Witch My Grits (Bless Your Witch Book 7)

by Amy Boyles

  “Did you know that sometimes a person can get a spirit, or ghost, to do what they want?” Reid said.

  “Hmm,” I said, turning to her. “Fascinating.”

  “It is fascinating,” she said. “A spirit can be bound to do what you want. I was just reading about a case in this book.”

  “Reid,” Grandma said, “it’s probably best you don’t believe everything you read, dear.”

  She shrugged. “I just thought it was interesting. I’m an inquiring mind. I wanted to know. I thought y’all might want to know as well.”

  “Maybe when we get home,” Sera said. “We need to focus on reality.”

  “It is reality. It just happens to be ghosts. So anyway, what are we doing again?” Reid said. “And why can’t I go to sleep? It’s getting late, you know.”

  “We’re trying to find a magical creature that hates witches. Titus should be able to help us,” I said.

  “It is getting late,” Sera said. “But it’ll be good to see Titus.”

  “That’s what I thought, too,” I said.

  We walked to the edge of the forest. The house was far enough behind that we were covered in darkness. The constellated sky shone above us, and the moon offered enough light so that we could see.

  Grandma pulled an ancient unicorn horn from the folds of her cardigan and waved it around. Magic spouted from the tip, shimmering into the night air. Strings of magic curled and coiled, contracting until they became an ivory shape.

  “Titus,” Grandma said. “Thank you for coming.”

  Titus nickered. “It must be something important for you to have called me. I serve you, and you have helped me many times in the past.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “We need help finding a magical being.”

  “Ah, young Dylan Apel…” Titus snorted. “How is your heart?”

  I paused. “It’s fine. Beating away strongly. Doing its duty every day. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason.”

  Why is it that I didn’t buy that? There was a reason why Titus had spoken; I just didn’t know what it was.

  “Why have you summoned me?” he said.

  “Someone is attacking me with magic,” I said.

  “We believe this someone isn’t a witch,” Grandma added. “We believe it’s something else, a different kind of creature. We need for you to help us discover if that’s the case.”

  Titus bobbed his head. “I sense the presence of another. They were close by recently.”

  I nodded. “She or he burned a set of objects in the forest.”

  “Take me to the place.”

  I wished I’d brought a flashlight, but Titus brightened the tip of his horn enough so that I could lead him into the forest.

  We reached the spot where Nan and I had found the tiny dragons. “Here’s where the person did their work.”

  Titus pawed the ground. “I do sense something that isn’t a witch, but it won’t be easy to find her. She’s hiding behind a mask and has been doing so a long time.”

  “What is it?” I said.

  “One of the nymph family,” he said. “An elf, to be more exact.”

  “How do we catch an elf?” I said.

  Titus flicked his tail. “There are ways of trapping their kind.”

  “That makes sense,” Reid said. “Elves hate us. We’re only lucky that Dylan and their king are such good friends.”

  “That’s Clothar, king of the fairies,” I said. “Not elves. Different species.”

  I turned back to Titus. Confidence swelled in my core. “How do we catch one?”

  I nearly rubbed my hands and laughed maniacally. I really wanted to capture this person for how much they had terrorized me over the past day.

  “Elves who work dark magic must count grain. If you leave out a bag of rice, they will be forced to stop and count it until they’ve finished numbering every grain.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Only elves who do dark magic?”

  Titus nodded. “It is the curse of working with forces of the unknown.”

  Okay. I smirked. “Is that it? We have to dump a whole bunch of rice on the floor and wait?”

  Titus nodded. “It’s the best way I know.”

  “Isn’t there anything else you can tell us?” Reid said. “Something that will help us more than that?”

  I elbowed her. “Be nice.”

  She shrugged. “Well, I’m sorry, but I wanted something more surefire.”

  Titus whinnied. “I have helped all that I can. Dylan, will you walk me to the edge of the forest?”

  I groaned inwardly. Every time Titus got me alone, he wanted to talk about life things. I had a feeling today would be no different. But I did as he wanted.

