Southern Wishes (Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries Book 14) Read online

  Southern Wishes

  Sweet Tea Witch Mysteries Book Fourteen

  Amy Boyles

  LADYBUGBOOKS LLC

  Contents

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  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  THANK Y’ALL!

  Also by Amy Boyles

  About the Author

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  Chapter 1

  I flew high above Magnolia Cove atop my dragon, Hugo. Wind rustled the trees, sending a cluster of fiery-colored oak leaves streaming my way.

  Hugo opened his mouth and bit them, quickly dropping the leaves once he realized they didn’t taste nearly as good as he thought.

  “Not the treat you wanted, huh?” I said.

  No, he replied wordlessly. He didn’t speak aloud. Instead the words flowed directly into my head.

  We were connected, this dragon familiar and I. My boy, whom I’d raised from an egg, had quickly grown in the past year. With the help of a little magic he currently slept in my bedroom, but that wouldn’t last much longer. After all, I could ride him now, and he was big. So big he needed his own place—like a stable.

  I’d never heard of a stable for dragons, but I didn’t think it was out of the realm of possibility.

  Besides, I’d be moving in with Axel soon. Or, to put it plainly, I’d be marrying him and moving in. There were lots of woods behind Axel’s house. Hugo would love it. He’d have an entire forest to explore.

  The smell of burning leaves filled my nose, and I inhaled deeply. Fall had arrived. My favorite time of year. Truly the best. I couldn’t wait to drink hot apple cider, eat some pumpkin-flavored—well, anything, and enjoy the falling temperatures.

  We reached Bubbling Cauldron Road. Folks lined both sides, doing their Saturday morning shopping. Betty had been kind enough to watch my store, Familiar Place, for me while I took Hugo out for a ride.

  Besides, today was a special day. It was the day I would display my wedding dress for my family.

  My final fitting.

  I couldn’t believe it had arrived. My stomach fluttered with butterflies. A nervous knot of energy filled me every time I thought about my new name—Mrs. Axel Reign.

  It hadn’t happened yet. There was still so much to do. But it would arrive soon.

  Hugo settled onto the sidewalk. People scurried by, not wanting to be in the line of fire of a dragon.

  Can’t say I blamed them.

  “Pepper!”

  I gave Hugo a bubble of water that I magicked from my palm and looked up.

  My cousin Cordelia stood on the other side of the street, flagging me down. “Come into the wish shop! I’ve got something I need you to see.”

  I patted my dragon. “I’ll be back, Hugo. Don’t go anywhere.”

  Hugo grunted in response. I dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding colliding with a group of witches flying their cast-iron skillets.

  “We almost got you that time, Pepper,” one of them called.

  I waved and laughed. “Never!” I skipped up onto the sidewalk and beamed at Cordelia.

  My cousin had recently left her job at the inn to work full-time for her father and uncle at Southern Wishes, Magnolia Cove’s first official wishing shop.

  See, Cordelia and her cousin Amelia are part genie. Though I would never trust Amelia to grant a wish of mine, and this I know from fact, I might at some point trust Cordelia.

  But really, I had everything I wanted. Why would I need to wish for anything different?

  I brushed strands of crimson and honey-colored hair from my face. “You’re here early.”

  Cord grabbed my arm and dragged me inside the shop. “I have to show you this. We just got it in.”

  She led me inside. I’d been in once before, when it opened, but the place had been covered up with people—we’d stood shoulder to shoulder, so I wasn’t able to get a good look inside.

  But now? Now I was mystified.

  Colored glass orbs hung from the ceiling, reminding me of dripping raindrops. They shimmered in the light, and a kaleidoscope of colors danced around the room.

  A clapboard sign stood in the entrance. It read: THE RULES OF WISHES. NUMBER ONE, WE DON’T MANIPULATE OTHER’S EMOTIONS. NUMBER TWO, NO RISING FROM THE DEAD. NUMBER THREE, WE DO NO HARM.

  The smell of dark wood and Murphy’s Oil Soap trickled up my nose.

  “You know,” I whispered, because the place was like that—I didn’t want to speak too loudly—“I’ve never understood why witches would need wishes.”

  Cordelia disappeared behind the glass counter. “What do you mean?”

  I fingered a cameo necklace dangling from a small decorative tree. “I guess I mean, witches can look like other people, they can have just about anything they want in terms of money. They can even make love potions, so why would witches need wishes?”

  Cordelia popped back into view. “We don’t just sell to witches.”

  I quirked a brow. “You don’t?”

  “No, we have an online business that sells to regular folks. We don’t do any of the heavy-hitting stuff, but if someone wishes to maybe win a little on the lottery, we can help.”

  She smiled. “But wait until you see this.”

  Her phone rang. She looked at the screen before grunting. “Hey.” The person on the other line said something, and Cordelia rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t have an answer.”

