Southern Magic Wedding

by Amy Boyles

  I stilled my stuttering heart and climbed the stairs. Suddenly I felt very nervous around him, as if Axel and I were on our first date. Which, in a way, I suppose we were.

  I led him inside and started explaining. “This is the couch that you bought.” I pointed to a dark brown leather three-seater. “Without my permission, I’d like to add, but in the end I approved.”

  Axel ran his fingers over the buttons and leather. “I have good taste. Or you have good taste and I know what you like.”

  My chin tipped to the ceiling as laughter bubbled from my throat. “I think you have good taste.”

  He tucked his hands into his front pockets. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  We stared at each other, and I felt the air thicken from the heat of our gazes. Blood rushed to my cheeks, and I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear nervously.

  “What else is there?” he asked.

  So I showed him the upstairs, and the magic room he’d made for me. “You did this just because you know I don’t practice as much as I should. Because I’m a head witch.”

  Surprise flared in Axel’s blue eyes. “A head witch?” He chuckled to himself. “Of course I would fall for a head witch. The most powerful of all witches.”

  “Why is that funny to you?”

  He hiked a shoulder to his ear. “Because a beast can only be tamed by a powerful mage.”

  He brushed his hands over my arms as he moved past me to the window. Fire snaked across my skin, and it was strange—I’d known Axel for over a year and a half, but it was like my connection to this Axel, the one who didn’t know me, was stronger, fiercer. It was hard to explain, but an intensity fell off him in waves.

  He was almost a different person.

  In reality he was a different person. One who didn’t know me.

  He stared out the window, his hands on his hips. “And have you broken me?”

  The question took me by surprise. “Broken you? What do you mean?”

  With his back to me, he spoke. “Have you tamed the beast inside me?”

  “You respond to me, yes. You’re no longer wild.”

  “Of course I’m marrying you,” he said quietly. “It was a promise I made to myself.”

  “What?”

  He turned around. “If there was a woman who could connect with me, calm me and reach me when I’m in my wolf form, then I would do everything I could to marry her.”

  My knees turned to rubber. “What? You never told me that.”

  “Of course not. I don’t give away all my secrets,” he said with a wink. Axel nodded toward the door. “Show me the rest of the house.”

  What other secrets had Axel kept? I mean, not that it was a secret that he’d told himself if a woman ever came along that could keep him from going bestial when he was a werewolf, that he’d marry her, but it was something.

  I smiled as I followed Axel back downstairs. He’d made that promise to himself, but he’d never told me.

  Now I loved him even more.

  I knuckled a tear from my eyes and directed him toward the backyard. “It’s big. Very big. We even have our own ogre.”

  He cocked a brow. “I’d like to meet him. As long as he’s not aggressive, that is.”

  I shook my head. “Not at all.”

  We stood in the garden, surrounded by fairy light. I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Grumpy! Are you here?”

  “Grumpy?”

  I shrugged. “He wanted to eat me when we first me. So I named him Grumpy.”

  “Of course you did.”

  We locked gazes and laughed. “The more you discover about me, you’ll come to realize that not all of my decisions make sense.”

  “I’m already seeing that,” he joked.

  From the back edge of the property, Grumpy, tall, green and lumbering, made his way to us.

  “Hi, Grumpy.”

  “Grumpy miss Pepper.” He wrapped me up in a snuggly hug. “Grumpy miss Axel.”

  I smiled at Axel. “Do you know him?”

  Axel stared at Grumpy before answering. “I’m sorry to say I don’t.”

  So it wasn’t just me he didn’t remember. Things or people I was connected to, he wasn’t able to recall, either. Great. That meant more work for me.

  We stayed and talked to Grumpy for a few minutes before Grumpy asked if he could head over to Betty’s for a meal.

  “Sure,” I said. “She’d love to have you.”

  The great ogre hiked through the trees, heading toward Betty’s. I stretched my arms to the sky. “Well, I guess there isn’t anything else to show you here.”

