"Which items did he borrow?" I asked.
"Her wings."
I nearly choked on my saliva. "I'm sorry. Did you say her wings?"
"Yes. And also a jar of her pixie dust. I'd scraped together as much as I could find. She used to leave it lying around the house, you see. She wasn’t exactly known for her neatness.” He smiled to himself.
I tried to digest the information. "Why did you lend these items to Walter?"
"Because I knew he was working on an invention and thought they would be helpful. My wife would have liked the idea of contributing to something like that."
Paranormal organ donation.
I gave him a sympathetic smile. "And let me guess. You eventually had a change of heart."
Jeremiah nodded emphatically. "I couldn't sleep, knowing I didn't have her wings or her pixie dust. It started to feel wrong. I spoke to Walter about it and he agreed to return them."
"But then he refused?" I asked.
"He didn't so much refuse as dodge the request," Jeremiah replied. "He started avoiding me. I spoke to Marianne about it when he wasn't home, but she had no idea where he kept the items. We even looked in the house together."
"So when you confronted Walter at his house a few days ago, what happened?"
Jeremiah scratched his head. "He promised to get them for me, but he said he needed some time."
"And were you willing to give him that?"
"I was angry. I'll admit that much. You have to understand—we’re talking about a piece of my wife. It felt like I handed over one of my own limbs and he wouldn't give it back. I know I offered them in the first place so I wasn’t being fair…“ He trailed off. “We don’t always act rationally when emotions are involved.”
No, we certainly didn’t.
"It's okay, Jeremiah," I said. "I'm not here to judge you. I think anyone in your position would feel the same. It was generous of you to offer them in the first place."
"I didn't even know what he was working on, but I trusted him," Jeremiah said. "Pretty stupid, right?"
"No, not stupid at all. I have a feeling that your wife would have approved."
Jeremiah pressed his lips together, clearly thinking of her. "She would have. She loved talking to Walter about his inventions. If you don't mind my asking, how did he die?"
"He froze to death," I said. “Sheriff Astrid suspects foul play. The lab report shows traces of magic."
"Is that so? Then I guess you’re looking for a magic user," Jeremiah said. “And I am definitely not that."
"Neither was Walter, but that didn't stop him from working with pixie dust."
Jeremiah blinked his beady eyes. "You think I'm a suspect?"
“Not anymore,” I said.
Jeremiah seemed surprised. “I could be lying to you. Why do you believe me?”
“We all have our skills,” I said. “I happen to be a decent judge of character.”
Jeremiah nodded approvingly. "Do me a favor," he said. "If you happen to find my wife's wings and the jar of pixie dust, will you return them to me?"
"As long as the sheriff approves it, then yes. Definitely."
He closed his eyes gently, relieved. "Thank you."
Chapter 12
I entered the Grapevine Room of the Spellbound Country Club. I learned from the bartender in the Horned Owl that it was the upscale bar and restaurant in the club. Since Daniel wasn’t even a member here, I had no doubt that Elsa had made the arrangements. Of course she chose a very masculine environment—the room screamed metrosexual steakhouse. No succubi strippers in g-strings and cheap feather boas for Daniel.
I hated to come alone, but I knew that a group of remedial witches would draw too much attention at a bachelor party and I didn’t want my friends implicated if anything went awry. It would have been different if the party had taken place at the Horned Owl because we’re regulars there. I’d never been to the Grapevine Room before. Even now, I’d concocted a plausible story for showing up here.
“Emma? What on heaven and earth are you doing here?”
Stars and stones, Daniel looked incredibly handsome in a hot pink polo shirt and neatly pressed trousers. His rugged jawline was covered in attractive scruff.
“I’m waiting for Gareth,” I lied. “He’s been making an effort to materialize here. The Grapevine Room was one of his favorite places.”
“Oh.” He looked around as though seeing it for the first time. “It is nice in here, isn’t it?”