  She lowered her voice and turned away. “Listen, I’m not trying to be difficult, but it’s not like this is a small decision. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t. I don’t care.”

  Another pause. “Don’t be like that. Me? I’m not being like anything.” She exhaled and rubbed her forehead in frustration. “Look, I have to get going.”

  She hung up and set her phone on the counter hard. Cordelia scowled down at it.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yes, it’s just Garrick.” She bit her bottom lip. “We’re having some issues.”

  I reached for her, but my cousin recoiled. “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “No.”

  The door swung open something fierce. “Cordelia, you in here?”

  Our other cousin Amelia popped into view. “Oh, thank goodness I found you. I practically had to escape from the Vault today. A biting book almost took my finger off.”

  She lifted a red, throbbing index finger. “I swear. I love my job, but there are times when I can’t deal with it. Sometimes I think it would be better if I had a position somewhere else.”

  “Well, you can always check,” Cordelia said. “I’m sure there are other jobs open.”

  “Thanks.” Amelia propped her elbow on the counter and sighed. “What’re y’all doing here? I
sn’t it about time to head over to the dressmaker?”

  “I wanted to show you and Pepper this.” Cordelia’s eyes glittered as she laid a folded red velvet cloth on the table. “It’s our newest wishing tool.”

  Amelia gestured toward the cloth. “Well, show us.”

  “That’s what I’m doing,” Cordelia said tersely. “Have a little patience.” She folded her hands and grinned. “Do y’all remember that super old show Fantasy Island?”

  “The one where people would go and live another life? A fantasy life that sometimes came true?” I said.

  She nodded. “That’s the one.” She traced her fingers along the edge of the cloth.

  I had to admit, I was now curious. What would an old television show have to do with whatever lay inside that cloth?

  “Well,” Cordelia explained, “what I’ve got here will give someone the chance to do that—to live out a fantasy life.”

  Amelia’s lids flared in excitement. “For how long?”

  Cordelia shook her head. “That, I don’t know. The stone only arrived yesterday, and my dad said I had to be extra careful with it.”

  “Let’s see it,” I prodded.

  Cordelia slowly unwrapped the cloth. Lying in the center of the red velvet was a brown sandstone with a tree etched in its center.

  To be honest, it wasn’t particularly spectacular. I expected a ruby, maybe an onyx. But this plain, mud-colored rock didn’t look like it was capable of changing someone’s destiny, let alone offering a wish.

  “I know it doesn’t look like much,” Cordelia explained, “but apparently a genie infused it with wish magic. Don’t ask me where my dad got it from, but it’s valuable. Not only that, but this stone is going to cement Southern Wishes on the map. In no time we will be a premier wish-granting store.”

  Her shoulders ticked up in excitement. “I can’t wait.”

  “Cool,” I said. I glanced at my watch. “Y’all, we’d better get going. I promised Betty we’d meet her at the fitting. It’s almost time.”

  Cordelia wrapped the stone back up and grabbed her things. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  Amelia clasped my arm. “I can’t wait to see your wedding dress, Pepper. I really can’t.”

  I leaned my head on her shoulder. Her soft curls tickled my nose. “I can’t wait for you to see it, either.”

  We stepped out onto the sidewalk. I scanned the flood of people shopping on Bubbling Cauldron. Witches and wizards scurried up and down, pointing in shop windows and enjoying confections from my cousin Carmen’s store, Marshmallow Magic.

  The door swung open and out stepped Rufus Mayes. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and though we were once enemies, Rufus and I were now friends.

  It also appeared he might be sweet on my cousin, Carmen.

  We locked gazes, and Rufus gave a little wave. I smiled and nodded.

  The snapping of a lock seized my attention. My gaze darted from Rufus to Cordelia, who tugged the door to Southern Wishes, making sure it was locked. She beamed at me with pride. “Okay, y’all. Let’s go see this dress.”

  Chapter 2

  “That is not the dress for you, Pepper.”

  I stared at my grandmother, Betty Craple, and could not believe the look of distaste on her face. My gown was simple and reminded me of something you’d see on Audrey Hepburn.

  “This is not a witch’s wedding dress,” Betty snapped.

  I could tell that Penny Poe, the dressmaker and shop owner, did her best not to scowl.

  “With all due respect,” Penny said graciously, “this is the dress Pepper wanted.”

  Betty harrumphed. “But it’s not a witch’s dress.”

  “No,” Penny said slowly, “it isn’t.”

  I rubbed my forehead. Everything up until this point had gone great. I’d tried on the dress. Cordelia and Amelia had oohed and aahed.

  But Betty had been sour-faced ever since she laid eyes on it. “A witch’s gown needs to be made of spider silk. It must reflect the witch’s attitude. Her behavior. Everything about her.”

  “Betty,” I pleaded, “I like this dress.”