  So places might not be the best thing. It didn’t seem like places would jog his memory. If places didn’t, maybe feeling would.

  Axel smiled eagerly. “What would you like to do now?”

  “I don’t know. It’s Saturday, so we could go out tonight. There is a club, and I imagine with all the folks in town for the…”

  “The wedding?”

  “Yep. It’ll probably be busy.”

  He scowled. “Listen, Pepper. You don’t have to lug me around everywhere. I’m sorry about all this. If the roles were reversed…”

  I reached to stroke his cheek but stopped and curled my hand to my chest. “You’d do the exact same thing. You would fight to make sure I could remember you. You have once before.”

  He frowned. “I have?”

  “Yes, it’s a long story.”

  He splayed his hands wide. “I have time.”

  So we sat and I told Axel about the wish that had sent me and my cousins into an alternate reality, one where I was engaged to Rufus instead of Axel. As my wedding to Rufus approached, magic was performed that made me fall more and more in love with him. I started to forget I loved Axel. But in the end Axel had broken the spell. His love had been enough to dissolve the magic binding me.

  When I finished, we sat in silence for a few minutes before Axel nudged my shoulder. “I have one more question.”

  “Shoot.”

  I’d basically vomited out half our love story to him. It was embarrassing trying to explain to someone who couldn’t remember you that they loved you, without having any real inclination as to why they loved you—only that you understood them and they understood you. You made each other laugh, and you knew that no matter what, you wouldn’t try to hurt one another. That you wanted to protect each other no matter what was thrown at you.

  It was a strange, strange situation.

  “What do you have to ask me?” I said when Axel didn’t answer.

  He pointed to the trees. “Can you explain why a flock of doves is following everywhere you go.”

  My gaze darted to the spot he’d indicated. I laughed as a flock of white doves cooed and nestled on the branches.

  “Oh, well, that’s another funny story. Well, not exactly funny, but I was basically letting them have some space to stretch their wings before the wedding. I suppose I could simply magic them back to my shop.”

  Axel crossed his arms. “Unless you enjoy having them at your disposal, that is.”

  I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. They can return.”

  I waved my hand, and the birds disappeared. I brushed my palms on my thighs. “So. You ready to head somewhere else?”

  “Lead the way.”

  When we entered the house, the sound of humming took me by surprise.

  “Is someone supposed to be here?” Axel said.

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Get behind me.”

  Axel took a protective stance in front of me. We walked into the hall slowly.

  Down the stairs tromped Molly, clad in only a towel. She took one look at us and screamed, raising her hands.

  Which meant nothing was holding her towel to her dripping body.

  The towel fell in a spiral to the floor, and Molly did not move quickly to get it. She stood, fully undressed in front of us and smirked before finally bending over to grab the only bit of cover she had.


  “Molly,” I screeched. “What are you doing here?”

  She eyed Axel seductively. “Betty said this place was empty.” She glanced at Axel. “It’s okay, isn’t it? I won’t be in y’all’s way.”

  “Um,” Axel said.

  “No, it is not okay,” I nearly shouted. “Axel didn’t give you permission. I didn’t give you permission. It’s my house as much as it is his.”

  Molly blanched. “Oh, I thought since the wedding was canceled, that it didn’t matter to y’all.”

  I grabbed Molly by the elbow. “Excuse me,” I said to Axel before I dragged Molly into the bedroom.

  I shut the door behind us. “Just what do you think you’re doing here? This is my house. You need to leave.”

  Molly shot me a confused look. “I’m only staying here because we’re family. Besides”—she batted her lashed coyly—“you wouldn’t want Axel, who doesn’t remember you, to think you’re the jealous type, do you? Nothing turns off a man more than that.”

  I wanted to scream. I wanted to shout. I wanted to throw Molly through a window, but she was right. I had to keep my cool. Had to act like this wasn’t a big deal.

  But it turned out Betty had been right. All I had to do was walk around with Axel for a while and the person who most likely cast the spell on him would appear.

