by Amy Boyles
I walked back to Stone. His silvery eyes gazed at me apologetically. “They voted him in as the mayor of the supernaturals. I was going to tell you, but I never got the chance.”
He was talking about Dex. He didn’t even have to say his name and I knew that.
I shrugged. “It’s fine. No biggie.” I tapped a finger to my mouth. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
Stone pointed to the stairs. “Up and to the left.”
“Thank. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
I took the stairs two at a time. When I reached the hall with the bathroom, I found Cal leaning against the wall.
“You think this town is yours,” he said.
I tapped a toe and jutted out my chin. “No. I think it belongs to the people who’ve been here longer than you, is all.”
Cal snickered. “Scared of something, witch?”
I clicked my tongue. “Let me think. Let me think. Not scared.” I stepped forward. “Come to think of it, I might be a teensy bit disgusted by big, bad wolves who think it’s cool to scare babies.”
Cal growled. It was a low, guttural sound. I’m sure he felt really superior trying to frighten a woman. “Watch it, little girl.”
I pulled the room’s energy into me and felt the rush of power as magic flared in my fingers. Golden sparks sizzled on their tips.
“Okay, just remember, the big, bad wolf always falls. Well, not falls, because that refers to giants, not wolves. But he fails. That’s what I mean—the big, bad wolf always fails.”
The door to the ladies’ room opened. Tetsa gripped the frame with one hand as she stared at us. “Maybe I should go back inside,” she said.
“I’m moving on,” Cal barked.
I glared at him. “What were you doing here? Going to jump Tetsa for arguing with you?”
Cal didn’t say anything as he sulked off.
Tetsa flashed me a worried look. “Do you think that’s what he was going to do?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but he’s looking for a fight. I can practically smell the testosterone.”
“Thanks for stopping him.”
I gave her a feeble smile. Truth was, Cal had made my stomach churn. There was something unhinged about him, like he was a frayed wire ready to spark and ignite.
She stepped past me, and I went inside. After I did my business, I washed my hands and splashed cold water on my face. This day had gone absolutely crazy. A werewolf showed his true appearance in public, the sheriff was looking for a rabid dog and Dex had shown up.
Dex. An invisible hand squeezed my heart at the mere thought of his name.
I had no idea he was even in town.
Dexter Taylor was my husband. Actually my undead husband, to be specific. Up until several weeks ago I had believed he was dead—killed in a fight against a lord vampire. Truth was, Dex hadn’t died; instead he’d been turned into a bloodsucker.
For over two years I thought my husband was gone, and the pain of his loss had nearly killed me. The only thing that saved me was giving birth to our daughter, Gabby, who, at the time of his death, I hadn’t known I was carrying.
But the entire time I believed Dex dead, he was alive—well, not alive, but you know. He could’ve found me and revealed the truth, but he chose to stay hidden, to tuck away the fact of what he was. To keep me in the dark.
I couldn’t forgive him for that. He’d abandoned me to raise our child by myself.
And now he was here, living in Normal.
Last time we met, I’d told Dex I never wanted to see him again.
Curling over, I bent far enough to touch my forehead to the wet counter. Deep breaths helped me force aside a wave of nausea. I had to get a grip on myself. I pushed thoughts of Dex from my mind, ignoring the ache in my heart.
After a few inhales I considered the situation downstairs. There seemed to be at least some levelheaded supernaturals in the group. I’m sure the majority of them didn’t want to out ourselves to the town. We wanted to live peacefully.
Ideally I could live at peace if the entire super population split from my perfect little town.
A loud bang jolted me from my thoughts. I turned the knob and pushed. The hinges creaked as the door succumbed to opening. The smell of burnt hair filled the hallway. I coughed, forcing the acrid scent out of my lungs and nose.
I looked around, trying to figure out where it was coming from. As I approached the staircase, I noticed a dark shadow slumped on the floor. Tendrils of smoke curled from the mass. The horrid smell strengthened. Choking on an inhale, I reached out and touched the figure.
