A Mistletoe Wish, page 9
“A book,” Selena said thoughtfully. “If I could get a picture of the tattoo, I could research it.”
“Something else to delegate to Sykes? I dare say a computer search would be faster.” The sword pulsed with light. "Speaking of fast, that kiss with Ben..."
Selena huffed. "One kiss means nothing." Though her traitorous thoughts lingered on the warmth of his embrace. She shook herself. "I need to do something. I’m too worked up to sleep."
Getting dressed, Selena slid the sword into the scabbard and wrapped the belt around her waist. When she went downstairs, the aroma of sizzling sausage and maple syrup wafted from the kitchen, but she turned away. Selena left the mansion, guilt gnawing at her as the scents of Tess's cooking faded behind. She knew the hearth goblin took pride in preparing breakfast for the household each morning. Missing the meal was poor thanks for Tess's efforts, but Selena's restless mood had driven her out.
She walked down the tree-lined streets, her boots crunching on frosted grass. The town square opened up ahead, its quaint storefronts and lampposts decorated for the season. Selena passed the clocktower in the square, its carillon chiming the hour. Despite the early winter chill, pilgrims were already on the path towards the wishing well. She made her way down the quiet streets of Hope, the chill air helping clear her restless mind. Despite the early hour, the town began to stir with the promise of a new day. She nodded to Adelaide, hauling trays of fresh cinnamon rolls, and inhaled her cafe's rich aroma of coffee. She was beginning to regret skipping breakfast.
A bitter wind gusted, and Selena hurried on. The Gingerbread House beckoned, its cheery façade and glowing windows a warm respite from the cold. Selena stepped inside, comforted by the familiar scents of sugar and spice. If Jinx was working, she could get a better look at that tattoo now.
"Morning, hon." A waitress with a name tag that said Amy greeted her when she walked in. "What can I get ya?"
Selena chose a table by the window and settled in. "Hot cocoa, please."
As the waitress busied herself behind the counter, Selena scanned the room. She had hoped to find Jinx and get a closer look at that tattoo. But she was nowhere to be seen. When Amy brought over her hot chocolate, Selena asked, "Is Jinx working today by any chance?"
Amy shook her head. "No, she only works nights. Can I get you anything else?"
"Not right now."
Selena accepted the steaming mug from the waitress with a murmured thanks, cupping it in both hands to warm her chilled fingers.
At least the hot cocoa would offer a brief respite from her circling thoughts. She took a sip, letting the rich sweetness melt over her tongue. For now, she could allow herself this small comfort, a quiet moment of peace amidst the gathering storm.
Amy lingered nearby, wiping down the already spotless counter. "Quiet morning," she commented.
Selena nodded, distracted by that damned tattoo. "How well do you know Jinx?" Selena asked.
Amy paused her wiping, looking up in surprise. "She’s a sweet girl but keeps to herself mostly. She hasn't been in town long."
Selena leaned forward, intrigued. This was new information. "How long exactly?"
Amy tilted her head, pondering. "Few months, maybe? She showed up around late summer looking for work. I was happy to hire her. We’re very busy."
"Did she wish on the well?" Selena asked.
“Probably. We all do.”
“Was she upset that she didn’t get her wish?”
Amy shook her head. “No. She seems happy enough here.”
Selena deflated. Well, there goes that idea that she could be Izina’s cousin.
"That tattoo Jinx has— do you happen to know what it means?"
Amy raised her eyebrows. "Can't say I do. Is she in some kind of trouble with the mayor?"
“Oh no. No. Not at all. I’m just trying to figure out where I’ve seen her tattoo before.” It nagged at her, some buried memory itching to get out. She would have to get a better look at it soon. Something just told her it was important that she identify what it was.
"Jinx doesn't talk about herself much. But she's a hard worker and makes a mean apple pie."
Selena sat back, disappointed but thoughtful. Jinx was even more of a mystery now.
“You could ask her yourself. She’s working tonight.”
“Does Ben like apple pie?” Why did she ask that?
Amy brightened. “He sure does, and I don’t think he’s had the chance to try Jinx’s.”
“We’ll be back,” Selena said. Tonight, she would get a better look at the tattoo.
For now, Selena let the cocoa soothe her restless spirit. She had more things to think about, but the warmth spreading through her reminded her that she needed to go back to the mansion and get some rest.
Chapter Eleven
Ben
The town hall's ancient clock chimed seven o'clock. He hadn’t heard anything from his werewolf sentries that he sent out to follow Avery and Lottie. Not to mention that Simon’s body hadn’t turned up. Ben was hoping that meant he was still alive.
“Sometimes, no news is good news,” Selena said, but he could see the worry in her eyes.
“I would have felt it if the sentries had been destroyed.” He rubbed the center of his chest. Each death would have been like a stab wound. “At least I know they’re still alive.”
Rahl had returned just before sunset but didn’t have any new information either. Rahl had tracked the witch to a running stream and then lost her scent.
To make matters worse, there weren’t any “Broomes” in Gertrude’s records. They were trying to contact all the witches in the files, but they didn’t know how far back to go. The lack of information was frustrating, and they were running out of time.
