It was delicious, and Andi managed to find her appetite. It helped that things were going so well.
Con swallowed a bite of steak. “There’s a great theater in town. First-run movies, but they mix in some classics, too. Would you like to see what’s playing tomorrow night? I’m sure we could find something.”
“That would be great.” It was all going to be great. She’d never taken such a risk in her life, but it was paying off. She was glad, too, that Con had been present during the spell and had agreed to it.
Otherwise, she would feel bad about all this. Like she was pulling one over on him. But this was better. This was mutual.
As the server came to clear their plates, he dropped off a dessert menu. Andi was drawn to every single item on it, but the deconstructed chocolate-covered cherry called to her.
She raised her brows as she looked at Con. “Are you getting dessert?”
“I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but if you don’t get something, I’ll be disappointed.”
“You really are the perfect man.”
He laughed, and when the server returned, Andi ordered the deconstructed chocolate-covered cherry with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and two spoons so they could share.
They were left alone again then.
Andi took the opportunity to ask a question. “What’s the best part about living here for you?”
He smiled. “That’s easy. Two things. Being safe from the sun and being in the same town with my family.”
She nodded. “I hope my sister stays. It would be great to have her here.”
“Do you think she will?”
Andi looked down at her lap for a moment, laughing softly.
“What is it?” Con asked.
“It’s your brother.” She glanced at him again. “My sister has a little crush, you might say.”
Con groaned. “On Valentino? The poor woman. He’s a playboy, I’m sorry to say. Most people know that, seeing as how word gets out in this community, but that doesn’t stop a lot of women from going back for seconds or thirds.”
“Yikes.”
“Yes, exactly. I mean, if your sister is just looking for a little fun, she’s headed in the right direction. If she expects more than that, she’s going to have her heart broken.”
“Well,” Andi started, “I think she might be looking for fun at the moment. But then again, I’m not sure. Cassi’s suddenly found her wild side, so who knows?”
They both went silent for a moment.
Then Con spoke. “Have you ever had your heartbroken?”
Yes, she wanted to tell him. By you. Instead, she smiled wistfully. “I have. But I don’t blame him. There were circumstances beyond our control. And we’re already moving on with our lives, so it’s all good. What about you?”
He sipped his water, the distance in his gaze a telling sign that he wasn’t focused on the present but the past. “Yes, I have had my heart broken. Very badly, actually.”
His focus shifted to a random spot on the table. “She put me off women and love for a very long time. In fact, you’re the first woman I’ve been interested in since her.”
“I’m flattered,” Andi said. “Can I ask why she hurt you so much? Did you love her that much?”
“I did. I thought we’d be married. But at the last moment, she changed her mind.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t like talking about her.”
“Sorry.” Andi sat back, crossing her hands in front of her like she was cutting the conversation off. “No more Miranda.”
“No, no more of—” Con’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know her name?”
Oh boy. Big mistake. “You must have mentioned it.”
“I’m sure I didn’t.”
“Maybe someone else—”
“No one else did either.” The telltale glow of emotion shone in his gaze. “Her name is never to be mentioned in my presence.”
“I’m sorry, I won’t—”
“And how would your sister have a crush on my brother when you’ve only just come to town?”
“She, uh…” A pit opened up in Andi’s stomach. She’d slipped up, and she knew it.
“Andromeda.” The glow in his eyes brightened. “The book. You were…in a book. That I opened.” A growl rumbled out of his throat. “You left me.”
“Oh boy.” She grimaced. So much for things going well. If only she could sprinkle a little sprite dust on him.
Then everything went black. Again.
Chapter Thirty-one
When the inky darkness cleared, Andi was looking up at a very fancy ceiling, the tops of bookshelves, and what appeared to be a rather perturbed witch.
Namely, Amelia Marchand.
Her arms were crossed. “I told you there was a high probability it wouldn’t work.”
Andi pushed up to her elbows. Her head was swimming, and the edge of her vision was a little blurry. She blinked, trying to clear it. “What’s going on—how am I still in your library?”
“You all are.” Amelia walked away. “Because I arranged it that way.”
That wasn’t really an answer, but Andi looked around in hopes of learning more. Cassi was sprawled on a couch nearby and just coming to. Val was leaning against some shelves, shaking his head slowly.
And Con was still comatose a few feet away. Scratch that. He groaned and reached a hand up to rub his face.
Andi blinked a few more times. “What happened?”
Amelia was picking up items from the coffee table where she’d performed the spell. “I cast a different spell than what you asked. A spell that would show you the most likely outcome of the one you wanted. And it went exactly how I thought it would. Badly.”
“So…that was just…what? A dream?”
Amelia snorted. “Something like that. Although ‘nightmare’ might be more apt.”
Andi sat all the way up, then got to her feet, wobbling slightly. She felt a little hungover. An effect of the spell, no doubt. “Why would you do that?”
“To spare you, sprite.”
Anger wormed through Andi’s spine. “I didn’t ask to be spared. I asked for a second chance to make Con fall in love with me.”