  Here stood Molly. In my house. Wearing nothing but a towel. She had a thing for Axel, and now I had my sights set on her.

  Time to tell Betty who we needed to be looking at, because Cousin Molly had made my fiancé forget all about me.

  Chapter 10

  “It’s Molly. I know she’s the one who spelled Axel.”

  I was back at the house. Axel had walked me to Betty’s, but he’d gone on home. We made plans to meet up later tonight.

  Cordelia folded her hands. “How can you be sure?”

  Not wanting to go into the sordid details, I kept my answer vague. “Because I know she is, okay. Is that good enough?”

  “Betty?” Amelia asked. “Is that enough?”

  Betty stroked her chin in thought. “I will accept that answer. If it’s a spell, we’ll need something of Molly’s to reverse it.”

  “It is a spell,” I said sternly. “What do we need?”

  “Her saliva,” Betty replied.

  “Gross. Why can’t we just need one of her hairs or something?”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “Because that would be too easy, now wouldn’t it be?”

  “Saliva it is,” I said. “Okay, how do we get it?”

  Betty flapped her apron at the cauldron in the hearth. Smoke billowed out. “You could ask her, but my guess is she wouldn’t go for it.”

  “What about a cup that she drank from?” Amelia said. “Would that work?”

  “You mean like backwash?” I asked.

  Amelia nodded. “Exactly. Backwash. I mean, all we’d have to do is separate the liquid from her spit. That can’t be too hard.”

  “But it can be gross,” I said.

  Amelia shot me a dark look. “Do you want to save your fiancé or not?”

  “I want to save him,” I muttered.

  Amelia nodded her head enthusiastically. “Betty? Do you think it’ll work?”

  “Sounds about as good a plan as any.” She cracked her knuckles and studied us. “Now. How will y’all manage to get me some of Molly’s spit?”

  Cordelia’s eyes narrowed. “Leave that to me.”

  The music in the club pulsed so loud and low it felt like my entire body was beating to it.

  Cordelia, Amelia and I stood in a corner, watching the crowd.

  “What time did Molly say she was going to show up?” I asked.

  “She should be here any minute,” Cordelia nearly shouted.

  “What about Axel?”

  I glanced at my watch. “Soon.”

  Amelia nodded toward the door. “He just walked in. And whoa, does he have company or what?”

  I turned. Axel had entered, and on his arm stood his cousin, Laney.

  I sipped some of my water. “Maybe she’s just here for moral support.”

  Cordelia smirked. “Wearing a catsuit?”

  I swallowed a knot in the back of my throat. Laney was dressed pretty skimpily. She wore a shimmery tank top that drooped very low and ended at her navel. She matched it with skintight shiny pants.

  Amelia gently prodded me. “Don’t let your fiancé’s cousin intimidate you. I’m sure she just wanted to come out with him.”

  “Be right back.” I raked my fingers through my hair to make it look sexy, lifted my chin and headed over.

  I slipped up beside them. “Hey, Axel. Hey, Laney.”

  Axel’s eyes widened. “Pepper, you beat us here.”

  “What can I say? I like to be early.”

  Laney gave me a quick hug. “Axel told me he was coming out, and I asked if it was okay for me to tag along. He’s so awesome.” Laney kissed his cheek. “Such a great guy.”

  I couldn’t help but feel a zinger of jealousy as Laney kissed Axel. I didn’t know why. I mean, she was his cousin, after all. Plus she was someone he remembered. Whereas I was simply the forgotten fiancée.

  Laney dragged her fingers down Axel’s arm. “Dance with me?”

  Before Axel could answer, Laney dragged him onto the dance floor. “Well, hello to you, too,” I mumbled.

  I tried not to stare, but it was impossible. Laney was tall with dark hair, and Axel was tall with dark hair. They looked beautiful and deadly amid the throng of other powerful beings.

  “I heard about what happened.”

  I glanced up to see Rufus Mayes standing beside me. His hair was slicked back, and his skin looked pale under the glow of the lights.

