Ghoul's Paradise (Spellbound Ever After Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 7)

by Annabel Chase

  With those words, Alex saw another opportunity to reason with him. “Travis, I’m your alpha. Just like Emma, I can help you. But you have to let Parker go. Hurting her will only make the situation worse and she’s only a kid. She’s not involved in this.”

  Travis held her closer and my heart seized. “I understand why you were so upset with Lorenzo,” I said gently. “You felt that by allowing Alex to serve as second in command that he was disrespecting the pack.”

  “You can’t allow outsiders in,” Travis said. “Once you have one, then it’s another and soon another until the integrity of the pack is destroyed.”

  “The integrity of the pack was destroyed the moment you chose to end Lorenzo’s life,” Alex shot back.

  Tears streamed down Parker’s face. “Please,” she croaked.

  “Lorenzo had no integrity. He should’ve made an honest woman out of my sister,” Travis said, his anger flaring anew. “He acted like he was so much better than the rest of us in his fancy suits, always mocking my clothes.”

  “Is that why you put him in the clown costume?” Or were you trying to frame Penny? If he’d been successful, he would’ve gotten rid of his sister’s ex and the secret girlfriend in one fell swoop.

  “Lorenzo deserved to be humiliated the way he’d always humiliated me,” Travis said. “What a hypocrite, carrying on with a werebear. Oh, yeah. I knew about her. The second Marla told me her suspicions, I tracked the scent myself. Saw her stupid clown collection. I went to all that trouble of putting the costume on him and then no one even believed that he died dressed as a clown!” This fact seemed to further enrage him. “I couldn’t even humiliate him the way I wanted to.”

  “Well, you certainly killed him the way you wanted to,” Alex said grimly.

  “How did you lure him to your house that evening?” I asked.

  “Easy. I invited him for dinner to talk about Marla since my wife was out of town. He finally admitted he had no intention of marrying her. Basically said my family wasn’t good enough.” He spat on the ground. “My family wasn’t good enough, but he could poke a werebear and let our new leader parade around with a harpy.”

  I placed a restraining hand on Alex’s arm at the mention of his girlfriend.

  “And you lost your temper?” I prodded.

  Travis nodded and tightened his hold on a struggling Parker. “When I started yelling, he said he was leaving. He turned toward the door and I whacked him on the back of the head.”

  “And then you transported him to the woods to throw everyone off track,” I said.

  “I stuck the branch in his chest as an afterthought. I wanted to distract you from the real injury.”

  “Big shock. You found him first.”

  I turned to see Sheriff Astrid, along with a group of shifters that must’ve been taking part in the training exercise. They looked sick to their stomachs at the sight of their friend in peril. There was no telling what the deranged werewolf was capable of right now.

  Sheriff Astrid came to stand beside me. “Not an ideal hostage situation,” she said under her breath.

  I looked at her askance. “Is there ever an ideal hostage situation?”

  “He’s not going to listen to reason,” Alex said in a low voice. “I can’t attack without the risk of losing Parker. What magic can you do that might help?”

  “All the spells come with risk because they’re so close to the edge,” I said.

  Travis must have grown nervous watching us converse in low tones. He shook Parker and yelled, “Enough chatter. You all need to leave here now and give me time to escape or she’s going over.”

  Alex offered a hollow laugh. “Do you think you can escape here? Just because the curse is broken doesn’t mean you can get away from us. I’ll hunt you down personally. Hell, the whole pack will join in.”

  Travis’s eyes sparked with rage. “You don’t command the pack yet. Not until the ceremony.”

  “Like that matters?” Alex pressed. “How do we know that you won’t just fling her over the side the second we turn our backs? You have nothing to lose. You already murdered Lorenzo. Parker’s one of us. She’s young and doesn’t deserve to die like this.”