The body of a man unwound like a roly-poly. Cal the evil werewolf uncoiled onto his back. My eyes widened when I saw a hole had been blasted straight through his chest.
Well, that explained the smell.
Splotches of something lay on the floor a few feet from him. I pressed my fingers into the stuff, hoping it wasn’t blood. When I held them up to the light, it was obvious what the substance was. Mud.
A tall, lithe woman with platinum hair climbed the stairs. She saw me over the werewolf’s body, placed a hand on each cheek and screamed.
Suddenly everyone from downstairs clambered up to the main floor. They pushed and shoved like they were trying to get into a Bruno Mars concert.
The woman pointed at me. “I saw her! The witch standing over his body! Look! He’s still smoking. She did it. That witch killed Cal!”
I rolled my eyes. Oh boy.
THREE
I hovered over the body of a very dead Cal, pleading my innocence. “I didn’t kill him.”
Unfortunately the throng of werewolves, fae, shifters, gargoyles and I assume other witches sneered at me as if I was lying.
Stone pushed his way through. He wedged himself in front of the crowd, shielding me. “We need to call the police.”
Tetsa strode forward. “And get them involved in a supernatural case? They don’t know anything about us.”
The woman who’d accused me of murder—I really needed to find out her name—jabbed a finger in my direction. “Maybe it’s about time they learned about us. Maybe Cal was right.”
Tetsa barked, “Lana, calm down.”
A few murmurs of agreement drifted toward me.
Lana the Fairy jabbed the air again. “But I know it was you who did it.” She turned to the throng, her white hair lashing across her face. “I found her here, standing over his smoking body. I say we punish her!”
I held out my arms in a hold-on gesture. “Wait just a minute. I didn’t kill him. You found me, but I didn’t do this to him.”
“You wanted all of us to go away,” Lana snapped. Little drops of spit flew from her mouth, smattering the floor around Cal’s body.
I bobbed my head. “That’s true. I mean, this is a good example of why I wanted that. Y’all can’t be killing each other in a supernatural sort of way, which is what this looks like.”
She glared at me with tiny, beady eyes. “Guilty!”
The crowd surged. Stone raised his arms. Feathery wings sprouted from his back and flared outward. The supers gasped.
“Don’t even think about it,” he said. “Take one step toward her and you’ll have me to deal with.”
Whoa. I didn’t realize Stone had wings. I hadn’t seen them before. Not even when he flew me around the nearby forest. If he became mortal, would he lose them?
“Now. All of you will kindly step back and let us leave,” Stone said.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.” Dex broke through the crowd. Folks parted for him like he was Moses and they were the Red Sea. Behind him followed the outside greeter—Mr. Personality.
I backed away. “Yes. You are going to let me leave.”
Dex stared at the body. His right hand twitched. I knew that gesture. He used to do it whenever he was deciphering facts, considering possibilities. It signified deep, impenetrable thoughts.
Dex opened his mouth. His fangs flashed. I shivered.
As a vampir
e he was my mortal enemy—actually, our mortal enemy since Dex had been a hunter with me. But that was before I retired and before he plummeted off a ravine to what I thought was his death.
“I need everyone to clear out,” Dex commanded.
And just like that, the crowd dispersed. The bouncer stepped around the body, dragging his gaze over Cal.
Without looking at me, Dex said, “This is Bruce Pack. He’s the lead investigator in town.”
I crossed my arms and smirked. “I’m pretty sure the sheriff here is Terry Terry.”
Dex smirked. “We have our own. For when things like this happen.”
I clapped my hands. “Well, now that I see you’ve got the right person on the scene,” and by right person, I meant another supernatural, “I’ll be going.”
“Wait,” Bruce growled. “You’re not going anywhere until we clear you of Cal’s murder.”
