by Gina LaManna
And I had the full moon and some pretty nifty water powers, I thought to myself, but I said: “And I had some sweet shoes, don’t you think?”
I held up my stilettos. The shoes might be both beautiful and deadly, that was for certain. And well worth every penny. Mason gave a shudder. “Don’t remind me.”
I laughed. “I’m going to head home for tonight, okay?”
“Let me walk you back. It’s the least I can do. Are you sure you don’t want to stay over at my place? Not in any sort of romantic way,” he added quickly, “purely for safety.”
I winked. “Nice line, but no thank you. And I will be fine. My friends are coming with me. Right, ladies?”
Skye, Kenna and Zola nodded. I’d promised Skye an exclusive interview, Zola an extra dose of magical water on her plants, and Kenna ... well, I’d promised to sing a solo during the karaoke night. The catch for all those favors, of course, was for a little help in getting Bob back to where he belonged.
“It’s been a long night,” Kenna said, gesturing outside. “It’s almost morning.”
With a shudder, I looked outside and realized that was true. My powers would only remain at maximum strength for another hour or two. We needed to move now or else banishing Bob would be all but impossible.
In many ways the night had been a success. Kenna had gotten a ridiculously crazy turnout at her event and the beauty pageant was sure to draw an even bigger crowd of tourists than expected. Skye would have her inside scoop and Zola would have her crops specially dosed with my water charm. And I’d finally agreed to Mason’s offer of a dinner date.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I told the mechanic. “I have the day off. If you grab a coffee around ten, we just might run into each other.”
He leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Have a nice night, Evian. Don’t go looking for trouble.”
“Who me?” I asked with a light laugh. “I don’t look for it. Usually. It just seems to find me.”
He gave a confused sort of grin, and then began the trudge up the hill toward home. Halfway up, he turned for one last wave.
“He’s got it bad for you,” Zola said with a snicker. “Super cute.”
I fought back a blush. “The sun will be up shortly. Shall we?”
After ensuring we weren’t followed by any gossip mongers looking for an even bigger scoop, we slipped onto the path behind my house. Bertha was fast asleep, judging by the snores that radiated across the fields from her open bedroom window. She liked the breeze.
Our walk up and over the fields behind my house passed quickly. There wasn’t a sound, save for the murmured curses from Skye at getting her feet dirty. All was quiet under the last fingers of the full moon’s reach.
“What’s our plan when we find Bob?” I asked. “Any thoughts?”
“He’s your problem,” Skye said. “We’re just with you for backup.”
“I don’t love that rule about whomever sees him banishes him,” I said. “You’re not really going to make me do this alone, are you?”
Kenna shrugged. “You were just fine with the rule when it was us banishing monsters.”
I groaned, but she had a point. “Fine, I’ll do it. But if I get in trouble, send some fireballs his way or something.”
“We’ll see,” Kenna said primly. “If you get rid of him yourself, we won’t even have to go there.”
Skye pointed down toward a giant blob in the distance: “Is that tub of lard the thing you’re afraid of?”
I peeked out from behind the bushes and spotted Bob. His body had expanded both in length and in rotundity since I’d last seen him. He was absolutely, positively, the biggest monster I’d ever seen.
“That’s Bob,” I said.
“He doesn’t look so bad.” Zola frowned, studying him. “If anything, he looks pretty blissful to me.”
Indeed, Bob appeared to be languidly munching the flowers that Zola and I had planted and watered. Our plan had worked. Bob sat just feet from the portal that’d send him back to where he’d come from — and all I needed to do was get him over the tipping point.
“Last chance for any of you to take all the glory,” I said, rolling up my sleeves. “Going once, going twice ... .”
“Sold to the water witch.” Kenna clapped me on the back. “We’ll watch from here. Holler if you need help.”
“Might be too late if he bites my head off first!” I hissed to her as I inched out, leaving my stilettos behind. Thankfully the portal was surrounded by patches of grass soft enough to tickle the soles of my feet. “All right, Bob. It’s me and you.”
The slug sat in a patch of moonlight just starting to burn off into morning. There was no way my size would help in this battle, so I opted to use the same technique I’d employed against John. My sparkling cleverness … yeah, right.
“Come on, big guy,” I said, closing my eyes and drawing in water with the last of the full moon’s energy as I prepared my charm. “Help me out. Go on home, will you buddy?”
