Spells (Bayou Magic 2)

“I’ll wake up and be down in a minute.”

“No hurry. I can bring the coffee here.”

I leave the bedroom and shiver in the cool morning air. Autumn has firmly settled in, and the chilly mornings that come with her have arrived. I point to the fireplace in the living room as I pass, and a fire erupts in the hearth.

That’ll help warm the house.

I set the first cup under the single-serve coffee maker, press brew, and turn to the back door just off the kitchen. My back yard is my oasis. I have herbs planted, along with some vegetables and flowers that have special medicinal purposes. I am not a hedgewitch, but many in our coven are, and they often ask to come and snip here and there in my garden.

It’s my pleasure to share with them. I planted it all from memory, knowing that Millie would eventually need it for her practices and as a serene place to come. Perhaps one day soon, Sanguine would join her in the garden. I can picture them both, the cat lying in the grass, batting at a butterfly, and Millicent, round with child, snipping herbs for her potions.

It’s real in my mind because it’s as much a memory as it is a wish for what’s to come.

I open the door to get some fresh air for a moment while the coffee brews, but the second I turn the knob, I know.

My hunch was right.

I glance down on the deck and sigh at the sight before me.

A foot. Severed from a body.

With a bloodstone resting on the bloody stump where it was once attached to what I assume was a man.

“Damn.”

I turn back inside in time to see Millie walking into the kitchen, wearing my shirt from last night and nothing else.

Double damn.

“What’s taking so long with the coffee? Do you need my help?” she asks with a sweet smile, but then she sobers when she sees my face. I’m already dialing Cash’s number. “What’s wrong?”

My eyes hold Millie’s as I press the phone to my ear, and Cash answers. “It’s Lucien. You’re going to want to come over here, man. There’s a foot on my back porch.”

“I’ll be there in twenty,” the other man says and hangs up.

“No.” Millie closes her eyes on a long sigh.

“I’m afraid so.”

Her lip wobbles, and my gut clenches. “I was enjoying our time together, apart from the crazy.”

“I know.” I walk to her and wrap my arms around her, hugging her close. “I was, too. But we’ll have more moments.”

“I’d better get dressed.” She doesn’t move out of my arms. “I wish I’d thought ahead and packed an overnight bag.”

“That’s something we should talk about,” I begin and pull away so I can look into her face. “This is escalating, there’s no doubt about it.”

“A hand yesterday, a foot today.” She cringes and nods. “Yeah, it’s escalating.”

“I’d like you to stay with me.”

She narrows her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, one of us should move in with the other. I don’t want you alone, Millicent. I can’t protect you from across town the way I can when we’re together.”

She bites her lip, thinking it over. “I don’t disagree. I mean, this is some creepy shit, Lucien.”

“No argument.”

“I guess you can come stay with me until this is all over.”

My hands tighten on her shoulders, and then I let her go. “I’d rather say this is a permanent situation, but if that makes you feel better, that’s fine with me. For now.”

She frowns. “Wow, we’re moving fast,” she mutters.

“I’ve never moved so slowly with you in all of my lives,” I reply calmly. “But this is another time, another place, and I’ll go at whatever pace you want, as long as you understand that you’re mine, a stór mo chroí.”

She tilts her head to the side. “I’ve known that I’m yours, and you’re mine, for a very long time, Lucien. That’s not being debated here.”

“Good. Now, I need to examine this foot and the bloodstone on it before Cash comes and takes it away.”

“Oh, I gotta see this.”

“You’re going to need clothes first. I don’t need Cash walking up and seeing you dressed like that.”

Her lips twitch. “Like what?”

“Like sex on a fucking platter.”

“Oh good, this outfit worked, then.” With that, she sashays back to the bedroom to get dressed.

I shake my head and turn back to the open door. The foot hasn’t moved. Not that I expected it to. I crouch down and take a closer look.

The bloodstone is once again coated in blood, and I suspect that it’s different from that of the foot. The skin on the appendage looks as if it’s been burned.

“Why is it black?” Millie asks. I heard her approach from behind. She’s leaning over my shoulder. “Like it’s been burned.”