Sixpence & Whiskey (15 page)

That’s why I’m startled when Jack lets out a disbelieving curse seconds after slowing to a normal walk yards from where we left my car. I lift my head from his chest, then give a gasp of my own. Followed by a scream that brings Georg back from his boundary at a run.

My scream isn’t one of fear. It’s pure joy.

Styx is standing next to the Fiat, my sister in his arms.

25

It
takes me all of a minute to heal Carly’s wounds. She’s already laughing at something Styx is saying. I can see her curls flash through the window as I tell Georg good-bye. I can barely take my eyes off her.

It seems Ana found Styx about an hour after Jack and I left. He’d been the one that dropped Carly off, a few blocks from home, something I gather they’d been doing for awhile now. Of course, he had no clue the wolves were about to strike. Reading between the terse lines of the brief explanation Styx deigned to give me, I gather that finding out what happened made him a little psycho.

I really want to ask what the hell’s going on between him and my sister, but I give him a pass. He’s earned it.

Ana scried for me and was able to describe to Styx the beach we were on perfectly. He arrived on the lakeshore just in time to hear Owen’s speech about the ice caves. Since the whole of Lake Superior is basically his element, he reached out through it and found her almost immediately. Unfortunately the power he released to do so caused the storm, and Styx brought her here to wait for us.

I really don’t give a troll’s hairy ass about the details, I just want to keep watching my sister. Forever.

I don’t know how we all manage to fit in my tiny car, even after the bears relieve us of the tequila in the back. I let Georg have it all, of course. Along with one hell of a kiss. I don’t even care that Jack was watching. Not that he appeared to notice.

Jack is lost in his own world, one I don’t even attempt to draw him out of, because I’m scared of what he’ll say when he does. We both know I touched elemental magic tonight. I don’t know how, and I’ve no idea how to repeat it, but touch it, I did. And it made me into a monster. Whatever he’s contemplating, I don’t want to hear it, not yet.

I’m on his lap, bent almost in two by the Fiat’s roof, but we might as well be miles apart. Rochie is glaring at me, but I don’t care. She drew me aside before we left, her little face drawn up tight.

“Did you forget what I said?”

“About what?” I was busy trying to keep my sister in sight, until Rochie smacked my face. Fairies may be tiny, but they pack a big punch. Reluctantly, I gave her my full attention.

“About Jack being in trouble. What happened tonight sure as hell isn’t going to help him any, Seph.”

“Then why is he here, Rochie?”

She lifted a teensy eyebrow. “Why indeed? You might want to ponder that question when you have a little time to yourself.”

I will, but not yet, I tell myself as Styx pulls down our street. The storm Styx caused is well behind us now and the sun is just coming up. I want to push it all away, just for today at least. Jack. The Dark Council. Dealing with whatever happened on that lake. Luna. Merry.

I just want to believe that Carly is right and everything will work out in the end.

There’s no place like home, and all the shiny, happy things, right?

And maybe gnomes will spout fairy wings and shit glitter rainbows while we’re tapping our ruby red fuck-me heels together, too.

Jack stops when we reach the door, the arm that I’ve been unconsciously holding in a death grip sliding out from under my hand, leaving me unbalanced, stumbling on the steps.

He leans forward before I can fall, steadying me with a grip like steel. His lips brush my ear, the bristles of his stubble rough against my cheek. His words are quiet, meant for my ears alone. “They’ll be coming for you now, princess. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

My sister is still chattering along happily, chased by the murmur of Styx’s deeper tones as they move through the door.

“And whose side will you be on, Jack?”

“The one I’ve always been on. My own.” His expression is cool, careless. It slicks my insides with ice. That perfect smile with just a hint of teeth, the one he uses to break my heart. “I did warn you, Persephone.”

Oh, that smile.

But I remember that kiss on our drive last night and what he said to me. It gives me the strength to laugh in his face.

“You’re so full of shit, Frost.”

When I turn away, Styx reaches to shut the door, frowning as he looks from Jack to me and back. Out of the corner of my eye, I think I see Jack’s expression flicker, but then the door closes and it doesn’t matter anymore.