  I inched aside, hoping that Travis stayed fixed on his alpha. Slowly I raised my wand, focused my will, and said, “Like a dish that isn’t ready, turn this killer into spaghetti.” Magic streaked from my wand and hit Travis square in the face. I intended for his body to slip to the ground the way mine had in my office so that he’d inadvertently release his hold on Parker. What I didn’t anticipate, however, was Travis’s last show of defiance. The werewolf managed to turn his body toward the edge as his feet slid out from beneath him. I gasped as Parker slipped from his grasp and fell. Onlookers surged forward in a vain attempt to reach her in time, but it was too late. I raced forward with my wand extended, desperately trying to think of a levitation spell that might save her. It was only when a set of shadowy wings soared overhead that I knew help was on the way. There was a collective intake of breath as we waited for the outcome. I couldn’t bear to peer over the side. A loud cheer erupted as a harpy rose high enough in the air for us to see, and in her arms was an unharmed Parker. Alex exhaled loudly.

  “Darcy,” I whispered. The harpy was always so careful about her appearance. She rarely allowed anyone to glimpse her hideous birdlike form, preferring pencil skirts and buttoned blouses in her human form. How did she even know to come here?

  Harpies speak owl, Sedgwick said, appearing overhead. Didn’t you know?

  The harpy flew Parker to safety and placed her gently on the ground in front of us, retracting her wings in the process. The sense of relief was palpable. Alex threw his arms around his girlfriend and kissed her beak with a fiery passion.

  “Get a room,” Parker muttered, still a teenager no matter how frightened she was.

  We were all so focused on the rescue effort that we missed Travis as he crawled to the edge of the cliff and threw himself over. By the time Darcy reached the edge and spread her wings again, it was too late. She turned back to the crowd and shook her head solemnly. Werewolves began to crowd around Darcy, thanking her for saving Parker.

  I joined Astrid further along the cliff where she scanned the area below in search of Travis’s body. She finally gave up and looked at me. “It wasn’t the ending I would have chosen for him,” she said. “I would rather he’d faced the pack’s judgment.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at the werewolves crowded around Alex and Darcy. I had a feeling that Darcy’s days of being ostracized by the pack had come to a dramatic end.

  “No worries, Astrid. I think he already did.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The moon was hidden by thick clouds, making the cemetery appear even darker and more ominous.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Daniel asked.

  I held Diana upright so that she had a full view of the area. “If he’s still here, then it means he’s unaware of what happened. For all we know, his ghost has been hanging out here the whole time, totally clueless.”

  “I meant are you sure you want to do this without a spell?”

  “I don’t want to waste time perfecting another spell,” I said. “Honestly, I’m exhausted.” But I knew this was the right thing to do.

  “What if Travis’s ghost is here?” Daniel asked. His head swiveled from left to right, suddenly on high alert.

  “Based on everything I’ve learned about ghosts, he won’t be,” I said.

  Daniel’s broad shoulders relaxed. “What are you going to say to Lorenzo?”

  Diana squealed and pointed to an area by the iron gate. I squinted into the darkness but saw nothing.

  “I’m going to tell him what happened and hope he goes into the light or wherever he’s meant to go,” I said. It was worth a try. Despite our rocky history, Lorenzo deserved to be at peace.

  I carried Diana closer to the spot by the gate and she offered the invisible being a backward wave with her chub
by hand. The smile never left her sweet face.

  “Lorenzo, if that’s you, I come bearing news.”

  Daniel gave me a sidelong glance. “You’re not a Wise Man.”

  “They brought gifts, not news,” I whispered. I turned back to the empty air. “I want you to know that your killer has been identified and that Travis Brent is no longer a threat.” Lorenzo didn’t need to know the gory details, although I suspected the former alpha would’ve appreciated them. “The important part is that you’re free to move on now.”

  Diana clapped her hands gleefully, her gaze still stuck on the same dark spot.

  “I want you to know that the pack is in good hands with Alex,” I continued. “You have nothing to worry about. You made the right choice.”

  Only silence followed my proclamation. The air remained perfectly still. Finally, a small gasp of delight escaped from Diana and her head tilted upward. I followed her gaze and caught remnants of what appeared to be tiny specks of light as they drifted skyward.