I inched a raincloud closer and closer, drawing it near with a nifty little spell that’d been passed down from previous water witches. The coven would be proud, I thought, if only the members could be bothered to hop over to Eternal Springs once in a blue moon. It wasn’t a simple thing to move an entire cloud.
“Get him,” Skye said. “What are you waiting for! The sun’s coming up.”
“Is he changing color?” Kenna asked. “What the heck is up with his skin?”
Bob’s purple coloring faded to a dullish, metallic gray, and I knew before I took my next breath that the worst had happened: Bob had become an adult.
A tiny voice croaked through the night air. Do it now!
“Paul?” I glanced up just in time to see my familiar taking a flying leap through the air. “What are you doing here?”
I’m helping you! No supernatural slug will kill my witch! Paul landed on the top of Bob’s head, where he stuck with a slight suction sound. I’ll get his eyes, you send the rain into the portal — he’ll follow his nose
“But Paul —.”
No time to talk, he said as Bob’s head turned toward me and a hungry gleam appeared in his eyes. If you die, who will make my margaritas just the way I like them?
“You’re so thoughtful,” I grunted, as Bob lunged my way. I dove, holding my hands out and taking the brunt of the fall with my shoulder as I rolled out of the way.
Send rain into the portal — he’ll follow the water!
I did as Paul suggested. I unleashed every drop of precipitation from the storm cloud hovering over the island, screaming the incantation as I poured charmed water into the portal. Zola rushed forward as well, raising her hands as she sent several flowers hurtling through the opening. Together, it was enough.
Paul bounced between the slug’s eyes to seal the deal. When Bob lost his sight, he staggered drunkenly, nearly crushing me beneath him. I dove toward Zola and pulled her toward the woods as Bob took one giant sniff of the air, caught a whiff of the magical water and enchanted plants, and dove into the portal.
Paul went with him.
I scurried to my feet, rushed over and crumpled to the ground. “Paul! Come back!”
There was a long silence as I stared after my beloved familiar. He’d toppled over the edge along with Bob. I couldn’t handle the shock of being separated from Paul. We’d been connected far too long to imagine life without him.
“Oh, Paul, you can have all the margaritas you want,” I said. “I’ll buy you a new bed and let you sleep in the den. Just come back, Paul.”
A croak, and then one little reptilian foot planted itself on the edge of the portal. I’m gonna hold you to that.
“Oh, Paul, thank goodness!” I scooped my toad out of the portal, sent a hex downward to seal it temporarily closed, and then deposited Paul on my shoulder. “Jeesh, you didn’t have to scare me like that.”
Do I make for a good hero or what? How about getting me a cape?
“Let’s n
ot push it.”
Twenty-Five
“What a night, huh?” I plopped into a beanbag chair I’d situated on the porch next to Paul’s bed. “You were something out there, let me tell you.”
You weren’t so bad yourself. Say, for breakfast, how about some mimosas to celebrate?
“You’re going to milk your heroism for all its worth, aren’t you?”
Yep.
I heaved myself back to my feet and returned to the kitchen. Paul and I had slept in late. After banishing Bob back to the correct realm last night, I had followed Zola back to her gardens and bewitched a watering can. It allowed her to water any plant she wanted so long as the full moon reflected off its surface. It had returned to its status as a regular old watering can as of this morning.
We’d snuck back in before Bertha woke this morning, so there were no explanations needed about our late-night gallivanting through the woods. Four women out after dark walking barefoot under a full moon? Her suspicions would have been on high alert. Every now and then I suspected she knew there was more to our story than the nun cover, but I’d never know. It wasn’t as though I could confirm our witchiness to her even if she guessed.
I returned to the porch with one mimosa for Paul and a steaming mug of coffee for me. I’d just plunked Paul’s cup on the floor when a voice called my name from the street.
“Hey, Evian. I think this belongs to you.”
Straightening, I peered out front to a most wonderful sight. My gorgeous scooter was parked at the side of the street. The man standing next to it wasn’t all that bad looking either. Mason smiled at my surprised expression and gave a wave that said to come down and take a look.
“Wow, it looks perfect!” I said, letting my free hand smooth over the seat while I gripped my coffee tight in the other hand. “Does it run?”
