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Wynona slept clear through the night and Rascal had to wake her the next day to go to the precinct. Even still, her body ached and her mind was fuzzy.
You over extended your magic, Violet said. I’d scold you about it, but honestly, it’s the only reason you and I are still here.
“We have to get serious about this,” Wynona said softly, knowing Rascal could hear as well. “No more putting it off because of a case or something else. Without Granny here, I have no one else to turn to for help.”
Rascal reached across the truck and squeezed her thigh. “You’re not alone,” he said.
“No,” Wynona agreed. “But none of you know how to deal with this any more than I do.”
He nodded sadly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
Wynona shook her head. “I’m so grateful you weren’t. It would have just been another loved one I had to watch out for.” She turned to look at Rascal’s profile. “I love you, but you’re not a magical match for my dad.”
Rascal’s lips pinched and Wynona knew he understood, but the wolf didn’t like it. Not. One. Bit.
The rest of the drive was quiet and Wynona was glad to see there wasn’t a mob outside the station. She and Rascal walked inside hand in hand and Amaris gave her a wary wave.
“Hey,” Wynona said, waving back. “Holding down the fort as usual?”
Amaris nodded, but she didn’t speak and her body language was far from warm.
She’s scared of you, Rascal said tightly. I can smell her fear.
Sadness coated Wynona like a blanket. She hadn’t asked for any of this. Like any witch, she had wanted powers, but she had never asked for them to be so strong or for her family to be so rotten.
“Come on,” Rascal said, tugging on her hand. Just give her time. She’ll get over it.
Wynona let Rascal guide her down the hall, but she could feel the stares of the other officers. When they finally made it into the interrogation room, Wynona let out a sigh of relief.
“Fools, the pack of them,” Chief Ligurio snapped.
Wynona gave him a grateful smile. It was small, but it was a start.
He nodded toward the seat next to him. “Let’s get this over with. You look dead on your feet.”
Wynona sat down gratefully, ignoring his comment about her looks. Chief Ligurio had seen her at her worst and while this wasn’t pleasant, it also wasn’t as bad as it had been before.
“Skymaw.”
Wynona hadn’t noticed Daemon standing by the door. He gave her a chin tilt before slipping out.
“We’ll talk to Ms. Tailorson first,” Chief said, getting right to work. “From what we’re piecing together, she was the mastermind behind it all.”
“The face behind the curtain,” Wynona murmured.
“Exactly,” Chief Ligurio agreed. “Though I can’t quite figure out her abilities with Melion. Her affinity with cats is clear, but Melion isn’t a house cat, nor is he a spirit. How did she manage to be in control?”
The door opened and Ms. Tailorson was brought in. The defiant look in her eye said she wouldn’t give up her information easily.
“Have a seat, Ms. Tailorson,” Chief Ligurio said.
Rascal’s hand landed on Wynona’s shoulder and she let his heat soak into her skin.
Ms. Tailorson threw herself into the chair, one eyebrow raised. “I want my lawyer.”
Chief Ligurio nodded. “I’m aware and your request was sent through the proper channels. You should receive a court-appointed lawyer soon.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Because I was hoping you would choose to cooperate, Ms. Tailorson,” Chief Ligurio said smoothly. He folded his hands on the top of the table. “Sentencing favors.”
She snorted.
“Your affinity with cats was an excellent cover,” the chief continued. “Working a shelter, pretending to take care of the abandoned and forgotten.”
Ms. Tailorson hissed, sounding like the animal she so cared for. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said. “I do take care of them. Do you have any idea how many cats are abandoned every year? How many litters of kittens left on the side of the road?” One side of her lip curled. “Or how many felines are killed when witches don’t know what they’re doing?”
“So your shelter wasn’t just filled with living cats,” Wynona inserted. “You made homes for the ghosts as well.”
Ms. Tailorson scrunched her nose. “Someone had to take them in. Might as well be me.”
“When did you discover that you had the ability to control them?” Wynona pressed. Now that she was here, her curiosity was helping assuage the mourning.
Ms. Tailorson huffed. “I’ve always been able to do that.”
“And Mr. Melion?” Chief Ligurio asked the question he had mentioned earlier. “He seems outside your normal range of abilities.”
Ms. Tailorson smirked. She had no intention of sharing.
Wynona’s brain began to spin. She thought of the time she’d been in Ms. Tailorson’s office and the odd pausing spells. Mr. Melion had the same quirk. She thought of the cat, watching, waiting, the feel of the ghosts, but not being able to see them. There was a connection between the two...
“You’re soulmates,” Wynona gasped.
Ms. Tailorson visibly started. “How do you know that?” she wheezed.
Chief Ligurio looked at Wynona, waiting for an explanation.
“Do you remember all the pausing?” Wynona asked the vampire. “During the will reading?”
He nodded.
“They were communicating.” Wynona tapped her temple.
Chief Ligurio looked back and forth between Wynona and Rascal. “Soulmates can do that?”
Wynona nodded eagerly, then winced at the pain in her head. Apparently, soul-wrenching crying left her with a terrible headache. Even her turmeric and lavender tea hadn’t been enough this morning. “I think their connection is also what allowed her to control Mr. Melion.” Wynona turned to see Ms. Tailorson turning red, her jaw clenched in anger. “Your affinity gave you an advantage. You could actually see through Mr. Melion’s eyes, just like you did with the house cats, and your soulmate connection allowed you to control him from a distance.” Wynona leaned forward. “The cats had to be spelled or controlled when you could see them. But Mr. Melion didn’t have to be close to you. That’s how you killed Zander while still being at home.” Wynona tilted her head to the side. “Does he remember everything when you’re in charge? Did he agree to your possession willingly?”