His grunt broke the silence behind her. She turned to see him sitting up.
He scowled. “I told you it wouldn’t work, and it didn’t, did it?”
“Because it wasn’t the spell I asked for,” Andi countered.
Amelia clucked her tongue. “No, but it was an excellent simulation spell. You should be thanking me. Now you know the outcome without having to give up your wings.”
Andi spun around, which did her head no favors. The air was thick in her lungs, and she was on the verge of having a full-on meltdown complete with an ugly cry. “I don’t care about my wings. It’s not what I asked for.”
Amelia glanced at her, but said nothing. Cassi was coming around now, sitting up and rubbing her temples.
“I’m leaving.” Con spat the words like he was as frustrated as Andi felt.
She twisted to face him. “Wait.”
He stopped. “Why?”
“Because I want to talk to you. I want to work things out.”
His cool expression remained unchanged. “There is nothing to talk about and nothing to work out. I am not interested in you or any other woman. I’m not interested in love, or trying to make things work, or being a new me. I am done. With you. With love. With the whole idea of a romantic partner. I have learned my lesson. Enough is enough.”
He twisted around and left.
Val called after him, “Where are you going?”
“Home. Don’t follow me. I won’t invite you in.” He disappeared through the library door, and a few moments later, the slam of another door followed.
Beckett appeared then. “Anything I can do to help, Amelia?”
“Not at the moment, thank you.”
He nodded and left them alone.
Andi clenched her fists and tried not to cry out of sheer frustration.
Val came to her side. “I’m sorry, Andi. But I think Amelia did you a favor. My brother is too hurt to see what a fool he’s being. At least this way you still have your wings.”
“I would rather have him. At least the old him. Not the one who currently despises me.”
Amelia joined them, the vial containing Andi’s wings in her outstretched palm. “I know you’re upset with me, but in time, I think you’ll see things differently.”
Andi took the vial, twisted off the top, and muttered, “Wings return.”
She tried to breathe away her anger and disappointment as her wings reattached to her body. She didn’t want to snap at Amelia. Andi understood the woman had been trying to help, but Andi couldn’t feel anything at the moment but the distress of utter failure.
Cassi stood and walked over to the three of them. “Can someone explain what just happened? Andi, why do you have your wings back?
Andi shook her head. “The spell wasn’t performed. Not the one I wanted anyway.”
Val frowned. “Why don’t we get out of Amelia’s way? We can go to my club, if you don’t want to go back to the B&B.”
Andi nodded, too numb to come up with a better plan. “Fine.”
Val put his arm around her and directed her toward the door. “Thank you, Amelia.”
“You’re welcome.”
Val drove their rental car since Con had taken his, but Andi wouldn’t have noticed if they’d gone by horse and buggy. She slumped in the back seat, mired in a swamp of regret and pain.
How did you get over loving someone who was never going to love you back? Had all the men she’d broken up with felt like this? Because this was awful. And if they had, then on some level, she deserved this.
But that didn’t make suffering through the pain any easier.
She closed her eyes, only to see Con’s angry face. She sniffed. Her entire body hurt with the pain of losing him.
And in that moment, she understood why he was done with love. She might be done with it herself.
Maybe she’d spend the rest of her life as a spinster. That sounded pretty good. She’d get a cat and—no wonder Con had a cat. Sure, he’d found Chloe in the back alley, but he’d kept her instead of turning her over to a rescue for adoption. Andi got it. She really did. Animals offered unconditional love. He wasn’t going to come home one day and find Chloe packed up and waiting at the door with a Dear John letter for him.
Maybe she’d get a whole houseful of cats and just commit to being a crazy cat lady. That should keep the men away from her.
“Andi, we’re here.”
“Hmm?” Andi’s feline thoughts faded away, allowing her to see that her sister had opened the rear car door and was now standing there, staring at her.
“We’re at the club. Let’s go in and get something to drink. What do you say? Val explained everything to me on the way over, so we don’t have to talk about anything unless you want to.”
She didn’t want to. “Fine.”
Val smiled gamely. “I’ll even order a pizza or something, if you want.”
Andi shrugged. “I’m not hungry.”
Cassi frowned. “We were out for a couple hours. And it’s well after dinnertime. You should eat something.”
“Not hungry,” Andi repeated. She knew her sister meant well, but not eating wasn’t going to hurt anything.
They went inside, and Val settled them into a secluded booth. A piano player was onstage, and his tunes were easy and light, but not overly happy. Andi could deal with that. She also liked that the crowd wasn’t too thick yet. But then, it must be early for a club like this.
Whatever. She slumped down in the booth.
Val stayed standing. “What would you like to drink?”
“Champagne?” Cassi asked.
“No problem. How about you, Andi?”
“Water.”
“Really? That’s all?”
She glared at him. “I’m not interested in getting smashed, if that’s what you’re asking. That’d only make me feel worse.”
He nodded. “I can’t disagree with that. How about something to eat?”
“No.”
Cassi put her hand on Val’s. “Do you have anything sweet? Sugar always helps.”