Panic started to scramble up my throat. Doggonit, I am a vampire hunter. I’m not afraid of things that would make most people huddle in a corner crying with a gallon of Blue Bell ice cream wedged between their knees.
At least I hadn’t in a very, very long time.
I crossed my arms and took a step forward. “I’m not guilty.”
Dex pointed downstairs. “They think you are. If you’re not careful, they’ll be your judge and jury.”
I threw my hands up. “Oh, that’s just great. The same people who want to shout to the world that they’re supernatural and here want to string me up—another one of their kind.”
Dex shook his head. “You’re not one of their kind. You’re a witch, a hunter. If anything, you’re the enemy.”
His words pierced my heart as if he’d thrown a spear into my chest. They were the mirror of what I’d told him weeks ago—that he was the enemy. My enemy.
You know, since he’s a vampire now and all.
Plus, he’d let me think he was dead for two years. I mean, what kind of a husband does that? Makes his wife think he’s dead and then just randomly shows up and saves her life from another vampire?
Who does that?
Please, don’t forget the part where I mentioned he let me think he was dead.
Something squeezed my heart as I studied Dex. His own gaze remained cold, emotionless. I pinpointed my feeling—disappointment. Traitorous heart. It wasn’t supposed to feel bad because my estranged husband didn’t seem to care about me.
Dex pushed his rolled-up sleeves. “You told all those people they should leave town. Now one of their own is dead, and you were found with his body. Andie, you need protection.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
Dex clenched his jaw. “This is not a discussion.”
Bruce pulled a pair of latex gloves from his back pocket and snapped them on. “I’m going to start checking the body out. The three of you need to clear the area.”
Dex glanced at Stone. “Take her home. I’ll be in touch.”
Stone closed his wings. When they’d unfurled, they’d broken through his shirt, leaving gashes in the fabric. I resisted the urge to reach out and touch his skin, feel where they hinged into his flesh.
We left the building. Cold seeped through my jacket. I rubbed my arms but couldn’t shake the chill. We got into the Tahoe. My stomach was a knot of worry.
Stone turned the key in the ignition. “Are you okay?”
I sank into the seat and pulled my knees to my chest. “No. This morning the Thanksgiving parade was ruined by a werewolf who wanted to out the entire supernatural community. Said wolf man is now dead and they all think I did it. The sucker punch is that these people are new in my community—brand-spanking-new. They don’t know me and they think I’m guilty.”
Stone drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “You made it clear you don’t want them here.”
I growled in frustration. “This was my town first. The normal people here, they don’t want our kind.”
Stone quirked an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
I fingered the ends of my hair, trying to spend some nervous energy. “Because that’s how folks are. They don’t like what’s different.”
“Try me.”
Stone was a very interesting mix of serious, wise and calm. He never judged me, which I liked, but he certainly wanted to get to the heart of a matter, which I also admired. He didn’t pansy around anything.
Was that a saying? Pansy around? If it wasn’t, I just made it up.
My throat tightened as if the words didn’t want to come out—which they probably didn’t. “You know my mother died because something came after her, my grandmother and my great-aunt. You also know that my grandmother hid me away from the rest of the family, to protect me, but she didn’t explain anything about magic. She hoped the gene would skip me and I wouldn’t become a witch.”
Stone nodded.
“Well, my grandmother put me in a regular school. For years my powers lay dormant—until one day in chemistry class. Susie Black, real nasty girl who felt better about herself by being mean to others, told me I was fat and stupid. I got upset. Really upset. So upset that foam started rising from all the experiments.”
Stone chuckled. “Sounds like you got them.”
I shivered. “But I didn’t. Later that day Susie and a bunch of kids surrounded me. They tied me to a tree with a rope and called me a witch.”
I bit my bottom lip. I could still feel those ropes on my arms.
Okay, time to snap out of it and try to remember there was good in the world.
Stone was silent for a long moment. So long I started to wonder if he’d fallen asleep at the wheel.