“And busy.” I nodded toward the crowd surrounding the bar.
He shrugged. “Apparently you discover you have more friends than you realize when it’s your bachelor party.”
“At least they’re here to have fun.” I recognized a slew of faces. Demetrius Hunt and his vampire circle. Former sheriff and resident grumpy centaur, Hugo.
“You look pretty tonight,” he said, admiring my simple black shift dress. “Black suits you.”
“Thank you,” I replied, resisting the urge to melt into a puddle. “What’s with the halfhearted attempt at a beard?”
He rubbed his jaw. “You like it?”
“I do, actually.” Crap on a stick. I really did. Could he try to be less appealing and make my life easier?
“It won’t last long,” he said. “Elsa hates it. I only have it so I can have a nice, clean shave on our wedding day.”
At the mention of their wedding day, my whole body stiffened and I remembered why I was here. I felt the weight of the vials pressed against my thigh.
“What are you drinking?” I asked. “I’ll buy us a round.”
“That’s kind of you,” he said. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” I said. “How about you start slow and steady with an ale?”
“Perfect. Thanks.”
I hurried to the bar and ordered an ale for Daniel and a bucksberry fizz for me.
“You’re celebrating this debacle?” Demetrius sidled up next to me, oozing his usual sex appeal.
“Of course not. I’m just trying to be a supportive friend.”
He eyed me carefully. “You’re up to something.”
The bartender set my order in front of me. “Please start a tab,” I said. “I’m planning to stay awhile.”
Demetrius glanced at the drinks and back to me. “Okay. You’re definitely up to something.”
I gave an innocent shrug of my shoulders. “Demetrius Hunt, whatever do you mean?” Quickly I glanced around. “Now be a good vampire and look away for a second.”
He chuckled and did as instructed. I slid the first vial from my pocket and tipped the contents into the ale. I sniffed the beverage to make sure there was no strange odor. I smelled only the ale.
“Okay, it’s safe to look.”
He turned back to me. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but please let it involve a stripper pole and magical boobs.”
“Sorry, Dem. Not tonight.” I patted his arm. “Wish me luck.” I returned to Daniel and handed over the pint glass. “Bottoms up.”
“Yours looks good, too,” he said. “It’s nice to see you enjoying yourself. I feel like you’ve been off lately.”
That was an understatement. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy. I only want the best for you, Daniel. You know that, right?”
He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “I know it’s meant to be a bachelor party, but it wouldn’t be the same without you.”
As he drank the rest of the ale, I watched for any signs of change. Briefly I wondered whether Elsa had upped his dosage today, realizing that she wouldn’t be with him tonight. She was exactly the kind of paranoid person who would go to such extreme measures. According to Sophie’s mother, Elsa didn’t actually need to keep pumping the potion into his system for it to be effective. Her method was overkill. Then again, overkill was Elsa’s middle name.
“Have you seen Elsa’s wedding dress?” I asked. I figured I’d ask a question about her and see how he reacted.
> “Definitely not. She’d murder me.” He laughed. “I’m sure she’ll look beautiful no matter what she wears.”
I tasted a tiny bit of vomit in my mouth. Ugh, wrong potion. I’d have to try again. If I didn’t play my cards right, this could take a few excruciating hours. I didn’t have hours.
“This feels far too civilized,” I said. “In the human world, bachelor parties are crazy.”
“Crazy how?” Daniel asked.
“Let’s line up some shots,” I said. “You wait here and I’ll get them set up for you at the bar.” And add a vial to each one. It was the quickest and most effective way to sort this out.
His brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Shots?”
I squeezed his arm. “Yes, shots. It’s a rite of passage for bachelors. You have to do it.”
He grinned. “If you insist.”
I edged my way back to the bar and ordered a row of shots.
“All the same?” the bartender queried.
“No, go ahead and vary it. They’re all for the groom.”