Ms. Tailorson moved to lunge across the table, but Daemon pressed her back into the chair.
“You don’t know anything!” Ms. Tailorson screamed, flailing against Daemon’s hold. “We needed that money. That old bat had more than enough and my cats were starving to death! All Harmony wanted was to spend time with her fishy play thing. It took years to put the plan into place!” She cackled. “And the hag never even saw it coming. Her accidental death was the perfect excuse to put our plan into action.” She snorted. “Besides, if we hadn't stepped in, the money would have been left to the pool boy. THE POOL BOY!”
“Get her out of here,” Chief Ligurio said in disgust.
Ms. Tailorson continued to scream, but another officer stepped in and helped Daemon carry her out. When the door finally shut, the room fell silent.
“So that was the real will,” Rascal said with a chuckle. “Wow. I’m in the wrong business.”
Wynona slapped his leg.
He grinned and reached down to take her hand. “Not that I’d ever leave you, understand.”
“Of course not,” Wynona said sarcastically. “What was I thinking?”
Still chuckling, he leaned down to kiss her head. “I want to be there when someone tells Monroe.”
Wynona leaned her head into his side. “Yeah...at least something good will come out of it.”
Chief Ligurio gathered his things. “I don’t want to see you again for a very long time, Ms. Le Doux. Keep your head down and stay out of the press.” He stood and began to walk away, but not before Wynona heard him whisper, “Take care of her,” to Rascal.
“Always, Chief,” Rascal whispered back.
He’s grumpy, but I like him, Violet concluded.
“You have a thing for grumpy,” Wynona murmured.
Violet chittered and began to wash her face.
“Let’s go home,” Rascal said. “I don’t think there’s any point in talking to Melion at this point.”
Wynona nodded and they headed to his truck. “Before we hit the house,” Wynona said, “do you mind taking me to Granny’s grave?” She wanted to mark that one off her list of to-do’s.
Rascal nodded. “If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
He helped get her settled, then drove across town. The cemetery was lushly green with a well kept lawn and stunning flowers. If it hadn’t been for all the gravestone markers, it would have been the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon picnic.
They walked slowly through the grass, hands swinging between them until they reached Granny’s marker. It stood taller than the rest in a fenced off area reserved for those in the Le Doux family. Her husband’s stone was next to her, almost identical in looks.
“I feel like I lost her twice,” Wynona whispered.
“You did,” Rascal agreed. “But what a gift. Most people never get that second chance.”
She leaned into his strength. There would be no miraculous comeback this time. Even Granny couldn’t come back from the other side of the veil.
“Thank you,” Wynona whispered to the ground. “I’ll do my best to be who you wanted me to be.”
Rascal turned and kissed the side of her head, but stayed silent.
They stood for a long time, Wynona letting herself soak in the peace and trying to come to terms with the loss. While she still wasn’t interested in anything to do with ruling Hex Haven, she was interested in controlling her magic and becoming a help to the people. She wasn’t sure what that would look like yet, but someday...she would know.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Wynona spun and brought up her hands, purple sparking automatically.
Celia held up her magicless hands. “I’m not here to fight.” Her skin was pale, her hair pulled into a messy ponytail and her face free from makeup. It was the most normal Wynona’s sister had ever looked.
“What do you want, Celia?” Wynona asked tightly.
“I came to say goodbye to Granny,” Celia said, her chin in the air. “She was my family too.”
Wynona hesitated, trying to find the lie, but Celia gave nothing away. “Fine. We were done anyway.” She started to walk away, but Celia wasn’t done.
“Afterwards, I was coming to see you.”
Wynona slowly spun. She could feel Rascal’s tension and the wolf rising to the surface. “Why?”
Celia glanced at Rascal and swallowed hard. “I...” She paused, took several breaths and straightened her shoulders. “I’m moving in with you.”
Wynona choked and Rascal snarled. “Excuse me?”
“I’m done being a puppet,” Celia said, her voice shaking slightly. “I didn’t have my freedom handed to me, the same way you did, but I understand why Granny did it.” Her hands clenched and unclenched. “But I’m done. I want out. And you’re the only path I have.”
Wynona had no words. Did Celia really think anything about her life was easy? She had fought for every inch from the time she was a little girl. Even after leaving the castle, the battle had been uphill.
Still, the part of Wynona that wanted a family was whispering to help, but the rational side of her was ready to walk away and never look back.
“I know you have no reason to trust me,” Celia said, her voice dropping. Tears filled her eyes. “But my life hasn’t been easy either. You heard Dad.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’m a disappointment. I was never strong enough for him. And things were never the same after...” Celia shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t let him control me anymore. But I have nowhere to go.” She paused. “Nowhere except in with you.”
Rascal looked at Wynona and subtly shook his head. I don’t trust her.
Wynona sighed. No...but Granny did. She thought of Granny’s last words and realized she had known this was coming. By saving Wynona, she had also set up a way to save Celia.
“On one condition,” Wynona said, trying to get her crazy heartbeat under control. She had had a thought this morning of something that might help her in her magical journey and Celia was the perfect way to get it.
“Name it.”
“I want Granny’s grimoires.”
“How am I supposed to find those? Mom probably has them under lock and ward.”
Wynona shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “It’s the price.”
Celia hesitated, but finally nodded. “Fine. Consider it done.”
Wynona nodded back. “Then I’ll see you soon.”
What have you gotten us into? Violet asked as they walked away.
I don’t know, Wynona responded honestly. But I’m sure we’ll figure it out.