| |
“Have you seen this!” Prim shouted, bursting through the front door of the tea shop.
Wynona gasped and put a hand to her chest. “Goodness, Prim. What in the world is going on with you?” She frowned. “I thought I locked the front door.”
Prim smirked. “You did.”
“Then how in the world did you get in?”
Prim couldn’t have looked more satisfied if she’d been a cat with a canary. “Let’s just say that vines can do amazing things.”
Wynona put her hands on her hips. “Are you kidding? You broke into my shop with one of your plants? Why not just knock?”
Prim widened her bright pink eyes and shrugged. “Where’s the fun in that? Besides...” She waved at the mess Wynona was cleaning up. “You just closed. I knew you’d be busy.”
Wynona rubbed her forehead. “Oh, good grief.”
Prim snickered. “Kind of makes you want to have me join your detective team, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t have a detective team,” Wynona muttered. She held up a hand to stop anything Prim might say. “And I’m not planning on creating one either.”
Prim marched forward and pushed Wynona’s hand down. “You might change your mind after you read this.” She thrust a tablet into Wynona’s vision.
Wynona frowned, took the device and glanced at Prim in question.
Prim nodded toward the electronic screen. “Seriously, take a look.”
Taking a deep breath, Wynona looked down, ignoring Violet climbing up her leg to get a better view. “Heiress found...” She gasped. “Dead?”
Prim pointed to the screen. “Harmony Roseburg,” she stated. “The only other witch richer than your family.”
Wynona slowly shook her head. “I’ve met her,” she whispered thickly. “Well...” Wynona tilted her head to the side. “Not quite. I’ve seen her at family functions and I’ve met her in passing, but...” She shrugged. “I wasn’t exactly the witch my parents were showing off at the time.”
Prim nodded. “We just need them to keep that type of thinking,” she snapped.
Wynona shook her head. “It’s already starting,” she told her best friend. “Celia texted today, saying Mother would love to get together for a luncheon.”
Prim’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”
Wynona looked up sharply. “The only thing I could say. I said I was busy, but thank you for the invitation.”
Prim laughed. “Only you would be polite while turning down someone who wants to chain you up and use you like a bargaining chip.”
Wynona shrugged it off. She’d seen her parents schmooze creatures before. She knew exactly how this would go. Polite invitations, followed by random social visits that were difficult to avoid, and eventually threats if she didn’t comply.
Let’s just hope you master your powers before the threats part, Violet offered.
Agreed, Wynona sent the thought back. She went back to the tablet. “Does it say what happened to her?”
Prim took back the tablet, scrolling through the article. “They think she might have drowned in her pool.”
“Seriously!” Wynona tucked a chunk of hair behind her ear. “That seems odd. A witch would just be able to use her magic to escape. Especially one as powerful as Mrs. Roseburg.” Wynona shook her head. “There had to be more to it than that.”
Prim frowned. “I don’t know...it looks like an accident, they said.”
“Huh.” Wynona studied the picture of the older but beautiful witch. Magic could do wonders for wrinkles. “If it was an accident, I’m sure Chief Ligurio will have that figured out soon enough.”
“And if not, you’ll be getting a call for your help in solving a murder.” Prim grinned. “And this time I can be your sidekick.” She lowered her voice. “After all, you might have to break into the mansion.”
Wynona rolled her eyes and Violet snorted. “Prim. Even if this ends up being murder, which I sincerely hope it doesn’t, I won’t be the one solving it. It’s not my job, and my hands are full with trying to figure out things with Granny and avoiding the grasping hands of my family.” Wynona huffed. “I think that’s enough to keep anyone busy.”
“Pity,” Prim mused. “Your ability to capture criminals might make your family think twice about trying to be sneaky.”
Wynona laughed softly. “Somehow I doubt that would put them off if they had it in their heads to do otherwise. They’ve had too much power for too long. Me solving a case or two isn’t going to scare them off.”
“Eh...we’ll see.” Prim sniffed the air. “I do believe you might have some leftover treats.” She pumped her pink eyebrows.
