I finished handing out assignments while Terra ran through a mental list. "What about the cake?" She asked hopefully.
"I know you'd do something fantastic, but I have it covered." I tossed her a wink and she smiled back knowingly. "I think that's it. Let's get to work."
***
"Lexi, wait." Kin caught me at the front door and pulled me outside. "Can we talk?" Loaded question much?
"Of course." We both sat down on the front stoop and were quiet for an awkward moment.
"So, that kiss..." Kin finally broke the silence.
"Yeah." I replied, thinking I couldn't sound any more lame if I tried.
"True love's kiss. That was real? Because it sure felt real to me."
I nodded my agreement. "But are you really sure you want to get involved with someone who could get your soul sucked into an inanimate object?"
"How am I supposed to be with someone who can't now? I know too much. Unless you have some way to wipe my memory, I think I'm sort of stuck in this world now."
He had a point. "Stuck? That's an attractive way to put it. I want this to work as much as you do. But I don't want you to get hurt. Being with me comes with a significant amount of baggage; I mean, four faerie godmothers are a lot to deal with on a regular basis. To say nothing about my cat/man familiar, and a whacked out half brother who is hell-bent on destroying everything I hold near and dear. That includes you; I don't want you caught in the crossfire again."
Part of me hoped Kin would walk away; the part that had no idea how to be in a committed relationship, especially an honest one. I had never been able to be honest with anyone in my whole life, and that's where the flip side of my feelings came into play. How desperately had I hoped for someone just like Kin, and now here he was and I was this-close to throwing it all away over a little fear.
I laid a hand on Kin's bare arm, closed my eyes, and reached out for the power to See our future. At the point of contact, my skin lit up bright and golden. I also felt that old tug of intuition telling me that if I let Kin go it would be the biggest mistake of my life.
"As long as you understand that nothing with us will ever be simple..."
"Nothing worthwhile ever is." Kin murmured, and then pressed his lips to mine.
***
While necking in the steps sounded like a lot more fun than putting together a wedding on short notice, I knew we needed to get to work.
Mona gave me a bright smile when I walked into Crumb--one I knew I hadn't earned. I felt like the world's biggest heel asking her for a favor, and this wasn't an ordinary boon, it was major.
"You must hate me and I don't blame you. I've been distracted and full of wonk this whole time. I promise I'll make it all up to you."
Picking up a twisted cone full of icing, Mona resumed piping a delicate lacework pattern onto a cookie that looked too beautiful to eat. When she glanced back up at me, her eyes were bright.
"Do you have any idea what you've done for me already?"
"Let's see...I implied you weren't attractive enough by giving you a makeover, then I hauled you all over town and dragged you into my own personal apocalypse. At the least, I owe you an apology and probably a spa day."
"That's not how I see it. You gave me confidence and reminded me that the first person who needs to care about me is me. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet my match, but I wasn't ready before."
"Are you ready now?"
Out of of reflex, Mona squeezed the icing tube a little too tightly and ruined the careful pattern on her cookie. "Like this minute? Why? Is he outside?" She leaned to look past me.
"No. He's not."
"Well, that's okay." Mona smiled again. "I'd prefer to meet him when I'm not covered in icing and flour anyway."
"Mona, I have to ask you for a favor. Lemon and Harry are getting married on Saturday and it's a long story, but they don't have a cake. Do you think you could..."
"Done. How many guests?"
"150 and I'll pay double your usual fee." Mona waved the suggestion away.
"Colors?"
"Gray and yellow. Can you make gray icing? Maybe just yellow."
"Not to worry, I'll keep it simple, but elegant." Mona said. "Three tiers, each one a different flavor. I keep a few in the freezer for just such occasions. Don't worry, I've got this. Is there anything else I can do?"
"Come to the wedding; I'll let you know where as soon as we iron out that tiny detail. Weddings are a great place to meet your match." I gave her a wink.
At some point during the last couple of days, the glitches in my matchmaking radar had cleared up. More than that, I knew exactly who her intended was and on Saturday, Mona would finally meet her match.
***
My next stops were the docks, where I talked to my favorite fishmonger, and a butcher for the chicken.
Terra could conjure up fruits and vegetables, but it would be easier all the way around if I had certain menu items delivered. Okay, so I wanted to avoid a flock of chickens being magicked up in my backyard. Can you blame me? Cliche wedding fare, I'll freely admit, but Lemon would have to deal. Besides, Soleil could turn a pig's ear into a four course gourmet meal; the food would be spectacular.
Next I cleaned out both party supply stores in town of anything gray or yellow, and hit Hardy Rental for chairs, tables, and the only party tent they had left. Lemon had better appreciate this; I'd called in favors all over town.
By the time I pulled Pinky back into the drive, she looked like the Beverly Hillbillies' pink pack mule with so many boxes and bags strapped on there was barely enough room for me. He must have been watching for me, because Salem opened the door before I could.
"Wait until you see what's been going on here. I think you started something with the faeries and this party planning thing." By his tone, I couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad thing. "They're bringing in reinforcements."