  My heart tightened at the sight of Rufus—a man who had once been my enemy, who’d then become my friend and admitted he had feelings for me. I had experienced feelings for him, too, but had been able to shelve them away.

  My future was with Axel, not Rufus.

  “I’m sorry,” Rufus said.

  I hiked a shoulder to my ear. “Hopefully it’ll all turn out right in the end.”

  I hoped.

  He handed me a glass with a red liquid inside. “Here. Drink this.”

  I tipped the glass left and right and watched as the liquid left a coating on the surface as it moved. “What is it?”

  “It’s a cranberry-based drink. It’ll calm you down.”

  I glared at him. “I am calm.”

  He cocked a brow toward Axel. “Really? Your fiancé is dancing with another woman on the night you were supposed to be married. And you’re okay? I highly doubt that, Pepper.”

  I glanced around the club, looking for my cousin—the one Rufus was dating. “Where’s Carmen?”

  Rufus smirked. “Looking for an escape?”

  “No.”

  He clucked his tongue. “It’s okay if you do. I don’t blame you.”

  I shook my head. I was looking for an escape. I sighed under the weight of Rufus’s stare.

  “You caught me. I don’t want to talk about it. This has been…challenging.”

  I pushed back the tears that threatened to escape. “The truth is, I just keep waiting for Axel to snap out of it, for him to call and say he remembers me, that it was all a mistake and that he’s sorry for the pain he’s caused me.”

  Rufus sipped his drink. “I’m sure it will happen. You just have to give it time.” He glanced around the room. “So. Who do you think spelled him? Which lovely lady would it have been?”

  “I’m sure it was my own cousin, Molly.”

  “How sure?”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Rufus gestured toward the dance floor. Axel was still dancing with Laney, but that awful Drew from the venue store had joined them.

  I groaned. “Oh, could this get any worse?”

  “Drink up,” Rufus said. “It can always get worse.” He patted my shoulder. “Stay strong. I have the feeling you’re going to need all the
strength you can muster in the next few days.”

  I spied Carmen by the bar and waved. “Go on.” I nudged Rufus. “Go see Carmen. I’ll be fine here. Axel will be back in a moment.”

  Rufus’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded. “I’m sure.”

  As soon as Rufus left, I sipped the drink. The chilled, sour liquid slid over my tongue and immediately made me feel better. I’d forgotten the drinks they served here were magical. Not the sort of magic that could influence someone in a bad way, just the sort that made it so that if you needed a bit more confidence, you got it.

  The song ended and Axel untangled himself from the ladies on the dance floor. He spied me and quickly strode over.

  He didn’t stop walking until he was only a hairbreadth away. I could see the rise and fall of his chest, feel the heat wafting off his body.

  “Sorry about that,” Axel said.

  I shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  Axel extended a hand. “Want to dance?”

  “Sure.”

  I set my drink on a nearby table and followed Axel to the floor. He picked a spot away from his fan club. Drew scowled in my direction, but I just smiled and waved at her when Axel wasn’t looking.

  “You’re very popular,” I said to him.

  He nodded toward Rufus. “So are you. Rufus Mayes?”

  I frowned. “We’re friends. You’re okay with it. Rufus is good now.”

  Axel furrowed his brow. “I can remember something about that, but not the specifics.”

  “Maybe we should just have fun tonight,” I said. “Try not to think too much about all the other stuff.”

  Axel slinked his arm around my waist and pulled me close. So close my heart thundered. “Sounds like a plan.”

  We danced for a while, laughing and shouting over the speakers. It was good. It felt right, as if none of the badness had ever happened to Axel, even though whenever I brought up something from our past, Axel would nod and smile, but it was obvious he didn’t remember.

  Well, obvious to me.

  After a little while I spied Molly at the bar. She had her arm draped over Blake Calhoun’s shoulders. She sipped a drink, and my gaze darted around as I searched out Amelia and Cordelia.