  Nan stepped between us. “Do I need to go too, Dylan?”

  I placed a hand on her shoulder. “I should be okay.”

  “If you say so,” she grumbled.

  I followed the unicorn. His coat of ivory shimmered in the moonlight. I stroked his haunches, feeling the powerful muscles beneath. I could also sense the immense magic that filled him. He was an amazing creature.

  When we reached the barrier where the forest stopped and the lawn began, Titus turned to me. “Somewhere in your heart the time will come for you to decide things in life.”

  “What things?” I said, trying to play stupid. Surely he wasn’t talking about marrying Roman. But that seemed to be what everyone wanted to talk about.

  “The need for change will arise so strongly that you will have no choice but to embrace it. Do it, Dylan. Change is part of life. For most of us, there is nothing but change. Life is always evolving. The fact that you don’t want it to happen won’t stop it. Your body sheds cells all the time, only to be replaced by new ones. Chances like the one you have won’t happen every day. You must make the most of it now, while you can.”

  “You’re saying I need to decide about Roman.”

  Titus nodded. “I’m saying listen to your heart. It will guide you in the way you are supposed to go. When you stop listening to that muscle, that’s when life goes awry. Not the other way around.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  Titus nickered. I placed a hand on his neck. The unicorn’s body started to glow as if being lit from the inside. A flash of light forced me to close my eyes, and a moment later he was gone.

  I found my family on the lawn. Grandma was looking around, mumbling to herself.

  “What’s up?” I said.

  “Dylan, we need to decide on a plan for capturing this elf.”

  Reid gestured toward the lawn. “Why don’t you place a whole bunch of rice right there. Like a hillside of it. That way the elf can’t miss it. When we come down in the morning, the person counting it will for sure be the elf.”

  I laughed. “Reid, that’s the craziest idea you’ve ever had. How the heck are we going to explain a huge pile of rice in the middle of the yard?”

  “Why should we explain it?” Sera said. “It’ll just be here. Whoever will be counting it is the same person who murdered Lilly, right? We won’t have to explain anything, because we’ll have delivered the killer to Roman. Isn’t that what he wants anyway?”

  “And I’ll be around to rough the culprit up, if I need to,” Nan said.

  I rubbed my chin in thought. Actually what they were proposing made a ton of sense. There didn’t have to be a need for the rice because we’d have the culprit.

  “Okay,” I said. “I think you should do it. Make a giant pile of rice, and we’ll see what happens.”

  Grandma clapped her hands. “Girls, I haven’t had this much fun since I don’t know when.” She pushed up her sleeves and said, “Stand back.”

  We edged toward the house. Grandma thrust out her hands and mumbled something I couldn’t hear.

  A moment later a huge pile of rice, about the size of two pickup trucks, sat in the backyard.

  Reid laughed. “I almost want to go throw myself in it. Just to swim in it.”

  Sera tuck
ed a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’d sneeze, I’m pretty sure. Allergies.”

  “I don’t have allergies,” Reid said.

  “Right. You just have nineteen-year-old behavior.”

  Reid stuck her tongue out at Sera.

  “Come on, y’all,” I said. “I don’t want anyone to see us anywhere near this rice. The last thing we need is to get blamed for creating it.”

  “Even though we did,” Sera said.

  We sneaked off into the mansion. Sera and Reid headed upstairs. “I’ll walk Grandma to her room,” I said.

  I escorted her down the hall to the room she was staying in with Milly. When she opened the door, Milly greeted us.

  “Everything go okay?” she said.

  “As well as can be expected,” Nan said. “No one was attacked and we have a plan.”

  “Great,” Milly said. “Hazel will tell me all about it. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

  Nan escorted me back to my room. “I’m not leaving your side for another minute. I’m going to stick to you like glue. You don’t mind sharing a bed with my broadsword, do you? I’ll try not to cut you, but I can’t make any promises. I’ve got to be ready, Dylan. Ready to cut our way through a huge battlefield of enemies.”

