Southern Fortunes Read online

  His eyes tightened. “I’ve known her a long time. That’s all.” He slid his hands into his pockets. “Not that it matters to you.”

  “It doesn’t,” I said too quickly.

  “Can I walk you to your car?”

  We were interrupted when Burt entered the room. “There you are!”

  I rose. “Hi there.”

  He pointed toward the door. “I’m heading over to my shop to take over for the night. Would you like to come? I know you’ve never been.”

  I cringed. “I don’t know. Beverly said she was heading over.”

  “Pah.” He waved the air. “She never stays long. She walks in, grabs some divination powder, pays and leaves. She’ll be gone by the time we arrive.”

  I turned. “Would you like to come, Rufus?” My gaze washed over an empty room.

  Burt slipped into his coat. “Looks like your friend disappeared.”

  So he had.

  FIVE

  Magical Elements was beautiful. Colorful pillar candles squatted on circular tables scattered throughout the room. One wall lined with shelves held mason jars filled with different powders. Potato sacks stuffed with magical powders leaned against a wall. Scoopers had been plunged inside, and empty mason jars sat on a table, making it a magical self-serve area.

  While a glass case held jewelry of all sorts, necklaces dangled from a delicate tree limb that sat atop the counter and a box of uncut semiprecious stones glinted in the light.

  “This place is truly magical,” I whispered.

  “Thanks.” Burt swept past me and took his position behind the counter, relieving the man who stood there grinning.

  “It is magical, isn’t it?” said the young man.

  “It is,” I agreed.

  Burt motioned to him. “Connor, meet Pepper. Pepper owns the familiar shop in town.”

  Connor wagged a finger at me. “So you’re the owner.”

  I raised my hand. “Guilty.”

  Burt slipped from his coat and pegged it on a rack. “Has it been busy today?”

  Connor shrugged. “Busy enough to keep me occupied. Deidre came in a little while ago. She picked up that book you’d ordered for her.”

  “Thanks for giving it to her,” Burt said. “Everything else go smoothly?”

  Connor tipped his head toward the rear. “I’d be better if the wicked witch wasn’t here.”

  I peered around a display of walking sticks dubbed Wizard Sticks. Beverly and her gang of Beverlies chatted near the back wall.

  “You need to stay out of it,” Beverly snapped at someone.

  I leaned over farther and saw Rufus.

  What? How had he beaten us here? And why had I agreed to let Burt bring me? And why was Rufus butting into my business?

  Why was I asking so many questions that didn’t offer answers?

  “It’s a simple request.” Rufus’s voice floated to me.

  “One that’s none of your business.”

  Prissy saw me and elbowed Beverly. Beverly’s head whipped in my direction. “And she’s here, too.” The witch smirked. “Was this your plan, Rufus? Force me to see she’s good.”

  Heat flushed my face as Rufus spoke. “She had nothing to do with it. I came here to ask you to ease up.”

  “On her?” She sneered. “You’ve got to be kidding. I can’t believe you of all people would defend the likes of the half-breed.”

  Burt cleared his throat. “Is there a problem?”

  Beverly’s gaze sharpened on him. “Of course there’s a problem, Professor Tweedle. The school is letting any witch teach. I believe in pedigree.”

  Burt leaned over the counter. “Then perhaps you should look closer at yourself because from what I hear, your own family tree isn’t as golden as you think.”

  Beverly’s mouth dropped. She recovered quickly and threw her head back. “Oh, that is rich. Who’d you hear that from? The witch-history snob?”

  Burt said nothing.

  Beverly sauntered over to the counter. Sparks flicked from her fingertips. “Let me tell you something.” She pointed a red coffin-shaped nail at him. “Little Professor History doesn’t know what she’s talking about, either.”

  Burt waved his hand. “Why don’t you get what you always come for and be gone, Beverly?”

  “With pleasure.”

  Burt’s gaze flickered over the counter. “Connor.”

  Connor, who was slowly slipping into his coat while watching the spectacle with interest, whipped his head toward Burt. “Yes?”