Gertrude knocked and then poked her head in. “You have supplicants, Master.”
“I’m not your...” Ben sighed. It was pointless. “Give me five minutes, and then send them in one at a time.”
She curtsied before shutting the door again.
“She’s got it bad for you,” Selena said.
“What can I say? I’m irresistible.” He looked up at her hoping that she would agree, but she was frowning at the door. They hadn’t talked about the kiss from the other night and hadn’t had time to continue where they left off either.
“Who are these supplicants?” Selena asked.
“They’re tourists who are here to complain about not getting their wish last week.”
“There might be a guy with a puppy out there,” she said.
“A puppy?” Ben asked. That was odd. Most people liked puppies.
“He wanted a woman to be subservient to him. The well gave him a female dog. It wasn’t Candace. This voice was masculine and dark.” She shivered.
“Ah, that was Roderick Stone. Moonsidhe. He created the well with Candace. You’re fortunate to have experienced his particular sense of humor.” Ben again wondered how his old friends were and why they hadn’t appeared to him.
The door to his office banged open.
"Mr. Mayor, this is an outrage." The first supplicant was a heavyset man with a neckbeard. He held out a ceramic bowl. It was filled with a green goo.
“What is it?” Selena asked.
"I wished for endless ice cream, but my bowl keeps refilling with ... with this!"
“It looks like ice cream,” Ben said.
“It’s green,” Selena said, peering into the bowl.
"It’s broccoli flavored.”
Of course, it was.
“I wanted chocolate.”
“Did you ask for chocolate?” Ben asked.
“Well, no. But it’s obvious.”
“Technically, the well granted your wish,” Selena said. “And broccoli is very healthy.”
Ben appreciated that she was trying to be helpful.
“I don’t like broccoli,” the man said. “It makes me fart.”
Ben wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
“Let me get this straight. Your true heart’s desire was an endless bowl of ice cream?” Selena asked.
“Duh,” the man said.
That was enough of that. “The well granted your wish. Next,” Ben called out.
“But...”
“Look at me,” Ben said.
The man went stock still. He swayed slightly.
“You have some regret that you didn’t specify a flavor of ice cream. However, you realize that people are starving all around the world and that you are very fortunate to have this food.”
“He is?” Selena muttered.
Ben shot her an exasperated look.
“Sorry.”
He turned back to the ice cream man. “You will leave the town of Hope and never return.”
“I will leave the town of Hope and never return,” the man said, backing away.
“But before you leave, you will stop by Adelaide’s bakery and buy a dozen mayoral cronuts.”
The man’s face brightened, and then it changed to worry. “Are they broccoli flavored?”
“No,” Ben said.
The man sighed happily and left the office.
“That was unexpected,” Selena said.
“Just wait.”
“I’ve got an idea,” she said. “When we’re done here, we should check with Adelaide. Maybe she remembers someone who could be Izina’s cousin.”
“That’s a great idea. Why don’t you go and track down that lead?”
“I’m not leaving you alone. I’m your bodyguard.”
“This is going to be tedious, though. There’s no sense in wasting both of our time. Besides, we need answers.”
“Send Gertrude, then. I’m not leaving you.”
Ben admired her dedication to duty. He hoped it was more than that, though. “Very well.” He toggled the intercom, “Gertrude, can you come in here please?”
Gertrude was through the door in a flash. “Yes, Master?”
“Go down to Adelaide’s and question her about any witches she remembers in town who were angry at not getting their wish granted. Bring your list and give me some names.”
“It will be done.” She bowed, then curtsied before running out the door.
“You’d think she’d get the message that you’re just not interested,” Selena said irritably.
He wondered if she was jealous. “I’m hoping Rahl will take her mind off of me.” Ben motioned in the next supplicant.
A frazzled woman stepped forward, clutching her phone. "I wished for the perfect sunset.”
“That was your heart’s desire?” Selena was almost slack-jawed.
The young woman showed them the image on the phone. It was a lovely sunset—a blaze of orange and red lighting up a cloudy blue sky. The picture, though, was obscured slightly by a flock of seagulls.
“What’s wrong with the sunset?” Selena asked.
“The birds,” the woman said, shaking with outrage.
"Sometimes, nature has its own ideas," Ben said gently. "Your sunset looks perfect."
“What’s the point of a perfect sunset if I can’t upload it to my Insta or Snapchat?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Selena said, her exasperation showing. “Just enjoy it.”
The young woman scoffed. “That’s not going to get me likes or ad revenue.”
“Why didn’t you just wish for that?”
Ben could have told Selena that it was futile to reason with some of them, but it was best if she found that out by herself.
The young woman drew back, affronted. “That’s cheating.”
It was time to step in. And maybe get a little payback. He probably wouldn’t even need to hex her. “If you truly want a compelling photo, you need to get to Serenity.”
“Serenity?” The woman narrowed her gaze on him.
“Massachusetts. The next state over. But you have to hurry if you want to be the first to capture the most famous witch, Izina Broome.”
“Never heard of her,” the woman said dismissively.
“Not yet,” Ben said. “But she’s preparing to go live with her world debut.”
