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“If you do that again, I’m going to turn you into a toad!” Peaceful Easy Feeling by the Eagles was playing in the background, but there was nothing peaceful or easy about the way Ella Sunheart was feeling as she glared at her fellow apprentice godmother. “We aren’t supposed to use our magic like that, and you know it.”
“And I suppose you turning me into a toad is a better use of all that faerie power?” Raven Darkspring rubbed her fingernails on her shirt and inspected them, clearly unimpressed with the ancient threat. Something in her blue eyes sparked with mischief, and she gave a toss of her head, her long black hair cascading over her shoulder.
There were days Ella loved her sister faerie godmothers and then there were days she was glad they weren’t actually related by blood. But they were stuck working together and that wasn’t something she could change without authority from The High Faerie Godmother. Too bad no amount of bibbity, bobbity, or boo would help them get along with one another when Raven was feeling sassy.
“Look, all I’m asking you to do is stop harassing the mortals with your magic. We’re supposed to be here to help and protect and guide them, not put the fear of faeriekind into them.”
Raven laughed, the sound deep and throaty, but it was Morgan Swiftwood who put up her hand and said, “Okay, ladies, you’ve both made your points. Now I’m going to make mine. Ella, you’re only a first year apprentice and I appreciate your desire to follow the rules, especially considering the Academy can test you at any time, but threatening Raven is not going to change her behavior.”
From just beyond Morgan’s shoulder, Raven stuck her tongue out at Ella.
Morgan turned to Raven, as well, and said, “And as for you, Raven, as the experienced faerie godmother in your last year of training, I have a higher standard for you. You better start adhering to it if you want to graduate and go out on your own.”
Fighting the urge to flip Raven off while Morgan’s back was turned was easier said than done, so Ella folded her arms over her chest to keep her hands steady. It wasn’t like Raven didn't deserve it, but Ella wasn’t about to get herself in trouble. Ella hadn’t worked so hard to place first in her class just to have one little apprenticeship ruin all her hard work.
She ran one shaky hand through her long, blonde curls and tilted her head to slant one more glare at Raven. She was grateful the other faerie godmother was three years older than her. Otherwise, they would have butted heads at school. Big time.
At least Morgan didn’t lecture them. Of all the possible faerie godmothers one could apprentice, she was the best, the most sought after, because of her experience and effectiveness at teaching. Getting an apprenticeship with her was an honor, and how Raven merited that selection, Ella couldn’t even begin to fathom.
But Winslow, Arizona, of all places? “It’s not my fault the humans here are extra crazy,” Raven pointed out, summing up the sentiments Ella was too damn sweet to voice. “They were asking for it.”
“If you think ours are crazy, don’t even think of applying for a post in Sedona,” Morgan warned.
Though the words were hardly ominous, Ella couldn’t help but shudder. She’d heard horror stories about faerie godmothers who went down the wrong path after just a short while in Sedona. That was why apprentices were no longer allowed to train there and only the most experienced godmothers were assigned to that city.
Winslow was a good hour and a half away from one of Arizona’s most magical places, and while it wasn’t as challenging energetically, the humans here were still... different.
“Fine.” Raven blew out a breath that lifted her hair and made her sound more like an adolescent first year faerie than an apprentice about to complete her training. “No more casting illusions on the Standin’ on a Corner statue. But seeing that tourist pee herself when she thought it moved was priceless.”
Ella wrinkled her nose. At least Morgan had wrangled Raven, but she could have done without the mention of bodily fluids.
Morgan pressed her hand to her forehead, the gesture of someone so done with dealing with squabbling children. She was the calmest of the three of them, experienced and wise, and probably losing her patience for once. Her eyes closed for a moment and she leaned her head forward, her chestnut brown hair obscuring her pretty features.
“Enough. The point is, don’t mess with humans. Either of you. Ella, you’ve got to get to work, anyway. You have a new assignment.”
Ella shot Raven one last glare before nodding. “Great! Who is it this time?”
At least another assignment would take her mind off Raven’s constant needling. The rules of faerie godmothering were simple to understand, and Ella was going to follow them to the letter. Every new human brought fresh challenges, and she hoped they wouldn’t go easy on her this time. She needed someone with real problems if she was going to prove herself worthy.
“Her name is Addison Blaine. She needs to learn to slow down or she’s going to burn out. For some reason, there might be a supe sniffing around her, and we don’t know why.” Morgan snapped her fingers and a manila folder appeared in her hand.
“Ooh, they’re finally pitting Ella against another supernatural? Good times!” Raven rubbed her palms together and cackled.
Ella did her best to ignore Raven. She accepted the file, opened it, and thumbed through the pages. “Come on, Morgan. When are you going to give me a real juicy one? I need to convince this lady to slow down and enjoy her life? What kind of assignment is that, and why would another supe care?”
Supernaturals, like the fae, could be big bads or small and petty. Either way, this assignment seemed far too lightweight for Ella’s abilities and she grimaced.