  “Where’s the divination powder? I left it right here.”

  “Oh, I had to move it because it was on the book you ordered for Deidre. Those two didn’t get along.”

  I quirked a brow. That was an odd thing to say. A book and powder not getting along? Once Beverly left, I’d have to ask what Connor meant.

  “Oh.” Burt snatched the pouch from the counter and dropped it in front of Beverly. “Your powder.”

  “Is it right?” she said surly.

  Burt voice sharpened. “Why don’t you check and we’ll make this the last time I order it for you?”

  Beverly flicked her hand dismissively. “Fine by me. I’d be happy to find another magical shop that doesn’t deal with unsavory people.”

  A hand lightly touched my shoulder. I didn’t have to glance over to know Rufus stood next to me.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I was only trying to help.”

  “I know.” I shot him a dark look. “You made it worse.”

  “I’ll fix it.” Truth shone in his eyes.

  “Good luck,” I murmured. I didn’t think anyone short of Satan would have a chance talking sense into Beverly, and the only reason I thought Satan would was simply because he was more evil than she.

  At least I hoped so.

  Beverly tossed Burt a handful of dollars for the powder and then whirled around. She dangled the bag by the strings and shot me a cruel smile.

  “Do you know what this is?”

  I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I would not let this witch intimidate me. No way. “Is that a trick question? You’ve only said about a hundred times that it’s divination powder.”

  “But do you know how it works?”

  “No.”

  “Beverly,” Rufus warned.

  “Stay out of it,” she said sharply. Her eyes narrowed. “I asked the little witch if she knew how to use it?”

  I raised my hand to Rufus in warning. He needed to stay out of my business. His lips tightened to an invisible line.

  “I don’t know how it works.” I folded my arms. “Why don’t you tell me, Beverly? School me a little like I schooled you today.”

  Her cheeks flared pink. Ah, the memory of the snake bloomed. It proved to be a touchy subject with her.

  Good. I was glad.

  Beverly opened the pouch and dipped her fingers in. She pinched some of the powder and let it flow back inside. It fell in beautiful silvery strands, like stardust.

  “The divination powder works usually with a conduit, like water. I close my eyes and focus on whoever’s future I’m trying to see. Usually it’s mine or a paying customer. But I tell you what”—she took a threatening step forward—“I’ll read yours for free. Right now.”

  “No thanks.” I wanted to step back, to get away from her. Working against intuition, I moved forward. I wouldn’t let this woman intimidate me.

  “She’s chicken,” Prissy said.

  “So chicken,” the other woman said.

  “Beverly, that’s enough.” Rufus walked around to shield me from her.

  “Why?” she said innocently. “Who doesn’t want to know their future? I bet she does. Don’t you?”

  “That’s enough, Beverly,” Burt said. “Time to leave.”

  “Okay.” Her voice sounded defeated.

  Rufus must’ve believed she would leave, because he stepped away, putting me straight in Beverly’s line of fire.

  “But anyway, just for argument’s sake, let’s see what happens.” Beverly scooped a handful of powder into her palm. She uncurled her fingers and blew the line of dust straight at my face.

  Rufus shot a hand out toward me. The ward in my pocket immediately hummed. I clapped a hand over it. A line of power snaked up my arm. I didn’t know what it was doing, but it didn’t hurt. It felt like a bumblebee was buzzing in my pants.

  Rufus raised his other hand, and the silvery dust swirled back to Beverly and swarmed around her head.

  Her hands clasped around her neck. “Stop it! Get it away!”

  Rufus’s brow creased. He cocked his head in confusion and lowered his hand.

  “Stop it! It’s killing me!”

  Beverly opened her mouth. The powder flowed in. Her eyes widened. One of her friends whacked her on the back.

  “It’s killing her. Do something!”

  Rufus waved a hand, but nothing changed. The silvery powder had flowed into Beverly’s lungs.

  Burt leaped over the counter. He wrapped his arms around Beverly’s waist and attempted the Heimlich.

