by Amy Boyles
Oh jeez. The air was so thick with man pride you could slice it up and serve it under ice cream.
“Guys,” I said. “It’s Thanksgiving. You promised to play nice.”
The men exchanged glances. Neither one said anything, especially not how they were going to perhaps become best friends and let bygones be bygones.
I guess I’d be living in a dream world if that happened.
“Phillip, have you been doing any more hunting lately?”
He shook his head. “Not since the night of the murder. I tell you, even though it hasn’t rained in a while, the ground out there was pretty muddy. Hard to slog through.”
The pieces were all fitting together. I had it! Now all I had to do was make it through dinner.
“So you think Antonio is involved in all this?” Phillip said, clearly changing the subject.
“As I always say, if the werewolf fits, wear it,” Dot said.
I shook my head. “You don’t say that.”
“But I could.”
Vordrid hopped up and down. “We’ve been trying to devise a way to catch him so he can be questioned.”
Phillip twirled his fork around. “I might be able to help with that. Dex, how’s the investigation going?”
“It’s going good. We’re making headway, but we need to talk to your cousin. It seems he’s some sort of missing link between a few things. I’m not saying your cousin is guilty, but he might be able to help us.”
“Bruce has finished interviewing everyone who was at the meeting?” Phillip said.
Dex nodded. “All done. Everyone’s clean.”
Stone leaned back in his chair. He draped one hand over the back of mine. He fixed a glance on Dex. “Then you need to call the pack off Andie. Let the other supernaturals know she’s not on the hook for murder.”
Dex shook his head. “The feeling is still too strong in some of them. We’ve tried, but after she pulled her little stunt on the fairies by changing their ears, that only secured her reputation as an outsider in the community.”
Stone leaned forward. “It’s that you don’t want to, isn’t it? You’d rather make it so you can swoop down and save her. You become Andie’s big bad protector and get exactly what you want.”
Dex dropped his silverware to the plate. It clattered against the porcelain. “Dude, what is your problem?”
“Y’all,” I said in warning.
Stone washed a hand over his face. “My problem is that you’re pretending to be something you’re not. You’re leading her on, trying to get back into her life. We both know all you’re going to do is let her down again. You need to let her go, vampire.”
Dex laughed. “This from an angel. And what are you going to do? Give up your heavenly life to be with her? Turn away from all the perks of heaven so that you can sweep Andie off her feet? You going to become human, Stone?” Dex sneered. “Because I seriously doubt it.”
Gabby’s eyes widened as the confrontation got more intense.
“Guys, cool it. You’re scaring the baby. You know, the kid you’re both supposed to be more interested in protecting than killing each other?”
“Mommy, Daddy’s mad.” Gabby looked from Dex to me.
“He’s not mad.”
Dex folded his napkin and placed it on the table. “Daddy’s not mad, sweetheart. Daddy’s just trying to stop an angel from toying with Mommy’s emotions.”
Stone rose. “Okay, outside.”
“Gladly,” Dex said. He shoved his chair back and stood.
My eyes widened. “What? What’s going on?”
Dot propped her elbows on the table and clasped her hands. “I believe we’re about to watch a Wild West showdown.”
“You know, I’ve never seen one of those before,” Vordrid said. “You would have thought with as old as I am that I would at least have seen a duel, but I haven’t seen one of those either.”
I jerked up from the chair. “You’re not about to duel, are you?”
Dex smiled at me. “No, I’m just going to send this angel back to heaven where he belongs.”
Stone’s silvery eyes flashed a warning. “You know where you belong.”
“Whoa. Hold it, guys. It’s Thanksgiving. No one fights on a holiday.”
They ignored me and walked into the kitchen, heading out the back door. They faced off as if waiting for each other to take the first swing.
All of us crowded outside. Except for Vordrid, who watched from inside.
Kate leaned over. “Andie, you’re not going to let them fight, are you?”
