem, though. I was now free to summon Sammie and, in TurzahBelle’s words, skedaddle back home.

  “Ryker,” I said. “About Sammie. What if I can’t summon her? If that happens, guess what? I’ll be screwed.”

  “I had no choice but to bring her to Boundless. I was summoned by Sammie’s grandmother, Trillium, who, by the way, is the sister of your grandmother, Melia.”

  “So,” I said. “That would make us third cousins . . .”

  “Twice removed.” Ryker and I spoke the words together. Ryker chuckled. Personally, I didn’t think it was that funny.

  “So, that’s why people keep saying we look alike,” I said.

  “Anyway,” Ryker continued. “I was ordered to bring the girl known as Feather Goblinwand to her grandmother. Remember, I must do as I’m ordered by any female faery who is superior to me.”

  Lightbulb moment. “Does that mean you have to obey my orders?”

  “No, you’re only half fae, but nice try.”

  I looked around the empty room. “Shall I summon her here or do you expect TurzahBelle to pop back in?”

  Ryker said, “No summoning required. I will take you to her. But first, we need to talk.”

  I knew what was coming. Ryker had a big old crush on me, insisting I was his betrothed, the fae version of an engagement ring. Not that I’d ever agreed.