I’d called my grandmother Gramony all the time when I was young. I set down the letter and picked up the velvet box and slowly opened the lid. There, shimmering under the lights, sat a ring in what looked like a silver setting. The stone was a large-faceted cabochon about half an inch in diameter. At first I thought it was amethyst but then, as I turned the box to get a better look, the stone shifted to green, and then blue.
“What kind of stone is this?” I asked, frowning. “Teran, do you recognize this?”
Teran took it from me and gave it the once-over. “This is alexandrite. And since it belonged to Grandma Colleen, it has to be real, given they weren’t making lab-created alexandrite back then. The setting has to be white gold. January, this is worth a fortune. Alexandrite is a rare and beautiful stone.”
“Alexandrite? I know how expensive that is!” Ari said. “By the size of that stone, if Teran is right, you are holding a ring worth about $50,000.”
I gasped, almost dropping the box. “Fifty thousand dollars?” As I held up the ring to the light, I could see the shifting colors. But there was something more to it—I wasn’t sure what, but there was magic imbued in the stone.
“This is your legacy stone,” Teran said. “Grandma Colleen had a large jewelry collection and she charmed every piece in it. She gave several pieces of her collection to each of her daughters, and told them to keep them in the family. Naomi gave me an emerald bracelet. She gave your mother an amethyst necklace.”
Amethyst necklace? I tried to remember if I had seen one in my mother’s jewelry box.
“Hold on,” I said. I had brought my jewelry with me, not wanting the ghosts to mess with it. I darted into Killian’s bedroom and opened my travel case, which was jammed with my jewelry and with my mother’s good gems. As I rummaged through it, I didn’t see an amethyst necklace, but then the ring in my hand felt like it was vibrating and I glanced back in the case. The amethyst necklace was there. While I hadn’t seen it before, I was getting used to objects that moved on their own volition. I held up the pendant, and then carried it back to the living room.
“Is this it?” I asked.
Teran nodded. “Yes, that’s it. Do not give that away. All of Colleen’s pieces are enchanted. I’ve never quite figured out how, but I know it’s true. I’ve willed my bracelet to go to one of Tawny’s children—her daughter Sunny.”
I frowned. “I don’t remember any Sunny.”
“I don’t know if you’ve met her. She’s a few years older than you, and she lives in Portland, with her parents. Tawny’s one of Prue’s children, married to Klein. Since Prue’s my guardian, it seemed fitting to will the bracelet to her daughter.” Teran frowned. “You know, we should have a family reunion—I might look into setting one up in a year or so.”
I slipped on the ring and it fit my right ring finger perfectly. “This is so gorgeous, but I’m scared to wear it. What if I lost it? What if somebody decided to steal it?”
“That’s the problem with having insanely expensive things. You’re never sure what to do with them. If I were you, I’d buy a home safe and hide it somewhere under the floorboards,” Teran said. “Your grandma stressed to me when she gave me the bracelet never to let it out of my house. She said there’s some type of protective magic woven into it, but even she wasn’t sure what all Colleen did to her jewelry.”
Killian cleared his throat. “A home safe is easy to install. I can help you so no workmen know where it is. That is, if you trust me. Until then, I can keep it in my safe till you can go back home.”
I kissed him. “Thank you. And yes, I trust you.” I yawned. “Gods, I’m tired.”
“You had better get a nap,” said Teran. “Actually, we all should. When your grandmother gets here and we start to work, it’s going to take every ounce of energy you’ve got.” She turned to Killian. “Do you have room for us to stay for a few hours? A guest room that Ari and I can sleep in?”
Killian nodded. “Of course. In fact, it’s made up with fresh sheets. Would you like something to eat?”
“When we wake up, we should have a sandwich or something before we go over. That will be plenty.” Teran glanced at the clock. “If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to catch about four hours of sleep. We’ll want to get up by eleven so we can prepare for the coming night.”