"Tell me it's not going to be like my birthday."
"Your birthday?" I hadn't heard Kin coming up behind me. "When was that?" He swooped me in for a kiss before I had time to answer and when it was over, I wasn't sure I could formulate one.
"How cute are you?" Salem managed to dial down the sarcasm to a faint level. "I think I'll call you Lexikin like one of those Hollywood power couples."
"Shut up and help me carry this stuff inside."
Walking into the kitchen felt like walking into ground zero at party central. Soleil, deep in her element, had every pot and pan we owned pressed into service. Trays of canapes were lined up on the counter and when I reached out to nip a sample, a wooden spoon swatted my fingers away.
"Ow, Soleil. I just wanted to try one."
"Over there," she pointed to a platter on the table. "Taste those and tell me what you think."
"What I think is that you're overdoing it. I said keep it simple, remember?"
"This is the best fun I've had in years, so just taste those crab puffs and tell me if I've used too much crab."
"I don't remember ordering crab. Where did this come from?"
Soleil pointed a thumb toward Evian, who gave me a how-dumb-are-you look, and I knew I'd lost control of the wedding the minute I asked them to help.
"So help me Goddess, if I have to do some kind of memory wipe charm on the entire guest list because you've gone overboard, I'll..." what could I threaten them with that would make a difference? "...be cranky." Lame and entirely useless.
Because they were there, and because to ignore Soleil was entertaining disaster, I tried a crab puff. "Okay, fine. This is a bite of heaven. Did you find a venue?" I changed the subject.
"Well, don't get mad, but we figured it would be easiest to just have it here. In the backyard." Terra wasn't actually seeking my approval.
"I said 150 people. You heard me, right? How are we supposed to cram a crowd that size in there?"
"It's big enough." Terra insisted and I shot her a doubtful look. "Now," she grinned. "Go look. It's almost ready."
I stepped o
ut the sliding doors and into a wedding wonderland. Yellow and white flowers bedecked an arbor made from twined branches. I doubted anyone would notice the trees were actually rooted in the soil, so artfully had they been grown. Terra's influence at work--as was the fact that the area had tripled in size and could easily accommodate Lemon's guest list.
"The chairs will go here. You got the tent, right?" I nodded. "We'll have them set it up over there. What do you think?" I'd never heard Terra so eager to please before.
"It's perfect. Lemon will love it. She'd be a fool not to." My praise brought a smile to Terra's face. "I couldn't scare up one of those portable dance floors, though." I sighed. It was the only item on my list that I had failed to find.
"I've got it covered." Terra walked to the spot she had designated for dancing and bent to lay her hand on the ground, which rumbled under her touch. Flat stones seethed to the surface and spread into a perfectly level surface.
"Now for the lighting." The other three faeries appeared next to me. "What do you think of this?" Soleil shot sparks from her fingertips, Evian encased them in icy bubbles, and Vaeta used a breeze to waft them gently into place over the dance floor. At night, the effect would be magical. "We're doing these on a smaller scale in all the trees, too."
The sting of tears in my eyes surprised me and I couldn't decide if they were coming from the perfection before them or from the fact that my godmothers, all four of them, had tried so hard to please me.
"It's perfect."
And it was. The wedding went off without a hitch. The reinforcements Salem mentioned before turned out to be a faerie string quartet who played so beautifully that half the guests were in tears before the bride made her entrance. Glowing with love, Lemon walked down the aisle, or in this case, the carpet of tiny flowers Terra had coaxed into bloom, and stood beside Harry to take her vows.
"Do you, Lemon Piel, take this man..." I stifled a burst of laughter. How had I not known Lemon's last name all this time? No wonder becoming a Tart had been no big deal to her.
I don't know about the rest of the crowd, but I breathed a hearty sigh of relief when the deed was done and the pair were pronounced husband and wife. Beside me, Mona wiped away a tear.
"Weddings, you know?" She sniffled and smiled while I watched Lemon and Harry exchange true love's kiss with a sigh of my own.
While the photographer did the formal shots, I went with Mona to add the finishing touches to the cake. Rounding the table, I tossed an arm around her and gave her a squeeze.
"That cake is gorgeous. It's a shame we have to cut into it." White fondant blanketed each layer to form a smooth base for a riot of lemon-hued flowers. The sides Mona had piped in a charcoal gray latticework pattern accented with silver and white. I knew Lemon was going to love it. "Your work here is done, and so is mine. What do you say we enjoy the rest of the festivities?"
Mona squeezed back. "It's a beautiful wedding. Thanks for letting me be a part of it." Then she grinned. "Lemon Piel? Did you know?" I shook my head and locked arms with her. Something told me Mona was going to become a part of my life from now on. Navigating the separation between my home life and the one spent in public might get a little more complicated with her in it, but she was worth it. Getting her together with Mark today was going to be a personal achievement as well as a business-related one.
I'd lied to Mona, though. There were two more hurdles before I could fully relax. If the meal went off without a hitch, I would be able to breathe freely for the first time since Lemon had pulled me out of sleep with that phone call.
