Something to Witch About (Wicked Witches of the Midwest Book 5) Read online

  Our joined hands illuminated the night sky, an explosion of bright light engulfing us all. Floyd tried to move – away this time – but the light drew him in. He screamed, an otherworldly sound that would plague my nightmares for weeks to come, and then he was absorbed into the white circle.

  The light brightened briefly and then flamed out, leaving nothing but scorched earth where Floyd had been drawn into the circle.

  I let out a sigh, letting go of Connie and Aunt Tillie’s hands, and wrapping my arms around myself to ward off the sudden cold. Landon’s arms were there, too, within a few seconds. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good.”

  “That was amazing,” Daryl announced. “That was awesome.”

  “I can think of a few other words,” Blanche replied.

  “My Tillie is badass,” Kenneth announced, swooping in for a kiss, which Aunt Tillie easily sidestepped.

  “Is he gone?” Denny asked, clearly not as enamored with magic as his brother. “He’s gone, right?”

  Mom patted his arm reassuringly. “He’s gone.”

  Landon narrowed his eyes as he regarded his mother. “We have to talk.”

  “Don’t be such a baby,” Connie said, laughing. “This was fun. I forgot how much fun this was.”

  I shrugged as Landon searched my face for an answer that would satisfy him. “It was fun.”

  “So,” Chief Terry said. “Who’s up for dessert?”

  Thirty-Eight

  “You were part of a coven in college?” Landon said the words over breakfast the next morning. I still didn’t think they were sinking in.

  “I think coven is a harsh word,” Connie replied. “We were more dabblers.”

  “I hate dabblers,” Aunt Tillie said. I kicked her under the table. “We couldn’t have done it without you,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  I smiled at Connie. “I agree.”

  Aunt Tillie glared at me. “You’re mine in another couple of hours,” she warned.

  Landon met her gaze. “I think, given all that’s happened, you’re going to take everyone’s name off your list and let this one slide.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “If you had told everyone the truth from the beginning, we might’ve been able to stop all of this earlier,” he replied.

  Aunt Tillie snorted. “If I had told the truth then I would be in jail. We wouldn’t know the truth if Floyd hadn’t shown it to Bay in that last vision.”

  Landon wagged his finger. “Don’t push me.”

  “Don’t you push me.”

  Landon rolled his eyes and forked another bite of chocolate waffles into his mouth before turning back to his mother. “So you were in a sorority of witches in college? I still can’t fathom it.”

  “It didn’t seem strange,” Connie said. “It was mostly fun and games. We didn’t have a lot of the real life-and-death stuff that everyone seems to be dealing with here on a regular basis.”

  “I feel like I’ve been lied to my whole life,” Denny announced.

  “You’ll get over it,” Connie said. “Nothing that has happened here changes your life. You need to grow up and suck it up.”

  “It changes everything.” I felt bad for Denny. There’s nothing worse than having your religious beliefs challenged. He’d built his life around his faith. This was going to be hard for him.

  “No it doesn’t,” Connie countered. “Good and evil still exist. You’ve chosen the side of good. This doesn’t change that.”

  “But … witches.”

  “These witches have chosen the side of good, too,” Connie pointed out. “You should like that. They’re not evil – well, most of the time.”

  “I’m never going to be able to wrap my head around this,” Landon muttered.

  I leaned my head against his shoulder for a moment. “You’ll get used to it.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “You got used to me.”

  “I don’t think that was my choice,” Landon argued. “I think that was … .”

  “Fate?” Aunt Tillie interjected.

  “Maybe,” Landon said, brushing a quick kiss against my temple. “I just don’t think I had much of a choice in the matter. Once I saw you, I had to have you. Your family was just an added … bonus.”

  “I like a man who knows when to let the big questions answer themselves,” Aunt Tillie said, “even if he’s a pain in the ass most of the time.”

  “Did you know, Dad?” Daryl asked.

  Earl chuckled, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “How do you think she snagged me?”

  Everyone at the table laughed. Even Landon. Connie looked pleased with herself, and I couldn’t help but look at her in a whole new light.

  AN HOUR later everyone gathered in front of the inn to say goodbye.

  Landon hugged each member of his family in turn, lingering with his mother. She kissed his cheek when she finally pulled away. “You have a good one here.”

  Landon shifted a look in my direction. “Most of the time.”

  “She’s a good girl,” Connie said. “Be good to her.”

  “Hey, I’m the angel where this family is concerned,” Landon said. “I deserve an award. Or, at least, a special dinner with all of my favorites for a change.”

  “Tell me what they are,” Mom said. “I’ll make them tonight.”

  “Don’t tease me,” Landon warned.

  Mom rolled her eyes. “You’re never going to survive around here if you don’t just say what you want.”

  Connie laughed. “He likes tuna noodle casserole and coconut cream pie.”

  Thistle made a face.

  “It’s his favorite,” Connie said.

  Mom smiled as she hugged Connie. “Consider it done. I’ll make sure he has it at least once a month.”

  It was my turn. Connie reached for me, giving me a warm hug. “Take care of my boy.”

  “I’ll try. Luckily my mom does most of the cooking. He’d starve otherwise.”

  Connie smiled. “Be happy.”

  “We will. I hope.”

  “You will,” Connie said, winking. “Happy comes in many different forms – even in the form of witches.”

  Once they were gone, Landon turned to me, his face relaxed and happy. “So, how long do I have?”

  “Until what?” I asked, puzzled. “It’s going to take them most of the day to make your special dinner. I hate warm tuna by the way. It’s fine for a sandwich. Casserole is a whole other thing.”

  “Screw food. That’s not what I’m hungry for,” Landon said, poking me in the ribs. “How long do I have?”

  I smirked. “Until tomorrow morning.”

  “Well, that’s good then,” Landon said. “We can spend the day in bed. Then I can have my special dinner to bulk up on carbs. Then we have the whole night. You better get yourself ready. Drink some fluids.”

  I started running, his laughter chasing me all the way back to the guesthouse.

  Aunt Tillie still had her list, I reminded myself. The Dragonfly would be opening soon and that was a whole other mess to deal with. That was on top of the Clove situation, of course. For now, though, life was good.

  Author’s Note

  I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.

  If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that..

  Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.

  If you’re interested in my future works, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or join my mailing list. I do not believe in spam. I only announce new releases or free promotions.

  This is a work of fiction. Name
s, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  Books by Amanda M. Lee

  Avery Shaw Mysteries

  Who, What, Where, When, Die

  If it Bleeds, it Leads

  Buried Leads

  Shot off the Presses

  The Preditorial Page

  Misquoted & Demoted (Winter 2015)

  Covenant College Mysteries

  Awakening (Book One)

  Whispering (Book Two)

  Conjuring (Book Three)

  Waxing & Waning (Book Four) Winter 2014

  Graduating (Book Five) Spring 2015

  Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mysteries

  Any Witch Way You Can

  Every Witch Way But Wicked

  Witching You Were Here

  Witching on a Star

  Something to Witch About (October 2014)

  Aisling Grimlock

  Grim Tidings (Book One)