A Wicked Good Witches Paranormal Romance Books 1-7 (Wicked Good Witches Seasons) (79 page)

“I missed you too. Getting used to waking up with you sleeping next to me. But after the day we had, I just didn’t feel right leaving the mansion.”

“Turns out that was a smart move.”

“Smart, but I still missed you something wicked, Em.”

“Tonight then?”

“I hope so. If we can get Riley fixed, I’ll be waiting under your bed sheets.” His voice warned her to be ready.

She giggled. “Be careful, Michael. Love you.”

“I love you too, Em. Bye.”

Michael let out a thick breath and rejoined the ongoing conversation in the kitchen.

“Hey,” he said upon entering. “Emily had an idea I wanted to pass by you guys.”

“Go on,” urged William, eager to hear it. 

“Emily was thinking that the reporter chick, Courtney Jessup, might be our best chance to find and capture a Feyk.”

Charlie rubbed the stubble on his chin. He’d cleaned up, dressed and returned. “That’s a smart idea.” 

“Yes,” agreed William.

“Best idea we’ve had yet,” Lizzy chimed in. 

“Now that’s settled,” said William, “I must express my concern over leaving White Pines unattended. While we are busy seeking the Feyks and Eva, they might well use that opportunity to attempt to reach the power source. And frankly, I don’t think any of us should work alone right now. I fear it would prove dangerous.”

“It spreads us thin,” worried Charlie. “But I agree.” 

“You can count us in,” said Lizzy, on her and Lucas’ behalf. 

“Thank you,” said Charlie, honestly grateful for their presence. “I’m sure none of this is what either of you expected to be doing?”

“Being this involved with magic, definitely not,” replied Lucas, with an inflection of doubt. 

It was the first time Melinda witnessed doubt come out of Lucas as typically he was quite sure of himself.

“Why don’t you stay here with me,” she suggested, coming to his rescue. “I’m volunteering to stay with Riley,” she aimed at her brothers and William. She turned to Lucas. “Should be a minimal magic type situation. Probably extremely boring.”

“I think I can handle that,” he replied. “As long as that’s okay with everyone else?”

“It’s fine with me,” said Charlie. He was glad Melinda would be home and not in the middle of possible Feyk, or Eva, confrontations. And Lucas could keep her company and watch Riley at the same time.

“I can’t handle boring, but I’m pretty good in a fight,” claimed Lizzy.

“I would not have guessed that about you,” quipped Charlie sarcastically.

“I am what I am. Love me or leave me,” she defended with a confident shrug.

Truer words have never been spoken
, thought Charlie.

The thought of chasing around leads and dealing with people’s emotions all day did not interest Michael in the least. “I’ll take first watch at White Pines,” he offered. The quiet of the woods would be a nice change.

Charlie nodded. “Lizzy, you want to join Michael?”

“Sounds like a good time in the making,” she jested.   

“Well that does it then,” said Charlie. “Lucas and Melinda will stay here with Riley. Michael and Lizzy will take watch at White Pines and that leaves William and me to visit our friendly neighborhood supernatural investigative reporter.”

“Very well,” said William. “Be careful everyone, and...” he stopped, his mouth closing. His head tilted towards the front of the mansion. He spun around, a deep stare penetrating the door as if he was trying to see through it. 

There was a knock. Followed by another.

“Anyone expecting anyone?” asked a leery toned Melinda.

CHAPTER 5

“I’ll answer it,” spoke William, disappearing.

Everyone nervously followed. Even William looked apprehensive as he grabbed the door handle. Upon opening it, a man in overalls holding a clipboard turned around.

“You William Wakefield? This here the Howard residence?”

“Yes, on both counts,” answered William.

“Right place boys, bring’em in.” This was followed by beeping and a large truck backing into their driveway.

William realized what it was. “Gargoyles,” he spoke under his breath.
Not a moment too soon
he thought. He only wished they were out of their crates and at their posts already. He’d feel much better about security at the mansion. At least come tonight.

“Ferry arrived a bit ago,” said the deliveryman. “We gotta hurry and get these crates unloaded so we can catch the return ride. Sign here.” He handed the clipboard over to William, who signed and handed it back.

Each crate had the word fragile written on all sides, as well as a,
this side up,
indicator. The handlers took great care getting the packages off the truck.

Everyone had joined William on the front porch, watching.

“Where you want’em?” the deliveryman asked.

“Just remove the crates from the truck and leave them,” instructed William. “We’ll take care of the rest, thank you.”

The deliveryman nodded and told his companions to leave the crates and they skedaddled off, in a hurry to catch the return ferry off the Isle and back to the mainland.

“I wish we had time to uncrate them now,” said Charlie, curious to what they’d look like.