  “Looks like starlight,” I said in awe.

  Daniel peered into the darkness. “Where? I don’t see anything?”

  I pointed to the area above the gate. “There. Those little glowing white orbs that are floating higher and higher.”

  Daniel shook his head. “Nope. Don’t see them.”

  I kept watching until they disappeared from view and a sense of peace washed over me. “Good-bye, Lorenzo.” I looked down and smiled at Diana. “Well done, sweetheart. We helped that spirit cross over.”

  Diana made a delighted sound that was a cross between a gurgle and a giggle.

  “Why do you think you were able to see that?” Daniel asked.

  “My father seems to think my third eye can be developed.” I shrugged. “Maybe he’s right.” After all, I was raised in the human world in complete ignorance of the paranormal one. Diana was being raised right here in Spellbound, free to explore and develop her powers. It made sense that hers were stronger from the start.

  I passed Diana to Daniel. “It’s time.” I kissed my daughter’s chubby cheek. “Don’t wait up.”

  At this point in the night, the full moon was high in the sky and the clouds had cleared by the time the coven and wolves converged in the clearing. An unlit bonfire made of birch twigs stood in the middle of a large circle and I spotted brambles in the trees molded into the shape of protective symbols.

  Alex noticed me straight away and crossed the clearing to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for arranging this,” he said.

  “Are you kidding? Thanks for allowing it.” The werewolf pack had a long insular history in Spellbound and every small step outside of their comfort zone was a win for the community. As much as I hated to acknowledge it, Lorenzo’s death would go a long way toward bringing the pack into the Spellbound fold.

  Alex inclined his head toward a group of werewolves. “They weren’t too sure at first, but the more we talked about it, the more enthusiastic they were. I think they needed time to process all the changes.”

  “It can’t be easy for them.” I met his gaze. “For any of you. There’s been so much change in this town in a relatively short span of time. It’s a lot to accept.”

  He clasped my hand. “Nothing we can’t handle. Our pack is strong and these changes will only serve to strengthen our bond.”

  A few pack members overheard his statement and made approving grunting sounds in response. He smiled at them. A flicker of movement caught my attention and I saw Darcy in the crowd. The harpy looked stunning in a dress that appeared to be made entirely of black feathers. Her blond hair fell loose around her shoulders instead of being pulled back in its usual tight bun. I’d never seen her look so harpy-like and yet so elegant at the same time. It seemed that Alex had helped her tap into her primal side and, for someone as uptight as Darcy, that was a good thing.

  “Are your witches ready?” he asked.

  “They’re not my witches, but yes, I believe they are.” I whistled and members of the coven streamed into the clearing. They formed an inner circle around the pyre and joined hands. I took an unlit torch from Laurel and began to chant. The witches’ voices followed and together we created a haunting and powerful sound in the clearing. The end of the torch burst into blue flame and I held it above my head in the line of sight of the moon.

  “Goddess of the Moon, of all that is good/Protect these wolves, protect this wood.”

  With those words, I touched the flame to the bonfire and let it burn. The fire crackled and released waves of positive energy throughout the clearing. I could tell by the expression on Alex’s face that he felt it too. Bluish-grey smoke wafted from the bonfire.

  “It’s time,” I told Alex, and moved out of the way.

  Each werewolf stepped up for their turn to run through the smoke and be purified and protected by the magic. As the alpha, Alex waited until last and, once he emerged from the cloud of smoke, the entire pack began to howl in unison. A chill traveled down my spine as I watched the spectacle. The pack may have lost their longtime leader, but they seemed more united than I’d ever seen them before. Even more impressive was the fact that they allowed the coven to stay and observe the ceremony. They could’ve easily requested that we kick off the magic and leave, but they didn’t. We wouldn’t be staying for Alex’s official ascension to alpha though. Some moments were to remain sacred, which was fair enough.