That sounded dire to me, but I knew what she meant. “All right. Let’s get some Zs.”
Killian led Ari and Teran to the guest room while I headed for his bedroom. I kicked off my shoes and took off my bra, then curled up under the covers. Xi and Klaus curled up next to me, Xi on my pillow and Klaus right near my hip. I wasn’t sure I could fall asleep but within ten minutes the room dissolved and I was out like a light.
Killian woke me at ten-fifty. “I thought you’d like a little extra time to wash your face and maybe drink some coffee.”
I scooted up so I was sitting up in his bed. He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a long kiss. “I’m so sorry you’ve been having so many problems. I know how much you love your home and I promise you, we’ll make it comfortable for you again.” He paused, and then asked, “Will you be safe tonight? I know Rowan is a powerful witch, but that seems like a dangerous energy—entity? Down in your basement.”
“I’m not sure whether it’s an energy or an entity, either. But whatever it is, it’s waking up. When you leave magical things unattended for years, their magic tends to grow. It has time to mutate and shift. And since the mural is fueled by the energy of Chaos, it’s even more powerful. Chaos is tumultuous, unpredictable, and volatile. In a sense, I think that the mural is a bit like expired dynamite. It becomes more dangerous and unstable with each passing year.”
I slid out from beneath the covers and stripped off my shirt, looking for my bra. Killian gazed at my breasts.
“Do you realize how much I love your body?” he asked. He reached out slowly, running his fingers over my nipples. “I love that you’re soft and round, and I don’t mean that as an insult. You have muscle beneath your lovely padding, but I like being able to run my hands over you and not encounter bones.” He gave one of my breasts a squeeze, and leaned down to flick his tongue against the nipple.
I moaned, draping my head back. The touch of his tongue sent fire straight from my breasts to my groin, and I felt hot, liquid with desire. I wanted his hands to trace the contours of every nook and cranny, I wanted him to rise strong and hard, and fill me so deep that I would forget that we were separate. I leaned in, pressing myself against him.
“I want you,” I whispered in his ear. “Do you know how much I want you?”
He gently took my hand and lowered it to his crotch, where I could feel his erection behind his jeans. “Does that answer your question?” he asked.
I squeezed gently, not enough to hurt, but enough to make him miss me even more. “Oh, it answers my question. Unfortunately, I need to get dressed and you need to wake Ari and Teran.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to wait for a moment,” he said with a grin. As he pulled away it was obvious how aroused he was. “I’m not exactly eager for them to see me in flagrante delecto,” he added. “I like them both, but not this much.” He pointed to the rise in his jeans and I laughed.
“Let’s see, what should I wear? Something comfortable, and easy to move in.” I dressed in stretch jeans, a lightweight knit sweater, and low-heeled ankle boots. Pulling my hair into a pony tail, I took off all my jewelry except my pentacle, and then thought for a moment. Rowan hadn’t said what she wanted us to bring in the way of magical supplies. I pulled out my phone and texted her.
what do you want me to bring? my athame or crystals or…what?
A moment later she answered. nothing. just bring yourself. tell ari and teran the same thing. meet you at the witching hour.
As I entered the kitchen, Teran and Ari were there, dressed and yawning. Killian was making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup and I sat next to Ari, grateful for the smell of the food.
“R
owan texted for us to meet her there at midnight. We don’t have to bring anything. I’m leaving all my stuff here, just in case something bad goes down. I don’t want to lose anything more than what’s already in my house.”
I stirred the soup when Killian set a mug in front of me, and then selected a sandwich from the tray he placed in the middle of the table. The melted cheese hit my tongue, sharp and rich, as the tang of the soup melded perfectly with it.
Teran caught my gaze and held it.
I felt under observation so much that I said, “What’s up?”
“It’s just that ever since you went to the Aseer, I’ve noticed subtle changes in you. You’re a lot more confident than you used to be. That’s a good thing.” She winked at me. “I think understanding more about your heritage has helped.”