I wrung my hands. I mean, at sixteen, I as much as the next girl would’ve loved it if two guys went head-to-head against me, but at thirty-two this was not something I wanted to see.
Stone took the first swing. He hit Dex right in the chest, sending him staggering back.
Okay, this was a little too real now.
Dex rushed forward and grabbed Stone by the collar. He butted his head, sending the angel reeling.
I jumped into the middle. “That’s enough! I don’t want to be with either of you if you’re going to act like children. Both of you go home. Now.”
They stared at each other as if silently egging each other on.
“You’re both being stupid. Leave now.”
Stone’s shoulders sagged. “Can I call you tomorrow?”
I clenched my jaw. “Both of you go.”
Dex didn’t say a word as he took his things and walked out. Stone did the same. The rest of us returned to the dining room and sat down.
Phillip scratched behind his ear so fierce I thought he was being bitten by fleas. I’d forgotten all about my interrogation of him with the guys acting like class A jerks.
“Are you okay?” I said to Phillip. “Seriously? I’m getting worried about you.”
Phillip shook out his head. The hair on his face sprouted, growing. I reached for Gabby. Phillip morphed—bones elongated, popping and snapping. Claws like daggers formed, and his chest expanded until standing in the middle of my dining room was a full-fledged werewolf.
“Puppy,” Gabby said gleefully.
We crowded against the wall as he sneered.
“Honey, are you okay?” Kate said.
Phillip’s lips peeled back, revealing canines that could shred wood. “I’ll be just fine once Andie hands over the box.” His claws glinted in the light. “No one has to get hurt. Andie, give me the box and everybody stays safe.”
Crap. I never should have kicked Stone and Dex out. I could really use them right now.
I grimaced. “I don’t have the box.”
Phillip gripped the lip of the table so hard it splintered. Gabby screamed.
The werewolf leaned forward, his yellow eyes wedged into tiny slits. “Then someone has to pay.”
TWENTY-THREE
“What’s going on?” Kate shrieked. “What’s all this about?”
“Your boyfriend here has been breaking and entering businesses looking for something his brother stole from him.”
When Phillip spoke, his voice was garbled—you know, pretty much like you’d figure a wolf would sound if he tried talking. “I’ve never been able to control my shifting. Cal stole my power from me.”
I brushed a lock of hair from my eyes. “Is that why you snatched the wolf’s bane from Jacques’s garden? You first saw it the night of his party. It couldn’t have been long after that when Cal stole the box from you. He could easily out himself, but Cal was mean. So he took the box from you and wouldn’t give it back. The night of the meeting, you waited until everyone was back downstairs. It was a happy coincidence that I’d just gone into the bathroom. You came back early from hunting, snuck inside and shot your brother with a clump of wolf’s bane, using a hunting rifle. Then you fled, leaving mud at the scene of the crime.”
The werewolf clawed the air. “He wouldn’t tell me what he’d done with the box. Cal was trying to make me vulnerable so that I’d shift in front of strangers. He wanted me to be the one
who outed the supernatural community.”
“But when he wouldn’t give it up,” I continued, “you killed him. Your brother George knows about what you did. He’s protecting you. He knew what Cal was like, so you conjured up the idea of Antonio. It wasn’t any different than what you’d done as kids, right? Making up people. But there is no Antonio. Someone without an address or phone number? Not even a social media presence? Not in this day and age, buddy.”
Phillip backed away from the table. “All I want is the box.”
I planted both hands wide on what was left of the table. “Like I said, I don’t have it.”
“Liar,” he growled. Phillip leaped. I grabbed my chair and swung it into him. It splintered into a thousand pieces. He sank onto the wall, dazed.
“Dot! Get Gabby! Everyone out!”
Dot snatched the toddler and raced from the house. Kate followed.
I focused on The Witch’s Handbook resting in my closet. “Come!”
Phillip clawed his way onto the table and jumped toward me. Vordrid charged between us and sent a lightning bolt ripping through the wolf’s body. He collapsed onto the floor, making the house shake.