“But we do not,” agreed William. “I’m just glad they arrived early. I wasn’t expecting them for days yet. Although I did emphasize that time was of the essence. Melinda…” he turned to her. “Since you’re staying here, perhaps you wouldn’t mind contacting Mack and see if perhaps the cleaners could be of some assistance, once they’re done at the Jordan home.”

“What do I do with the gargoyles once they’re out of the crates?” she asked him.

“It’s still daytime, so they just need to be perched.”

“But once they wake up, do I need to feed them? Give them water? Baths? Do they bite? They’re not going to sneak up and scare the living begeesus out of me, are they?”

William chuckled at her adorable naivety. “They’re not pets,” he reminded. “They manage most things themselves. They’re quite independent creatures. And I’m sure we’ll all be home long before dusk.”

“So they hunt their own food, then?” 

“No. More like forage. Gargoyles are vegetarians.”

“Really?”

William tossed her a bemused smile.

“That’s not going to be easy come winter,” she said, afraid they’d starve. 

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” promised William. “For today, let’s just get them settled. It’s best that when they first wake, they are perched in the location we want them to sleep in during the day. It gives them a sense of propriety. Gargoyles are bred to sense evil, but they’re not fighters. They’re docile creatures by nature, though aloof. They keep to themselves mostly. I would bet that after a few weeks, we’ll start to forget their even on guard.”

Everyone wanted to stick around and see them, but duties awaited.

William explained to Melinda where the gargoyles should be perched. When finished, he asked, “Any more questions?”

“No. I think I got it.” He started to walk away. “Um, William...” she stopped him. Thinking perhaps since they were alone, she should broach the subject of Riley and his William aimed rage, and her prophetic dream. Nerves got the better of her though, and she chickened out. “Be careful,” she said instead.

He caught an air of something amiss when her heart fluttered in a nervous manner. It wasn’t the flutter he’d come to recognize as his, just her anxious one. Another he recognized easily. He wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but something nagged at him that she had something she wanted to say, but wasn’t.

He toyed with peeking into her thoughts rather than force her into what he guessed was an uncomfortable topic, but decided against it. It didn’t feel right to, just because he could.

“Are you okay, Melinda?” he inquired instead.

She didn’t answer. How did she launch into,
Riley knows I have feelings for you, and even though it doesn’t matter because
you vampire, me human..
. his rage is aimed completely at you, and
in my dream you tell me you love me and cannot let me die, then turn me into a vampire to save me… oh and that’s as we’re being burned at the stake...
the words dissolved into air as they reached her lips.

“Is this about your dream?” he asked perceptively. “Don’t worry. We won’t allow Riley to turn into a monster. You’ll have your boyfriend back, and whole, in no time. I promise, I won’t let anyone get hurt, Melinda.” 

She hadn’t expected him to be so forward and easy going about Riley being her boyfriend.

William turned and left before she could regroup and say what was actually on her mind. She followed, blowing frustrated air bubbles through her lips. A minute later, she watched Michael and Lizzy drive away in the Deane’s truck, heading towards White Pines. A minute after that, William and Charlie took off in the jeep to find the reporter.

Melinda was alone with Lucas, and her psychotic locked in the basement boyfriend, along with four crated gargoyles waiting to be perched around the mansion grounds.

Lucas met her at the front door. “I was about to go check on Riley.”

She nodded as he headed back inside to the basement. While he was away, she dialed Mack, passing along their request for the cleaners’ help in placing the gargoyles. The sheriff returned her call a few minutes later, letting her know the cleaners were ready and eager to help. “That Josh, what a chip off the old block he’s turnin’ out to be. Hard working, good lookin’ lad he is.” There was a strongly hinted poignancy in her tone.

“Mack, if you’re trying to suggest something, I’ve got enough guy troubles to last a lifetime already.”

The sheriff laughed. “Right of course. I’d wager you do, a smart young lady like yourself. Still. He’s mighty curious to see the gargoyles, can’t say I ain’t as well. But it’ll have to wait. So what else is up? I just caught Michael and Lizzy whizzing through town.”

Melinda filled her in on their current plans and told her she’d update her if anything changed.

“On my part,” the sheriff started, “I’ve got all hands on deck. Right now under the guise of prepping for the holiday tomorrow.”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot tomorrow is the Fourth of July. And to think we were all planning on celebrating together.”

“You just might yet. Don’t give up, the day’s still young.”

“How do you stay so optimistic?” Melinda asked with a chuckle.

“I guess it’s just easier than the alternative.”

Melinda laughed. “Yeah, speaking from personal experience, I think you’re right.”

“Okay now. You guys stay safe. Keep me posted. I gotta run, because story of my life, my other line is ringin’.”

“Okay, Mack. You stay safe, too.” She closed her phone and gazed out across the crates dotting the front yard. “Real, living gargoyles,” she mumbled. She headed back inside to check on Lucas, who was just coming up the cellar stairs into the kitchen. “How is he?”