"Can you wait here while I check on the final details. I'll be right back." I dodged around the back where all the activity was hidden from the crowd. Long history had me prepared for almost anything except for what I found--four perfectly polite faeries working in harmony. It even looked like they were enjoying the work. Terra waved me away.
"Go. We're fine."
I went. I've heard that tone in her voice before. Still, it looked like they had everything well in hand, and I wanted to be out front to see the look on Lemon's face when she caught a glimpse of the ice sculpture. I'd given Evian a peek at the engagement photos splashed all over Lemon's social media, and she'd chosen one of them kissing to immortalize in ice. The heart shape surrounding their heads had a wing along each side that would flow with champagne when everything was ready.
The last detail of the day revolved around Mona and Mark. It was finally time for them to meet and I really wanted to give her an epic moment she would never forget. Too bad I had no concept for what that might be.
Keeping them apart until the optimum moment wasn't difficult; Mark, in his capacity as DJ and emcee, was busy with his duties.
I got the shock of my life when he played a musical flourish as the side of the tent whooshed open to reveal the food--partly because the tent wasn't constructed to open that way--but mostly it was the vision of my gorgeous godmothers dressed in chef whites and their most nondescript glamour.
"The caterers; do you have their card?" Mona waved a forkful of food at me. "I'd love to talk to them about one or two events they'd be perfect for." I choked on a bite of delectable chicken.
"I think they're booked through the end of the year, but I'll talk to them and see," I lied right to her face. How good a friend did she have to be to learn all my secrets? I knew we weren't there yet. We chatted through the rest of dinner, watched the Tarts dance their first dance as husband and wife, and I knew the moment was finally upon me. I had to give Mona her happy ending.
"Come with me." I pulled her to her feet and toward her destiny.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I waited for the fireplace to close behind me before I slumped onto the sofa and enjoyed a few quiet moments of peace. Processing everything that had happened over the last few days was taking a lot out of me, and the pandemonium had my nerves set on edge. Lemon and Harry had ridden off into the sunset, Mexico-bound for what was sure to be a romantic, relaxing honeymoon, and I couldn't help but wish I could take a vacation, too. My business was secure, at least for now, but I had my work cut out for me with a mischievous half-brother to worry about.
My sanctum was a mess, and a little mindless cleaning seemed just the thing to set me to rights. I retrieved the ritual broom from the floor, tucked a few loose twigs into the binding, and placed it back on its display mount above the fireplace. With a flick of my wrist, the unnecessary warmth from the roaring Balefire dissipated, while the flame continued to burn just as brightly as before. No sparks, nothing exploding, no backlash. I could feel the power thrumming below the surface of my skin, and with a healthy amount of trepidation, practiced adjusting the intensity. This was going to be fun.
Pointing to a pile of cleaning supplies littering one of the long hardwood tables, I set my intention and allowed a small amount of magic to flow from my fingertip. A swirling, glittery cloud curled lazily until it came into contact with a bottle of furniture polish and a rag, both of which rose into the air and began carefully dusting a set of shelves filled with corked bottles of who knows what.
The mop and broom danced a waltz across the floor, sweeping the dust and debris into the fireplace on the 1-2 count, and twirling backward to apply a coat of wax over the ancient wooden planks. I felt like a character from Fantasia, the sounds of spraying and wiping and sweeping singing a tune of their own. There, in the middle of my odd victory dance, I noticed the Grimoire resting on its pedestal, and remembered the empty pages that teased with spells still unaccessible to me.
I flipped idly through the pages, some still blank but far fewer than before, until I came across the one that had unlocked my ability to See; the one that had allowed me access to my powers and the courage to reach into the Balefire flame.
There, in bold lettering, was a passage that hadn't been copied onto the loose page I carried around for years. I read aloud, "The Stone of Blood contains the key to the power of the witches of the Balefire. It must be passed directly from mother to da
ughter and protected at all costs."
I reached automatically for the amulet hanging at my throat. Athena's gift. A sudden and overwhelming urge to vomit slammed into the back of my throat. This was no ordinary necklace; no regular bloodstone, and certainly no innocent gift. This was the Stone of Blood, and it had been consecrated by every Balefire witch before me.
A scene began to play through my mind, over and over again as a fog lifted from my memory. I remembered Athena and the magic shop; her interest in my life and my command of the ritual flame. I recalled how she had removed the amulet from her own neck and fastened it around mine. I felt her fingers sear across the back of my neck, heard the sound of her throaty laughter, only this time, the scene had a different ending.
When the Stone of Blood fell heavy between my breasts, I looked Sylvana in the eye and said, "Thank you, Mother."
The End
The Fate Weaver series continues with:
All Spell Breaks Loose
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Other books by ReGina Welling
Rings on Her Fingers
Bells on Her Toes
She Shall Have Music
Wherever She goes
The Psychic Seasons story continues with the Earthbound Novels
Earthbound Bones
A Match Made in Spell (Fate Weaver Book 1) Page 19