Wynona laughed. “Of course. Help me clean up and I’ll bring us out a decent dinner.”
Prim grumbled good naturedly. “Always putting me to work. I don’t think this is how friendships are supposed to go.”
Wynona’s smile helped relieve some of her tension. She had already been on edge with the message from Celia, but follow that up with news of Mrs. Roseburg’s death and all of Wynona’s fought-for peace was gone.
We need to find Prim a boyfriend, Violet grumbled when Prim began to sing as she worked.
Wynona nearly choked, then glanced at her familiar and gave her a look. That wasn’t nice.
Her singing isn’t nice!
Wynona rolled her eyes. Leave her alone. It makes her happy.
Doesn’t make my ears happy, Violet continued.
Wynona threw up a mental barrier to drown out the mouse’s voice. Her familiar and her best friend often bickered, though Prim didn’t always know it. Violet thought the fairy was a little too “peppy” and “bright”, but Wynona loved them both and had no intention of giving either up. They’d simply have to learn to get along.
Prim danced as she sang, picking up tablecloths and gathering a pile of laundry. If she had been born with wings, the fairy would have been several inches off the floor, but just as Wynona had been born with no magic and Violet was a purple mouse, Prim had a little quirk which made her different.
Wynona paused for a second as she realized how much her curse had influenced her life. Escaping her family had been an act of sheer desperation, but being raised with people who hated her had taught Wynona about how precious life was. Before ever opening her shop, Wynona had tried to stop Celia from killing Violet. Even a rodent deserved a chance, though the Le Doux family as a whole didn’t see it that way.
It was Wynona’s quick thinking and unknown magic that had turned the mouse purple and brought them together as the pair they were now. And Wynona’s friendship with Prim had been built on the foundation that they were both outcasts. Even allowing Lusgu to stay on as janitor was Wynona’s way of trying to help someone who didn’t seem to fit in.
Careful, Violet warned since Wynona’s wall had dropped during her daydreaming. You’re awfully close to admitting your granny was right.
Wynona took in a deep breath through her nose and used her back to push open the kitchen door since her hands were full of a heavy tray. “I know,” she whispered. “But perhaps I need to be willing to see her side.”
Letting pain go in order to do that isn’t easy.
Wynona nodded, but let the conversation drop. She wasn’t ready to say Granny had done a good thing, but she would try and keep an open mind.
“Wy?”
Prim pushed the kitchen door open. “Lover boy is here.” Prim smirked.
Wynona smiled. “He can hear you say that, you know.”
“I never thought he couldn’t.” Prim scowled. “Now if he would just leave giant man back at the station.”
“Giant man?” Wynona asked, walking toward the door. Rascal was coughing as if he had choked on something, but the curve of his lips said it was covering something that made him laugh.
“Oh. Hello, Daemon,” Wynona said, realizing the men had arrived together. She walked over to Rascal and whacked him on the back a couple of times. “Do you need a drink?” she asked sweetly as she realized what Rascal had been laughing about. Luckily, Daemon didn’t have the same sensitive hearing as the wolf.
Rascal shook his head and wrapped an arm around her waist. “No.” He cleared his throat again. “I think I’m okay.” Still grinning, he bent to kiss her temple. “How was your day?”
“Better than yours, I think,” Wynona replied. “We saw the headline about Mrs. Roseburg’s death.”
Daemon groaned. “Yeah...that’s a media circus in the making.” He looked a little sheepish when Prim snorted.
Good grief. What is her problem with him? Wynona thought.
Can’t you hear her heart rate pick up? Violet asked. She’s attracted to the big lug.
Wynona’s eyes widened. She had been guessing that Daemon was attracted to Prim since he blushed every time she was around, but Prim ignored him! In fact, she went out of her way to not acknowledge him.
I didn’t say she handled it well, Violet snapped. Maybe if she’d sing while he was around, she’d scare him off and it would be a moot point anyway.
Rascal choked again. With his soulmate connection to Wynona completed, he could hear her familiar loud and clear, making him privy to the mouse’s rude comments.
Enough, Wynona scolded. They’re adults. Let’s let them figure it out themselves.