  Fire burned in Betty’s eyes. “You defeated one of the most evil and powerful witches alive. You will not wear”—she gestured with disgust—“a plain Jane gown.”

  Betty pulled out her pipe and gnashed it between her teeth. “Come on, Penny. We’re going to find another dress.”

  She tugged Penny through the rows of dresses in her shop.

  “Well,” I mumbled, “I guess I don’t get much of a say, do I?”

  “At least you get a say,” Cordelia said. “Garrick’s wanting to go away to the mountains together. The mountains.”

  Amelia frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”

  Cordelia glared at her. “Because I think it means he wants to ask me a big question. He wants to go to this exclusive witch lodge where they do all kinds of romantic things.”

  “And that’s bad?” Amelia said. “I’ve only been dating Sherman a few weeks, and he’s been gone all that time. I wish we had time to do romantic things.”

  Cordelia slapped her thigh. “Don’t you get it? He’s either going to ask me to move in with him or…”

  “Ask you to marry him?” I sighed dramatically and draped the back of my hand over my forehead. “Oh, the horror. The horror of having a man ask you to marry him.”

  Amelia giggled. “You should get some perspective, Cordelia.”

  Cordelia rolled her eyes and slumped into her seat. “The two of y’all don’t get it.”

  “No, I guess we don’t,” Amelia admitted. “But you don’t understand that as much as I love my job, I wish it wasn’t so dangerous. That it was easier to deal with and that the objects weren’t always so”—her gaze darted to her finger—“teethy.”

  I started to laugh but stopped myself. Luckily my phone pinged from my purse. Saved by the bell, I thought.

  I retrieved my phone and smiled to see Axel’s name flashing across the screen.

  “Excuse me.” I took my phone to the other side of the room where I could grumble in peace.

  “Hey,” I cooed.

  His voice came through with just the right amount of husky. “Hey, beautiful, how’s it going?”

  Every time Axel called me “beautiful,” I couldn’t help but shudder with glee.

  What girl doesn’t want to be called beautiful by her sweetie? I know I do, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

  I glanced around the shop. I could hear Betty arguing with Penny in the back. “Well, it’s interesting, you could say.”

  “Tell me all about it.”

  I sighed into the phone. “I’d rather tell you when we’re all curled up on your sofa and I’ve got a mug of hot chocolate in one hand.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me. But seriously…aren’t you showing your family the dress today?”

  “Yes. That’s the problem. Betty seems to think my dress is all wrong.”

  “Tsk. Tsk. If you picked it, I’m sure it’s perfect.”

  “Not according to her,” I nearly growled. “She said it isn’t witchy enough or something.”

  He laughed. “Leave it to Betty to decide what you’re going to wear.”

  “I swear,” I said. “Sometimes I think she should be the one planning this wedding. She made me pick black roses and lilies for the flowers because those are traditional flowers at a witch wedding.”

  I groaned. “I know she’s my grandmother and that she means well, but I don’t want my wedding to be overrun by her. The flowers were okay because they did have elements of red in them, but honestly, it’s almost getting to be too much.”

  “My love,” Axel said, “you do what you need to about all this. If you don’t like her choices, tell her.”

  “But it means so much to her.”

  I could practically hear him shrug. “Then let her have some things her way. We’re going to be married forever. That’s what’s important. Not one day. Even though,” he quickly added, “it is im
portant, it’s not going to set the stage for the rest of our marriage.”

  A sloppy smile spread across my face. Of course Axel was right. He always touted the best advice. I mean, I could let Betty have the flowers. I’d even try on whatever dress she wanted just to appease her. I could do it. No problem.

  I made a kissing sound. “This is why I love you. You’re right. Of course you are.”

  “Great. Now get back in there and have fun. I’ll see you tonight. Pick you up at seven?”

  I smiled. “Sounds perfect.”

  We said our goodbyes and hung up. I turned to face my family and found Betty standing beside Penny, who looked horrified. Draped over Betty’s hands and pooling on the floor lay a dress that looked to be made from spider silk, exactly what Betty had wanted.

  It was midnight black, gossamery and fluffy in all the wrong places. My grandmother shoved it toward me.

  “Here, Pepper, try this on.”

  “Um. Are you sure that’s a traditional witch’s dress?”

  Betty scowled. “It’s made of the right stuff. Put it on.”

  So I did. When I came out of the dressing room and took one look in the three-way mirror, I flinched. Not even cringed. I felt like I was about to be assaulted by the dress I wore.

  Spidery wings flew out from my back. Yards of gauzy fabric was bunched on my rear end and red streaks ran down the sides of the corset, billowing out into spirals on the skirt.

  Betty smiled proudly. “Now that is a dress.”

  I gaped. “It’s certainly a dress. I’m just not sure if it’s my dress.”

  My grandmother bristled. “What do you mean? It’s perfect. When a witch and a werewolf marry, it must be a spectacle.”