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“Promise you won’t do anything without me,” Rascal ordered as he dropped her off back at the house.
Wynona gave him a patient look. “I promise not to do anything dangerous,” she clarified. “But I’m not going to sit around and twiddle my thumbs for the rest of the day.”
Rascal made a face but nodded. “Fine. But no more meeting strangers.”
She put up her hands. “I already told you I’ve learned my lesson. It wasn’t a good idea and I won’t do it again.”
He grinned. “Thank you. And my heart thanks you as well.” Grabbing her waist, Rascal pulled Wynona in for a sweet, lingering kiss. “Save me some dinner tonight?” he asked once pulling back.
“Of course.” She ran her fingers through his hair, loving the silky strands as they brushed across her skin. “What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t keep my wolf happy?”
He growled playfully at her, his gold eyes flashing, before stepping back and leaping into the truck. “See you tonight.” Rascal winked, his favorite way of communication, and sped off.
Wynona stood in her driveway, watching him leave. She felt slightly cold inside as her soulmate drove out of sight. It was amazing to her how much her life had changed in one short year. She’d been lonely yet determined when leaving her parents’ castle and now she had good friends, a job, and a soulmate. Never in a million years would Wynona have dreamed of so much good, and now it was all so normal that she couldn’t imagine her life without it. It was odd how a creature could adjust to something new so quickly.
Turning around, Wynona headed inside. Her mind went back to the meeting they’d had with Syn that morning. In truth, all it had done was cause more confusion in the case, which hadn’t been helpful at all. While Wynona would like to say she knew that Thallia was the one being honest in her stories, the truth was...Wynona wasn’t sure.
Thallia had changed her words enough times to make Wynona believe there were lies mixed in with her words, but how to tell the truth? And if Syn’s stories were true, that made Thallia look even worse.
“How do we prove it?” Wynona murmured as she reached for the front door handle. Before she could open it, a small purple body squeezed beneath it.
Quick. Let’s get out of here.
Wynona made a face and waited while Violet scrambled up her leg and arm. “What’re you talking about?”
Sissy poo is cleaning. CLEANING!
“Violet. I clean all the time.”
Yeah...but she’s got magic running amuck and it makes my fur stand on end.
Wynona frowned and ignored her familiar, heading inside. What she saw had her pausing in her tracks. Celia wasn’t just cleaning, she was completely changing the cottage. When Wynona had moved in, she had surrounded herself by the kitchy and cute. Vases of flowers and books filled every shelf, with soft, pleasing colors that felt warm and welcoming. It had been the exact opposite of the castle, which was stark and contemporary, feeling more museum-like rather than a home.
Apparently, Celia missed where she’d grown up because the house reeked of magic and looked completely different from the place Wynona had left this morning.
Reacting on instinct, Wynona put up her hands and shouted, “STOP!”
All the silver sparks flying through the air came to a grinding halt and the house fell oddly silent.
Celia spun, her hands still in the air. “What are you doing?”
Wynona’s eyebrows shot up. “What am I doing? What are you doing?”
Celia dropped her hands to her hips. “What does it look like? I’m redecorating.”
Wynona looked around and shook her head. “Celia. I don’t want things redecorated. I had my house exactly like I wanted it.”
Celia scoffed. “You can’t mean that. We used to live in the lap of luxury and this place was...” She made a face. “Well...far from that. Just because you have no money doesn’t mean you can’t make it look nicer.”
Wynona closed her eyes and pressed her fingers into them.
Told you, Violet sang. She’s a menace.
I think she’s actually trying to be nice, but she has a strange way of going about it.
Unlikely, Violet countered. I think she’s trying to upset you on purpose.
And what would she gain from that?
“Hello?” Celia called out, waving a hand in the air. “I’m over here.”
Wynona sighed. “Sorry. I was caught up...” She pinched her lips together.
“Talking with your familiar?” Celia smirked. “Yeah. Caught that.” She frowned. “Plus, I think Mom mentioned it once.” Celia’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Violet, who grew very still on Wynona’s shoulder. “A mouse is a really unusual familiar, you know.”
“I’ve never seen you with one,” Wynona retorted before she could think better of it.
Celia stiffened. “Yeah, well, not all of us are lucky enough to find ours. It’s more rare than you think.”
Wynona’s brows pulled together. She might still be learning some aspects of the witch world, but in a book she had read while living with her parents, Wynona remembered seeing a passage that declared every witch had a familiar. How was it that after all this time, Celia didn’t have hers? Shaking her head, Wynona moved on. “Celia. I want the cottage back the way it was.”
Celia scoffed. “What? Do you know how long it took to turn that couch of yours into real leather? The spell was incredibly intricate.”
“While I appreciate you trying to upgrade our living situation, I don’t want leather. I want warm and comfortable and that's what I had.” Wynona tilted her head to the side. “I left because I didn’t want to live like that anymore. In every way possible.”
Celia paused, her mouth opening and closing a few times. “You like this?”
Wynona nodded. Her phone buzzed and she flipped it over to see who had texted.
