Spells (Bayou Magic 2)

“It’s just for fun.”

I blow out a breath. “Fine. I’ll wear the damn thing.”

“Awesome.” She smacks a kiss on my cheek and then hurries off to see to the lights being strung over the street.

“You’re good for her,” Brielle says as she joins me. “And you make her happy.”

“That’s my only goal.” I glance down at her. “Is this where you do the big sister thing and threaten to kill me if I hurt her feelings?”

“No, that goes without saying.” She waves me off. “This is where I do the big sister thing and ask you to not only make her happy, but also keep her safe.”

She holds my hand in hers and looks up at me with intense blue eyes.

“I’ve seen what he’s capable of. I’ve felt his wrath. And for a moment, I thought I’d be lost to him. I couldn’t bear it if—”

“I’ll keep her safe,” I promise. “Our strength grows every day.”

“Something’s coming,” she says and swallows hard as she looks over to where Millie’s laughing with Dahlia as they make flower arrangements together. “I feel it in the air. And early this morning, there was blood on the moon.”

A shiver runs down my spine. “It’s just a haze in the sky, Brielle.”

“You and I both know that’s not true.” She pulls her hand out of mine just as Cash approaches.

“Dude, you have your own girl. Stop trying to flirt with mine.”

“I swear, it was innocent.”

“Sure.” He winks at me and then smiles down at his wife. “How are you today?”

“Just fine. I’m glad you’re here to help. We need to move the Jack-o-lanterns out onto the sidewalks.”

“You do realize they’ll be vandalized and ruined by tomorrow morning.”

“You’re such a cynic,” Brielle says, rolling her eyes. “Of course, they won’t be, because Millie’s going to cast a little spell to avoid such a thing.”

“Of course, she is. Why didn’t I think of that?”

The two wander off, and I glance over to Millie. She’s concentrating on a bouquet of black roses in her hands. She pricks her finger on one of the stems and immediately puts the tip of the digit into her mouth. Her eyes find mine.

Let’s talk. I mouth the words. She nods, says something to Dahlia, and then hurries over to me.

“What’s up?”

“I want to go inside where it’s quieter,” I whisper, and with her hand linked to mine, I lead her into her café and back to her small office. “We didn’t cast the spell to open our door yesterday.”

“I guess the day got away from me,” she says. “Do you want to do it now?”

“Yes. And here’s the thing, Millicent. We can close it after all is said and done and we’re past this little war. Or, we can keep it open for the rest of our lives. It’s completely up to you.”

“Can we read each other’s thoughts?”

“No.” I brush my thumb under her left eye, sweeping away an eyelash. “We can simply talk to each other whenever we want, except we don’t have to worry about a cell signal.”

“Well, I like the sound of that.” She grins and leans against me. “Thank you for doing this.”

“It’s for me as much as it is for you. I also want you to stick close to me for the foreseeable future.”

She frowns up at me. “What’s wrong? I mean, aside from the obvious. Has something changed?”

“I don’t have anything concrete to tell you, but I have a bad feeling. I’m going to stick close to you, and I want to keep the door open at all times.”

She shivers as she nods. “Done.”

We join hands, and I begin to chant to cast the spell.

Light of day, and dark of night,

Find my soulmate in spell’s flight.

Mind to mind, and heart to heart,

Connect us now while we’re apart.

From this day, ‘til we decree,

Make us one, so mote it be.

A breeze blows around us as the words are said. Millie joins in, chanting the words with me. When we’re finished, we open our eyes and look at each other.

I love you, Millicent.

She smiles and presses her cheek against my chest, holding on tightly. I love you, too, beloved.Chapter Twenty-OneMillie“I smell children!” Brielle, dressed as Mary Sanderson, startles a group of kids who gathered at my booth for some hot chocolate. They giggle and shriek in joy.

“We are children,” one of them says with a laugh.

My sisters and I take Halloween very seriously. Every year, we dress up as famous witches, and this year, the Sandersons are in the rotation. Brielle’s dark hair is teased up, and she twists her jaw to the side to make herself look like the character from the movie. I’m Sarah tonight, with my long, blond hair teased, and my dress showing off my cleavage. Once in a while, I break out in, “Amok amok amok!” and make everyone around me laugh.