“What’s she debuting?” The skepticism was strong in this one.
“Her makeup line,” Ben said.
The woman was out of his office almost before he was finished speaking.
“Should have put a tracking device on her,” Selena grumbled.
“On it.” He gave the mental command to Rahl. Rahl would slip one into her purse.
“That’s a little more hopeful,” Selena said. “If that woman can lead us to Izina, we can see about getting our werewolves back.”
Ben liked that she called them “our” werewolves.
“I can’t believe these people, though,” Selena said. “Ice cream? A perfect sunset? How can they be worthy enough to get their wishes granted?”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Did you ever ask the well for anything?”
“Every year.”
“What was it for?”
Ben was saved from answering by the unending stream of disgruntled tourists. A lot of people were threatening to sue for fraud after not becoming rich, famous, thin, or popular. He took away their memories of Hope and the desire to ever return, which is what he did to all the complainers. Even if they did find out who Izina’s cousin was, they would have to go to her—that is, if they could even find her.
At least the tourists left with some tasty baked goods.
“I’d like to go back to The Gingerbread House tonight,” Selena said.
“Their hot cocoa is something special.”
“I was hoping to try their apple pie.”
“You had me at Gingerbread House,” he said.
“And I want to take a better look at Jinx’s tattoo. You don’t remember hexing her, do you?”
“No,” Ben said. But they had to put their discussion on hold when more disgruntled pilgrims filed in.
A few of them had more unique problems if not legitimate complaints. A teen who wanted to be able to dunk a basketball grew three feet, and now his clothes wouldn’t fit him. An elderly woman who wanted to hear better could now hear squirrels mating outside her window. And a honeymooning couple wished for a romantic getaway but were confused on what to do with the unicorn butt plug and the exotic oils.
Ben gave the teen a voucher for two outfits at one of Hope’s clothing stores. He gave the elderly woman earplugs. And he sent the honeymooners to Dulcinea’s Delights for private instruction with the local succubus.
When the last of the petitioners left, Selena was slumped in a chair behind his desk. Ben could relate. He was nursing a heck of a headache.
“I thought you said the well’s magic had dried up?” she said.
“It appears this season, Candace and Roderick are back with a vengeance.”
“I can only hope this is the experience Candace wanted me to have outside of Fae.” Selena shook her head. “Those were silly wishes, though. What do you do when you get complaints about the more serious ones?”
“Drink a lot once it’s over.”
She snorted. “Seriously?”
“One time, a young girl came in here in tears because she wished her dead mother to come back to her.”
“Her mother might have been on another journey,” Selena said, all amusement leaving her face.
“Tell that to a sixteen-year-old who just wants to talk with her mother again. She had run away from her family because they wouldn’t take her to the well.”
“What did you do?”
“We called her family. Her father and stepmother were here in a matter of hours. In the meantime, Adelaide took her under her wing. The girl also spent time talking with Isaac, who takes care of the town’s graveyard. I’m not sure what was said, but she ran into her father and stepmother’s arms when she saw them.”
“Isaac’s a necromancer, isn’t he?” Selena asked.
“A very low-powered one, but yes. He asked the well to bring back all the pets he had lost.”
“The well granted him the power to bring back the dead?”
“Limited and only animals. I imagine he demonstrated what would happen if her mother had been brought back to life.”
Selena shuddered.
Ben got up from his desk and pulled out two shot glasses, filling each with whiskey. “I normally don’t do this, but it can help settle you after an especially tough night.”
They tapped the glasses together before Ben took a sip of his while she gulped hers down quickly. “That wasn’t as strong as I thought it would be.”
“Good whisky isn’t. Sorry I don’t have any elven wine. I need to get some more.”
She stood up and put her glass on the table. “No need. I can’t afford to dull my senses right now. What did you ask the wishing well for?”
He should have known she wouldn’t give up until she got her answer. He liked feeling the warmth of her body as she stood close to him. “I have money and power, and I don’t want fame. Maybe I asked for an ever-flowing whisky glass?”
Taking the glass from his hand, she drank his last swallow and then looked inside. “Doesn’t seem like that was the wish. Did you wish not to become a vampire?”
“No,” he said. “I like what I am. I wasn’t turned against my will. It is hard, though, to watch loved ones grow old or leave. You build a family, and then one day, they’re all gone.” He hadn’t meant to sound so melancholy.
“In Fairy, I was always an outsider due to my bad luck. My tribe never let me forget it. Even when I tried to help, my bad luck would cause chaos." She sighed. "I just need the curse to be gone already.”
"Change takes time, Selena," Ben said softly, his gaze never leaving her face. "And even though your wish may not have been granted immediately, that doesn't mean it won't come true.”
“Did your wish come true?”
“Not yet.” Ben couldn’t resist cupping her cheek, smiling when she leaned into his touch.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been touched with tenderness,” she said.
“That’s a crime.” He lightly rubbed his thumb over her lips.
She was content to let him touch her, and his fingers were shaking to experience more of her softness.
"Selena," Ben whispered. Cradling the curve of her jaw, he gently caressed her as he tilted her face up towards his.