“I think so too. And even though it may not seem like it, I’ve been working a lot more with the element of earth. Hence, the garden this summer. I’ve learned a lot. I had a rousing chat with the sage the other day. It wants me to winter it over, along with some of its friends, so I plan on closing off a small part of the back porch to create a greenhouse for my herbs. And if I want fresh tomatoes and salad, I’ll have room enough to plant a few of those.” I hadn’t talked much about my magical discoveries during the summer because they’d seemed rather minuscule compared to chasing ghosts and monsters.
“I’d like to help with that,” Teran said. “Since I’m bound to the earth too, I can teach you a few things about gardening.”
Right then, I realized that I hadn’t thought about asking for Teran’s help. I was so used to doing things on my own that I just bulldozed my way ahead, not realizing she might want to share in my growth. Then a glimmer in Teran’s eye struck home. I was the only part of her sister she had left. I’d been so wrapped up in my own grief that I had overlooked how much the car crash had affected Teran. And when I turned to Rowan, that had probably exacerbated the feeling.
“I’d love that,” I said, smiling. “I really would. I’m surprised my garden grew as well as it did, considering I only knew what I found out online.”
Teran’s shoulders relaxed and she dropped her gaze. “If you’re connected to earth energy, you can make just about anything grow, even if you don’t know all the tricks of the trade.” She downed the last of her soup. “I’m not looking forward to tonight.”
“Why? Because of the ghosts?” Ari said.
Teran shook her head. “I don’t think that you realize exactly how powerful the Crystal Cauldron is. If they’ve decided that the three of us join them, then there’s no backing out. Simply put: we don’t have a choice. And I have tried to avoid returning to them for years.”
I frowned. “Why did you leave? Is there something wrong with them?”
After a pause, Teran said, “Not exactly. They do protect and guard Moonshadow Bay. But when they call, you answer. When they say ‘We’re having a meeting Saturday’ and you’ve already got plans—ones you’re really looking forward to—you drop everything to attend the meeting. Once you join, you’re a member for life. I’ve been on a sabbatical but inside, I knew it wouldn’t last.”
“Sounds like a stint in the military. Only instead of going in for…what…four years? You’re drafted for a lifetime membership.” I frowned. “What happens if someone wants to leave?”
“They generally end up moving away from Moonshadow Bay and vanishing into the outer world,” Teran said. “The town marks those it wants to keep. Not like your marks from the shadow men or Druantia—but in a different way. Ari, ever since your friend came to visit—Peggin?—I have been doing some research. The smaller towns built over ley lines that attract the Otherkin tend to create a hive mind and they become entities in their own right.”
Killian leaned back in his chair. “I can see that. I wasn’t born here, but when I moved in, even before I met you, I felt like the town had been waiting for me. Like there was a reason I stopped here on my tour to find a new place to live. I had been planning on moving out near my parents but when I first entered Moonshadow Bay, I knew I’d be making my home here.”
Ari finished her sandwich. “I’ve never thought of moving. A few people I knew moved away, but it’s like—except for January—they drifted out of my life. My parents live in Terameth Lake now, but that’s another shadow town like Moonshadow Bay and Whisper Hollow. Most of my friends stayed here, and then of course, Peggin’s from Whisper Hollow. Is Moonshadow Bay really that insular? I guess when I think about it, we don’t see a lot of tourists.”
“We don’t,” Teran said. “We may have our share of problems and monsters, but I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
I glanced at the clock. Ten till midnight. “We’d better get moving. Let’s head on out.” I turned to Killian. “Thanks for the food. Take care of Xi and Klaus while I’m gone. I love you.”
He pulled me down on his knee, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Kiss me?”
I kissed him, then rubbed my cheek against his. “I love you. Be good.”
“Oh, I’m always good,” he said, winking at me. “Go on, the three of you. I’ll wait up. Call or text if you need me. Make certain you have your phones.”