The bartender set down six shot glasses and announced each liquid as he poured it. Devil May Care. Tongue Sucker. Horny Toad. Shifter Spice. Twisted Tail. And, appropriately, Angel Wings.
There was no way I could sneak the potions into all six shot glasses without someone noticing. This would take a touch of magic to disguise my sleight of hand. I pulled out my wand and subtly placed it in front of me on the bar top, pointed at the glasses.
“Double, double, toil and trouble/place me in a secret bubble.” I felt the shift around me as the room fell silent and I knew that the spell had taken hold. No one would notice me or what I was doing. I retrieved the remaining vials from my pockets and tipped the contents of each one into a shot glass. Each time I emptied a vial, I said a silent prayer that this would be the one to work. Once I’d finished, I tossed the vials over the bar into the open trashcan and reversed the bubble spell.
“Daniel,” I called over my shoulder. “Shots are ready.” And I was more than ready to end Elsa’s influence over him.
He joined me at the bar and his turquoise eyes widened at the sight of the six shot glasses.
“I don’t feel up to this,” he said. “Elsa will be upset if I throw up on her white carpet.” He fixed his gaze on me. “I don’t like to upset her.”
I wanted to smack his cheek hard and snap him out of it. If only it was that simple.
“Daniel, you’re celebrating your lifetime commitment to her,” I said calmly. “She’ll understand. After all, she’s the one who set up this whole party, isn’t she?”
He nodded slowly. “She’s having a bachelorette party too. Not tonight though.”
“And I bet she’ll be doing shots until the sun comes up.” I handed him the closest glass. “Let’s see how fast you can down these, Halo Boy.”
His mouth quirked. “I have a better idea.” He waved over a few guys from the other end of the bar. “Shots are on me for the next ten minutes. Everybody drink up.”
A cheer went up as the bartender scrambled to fill orders. The shots in front of us were quickly grabbed by unseen hands, except the one Daniel still held. I sighed inwardly. Please let that be the right one.
“Which kind is this?” he asked, sniffing the amber liquid.
“Angel Wings,” I replied.
“Well, that’s appropriate,” he said good-naturedly.
I hoped so.
I watched anxiously as he tipped back the glass and polished off the alcohol.
“Nice?” I asked.
“My head’s a little fuzzy,” he said.
Fuzzy seemed like a good sign. “You know, we never talk about Elsa. What would you say is her best quality?”
Daniel appeared thoughtful. Was he wondering why I would ask such a ridiculous question? Was he trying to remember any of her good qualities because he couldn’t think of a single one? My pulse quickened at the possibility.
“Her wonderful personality,” he finally replied.
Blargh. Not the right potion.
I stared at the empty bar top in front of us where the other shot glasses had been. Another opportunity lost. I slumped forward, contemplating the end of all my hopes and dreams. And I couldn’t even move away. I was stuck in this town for eternity, forced to witness Daniel live an unfulfilled life. It was too painful to envision.
“What do you mean you don’t want another drink?” I heard a voice ask. “It’s your favorite hobby.”
I turned to locate the source of the conversation. A middle-aged elf was talking to a dwarf, presumably her husband judging by the way they interacted.
“I don’t know,” the dwarf said. “I had a shot of something bitter but now I don’t want anything else to drink. Ever.”
Uh oh. It seemed that the dwarf’s obsession with alcohol was being curbed by the potion. A good thing, perhaps?
“Let’s go home,” the dwarf said. “I don’t feel like staying out late.”
The elf looked delighted by her husband’s remark. “Not even an ale for the road?”
He made a gagging noise and she clapped her hands gleefully as they left the room.
I began to eavesdrop on other conversations to see whether anyone else was affected. Between Daniel and the dwarf, there were four more shots unaccounted for. It was ironic that if Daniel’s obsession had been a natural one, then any of the Anti-Obsession potions would have done the trick. It was only because I was combatting a specific magic potion that it had to be the right combination of ingredients. Pfft. Magic.