  She coughed and gagged. I focused on Beverly and pressed my fingers to my temple. I wanted the powder gone, out of her lungs and mouth.

  The dust flew outward, hitting the ceiling and splashing to the floor in a mess of crystallized crumbs.

  Burt released Beverly. She slumped to the ground, eyes wide open.

  Prissy gasped. She fell to her knees and grabbed Beverly’s hands.

  Rufus bent at the knee and placed a hand to her throat. After several moments he faced us. “She’s dead.”

  “What about CPR?” I raked my fingers through my hair. “Can’t we help her?”

  Sadness flared in Rufus’s gaze. His dark eyes looked nearly black against his pale skin.
/>
  He shook his head. “We can’t help her. Beverly was poisoned.” Rufus shot a look to Burt. “Poisoned by your divination powder.”

  SIX

  “You’re telling me that Rufus Mayes stood right next to a woman, declared she had been poisoned and you don’t think he had anything to do with it?”

  I sat in Axel’s living room sipping a cup of hot cocoa. I dragged my gaze from the white swirl of cocoa skin and sneaked a glance at him.

  The scowl on his face couldn’t have been any deeper if I’d hired an excavator to dig it. Seriously. His brow furrowed, his lips clamped and his blue eyes reflected the color of a turbulent sea.

  “I don’t think Rufus had anything to do with it, no.”

  “Pepper…” Axel sighed. He drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter and glared at me.

  “What?” I settled the cocoa on an end table and straightened my back. His head jerked slightly. “What is it?”

  “You don’t see it. The council decided—behind the town’s back, by the way—that Rufus was safe to allow entry.” He flashed his palm before I could argue. “I know what good he’s done in the past few months. I’m aware of it, but I don’t think he should be given free rein. Argue all you want, sometimes—and don’t take this the wrong way—but sometimes you are naive to people.”

  I bristled. If I’d had fur, it would’ve stood at attention. “I’m not naive.”

  His gaze drilled into me so hard I felt my chest constrict.

  My gaze darted to the floor. “Okay, maybe sometimes I’m a little too trusting. But Rufus has helped us.”

  “Not us. You. He’s helped you.” His jaw clenched. “He knows we’re together, and yet he hands you a protection ward. Why? Because he wanted to ensure you weren’t killed instead of Beverly?”

  “That’s not why.” I scowled. “Listen, I only told you what happened so that you’d know. I didn’t do it so you could flip the conversation to why Rufus Mayes is guilty. You’ve worked with him before, too, you know.”

  Axel smirked. Why could he make a smirk sexy? What kind of gift was that? Let’s be honest, it was just plain unfair.

  We were fighting, dagnabbit. He wasn’t supposed to look hot and sexy when I wanted to win an argument.

  Totes unfair. That’s what it was.

  He plopped onto the other side of the couch and slid over until we were sitting hip to hip. I leaned away. Axel wove his arm around my waist and tugged me to him.

  He nuzzled my neck and inhaled. “You always smell so good. Like strawberries.”

  “It’s my conditioner,” I said flatly.

  “You smell good enough to eat.”

  “You are changing the subject.”

  “For good reason.” He inhaled again. “I don’t like talking about other men when we’re together.”

  “Makes you jealous?”

  “Makes me homicidal in a werewolf sort of way.”

  I leaned away. “That’s almost as frightening as you saying Rufus Mayes can’t have changed.”

  Axel sighed. He pulled away and tipped his face to the ceiling. “I give up. Whatever. You think he’s a good guy, then he’s a good guy, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  I twisted to face him. “I don’t think he’s guilty, but that’s who the town will suspect. He protected me, Axel.”

  “That’s my job,” he growled.

  I stiffened. “Sore spot?”

  “Slightly.” He rubbed his palms down his thighs. “It’s my own fault. I left Magnolia Cove, and you bonded more with Rufus. He’s twisted your image of him. He’s even twisted my image of him. He’s helped us, I know, but don’t think you can teach that dog new tricks. It isn’t possible.”

  I curled my fingers through his. “I’m saying he deserves a chance.”