“I can swing that. Be right back.”
Andi gave her sister a look. “I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but stop. I’m allowed to feel awful. I have every right. And you ought to be happy about it, seeing as how this is all part of the lesson you were trying to teach me.”
“I didn’t want you to be this wretched. You’re hurting in a way that I never anticipated. I love you. I don’t want you going through all this. You learned your lesson a while back. This is just extra misery I never saw coming. I’m your sister. I can’t help but want to soothe that all away.”
Andi sighed. “Well, stop it anyway. Just let me wallow, will you? I’ll get through this in my own time.”
“I know.” Cassi smiled sympathetically. “I’m really sorry things didn’t work out. At least now you can go back to Paris with me.”
Andi groaned. “About that…”
Val suddenly appeared tableside without drinks or dessert. “I have to go. Con needs me.”
“Great.” Andi rolled her eyes. “Take his side.” She waved a hand at him. “I get it, he’s your brother and—”
“No,” Val said. “Con just texted the whole family to say he found a screen pushed out of the window he leaves open for Chloe. He’s searched the house, and she’s nowhere to be found.”
Cassi shook her head. “I don’t get it.”
“Chloe is his cat,” Andi answered. “She’s a bit of an escape artist, too.”
Val nodded. “And we don’t live in the safest part of town.”
Cassi’s eyes rounded. “You live in the enchanted forest?”
“No,” Val said. “We live in one of the bayous. And there are gators. And snakes. And birds of prey.” He grimaced. “Let’s just say it’s not the safest place for anyone, let alone a cat, to go walking at night.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Constantin’s gut roiled with worry to the point he thought he was going to be sick. If anything happened to Chloe, he might just drive past the twilight line and sit there until the sun came up. After everything else that these last few days had dumped on him, losing her would be more than he could take.
His heart might not beat any longer, but this would kill him.
“Chloe,” he yelled again. He stood a few yards from his rear property line, his voice carrying over the bayou’s water. Water amplified sound. That was good and bad. It meant he could be heard for much greater distances, but it also meant that it was much harder to pinpoint where any sounds he picked up on were coming from.
So far, however, he’d yet to hear anything that sounded like his baby Chloe.
“Please don’t be hurt,” he muttered. “Or worse.”
His phone buzzed. He tugged it free from his pocket and looked at the screen. A text from his brother.
Help is on the way.
Good, he texted back. Then he shoved the phone into his pocket and went back to searching.
He hadn’t bothered with a flashlight because of his keen eyesight, but that seemed like a dumb idea now. He tried the one on his phone, but it barely lit the ground in front of him. He should have grabbed a real one. After all, he’d taken the time to put his boots on.
But reaching for a flashlight just wasn’t something he usually did. Berating himself, he ran back to the house before he got any farther away.
There was one under the sink. He went straight to the kitchen without a care for the swamp muck he was tracking in. Nothing mattered now but finding his sweet girl before it was too late.
He grabbed the flashlight and went back out. Using it, he searched the grounds around his house for any signs of paw prints, any suggestion of what direction she might have gone.
A car crunched down his driveway, followed by the soun
ds of people getting out.
“Con, we’re here.” Juliette’s voice came from well behind him. “Dani’s with me. Where do you want us to search?”
“Front of the house,” he answered. “Across the street. In case she went that way. Mama and Father are searching along the road.” There was no telling with a cat. Chloe could be anywhere. She could have chased an insect or a lizard in any direction.
“Okay, we’re on it,” Juliette replied.
Moments later, he could hear them calling for Chloe, their singsong voices cajoling her to come home.
He kept moving forward, retracing the steps he’d already taken, but this time searching the ground more closely for any signs that Chloe had traveled this way.
Another minute or two went by, and a second car arrived at his house. Had to be Valentino.
Con tucked the flashlight under his arm and sent his brother a quick text to fill him in. J and D are searching across the street. Parents on road. I’m in back of house.
Valentino’s reply came promptly. We’ll fan out.
Fine. Constantin didn’t know who we included. Help from the club, maybe. He didn’t care, so long as they were willing to look, they were welcome.
He went back to his search, slowly sweeping the light across the swamp in front of him. He caught the last two feet of a water moccasin slithering past. He closed his eyes for a moment. Chloe would think a snake like that was a toy, something to be chased.
That could go very badly.
He didn’t want to think like that, but the bayou wasn’t a kind environment unless you were at the top of the food chain.
Chloe was a ball of white fluff who might think she was queen, but she’d be dethroned very quickly out here.
“Chloe,” he called out again. Then he listened, straining his ears to hear every possible sound.
The croak of a bullfrog. The squelch of something moving through the muck. And the distant rhythm of wings beating the air.
That sound set off an alarm inside him. He couldn’t tell if it was a hawk or a bat. Or something else. Hard to tell what might fly out of the darkness in Shadowvale. He glanced up as the beating wings came closer, prepared to fight the thing off if it was after Chloe.
The Vampire's Cursed Kiss (Shadowvale Book 2) Page 22