Lucas shook his head. “Getting worse if you can believe it. I took the bandana out of his mouth, felt bad leaving it in, but he just started raving again. He somehow knew William had been here. Must have heard him talking I guess. Seems to have ignited a whole new level of madness.”

“I didn’t warn William that Riley’s rage is directed at him,” Melinda blurted out suddenly, her voice guilt ridden.

Why couldn’t I just have done that when talking to William?

“I’m getting the impression you tried to tell him, but failed…”

“You Deane’s are sometimes far too perceptive for my liking.” 

“You’re the one that just...” she raised her hand to shush him. He closed his mouth obediently.

“Sorry… it’s just an uncomfortable conversation,” she explained. “I really like your brother, Lucas. I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him. It’s just that William and I are… close. We work together. We live in the same house. We spend a lot of time together. And Riley’s clearly a little jealous about it.”

“Is he right to be?” Lucas asked protectively.

“No,” she insisted. “No. He has no reason to be. But William is an important part of my life, and I can’t just ignore that. I can’t pretend he doesn’t exist just because I’m with Riley. His name is going to come up in conversation.”

“He’s never been the jealous type before. I think he’ll get over it. As long as we can fix this whole Feyk spell.”

“I hope they capture one fast,” she said. “The faster the better…”

“I don’t know what I’ll do if we can’t fix my brother,” said Lucas. “I dragged him, practically kicking and screaming to live here. He didn’t want to come.”

“Sounds like you didn’t have much choice though.”

“We didn’t. We’d exhausted all our options. Coming to the Demon Isle was not my first choice, either. But when I found out our family still owned the old manor, it was at least a roof over our heads until I got a better handle on things. We’ve just had a continual run of bad luck these last few years.”

“I know how that goes.”

“The real kicker,” continued Lucas. “With all Riley’s kicking and screaming not to come here, as we were waiting to board the ferry to cross from the mainland, he got one of his
feelings
.”

“That he needed to be here?” she confirmed.

“He said it was stronger than anything he’d ever felt before.”

Melinda thought about it. “Maybe your run of bad luck is over then. I mean, what if you had all that bad luck to force you to come here?”

“I can’t lie and say that thought hasn’t crossed my mind. Until this thing with my brother… it’s not exactly good luck.”

“No. I suppose not. But if he had one his feeling thingy’s then it has to mean something.”

“I hope it does. As long as that something is a good thing. Mainly, I think I was just nervous to be around magic. I don’t like what it does to people. I don’t mean you, or any
one
specific person, just in general. Look what it did to my family.”

“But they dealt in dark magic. And they didn’t always as I’m sure Lizzy would point out if she were standing here.”

“You’re right about that.”

“I can understand why you worry about it,” she spoke compassionately. “I pretty much
worry
as a full-time job.”

“That’s not a good way to earn a living.”

She shrugged. “You can’t blame yourself for your brother’s current predicament anyway. It’s all my fault. Not yours.”

“There’s that full-time job right now,” he remarked.

“It’s what I do best.”

“It’s not your fault, Melinda,” he argued.

“It is. You guys volunteered to help me out, and he got attacked under my watch. I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been,” she admitted. 

He opened his mouth to argue but nothing came out.

“Sorry,” he said after a moment. “I’m sure you were actually as prepared as you could have been. I was kind of being a pompous jerk that day.”

It was her time to rebut his comment, but she did not.

He cracked an inviting smile.

“We were in a new place where we’re not exactly welcomed,” he explained. “New circumstances, magic thrown into our lives. I sort of go on the defense a little when things change too fast.”

“But some of those things you were giving me shit about, you weren’t so off, Lucas. I think sometimes we get sucked into our very small world here on the Isle, and get stuck in it. Not stuck, bad choice of words. More like, it becomes a bit… routine. Comfortable. Even though it is entirely unpredictable. We have seen in the last few days that we’re not prepared. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think my flip flop wearing days are over.”

He laughed.

“Of course if my brothers or William had any choice in the matter they’d probably never let me leave the house without full body armor!”

Lucas grinned and cast a quick glance at the basement. “Speaking as an older sibling, it’s not such a bad idea. Still, even with all this going on and my brother in danger, I still can’t bring myself to just hop on the magic train. I feel pretty useless right now.” 

“Not useless. Not at all. You guys being here has actually been... really great. Not just because of Riley,” she insisted. “I think even my brothers and William are coming around to the fact that having extra help now and again is a good thing.”

“Even if it’s from a Deane?” he added with a smirk.

She hit him in the shoulder playfully. “I think you’ve allowed that name to do as much damage to yourself, as we’ve allowed it to do to us.”

Lucas wore a look of contemplation. “The damage a name can do... I never looked at it from that angle before.”