Magical Midlife Madness (Leveling Up 1)

“If you got that magic, all the seedy characters I mentioned would be drawn to this town. Suddenly O’Briens would be on the map again in the worst way possible. Powerful players in the magical world would want you to rule by their side. They’d want to harness your power for their own gain. They’d want you to have their children—”

She snorted. “They can go screw themselves if they want that. I’m done-skies.”

“You’re only forty, you—”

She slapped his face, clearly on impulse. He froze, not having expected it. She was a Jane—catching him off guard like that shouldn’t have been possible for her.

Donna’s eyes widened and a smile blossomed on her face.

“I am so sorry,” Jess said immediately. “I didn’t mean to do that. But don’t you dare jinx me. I’ve already raised my son. The last thing I need right now is a baby. Nice guy, scary evil magical guy—all nopes.”

His posture shifted, mimicking the body language he’d used to send the Dick and Jane couple away. His posturing wiped the smile off of Donna’s face. But Jess didn’t seem to notice. She was, essentially, calling his bluff.

Which was made evident when she said, “I’m not an animal, and if you hit me, they’ll put you in prison. I’ll make sure of it.”

Donna spit out a laugh. “Sorry,” she said, wiping the counter for a second time.

“They will court you,” Austin said. He needed her to take this seriously; they all did. “They will try to promise you the world, and they’ll have the means to deliver. I will not be able to stop these people from invading this town. I will not be able to protect it from the magical elite, who never take on a situation alone. Even last night—those grunts came in a pair.”

Her brow furrowed and her eyes started to blink. She looked down in confusion. That must’ve been the memories from last night resurfacing. Agnes hadn’t wanted to give her the potion, thinking it would endanger her in the long run. He’d taken her point. Jess needed to know what was coming her way, and those kidnappers were a portent of what was in store for her if she was chosen. But Austin and the others had also needed time to explain everything.

The compromise had been a potion that temporarily created forgetfulness. Like temporary amnesia, it would allow the memories to come bursting forth when the event was triggered in her mind.

He’d just triggered it.

“Wait…” She held her head in her hand for a moment. Her wide eyes came back to rest on him, amber wrapped in thick black lashes, incredibly intoxicating.

“About last night…” He explained about the potion and Agnes, whom she seemed to know from Earl.

“So…basically, I’m in danger until I get that magic, because the magic will allow me to protect myself. But if I do get it, I’ll endanger the whole town?” she asked, frustration and anger burning hot in her eyes. “That about right?”

“Afraid so,” he said, his heart sinking further.

She shook her head, her eyes sparkling with intelligence. “But won’t I be able to protect the whole town with that magic? Assuming, of course, it comes with an instruction manual.”

“That’s what I was wondering, too, if I’m being honest,” Donna murmured.

“I don’t think you have any idea what kind of offers your new suitors will throw at you. Business deals or marriage proposals, they’ll do whatever it takes to get you. While they are trying, they’ll declare war on each other—a war that will be unleashed here in town. They’ll take out any innocents who get in the way, by accident or on purpose. If you leave, they’ll still bombard the house, trying to destroy it so as to destroy you. It’ll be mayhem. A war zone. It won’t be somewhere decent folk want to live.”

A silent beat passed as Jess took that in. She shivered for some reason, a full-body shiver, and then she leaned toward him, her eyes a little crazy.

“First of all, I’m not twenty anymore. I’m not a naive little chick who thinks of nothing but love and marriage and consents to I do because she’s afraid no one else will want her if she says no. Right now, on the other side of that naive girl, I don’t give two craps if no one else wants me. I want me, my friends want me, and that’s plenty. So those anonymous magical people can shove their marriage proposals up their butts. I’ve been to that circus and I’ve seen all the clowns. I’m in no hurry to go back.”

“Yes, but—”

“No.” She held up her hand and her eyes sparked fire. It felt like she was tugging an invisible wire right down to his groin. It was not a welcome feeling. Not in their situation. “You’ve had your turn to speak. Now it is my turn.”