The handbook snapped into my palm. I peeled back the cover and pulled the magic from it. Power curled into my body, fueling my cells.
I raised my hands. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Phillip,” I said. “Give yourself up.”
“Never!”
I’d left the net in my bedroom. I focused on it and snapped my fingers. It appeared above Phillip and dropped onto him.
The werewolf howled. “Oh, I’m melting. Melting!”
I glanced at Vordrid. “What’s going on?”
Phillip shrank down, seeming to lose his power. I edged closer until I could nudge him with my toe. I poked his arm, and he whimpered.
I wiped a blanket of sweat from my forehead. “Looks like we got him, V.”
Phillip’s hand ripped through the net and fastened onto my ankle. “Wrong. Next time you make a net of silver, make sure the metal you use is pure.”
Darn that Dot! Man, I can never, I mean never, count on her for anything. At least not when my life is at stake.
The wolf yanked me to the ground, knocking the wind from my lungs with a swoosh. He was on top of me, breathing disgusting dog breath in my face.
I karate chopped his windpipe, but this creature was made of steel. Nothing worked. I pulled on my power and shot a stream of magic into his eyes. The wolf howled and jumped off me.
I reached for something, anything. My fingers curled around Kate’s purse. I threw it at Phillip. Half the contents spilled out, clattering to the floor.
One object made an incredibly distinct sound, like stone and metal. My gaze trailed the sound until I saw the small pillbox that looked exactly like the pawn shop owner had described—except the lid was blue, not red. Then I saw a bit of the blue had chipped away, exposing crimson beneath. Someone must’ve painted it.
The antique store! Why hadn’t I realized it earlier? Of course! Cal had sold the box to them when the pawn shop wouldn’t take it. Kate had owned the object this entire time.
While Phillip wiped his eyes, I dashed across the room, scooped up the box and shoved it into my pocket.
I raced out the front door.
A second later Phillip crashed out behind me. He rose to full form and howled, “Give me the box.”
“No,” I said. “You murdered your brother!”
Dot and Kate stood in the middle of the street. I darted away from them, hoping to lead Phillip in the other direction.
Please don’t let him go after my daughter.
The sound of a siren split the night air. A police car raced up my street, screeching to a stop one house down.
Great. The last thing I needed was Sheriff Terry Terry involved. Terry opened up his door. Cigarette smoke curled into the air. He aimed a Glock at Phillip.
“Andie, get away from the rabid dog.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a rabid dog.”
“Like heck it ain’t.”
“Who are you calling rabid?” Phillip growled.
Terry’s gun clattered to the ground. “Did it talk?”
Phillip sprang forward, leaping straight at me. I raised my hands and unleashed a stream of power that hit him square in the chest. The werewolf ground his teeth, but he kept right on coming.
“Mommy,” Gabby said.
I increased my power, pushing. I had to stop him. Had to stop this werewolf from hurting me or my family. I pushed on, draining all that I had into him. My magic faltered to a wimpy stream.
Phillip reached me right as the last of my power whimpered out. He gripped my neck and raised me in the air.
“Put her down or I’ll shoot,” Terry said.
Phillip paused. He glanced over his shoulder at the cop and then looked back at me. “Go ahead and shoot.”
I heard the explosion as the bullet ripped through the air.
Everything shifted. The leaves shivered as if a gale had surged down the street. I could hear Gabby wailing, crying for me. I watched the bullet approach Phillip as if in slow motion. It stopped in midair and fell to the ground. Phillip’s fingers uncurled from my neck. I fell.
The werewolf rose into the air. Tree branches reached out and wound around the beast, creating a makeshift cage.
Yeah. Good luck holding him, tree.
The world righted itself, and everything went back to normal speed.
Then Dex was there with Bruce, the other werewolf, and Stone, of all people.
“Put him down, Gabby,” Dex said.
What? Gabby?