  I rubbed her shoulder, trying to get her to calm down, or at least take a breath of air. “It’s fine, Nan. I’ll be okay. We don’t have to share a bed. You can sleep in mine, and I’ll take the floor.” Because I really didn’t want to be injured by her sword.

  “I won’t even think of it,” she said. “I’ll protect you no matter what.”

  I really didn’t feel like having Nan riding up my behind all night and the next day, but what choice did I have? My grandmother had ordered her here to protect me, and that’s what she was going to do.

  I sighed. “Come on. You can sleep in my bed, but you can’t have the broadsword. I draw the line at that.”

  We made our way down the dimly lit halls. Nan stayed a ways in front of me, turning back every now and then to make sure I was behind her and alive, I suppose.

  We rounded a corner, and Nan got a few feet ahead of me. As I slipped past a dark alcove, a hand clapped over my mouth and dragged me in.

  THIRTEEN

  Roman’s lips were on mine a second later. I kissed him back, a wave of passion swelling in my chest.

  When we parted, he whispered in my ear, “It’s been impossible to get you alone.”

  I leaned back. His green eyes were shining. I smiled. “Nan’s going to have a fit when she realizes I’m gone.”

  “Then I guess we’d better hide you good.”

  I swatted at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Come with me. There’s something I want to show you,” he said.

  Roman took my hand and led me in the opposite direction from my room. We slipped outside, out the front of the house.

  A tree on the lawn was lit up as if with Christmas lights. “What’s that?”

  “Lightning bugs,” he said.

  I frowned. “This time of year?”

  We were rushing into fall fast. Lightning bugs, or fireflies, only came out in the early summer. But a thousand little insects, their abdomens flashing golden halos, surrounded a cedar tree.

  “Strange, isn’t it?” Roman said.

  I blinked. “It is. Why are they here this time of year? Something’s definitely not right.”

  Roman shoved his hands in his pockets. “I noticed it a few minutes ago. I thought you might like to see.”

  “But what could be causing it?” I said.

  “I’ll tell you what’s causing it.”

  It was a new voice—not mine or Roman’s. My back stiffened, and bile crept up the back of my throat. I hadn’t heard that voice in weeks, and to be honest, I was happy keeping things that way.

  I slowly turned around. Standing a few feet behind me, gold bangles on her wrists and cinnamon and crimson curls swirling around her face, stood Esmerelda Pommelton, queen witch of the South.

  “Em, so good to see you,” I lied.

  Em shot me a tight smile. “What the heck is goin’ on here?”

  “What are you talking about?” I said.

  Em folded one bone-colored arm over the other. “I’m talkin’ ‘bout the fact that I’m hearin’ you used some kind of magical needle to kill someone.”

  I rolled my eyes. “For as long as you’ve known me, Em, do you really think I killed someone?”

  Em pouted out her lips. “Heck, I know. But from what I understand, there’s some serious magic goin’ on and I thought y’all might need my help.”

  I swatted her away. “Em, I really don’t think we need you officially involved. Do we, Roman?”

  I glanced up at him. Dark stubble was starting to sprout on his cheeks. “If you want to stay to help us out, you can.”

  I frowned. “She can?”

  Roman nodded. “Em has lots of abilities. She’s an old witch.”

  Em smirked. “I’m old, Dylan, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  How could I? Em used most of her magic to keep herself looking young and beautiful since she was actually close to one hundred years old. No lie. She certainly didn’t act like it, though. She generally acted like a twelve-year-old.

  I crossed my arms defiantly. “Em, you can help, but I’ve got this one figured out.”

  “You do?” Roman said.

  I gritted my teeth. “Yeah, we hadn’t had a chance to tell you, but Titus came a few minutes ago and he thinks we’re dealing with an elf who hates witches.”

  Em narrowed her eyes. “An elf? Well, I’ll help however I can. But if y’all go around screwin’ this up and make us witches look bad, I’m afraid there’ll be heck to pay.”

