As Ally Shears approached the old abandoned mansion she felt her stomach knot and her mouth go dry. She hated what she was about to do, but knew she had little choice in the matter. Mentally reciting the banishing spell from her Book of Charms, she reached into her jeans, her fingers connecting with the packet of herbs needed to send her cousin to the netherworld.
Dodging a low-hanging branch that fringed the walkway, she made her way down the narrow path leading to the decrepit house on Manor Drive. The soothing scent from a nearby lilac reached her nostrils but did little to ease her ragged nerves. With light footsteps, she crept up the stairs in search of Selina. Even though Ally hated the task before her, she knew it was best for the townsfolk. Banishing her cousin to the netherworld was a much better alternative than what the angry women of the town would likely do to Selina for using witchcraft on their beloved men.
If her cousin couldn’t abide by the council’s rules and use her witchcraft only for the betterment of mankind, then Ally had no choice but to take matters into her own hands.
The sleepy southern town of Belhaven had been charitable enough to take in their kind hundreds of years ago and keep their witchcraft a secret from the rest of the world. The least they could do was adhere to the laws set in place and behave like respectable citizens. And being a respectable citizen did not mean spinning a giant spider web to catch the town men and have your wicked way with them.
No matter how naughtily delicious that sounded.
Selina’s wicked stunts had gained the town’s attention and earned her a banishment spell. Ally insisted she be the one to cast it, for Selina’s own safety. The truth was, the two were very close. Selina had been there on the worst night of Ally’s life. Consoling her when Tanner Cage, the only man Ally had ever loved, stood her up on prom night and skipped town the next day. That closeness made the discovery of Selina’s secret antics all the more shocking to Ally.
Ally pushed open the door and inched inside, fearing Selina would detect her presence and surmise her intentions before Ally had a chance to cast the spell. A moan sounded from the back bedroom, drawing her attention.
Ally followed the sound. She craned her neck and peered into the dimly lit room. What she saw frightened and intrigued her at the same time. Smack-dab in the middle of the room was a huge floor-to-ceiling web with a gorgeous, well-endowed man attached. Whacking a crop across her palm, Selina circled him, keeping a wide berth as she examined his rippled physique.
Selina turned at the sound of Ally moving into the room. She arched a delighted brow. “Hello, cousin. How nice of you to join me.”
“I’m not here to join you, Selina.”
“No?”
Fingering the packet in her pocket, Ally stepped closer. “You can’t do this, Selina. It’s wrong.”
“Tsk…tsk…always the good witch, Ally.” She slapped the crop harder against her palm and then pointed it at Ally. “I know deep inside there is a part of you that would love to have your very own toy like this.” She waved her hand toward her naked captive. “Besides, look at that beast.” She pointed to his erection. “He doesn’t look too distraught to me.”
Ally was pretty sure his girlfriend would be. “It’s still wrong.”
Selina chuckled. “Why don’t you let your naughty little witch out to play once in a while?”
Ally grabbed the herbs from her pocket and sprinkled them in the air. A cloud of fog formed around Selina. Ally began to chant the banishing spell.
Selina’s eyes opened wide. Her hands flew up in a halting motion. The crop fell to the floor. “Ally no,” she cried, her voice growing faint as Ally circled her and continued to recite the spell.
Ally sprinkled more herbs into the air. “I’m sorry, Selina, you gave me no choice. Believe me, I’m doing this for your own good.”
Selina’s skin grew translucent. Her gaze locked on Ally’s. “I’ll be back, Ally. Just wait and see…”
Those were the last words Ally heard before her cousin disappeared into the fog.