  Axel lifted my hand and brushed his lips over my knuckles. I shivered. “I’m trying to build us. To focus on us. I know what I want, but I have to prove I’m worthy.”

  “You do?”

  He pressed my hand to his chest. “Don’t pretend I don’t. You trust me with your life and you trust me somewhat with your heart, but not one hundred percent.”

  “I love you,” I argued.

  “And I love you.”

  I shivered at the sound of those words escaping his lips. Axel released my hand and slid his palm over my cheek.

  “You think you trust me, but you bring up Rufus.”

  I leaned away. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You relied on him while I was gone.” He shook his head. “Stupidest mistake of my life. Leaving.” He rubbed his face. “But I had to. If I’d stayed, I wouldn’t have learned more about my powers and you wouldn’t have created the potion that allows me to control the beast. But that came at a price.”

  I quirked a brow. “So serious.”

  “It is serious. When I was away, you turned to Rufus for help. You have a connection with him that could end up driving a wedge between us.”

  “Only if you let it,” I said.

  He released my cheek and sat up, leaning his elbows on his thighs. “When I said what I did about mating, it wasn’t to scare you.”

  “It didn’t.”

  He smirked. “Didn’t it? It doesn’t scare me because I know what I want, but when I explained to you that if we take the next step in our physical relationship, everything will change, you freaked out.”

  I scoffed. “I did not.”

  “You did. I don’t blame you. How can I? I just told you that I will mate for life. That’s serious stuff. If someone had told me that same thing six months ago, I would’ve run for the hills.”

  He sat back and stared at me with a gaze so full of fire my breath caught in my throat.

  “What are you saying?” I chewed the inside of my lip as I waited for his response. “Are you saying you want to take our relationship to the next level? After you left a couple of months ago? Is that what you mean?”

  He sighed. “I’m saying that I’m looking forward to this relationship.”

  “So am I.” It annoyed me that he would think otherwise.

  “Are you? Rufus Mayes is case in point.” He took my hand limply in his. “I’m not saying anything to scare you. I’ve never questioned my feelings for you. What I questioned is how I can protect you when I become a raving beast once a month. Hurting you would’ve crushed me. I’ve told you that before. This isn’t new. But what is, is how our relationship will change. You want the next level of our relationship.”

  He shot me a pointed look. “The one behind closed doors. I’ve explained what that means to me. I don’t take it lightly, and neither should you.”

  I gulped. “I don’t.”

  “I think—” He paused, seemed to consider what he wanted to say next. “Remember when we got together? You’d just come out of something.”

  “Yes?”

  He licked his lips. “Tell me something.”

  “Anything,” I said dramatically to lighten the mood.

  It worked. He smiled slightly. “Tell me—you were all hung up on a guy who didn’t care about you. Did you rush things with him?”

  I stiffened. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  He nodded. “So you did. Sleeping with someone doesn’t magically fix all your problems with them.”

  “I know that. And you’re not supposed to know things about me. Things I don’t want you to.”

  He gave me a kind smile. “I’m jealous of Rufus. I admit it. But if we sleep together our bond will become unbreakable. Having Rufus in the picture will drive me crazy.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t…know what to say. Rufus and I are friends.”

  “It’s not a friendship I trust. Not on your side, but his. Axel tapped his finger to my nose. “We’re not taking any steps until I’m sure you’re ready, I’m ready and we’re ready.”

  There was nothing I could say, not really. Nothing that would add anything to our conversation. I stared at the floor and managed a weak, “Okay.”

  Yeah, it was a lame response, but it was all I had. He’d properly scolded me.

  Axel hooked a finger under my chin and tipped my face until our gazes hooked. “I know what I want, Pepper. I think I may have always known. The question is, do you?”

  Thoughts collided in my head as I traveled home. Axel had offered me a lift, but I’d brought my cast-iron skillet.

  The cold wind felt good as it smacked my face. It sliced over my clothes, sending splinters of frigid air pricking my skin. My flesh would chafe, but I didn’t care.