“Okay,” she said. The tree bent, lowering the prisoner to the ground. Bruce locked silver cuffs on the dazed werewolf.
Terry strode up. “Somebody want to tell me what in tarnation is going on?”
I looked around my neighborhood. Half the families stood outside, watching the spectacle. Fear clawed at my throat. The feeling was worse than when I was outed by the fairies. My entire neighborhood had seen my powers.
They’d seen my powers. They’d seen me and Dex and Stone, and they’d seen a werewolf.
I exhaled a deep, trembling breath and spoke. “Sheriff Terry, I’m a witch. That prisoner there is a werewolf. He killed another werewolf a few nights back.”
Dex extended his hand. “I’m a vampire.”
Stone nodded. “I’m an angel.”
One of the people from across the street called out, “I’m a fairy.”
My neighbors stared at me. My breath hitched. Terror cluttered my veins, but I had to keep going. They’d all seen too much. There was no other choice than to continue on.
“Sheriff Terry, there’s lots of new folks who’ve moved into town—special people like me. You’ve got witches, werewolves and the like. Guess what? We all want the same things—to raise our families in peace and have a chance at a better life.”
Sheriff Terry reached for a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He tapped one out and put it in his mouth. “Well, I’ll be darned if that ain’t the craziest thing I ever heard. You mean to tell me we’ve got a bunch of supernaturals running around Normal?”
I walked over to Gabby and hugged her to me. She sniffled a little and then hugged me back. “Yes, sir. Normal’s full of supernaturals. It’s an awesome place to live.”
Terry lit his smoke and took a long drag. “Well I’ll be darned.” He shrugged. “So are y’all going to deal with this wolf thing?”
With the silver cuffs on, Phillip was quickly returning to his normal state of human.
“We’ve got it,” Dex said.
“Good, ’cause I want to get back to my dinner. But I expect all of y’all to come down to my office first thing in the morning and fill me in on everything that’s going on.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t you want to know now?”
Terry shook his head. “Nah. This is nothing compared to the alien invasion of ’95.”
I blinked. �
�Alien invasion?”
“Yeah,” he said sourly. Terry glanced at the neighborhood. “Y’all good folks come on out and meet each other. Get to know one another. There ain’t nothin’ like a few supernaturals to stir up a place. Y’all have a good night.”
Bruce carted Phillip away before he changed back fully and became a naked man on my lawn. I glanced around at my neighbors, not expecting any of them to make the first move.
“I’ll help a little,” Dex said, sidling up to me.
“What are you going to do?”
He flexed his fingers. Though I didn’t see any magic, I felt a swirl of good vibrations blanket the street.
“Just a little something to make the transition easier. Keep everybody open-minded. At least for a while.”
A few of my neighbors stepped forward, hands extended in welcome.
Slowly but surely we all gathered in the middle of the street and got to know one another. And what we discovered in the end was what I’d known all along—that deep down, most people are the same.
TWENTY-FOUR
“So why was Phillip dating me again?” Kate asked.
I worked a brush through my hair, getting out the tangles. “I think he genuinely liked you.”
My house was wrecked from Phillip’s attack. Kate and I were winding down after getting it cleaned back up. Dot had helped with her magic, but I had been plumb out.
Dex and Bruce, with Stone’s help, had carted Phillip off and picked up George along the way to the supernatural tribunal. George had gone willingly, thank goodness.
Kate sighed. “But Phillip was trying to get close to you, figure out what was really going on.”
I shrugged. “It seems possible.”
Kate rested her head on the kitchen counter. Her dark curls clouded her face. “Figures my luck. First time I meet a great guy in ages and he turns out to be a murderer.”
I patted her shoulder. “Sorry about that. There are other fish in the sea, I promise.”
“I’m throwing out my net, Andie, and all I’m catching are minnows.”
I laughed. It was late. We’d spent some time talking to the neighbors as well, nice people, before coming inside to clean.