I thought I might visit the Pearlilys...want to come?
Prim’s invitation was followed by a winky face, letting Wynona know that her fairy best friend had decided to poke her nose into the investigation. Prim had mentioned in previous cases that she wouldn’t mind helping out, but this was the first time she’d made a real move.
Is this because it’s about the fairy community? Or because tall, dark and handsome is finally taking her out? Violet asked with a laugh.
Does it matter? Wynona sent back. We can’t let her go over there by herself. Especially after the threat to Chief’s job.
Celia snorted. “Are you ever going to remember I’m here?”
Wynona blinked and brought herself out of the present. “Sorry,” she said. “I just got a text about the case and I need to go.” Wynona turned to head to the garage where her Vespa was parked. “Celia, I’m sorry you don’t like my decorating, but I have to put down my foot. Please put the house back the way it was by the time I get back.”
Celia huffed. “I’m living here too, you know.”
Wynona stopped and turned around. “I know,” she said softly. “But the house belongs to me. You may feel free to decorate your room however you feel fit, but the rest of the house is to stay the way I had it.”
Celia folded her arms over her chest. “So this is how it’s going to be living together? I get no say?”
I don’t need this.
I told you not to let her live here.
Wynona gave her familiar a scolding look.
Celia growled and began to stomp away.
“Celia...stop,” Wynona called out.
Celia’s movement stopped, but she didn’t turn around. “It’s fine,” she said, though it was clearly not. Her hand came up. “I can read between the lines.”
Wynona closed her eyes and rubbed her suddenly aching forehead. This was ridiculous. “Look, I’m not trying to make you feel unwelcome. But I’ve worked hard to build my life the way I want it.” Wynona swallowed hard, knowing the next few words might be a bad idea. “I think it would be a good idea to help you build the life you want as well.”
Celia spun, her eyebrows furrowed. “How?”
Wynona threw her hands to the side. “Have you ever thought about getting a job?”
Celia wrinkled her nose. “You can’t be serious.”
Wynona walked forward a couple of steps. “I’m working on a case with a girl who’s under suspicion for murder, Celia. Do you want to know what I think the biggest crime is in the situation?”
Celia raised one eyebrow.
“The fact that she has no idea how to handle living in the real world. She worked only a few days for me before her boyfriend was killed. He was killed in. My. Shop. The boyfriend was on the wrong side of the law, yet the girl was convinced she could save him. And how did she try to save him? By throwing money at him. This punk had a fancy motorcycle and a nice townhouse in a part of town where he stood out like a sore thumb.”
“What does all this have to do with me?” Celia asked.
Wynona shook her head. “Let me keep going. This girl doesn’t know how to take care of herself. She refuses to leave home because she wants to spend Daddy’s money. She lies and tells tales that we have no way of proving.” Wynona blew out a breath. “And she has no idea just how far away from normal she is.”
Celia’s shoulders drooped. “What do you want from me, Wynona? We said we would let go of the past and move forward, but I don’t know what’s expected of me. I don’t know what you’re hoping to accomplish...” She trailed off as if unsure what to say next.
“And you don’t know what you want for yourself,” Wynona finished for her.
Celia sniffed and her gaze dropped to the floor.
“I understand,” Wynona continued. “I didn’t know who I was either when I first got out here. But give it time. You have a safe place to live and don’t have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. Breathe. Take time to figure out who you are. What have you always wanted to do that Mom and Dad never let you explore? What magic do you have that comes easier than anything else?” Wynona’s voice dropped. “Who do you want to be? Because for the first time in your life, you have the ability to choose.” She waved her hand around the room. “I chose this, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for you. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, but I’m asking you not to try and change who I’ve chosen to become.”
Celia nodded and wiped at her eyes. “I know I’m a little hard to live with,” she began.
Violet snorted.
Hush, Wynona scolded.
“But I’m...” Celia shrugged, still not looking Wynona in the eye. “I’m lost.”
“Then take your time,” Wynona insisted. “Just don’t do it with my furniture.” She smiled to soften her words.
Celia laughed through her tears. “Thanks,” she hiccuped.
Wynona nodded. “That’s what sisters are for.”
Celia hesitated, then responded, “I’ll work on that.”
With one last smile, Wynona headed to the garage to grab her Vespa. She wasn’t quite ready to port during the day yet. It was a skill that might need to stay a bit of a secret until she had worked on it a little more.
You should call Rascal, Violet reminded.
Wynona nodded as she strapped on her helmet. “I’ll text him when I get there.”
He’s not gonna be happy.
Wynona sighed. “I promised I wouldn’t do anything dangerous. In fact, in this case, I’m keeping Prim from doing something dangerous.”
Giant Man isn’t going to like it either.
“Which is why I’m not letting Prim go alone.” Wynona turned the key and pushed back the kickstand. “I promise I’ll let them know. But I have to catch Prim first.” With a rush of the engine, Wynona jerked forward and began cruising down the long road to town. She had no idea what Prim thought she was going to accomplish by speaking to the Pearlilys but Wynona was going to be there to help. Or protect. Whichever one came first.