Not really.
I fisted my hands and released them, lubricating the muscles and tendons. “Those were just kids. What will adults do?”
“They’d be more understanding.”
I shook my head. “No, they won’t be. As long as supernaturals are in town, I’m vulnerable. Not only me but Gabby, too. We’ve got to get rid of them. Get them to see that they need to leave. That life would be better if they were gone.”
Stone parked outside my house. I brushed my lips against his cheek. “You don’t have to come inside.”
I moved to leave, but he grabbed my arm. “Are you okay? About Dex?”
I placed my palm on his skin. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He drove off as I climbed the steps. A rumble down the street made me pause. I turned around to see a shiny black pickup truck rolling down Cedar.
Missy Burke stuck her head out the window, her stringy black hair trailing behind. She yelled, “Andie Taylor’s coming home from a date! Where is her child?”
I cupped my hand around my mouth and called back, “Missy Burke’s sticking her nose in other people’s business.”
She stuck her tongue out at me and kept right on driving down the road.
I smiled to myself. Doggonit, I really liked this little town just the way it was. I meant to keep it like that—one way or another.
A burst of an idea flashed in my brain—I knew how. I skipped up the stairs and into my house. Tomorrow I would start operation get the supers out.
FOUR
The next morning was Sunday, which meant I had the day off to do whatever I wanted. Within reason, of course.
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was a piece of paper taped to the outside of my window. I shuddered, somewhat creeped out that someone had placed a note there in the middle of the night. But I sucked up the weird feeling crawling over my body and retrieved it.
I unfolded the crisp vellum. It read MEET ME TONIGHT and gave an address. It was Dex’s handwriting. For the briefest of moments I was sad that he hadn’t tried to wake me.
But I quickly recovered and let a bit of anger fuel my pipes instead.
So many questions filled me about him. He’d been a hunter with magic, and now he was a vampire. Had he kept any of his power? I decided a quick search in The Witch’s Handbook might be helpful. I pulled the tome from the top
shelf of my closet and cracked it open.
I read about all the basic vampire stuff, but there was nothing that told me what happened if a witch was turned into a vampire. That was weird. Surely it had happened before.
I put the book away and thought about my own powers. Several weeks ago I wanted nothing to do with my own innate ability, but since I’d had to use my magic to save my town from a pack of demons who wanted to buy an angel from a vampire, one Oscar Snare, I’d accepted my talents a bit more—which meant I wasn’t so frigid when it came to working magic.
All this early morning thinking made my stomach growl.
Luckily the aroma of bacon called from the kitchen. I threw on a robe and went to investigate. I found Dot over the stove. She wore a pink apron that said WITCHES DO IT BETTER.
I rubbed my big toe over the mound of the opposite foot. “What are you wearing?”
“My uniform,” Dot answered, blinking at me like I was stupid.
“What does that even mean?”
Dot scraped some eggs with a spatula. “It means I cook better.”
“I don’t think that’s what it means.”
Dot wiped her hands on the apron. “Of course it does. What else could it mean?”
I brushed a honey-colored strand of hair from my eyes. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“Mommy!”
I scooped Gabby into my arms and smacked a big kiss on her forehead. “You having fun with Aunt Dot?”
“Yes, Mommy!”
“I’m here too, Andie!”
My best friend and recent witch, Kate McCall, strode in from the living room. Her cloud of black curls trailed behind her. Her blue eyes were piercing—gorgeous really. She flattened a newspaper on the table.
“Take a look at this,” she said.
MONSTER DOG EATS THANKSGIVING TURKEY!!! RESIDENTS UP IN ARMS.
My heart dropped to my feet. “Great.” This called for chocolate and coffee. Oh, and maybe some whipped cream. I made up a mug while Kate talked.
My best friend leaned her elbows on the counter. “They printed a special edition. Just because of the crisis, as they call it in the article.”