“Hey, you went a whole sentence without mentioning Fiona,” a satyr said to his dryad friend. “I think it’s a new record.”
I moved closer to their high top table to listen.
The dryad shrugged and drank his pint of ale. “I can go a whole sentence. In fact, I bet I can go the rest of the night.”
“Really?” the satyr didn’t seem convinced. “She’s all you’ve talked about for weeks. You haven’t shut up about her all night until now.”
“I guess it just occurred to me that she’s not that special.”
The satyr wore a baffled expression. “Dude, if I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were playing mind games with me.” The satyr shook his head and finished his drink. “At least Fiona will be happy. She was getting tired of you sending her messages. Apparently, your owl kept pooping on her porch and she’d need to clean it up after a long day of cleaning her clients’ houses.”
“Then she’ll be pleased to learn there will be no more messages,” the dryad replied.
Okay, three more to go. I threaded my way through the crowd, listening intently.
“What do you mean you don’t like that shirt? You insist on wearing it every time we go out. I’m surprised it hasn’t sprouted legs and walked away.”
Two left.
“I’ll bet you fifty gold coins you can’t resist biting your nails in the next ten minutes,” a centaur said.
“Bring it on,” his werewolf companion said. “The only thing I want to gnaw on right now is a juicy piece of steak. We should sit down and order.”
And one more.
It took a few minutes, but I found the final recipient of the potion standing in front of the magical music player.
“Why are you trying to stop your song from playing?” the vampire asked. “You play it on repeat every time we’re here. It annoys everyone.”
“Then why are you so concerned?” the other vampire shot back. “Just be grateful I don’t want to hear the song anymore. Ever again.”
“Believe me, I am.”
I felt a strong hand on my shoulder and whipped around.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Daniel said. “You wandered off after the shots.”
“Sorry, I wanted to mingle.” Did I just use the word mingle? It made me sound like a refugee from the 1970s. “Are you having fun?”
He cocked his head. “I guess so. This isn’t really me, though, you know?”
Boy di
d I ever. “Why don’t you go home?”
“Because Elsa will know I left early and I’ll feel like I let her down.”
“Can’t you go to your own house?”
He stroked his stubbled chin. “I hadn’t really thought of that. I guess I can, although Elsa prefers that I stay with her.”
No doubt.
“She misses me when I’m not around,” he said with an apologetic grin. “I don’t want to upset her. I’ll hang out here for a little longer and then go to her house.”
My spirits sank. There was nothing more I could do here tonight.
Demetrius appeared beside us holding two full glasses. “You both look like you could use a drink.”
What was that saying—if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em? I accepted the beverage and took a defeated gulp.
“Come back to the bar,” Demetrius said. “A group of us are taking bets on which vampire has the longest fangs. We’re about to do the measurements.”
That sounded oddly entertaining. I glanced at Daniel. “Are you game?”
He clinked his glass against mine. “Why not?”
I gulped down the rest of the alcohol and my mind went cloudy. “And I’ll have another drink while we’re at it.” At this point, the cloudier, the better.
Chapter 13
I sat in my office with my forehead resting on the desk. My meeting with Buck had just finished and I was taking a moment to clear the cobwebs from my head and the cotton from my mouth. Magical hangovers were so much worse than human ones.
“Do I need to send for a hangover potion?” Althea asked, poking her head in the doorway. “You look like Death ran over you and then backed up and did it again, just to be sure.”
I knew her assessment was accurate because Buck didn’t even attempt to hit on me during our meeting. When a werewolf with as much testosterone as Buck keeps his distance, you know you’re not looking your best.
“I’ll be fine,” I said unconvincingly. I should have taken something before I left the house this morning. I hadn’t been thinking clearly. My mind was fuzzy with the bachelor party and my failure to find the right Anti-Obsession potion. “I’m going to add a few notes to the file and go home.”
Cast Away Page 7