  The next morning, I sat on the floor of the nursery with Diana, yawning and bleary-eyed—my usual state these days. I watched with heavy eyelids as she levitated her doll. I was careful to keep the voodoo dolls out of sight so that she didn’t mistakenly launch Astrid or another friend into the air without realizing it. This particular doll was in the form of a little girl with dark hair and wings, and had been crocheted by Calliope. Apparently, the harpy’s nails were so sharp that no needles were required.

  The doll plummeted to the floor and Diana clapped her hands, laughing. I hoped that her laughter was in response to the joy of magic rather than the fact that her doll had just landed face first on the hardwood floor. Only time would tell what kind of child I was raising.

  “You’re such a clever girl,” I said and stroked her cheek. I loved these quiet moments together, when it was just the two of us. I wondered whether my adoptive mother had ever felt that way. She must’ve carried around so much fear all the time—not only the typical fears that every mother had, but the darker ones that came with raising a hidden hybrid like me. It couldn’t have been easy for her. I was fortunate enough not to face her challenges and yet I still found normal life to be an uphill battle worthy of Sisyphus.

  “Dinnae sit on your knees,” Gareth scolded, the moment he materialized in the nursery. “You’ll teach her bad habits.”

  I glanced up at my scowling roommate. “It’s bad to sit on your knees?”

  “It cuts off your circulation. It can cause varicose veins and all sorts of unpleasant conditions.” He clucked his tongue. “Were ye raised in a barn?”

  “No, but I spent a lot of time in one.” I shifted my legs so that I was seated in a cross-legged position, which wasn’t remotely comfortable for me.

  “Well done on identifying that wayward werewolf,” he said.

  “I couldn’t have done it without Baxter. Poor guy. He’s been petrified. I’m surprised he didn’t drop dead of a heart attack before his trial.”

  “Will he go to prison or has your work on the sentencing guidelines finally come home to roost?”

  I smiled at him. “Even better. Rochester dropped the case against him due to exigent circumstances. He only ran that way because it was a shortcut and he knew it well. He feared for his life.”

  “I would too if I’d seen someone in a bloody clown costume.”

  “Something we agree on then.” I watched as Diana picked up her doll and kissed it. “I’m glad we were able to help Lorenzo cross over. He deserves to be at peace.”

  “Aye, but she’s only a wee lass. You have no
business turning her into a professional ghost whisperer.”

  “I’m not turning her into anything. She is what she is.” I leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “But you’re right. It should be her decision from now on, and she’s too young to speak, let alone give informed consent.”

  “Informed consent,” Gareth repeated, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes. “You sound like a lawyer for once.”

  “I’m agreeing with you. You don’t have to pick on me.”

  “It could’ve easily been her in Travis’s grasp on the cliff, ye ken,” Gareth pressed.

  “Travis didn’t know anything about Diana.”

  “But eventually word will get ‘round,” he said. “Residents will talk about her powers. One of these days, someone will try to prevent her from using them.”

  “You’re overreacting, Gareth,” I said. Which was par for the course with the vampire ghost.

  Diana grabbed the front of my shirt and tugged. “Mama.”

  My head jerked toward Gareth. “Did you hear that?”

  “Aye,” he said, smiling. “She’s not a bairn anymore, is she?”

  I squealed with delight and pressed my forehead against my daughter’s. “You said my name. You really are a clever girl.”

  “And so early,” Gareth said. “Not that I’m at all surprised. She gets her brains from her Uncle Gareth, after all.”

  The curtains rustled and Sedgwick came swooping into the room, his feathers ruffled. Have you checked on Agnes? he asked, without so much as a snarky greeting.

  “No, why?”

  I was flying over Swan Lake and I saw Lady Weatherby’s jalopy leaving Spellbound.

  My heart caught in my throat. “I thought we had another day at least,” I said.

  Well, it seems not.

  “Maybe she’s only going to another town for the day,” I said.

  With boxes strapped to the roof?

  I shot to my feet. “Vanny, you’re on duty. I need to run over to the care home. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” I didn’t want to miss quality time with Diana, but this was an emergency.