I can’t meet Styx’s curious gaze, and I can’t fall apart, my sister needs me. Taking a deep breath, I lace my arms in both of theirs and tug them into the sunshine-filled parlor. It’s only when they stop in their tracks that I see it.

Ana’s on the floor. Covered in blood.

In the corner, draped in morning shadows, is Thomas, his big hands clenching and unclenching over his knees. The shock of white in his hair is more prominent than ever and he looks half feral, his eyes not on us, but on Ana.

“Thomas, sweetie.” I speak as calmly as I can, even though inside I’m shaking. Thomas is covered in blood up to his elbows, his fingers dripping with it. I can’t tell if my sister is breathing or not. Carly is already on her knees next to Ana, Styx right beside her. “What happened here?”

He looks at me, his mangled face as tormented as I’ve ever seen it and that’s not good. Because I’ve seen Thomas in more pain than any mortal man should have to bear. “She was here, Seph. In the house. I didn’t feel her until it was too late. She caught Ana when she was scrying…stabbed her from behind with a silver knife that screamed…”

“Who, Thomas?” It’s only when he starts to topple over that I realize it’s not just Ana’s blood dripping from Thomas’s fingers, but his own.

And even though Thomas passes out before he can answer me, I know who did this. And who’s going to pay for it.

Luna.

Time’s up, sunshine.

26

Jack

I watch the door close in my face. She’s not wrong, of course. I am full of shit. About everything. Seph is pretty astute when she trusts her heart. But she doesn’t know what’s coming.

I do.

I won’t be able to stop it. Because I’m a part of it.

I’ve lied so often, for so long, there is very little I am sure of anymore, except this. She
is
mine. Mine to love, mine to torment…

Mine to kill.

***

The witch of witches spawns sisters four;

Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall.

Scattered like leaves,

but Queens all

To Summer

the King of Winter falls…

Author Notes

A series about witches has been brewing in the back of my mind for some time. I didn’t expect to write it until one of my other series was complete, but these things happen when you’re a writer. The voices in your head won’t shut up. Especially ones like Persephone and Jack Frost.

Sixpence & Whiskey was fueled largely by Irish coffee, INXS and lots of late winter nights. Thankfully in Duluth, winter nights are in plentiful supply. One of the best things about the Toil & Trouble series (IMO) is that it takes place in my adopted hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth gets a bad rap for its weather, but that’s just a scam to keep you all from knowing how absolutely gorgeous it is up here. I love my city and loved showcasing some of my fave bits of it. And yes, RoofTop Fable is a real band, their awesome song, Snow, was on repeat while I was writing a lot of this book, you can find them here:
RoofTop Fable

As always thanks are in order, first and foremost is my friend and fellow writer, Veronica, who I owe for being a sounding board, a cheering section and a technical wizard who keeps me from losing my shit when it comes to all those nitty-gritty details that neither Seph or I excel at. She has magic to help, I have Veronica. Thanks, lady!

Also to Lizz, my new editor at RazorSharp editing, for making me laugh as she tore my story apart. Thanks for giving Sixpence, and Seph, the edge they needed. Also to Julie Nicholls, for coming up with not one, but two awesome covers for this book. You kicked artistic ass, as usual.

And to the RR/WR group on Goodreads just for being your awesome selves. Group hug!

Last, but never least, my family. My kids are the best in the world, even when Mommy is locked in her bedroom for hours on end, screaming at the computer and talking to her imaginary friends. Thanks for not disowning me, guys.

And also to my mother, who lost her 16 year battle with cancer during the writing of this book. Love you to the moon and back, forever. <3

COMING SOON

Blackbirds & Bourbon 
June 2016

Roses & Rye 
August 2016

***

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Reviews are HUGE to indie authors. I want to say thank you so much for purchasing Sixpence & Whiskey, if you enjoyed it (or even if you didn’t, lol) please leave a review on Amazon. You have no idea how much each and every review helps! ~ Heather R. Blair