“What sort of mechanic would I be if I returned a Vespa that didn’t run?” He crossed his arms across a broad chest. “Of course it runs. Feel free to take it for a test drive.”
“I trust you,” I said on instinct, but the second the words were out of my mouth I knew them to be true. “I mean … I’m sorry, Mason. About the whole suspicion of you for murder. I never really thought it was you, but I had to keep a clear head. I hope you can understand.”
“Just so long as you show up for our date tomorrow, all is forgiven.”
He grinned broader, looking a bit like a cowboy with his tired jeans and threadbare T-shirt. But in a good way. He looked fresh under the morning sun, and his smile was pleasant and warmed me more than the coffee.
“Oh,” he added, a quick frown monopolizing his features. “I thought you should know — John’s locked up, obviously, for the murder of Mary — no bail.”
“Poor Mary. Poor Carl, too,” I said. “Do you know how he’s holding up?”
“He’s going to stay to see the pageant through. Once it’s done he’s heading out to that island anyway for a few weeks’ break. Turns out Edwin stepped down voluntarily from his position, too. Not into the beauty scene anymore, he claims.”
“Well, thanks for the update,” I said, and then gestured awkwardly to the bike. “And thanks for this. Let me grab my checkbook.”
“Later,” he said and winked. “I know where to find you. In fact, are you free right now? I was heading to the café and was hoping I could buy you a latte.”
I glanced at my coffee mug, then up at his hopeful expression.
I dumped my mug at the edge of my garden. “I’d love to get coffee with you, Mason. Let me grab a sweatshirt.”
Mason nodded, leaning against the fence as I jogged onto the porch and grabbed my sweatshirt from the hook. I bent over, pretending to tie my shoes, and gave a quick whispered update to Paul.
I heard everything. I’m your freaking familiar.
“See you, then,” I said. “Don’t go looking for trouble.”
On my way back to Mason I caught sight of something that made me halt halfway to the street.
“Look at this! Mason, it’s a flower!”
“Sure,” he said, seemingly unimpressed. “That’s ... great?”
I glanced around my yard, the former mud pits, and realized they’d already hardened. In a sure sign of new beginnings, I noticed a few little sprouts had begun to poke through the blanket of black to spot my yard with green. Apparently evicting Bob had been just the ticket to recovering my lawn. Even Bertha’s raspberries seemed plumper than ever, though I dared not pick one for fear she’d put it on my bill.
I stood, whistling at the sight of the perfect little daisy next to my sneakers. The warmth of the sun was on my face, I had a coffee date with a mechanic and my toad had saved the day.
Some might call that good fortune. Others might call it luck.
I happened to think it might just be … magic.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed meeting Evian Brooks, along with her friends, Kenna, Skye, and Zola. It was an absolute joy to work with Amanda, Leighann, and Annabel on this shared world project—so be sure to go back and pick up the first three books in the series if you haven’t yet! To be notified of other new releases, please sign up for my newsletter at www.ginalamanna.com.
Thanks again for reading!
Gina
Also by Gina LaManna
Gina LaManna is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Magic & Mixology series, the Lacey Luzzi Mafia Mysteries, The Little Things romantic suspense series, and the Misty Newman books.
The Hex Files:
Wicked Never Sleeps
Wicked Long Nights
Lola Pink Mystery Series:
Shades of Pink
Shades of Stars
Shades of Sunshine
Magic & Mixology Mysteries:
Hex on the Beach
Witchy Sour
Jinx & Tonic
Long Isle Iced Tea
Amuletto Kiss
MAGIC, Inc. Mysteries:
The Undercover Witch
Reading Order for Lacey Luzzi:
Lacey Luzzi: Scooped
Lacey Luzzi: Sprinkled
Lacey Luzzi: Sparkled
Lacey Luzzi: Salted
Lacey Luzzi: Sauced
Lacey Luzzi: S'mored
Lacey Luzzi: Spooked
Lacey Luzzi: Seasoned
Lacey Luzzi: Spiced
Lacey Luzzi: Suckered
Lacey Luzzi: Sugared
Lacey Luzzi: Sprouted
The Little Things Mystery Series:
One Little Wish
Two Little Lies
Misty Newman:
Teased to Death
Short Story in Killer Beach Reads
Chick Lit:
Girl Tripping
Gina also writes books for kids under the Pen Name Libby LaManna:
Mini Pie the Spy!