Violet grumbled, but let it go.
Looking back at the group, Wynona realized Daemon and Prim were both looking at her and Rascal as if they were crazy.
Rascal got himself under control and straightened. “Speaking of,” he said in an authoritative voice, “we have to get back to the station soon.” He opened his eyes wide, giving Wynona fake puppy dog eyes. “We were hoping you had something we could eat really quick before going back to work.”
Wynona pursed her lips. “First Prim and now you two? I feel like I run a cafeteria!”
Rascal pulled her closer before she could escape and kissed her cheek again, nuzzling his nose and whispering against her skin. “But you run the best cafeteria in Hex Haven,” he said. “Plus, I needed to see you. It’s going to be a late night.”
Wynona softened, but still pulled away. She loved it when he teased her like that, but they had an audience. “Fine, fine,” she teased, softening her words with a smile. “Have a seat and I’ll be right out.”
“Use your magic,” Rascal told her.
Wynona paused, then sighed. “Shoot. I never remember to do that!”
He shrugged. “I know. But you need to practice using it in every day life in order to be more in control.”
Daemon raised his hand. “Plus, I’m here and can help control it.”
Wynona nodded and gave the black hole a tired smile. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Prim sniffed, but didn’t say anything, so Wynona ignored her.
“Okay...here we go.” Wynona’s nerves were instantly on edge. The truth of the matter was, her magic scared her. It was like a living, breathing force and she could understand why Granny Saffron had said she was the most powerful witch in existence. It felt like she had a power the size of the Atlantic Ocean at her beck and call and Wynona had no idea what to do with it.
She raised her hand, purple sparks immediately beginning to dance among her fingers.
Hang on. Violet scrambled down the table leg and rushed to Wynona, climbing until she was on Wynona’s shoulder. She could better help Wynona control her magic if they were touching skin to skin.
Nodding firmly and with determination, Wynona walked to the kitchen door and opened it, holding it open so she was working from a small distance. Carefully, she aimed her magic at a clean tray, then the containers of pastries. With a flick of her fingers, the stove came to life and Wynona’s eyes widened when the gas flame was a little higher than she was comfortable with.
“Facilis,” came a gruff voice.
The flame grew smaller and Wynona threw a grateful look to her janitor. She had no idea how the brownie had such power, but it was useful nonetheless and Wynona understood why Granny Saffron had put him in her path.
Focus, Violet snapped.
Wynona went back to wiggling her fingers, purple ribbons dancing across the room as she brought a water-filled teapot to the heat and all the ingredients she needed to the tray.
It took another five minutes of work and Wynona was feeling overly warm by the time she was done, but when the tray settled on the table without anything breaking or spilling, Wynona absolutely counted it as a success.
“You’re amazing,” Rascal whispered, hugging her from behind and kissing her neck.
Wynona relaxed into his hold. “Thanks. I know there are more efficient ways to have done that, but I figured this required a bit more control.” She could feel him nod behind her.
“Good idea. The ease and shortcuts can come later.” He gave her one last squeeze. “But for now, let’s eat.”
Wynona huffed a laugh. Her shifter was always hungry. She joined the rest of her friends at the table, then stood up and went back to the kitchen. “Lusgu?”
It took a moment, but the brownie finally poked his head out from the portal he had created in the wall. He looked far from pleased with the interruption, but Wynona ignored his scowl.
She took a fortifying breath. “Would you like to join us?”
For just a split second, Lusgu’s face softened, but the look was gone so fast that Wynona knew she would have missed it if she hadn’t been paying attention. Finally, the brownie shook his head. “Too messy,” he grumbled, his head disappearing into the wall.
Wynona sighed. She knew she wouldn’t get him back out, but offering the olive branch had been the right thing to do. She forced a tight smile and turned back to the room. “Let’s get you fed before you go back to work. I’d hate to have Chief Ligurio complain that you two weren’t doing your fair share.”
Chuckling ensued and Wynona sat down and let herself enjoy. She could certainly come back to all the chaos in her life after her friends were gone. It wasn’t going anywhere.