Morgan waved her hands in a manner Ella recognized all too well, the one that told her the faerie godmother was about to get all woo-woo-mystical on her. “Things are often more complicated than they appear on the surface. Be careful what you ask for.”
The only thing Ella had to be careful of at this point in her day was boredom. Complete and utter, wretched, all-consuming boredom. Maybe Sedona wouldn’t be so bad, after all, with its New Age seekers and supernaturals everywhere. Winslow was too quiet.
At first, Ella had been pleased with her assigned apprenticeship. She felt safe strolling along the street, reading through the file. No one would bother her. The weather wasn’t bad, especially for a faerie who could modulate her own body temperature.
But there were days she wished there was more excitement in Winslow. She supposed this made a good sort of early training ground for her kind. Maybe it wasn’t that bad to be here for two or three years. There were still things Raven could learn in a small town like Winslow, like self-control, before being unleashed on the wider world.
For someone like Ella, though, who’d finished the Academy at the top of her class... She blew out a breath and put a stop to that kind of thinking. I ought to remember to be grateful to have a teacher like Morgan. She’s the best. She’s the kind of faerie godmother who writes happy ever afters for her charges, and that’s the kind of godmother I want to be.
She glanced around the street to get her bearings. Naturally, her feet had brought her exactly where she wanted to go, to the doorstep of her new assignment. Ella lifted her gaze to the sign above the glass door. Curious Things: Notions, Potions & Spells.
Well, crap. Her human was one of those wannabe witches. Ella nibbled at her lower lip and looked at the display in the shop window.
She also didn’t mind the Wiccans and other Pagans who flocked to Arizona in search of enlightenment or whatever it was they hoped to find here, of all places. People could follow whatever path they chose. Spiritual witches were fine. As long as they weren’t supernatural witches, that didn’t bother her. Having one assigned to her was something new but, despite that, her excitement dulled even more.
Saving Addison Blaine from burn-out looked like it was going to be pretty easy. Make her light some patchouli incense, meditate on gratitude, and ta-da! Ella would be done and ready for her next human.
She snapped her fingers and the manila folder disappeared. She couldn’t very well walk into the shop and announce who and what she was, and why she was there. Part of being a faerie godmother in today’s modern world was learning how to blend in with humanity. Her demeanor had to say, “Hello, I’m just as normal as you are, and I’m not even trying that hard.”
She smoothed the front of her white and turquoise floral sundress and reached for the door. As her fingers wrapped around the wooden handle, she braced herself for the inevitable shot of cold air. August in Arizona was bad, according to the humans, but air conditioning was worse.
Fortunately, the first thing she encountered in the shop was soft, chiming music and the smell of roses. The air was warmer than she’d expected, and she shook off the chill that she’d been working herself up to encounter before she would have the chance to adjust her temperature.
There were a few people in the shop, one behind the cash register and two browsing the bookshelves. Ella made a slow circuit and tried to look interested in each item. Quartz crystals, candles, spell kits, books, and a few pieces of art... All standard for a human-run New Age store. Her gaze, however, wandered to the woman at the counter again and again.
This had to be Addison Blaine. She didn’t look like someone who needed to slow down in her life. Her long, wavy caramel brown hung loose to her elbows and had ombre highlights. The skin of her face, neck, and arms was golden-brown, her natural color, Ella surmised. Her features were an attractive blend of large, dark brown eyes, a delicate nose, and full, sensuous lips.
Photos of their human charges were sporadic at best when it came to their files. Morgan said the Head Office was trying to get better about it, but nothing could have prepared Ella for seeing Addison. Many humans were pleasing to the eye, with their less delicate bodies and more vibrant life forces, but Ella found herself staring.
Addison had curves that begged to be touched, an hourglass figure that the tank top and long skirt emphasized. Ella cleared her throat and turned back to the items for sale. It’d been a long time since she’d taken a lover. Maybe too long if she was lusting over a human.
“Can I help you?” The voice was right behind her and Ella jumped, slapping both hands against her chest in surprise.
She spun and blinked at her new assignment. The woman behind her was even more beautiful close up and smelled of a sweet scent Ella couldn’t identify.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you.” Addison looked contrite, her brow furrowed. “I’ve just never seen you in here before and I’m happy to answer any questions you have.”
“That’s okay. I’m fine.” Ella drew in a breath and glanced down at the cleavage in front of her. Talk to her face! She dragged her gaze back up to look into those velvety brown eyes. “I’m Ella and, no, I’ve never been in your shop before.”
“I’m Addison. Just let me know if there’s anything you need.”
What Ella needed was not to think her assigned human was beautiful. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
She waited until Addison turned away to resume her perusal of the candle selection. She’d been among the humans for a year now, diligent in her work, and focused on the transition from apprentice to full-fledged faerie godmother. No one, man or woman, had tempted her to lose sight of what mattered.
Now, though, she couldn’t catch her breath. Something about Addison’s very presence knocked the wind out of her and she didn’t know why.