  “I’ll take whatever heck you can dish out,” I said. “Be back here tomorrow morning and I promise we’ll be finding an elf.”

  “Fine. I’ll be back.” She snapped her fingers and, in an instant, was gone.

  I released a shot of air. “So, where were we?” I said.

  Roman pointed to the cedar. “We were talking about what’s got the lightning bugs out and about.”

  I frowned. “That is weird. Do you think there’s some sort of energy or power coming from the tree?”

  Roman shook his head. “More like whoever’s behind the murder is charging the atmosphere somehow. How else would lightning bugs be around?”

  I shrugged. “No clue. But it’s beautiful.”

  He wrapped an arm around me. “Either way it’s pretty romantic.”

  I nodded. “It is. I agree. What did you want to do about it? It’s a little late for a picnic.”

  He wrapped an arm over my shoulders. “But it’s nice enough to watch them for a few minutes.”

  I nodded. “I agree.”

  We stood watching the tree for a moment. I felt Roman stiffen.

  “What is it?”

  He gave a curt head shake. “Nothing.”

  I smoothed my hand over his chest. “It’s something. What?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  “Come on,” I teased. “Seriously, what’s wrong?”

  Roman exhaled. I felt his chest collapse beneath my palm. His strong body shuddered. “That knife. When I saw it, a flash of a horrible future blared in my head.” His eyes widened. “There it was. A thing of magic, and I couldn’t stop it.”

  I leaned my head on him. “Roman, you were right there, ready to help.”

  “But I didn’t. There was nothing I could’ve done to stop that blade besides throwing myself in front of it.”

  “But that would’ve killed you.”

  “Better me than you.”

  I placed a palm on each one of his cheeks and tipped his head toward mine. I stared into his troubled green eyes. “I would never want you to do that. Ever. Don’t throw yourself in the path of something trying to destroy me.”

  Roman curled his fingers around my hand and kissed my palm. “That’s my job, darlin’. To keep you
safe.”

  “Not at your expense,” I countered.

  He slid a hand to my neck and pulled the chain from its hiding place under my shirt. Roman stared at the diamond engagement ring he’d given me. “I should take it back. I couldn’t protect you—keep you safe. You should marry someone who can.”

  The darkness in his gaze sent a chill straight to the center of my heart. I pulled the ring from him. “No. This is mine. You can’t have it back, and you can’t renege on your proposal. I love you, Roman Bane. I don’t care that you can’t work magic, and I don’t want you feeling sorry because you didn’t get yourself killed earlier today. That’s just stupid, and I can’t believe I’m hearing you say that. You’re always so sensible.” I tapped my chest. “I don’t need to be the sensible one. That’s you. Not me.”

  Roman chuckled. He brushed a dark strand of hair from my cheek. “Have I told you that I love you?”

  “Yes, and I love you.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  “I’m still thinking about it.” But even as the words flew from my lips, I could feel the tug toward him. It was as if I was being influenced to make a decision.

  Which was good, I guess.

  He pulled me close. I exhaled into the curve of him, relishing the heat wafting from his body.

  Suddenly a dark shadow spilled out from behind the house and approached the tree. We parted, and Roman and I eased back. I watched as the hooded figure crossed to the tree, seemed to lay something down and then retreat back into the house.

  Once they were gone, I turned to Roman. “Do we go after the person or see what was put down?”

  “What was put down,” he mumbled, already striding toward the cedar. I practically sprinted to keep up with his long strides. He stepped behind the trunk, and I followed.

  We glanced at the ground. Lightning bugs flittered and buzzed around me. I swatted a few from my face. They hummed along, drifting up to work on their mating ritual or whatever it was they were doing in the tree.

  Roman grabbed what had been left and stuffed it under his arm.

  I frowned. “What is it?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  “Seriously. What was it?”

  I had the distinct impression that whatever Roman had found, he wanted to keep it from me. But why?