As we headed out, I gave thanks once again that I had such a wonderful boyfriend. And that he cared enough about my friends as well as me to offer to help, even in situations involving poltergeists and portals leading to chaos and all sorts of freaky-assed crap.
Chapter Fifteen
We reached the door right as Rowan pulled up, driving a massive SUV. She got out, leading a brigade of four women. I didn’t recognize any of them. We gathered on the front lawn before heading inside, where Rowan introduced us to everyone.
Berta looked around the same age as Rowan, which—given witchblood—could mean she was anywhere from seventy to several hundred years old. She bobbed her head, but did not offer her hand.
May looked older still, plump and rosy-cheeked, and I wondered about how she’d stand up to the energy, but the moment I shook her hand, a shock raced through me and I felt like I’d grabbed a live wire.
Daya seemed younger and almost impassively bland. But there had to be some reason Rowan worked with her, so I just accepted her hand and gave it a gracious shake.
And then there was Nerium. Nerium had long raven hair that tumbled over her shoulders to her lower back. As I shook her hand, I felt a suppressed energy, like she’d pushed it down a long, dark tube. Either she was consciously keeping it under wraps—which I suspected—or one day all that energy was going to push back, and when it did, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there.
“Nerium, that’s an unusual name,” Ari said.
“It’s another name for oleander,” Teran said. “A deadly flower.”
Nerium gave her a long look. “And so can I be, if necessary.”
Chills raced up my spine as a look passed between them.
“Where’s your sister?” Rowan asked. “She’s supposed to be here tonight.”
Nerium snorted. “She’s working, as usual. She said to take care of it without her.”
I gaped. That someone dared to tell Rowan to deal with it, basically, was hard to imagine. “Who’s your sister?” I asked.
“Yolen. She’s…different,” Nerium said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “The only reason she gets a pass is because Rowan owes her.”
“So you delight in reminding me,” my grandmother said, scowling. “Yolen has been using that excuse for a decade and I think it’s time she realized we’re even now.” She impatiently shrugged. “Well, we’ll have to do without her. Come, now, into the fray.” She motioned for me to open the door.
As we entered my living room, I glanced in the kitchen. Sure enough, all the cupboards and drawers were open again. Cautiously, I peeked into the living room, relieved that everything looked in order.
“Good gods,” Nerium said. “This place feels like the ocean. It’s churning with energy.”
“In a way, it is,” Rowan said. She
turned to me. “I explained what’s been happening to everyone before we got here so we wouldn’t have to play catch up. We’re going to close that portal and seal it, and that should solve the problem. We’ll also cleanse the house afterward.”
“You mean, all we have to do is seal the vortex?” Ari asked.
Rowan gave her a wary look. “Be aware that all doesn’t mean easy. We run the risk of inadvertently summoning something. If there were any spells that were left unfinished, the last thing we need or want to do is nudge them over the threshold.”
“I kind of want my house to stay in one piece,” I said. “Let’s not do that, okay?”
May snorted. “Fine with me. I am not inclined to go chasing some chaos demon around. The last time I did that, I ended up breaking my hip and I was in the hospital for a month.”
I turned to her to see if she was serious. She was. “Chaos demon?”
“A number of demonic creatures come from the realm of Chaos. Oh, some good sorts too, but Chaos breeds contempt and it breeds…well…volatile critters that haven’t learned their manners about playing nice.” May winked at me. “Don’t worry, girl, we’ll save your home.”
I started to balk at the word girl but given Rowan’s age, and given how old I knew the Aseer was, the fact was that all of these women could be far older than me. I bit my tongue.
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said.
Ari gave me a nudge and I tried not to snicker. I hadn’t said “ma’am” to anybody since I was a teenager, but it had just slipped out.
Rowan stared at both of us and rolled her eyes. “Youth. It’s wasted on the young.”
“Oh, give them a break,” Teran said, laughing.
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