Page 10 of Bewicched

“Are you sure you’re up to that?” The concern in his voice was a far cry from the disgust earlier, but I hadn’t forgotten.

“No, but I have to go.” I checked the time again. “I’ll need to call a ride-share. There’s no way I’m riding my bike tonight,” I mumbled to myself. That’d give me a little extra time too. Maybe I could lie down for thirty minutes before the shower.

“Don’t you have a car?” He stood, hands on his hips, seemingly reluctant to leave until I had a clear plan of action.

“Well, as I’d prefer not to kill myself or others by driving heavy machinery and then having a seizure, no. No car for me. My bike is usually fine, but when it’s not, I call for a ride.” I waved him toward the back door. “Thank you for helping, but I’ll be fine. I want to lock up and get ready.”

He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, not moving. Eventually, he shook his head. “I don’t understand why I came back or why this bothers me so much.” He stilled. Brows furrowed, his gaze turned to flint. “Are you spelling me?”

It took my brain a moment to make sense of what he’d just asked.Am I…“Fuckyou. Get out.” I was about to collapse from that damn vision. I couldn’t deal with this too. “I don’t spell people to care about me, you asshole.” I pointed at the door. “I take back every nice thing I said.” I waved my hand and cast a spell shoving him back a few feet.

“I thought you said you don’t spell people.” Eyes lightening to wolf gold, he was pissed now too. Good.

I shoved him in the chest because his jaw was too high to punch. “I don’t fucking use my magic to manipulate people’s emotions!” Who the hell was this bastard to accuse me of something so low, so pathetic and underhanded? “But I am more than happy to use it to kick narrow-minded dicks out.”

Holding up a hand, I pushed the air in his direction, a spell jumping to my fingertips, ready. My magic was always ready for me. He hurtled out the door and off the deck with an angry shout and a huge splash. I waved another hand, locking all my doors and dropping the shutters over my windows. Asshole!

I stomped up the steps to my loft, glad I’d agreed to the shutters when the contractor had recommended them. They cost a ton and it wasn’t like we got hurricanes along the Monterey coast, but the night before I’d met with the contractor, I’d had a dream about something hideous with long nails scratching on the glass, trying to get in.

Locks and shutters would never keep out a determined werewolf, but hopefully the cold water would snap him out of his rage. I didn’t need his shit. I had too much of my own to deal with, not the least of which was dinner with my mother and grandmother.

After I’d cleaned up and changed, I was feeling steadier. I called my contractor Phil and asked him to take the new guy off my crew. The work was being done to my home and I didn’t want him in it.

I wore black jeans and boots with the light green sweater Gran had given me for my birthday. After locking the front door, I dropped my keys into my black leather backpack and sat on the front stairs, waiting for my ride.

I knew what my mom and Gran wanted. It was what they’d always wanted: Me on the Council. I got it. I did. But I also had to do what was right for me. Maybe it was selfish, but—

A small car pulled up in front the gallery. I checked the license plate against the info on the app. I also took a pic of the front of the car, license and driver visible, and texted it to my mom. Could I have taken him on? Sure. As long as I was awake and alert, that is. If I dropped into another vision, I had no control over my body.

I opened the back door. “What’s your name?”

He half turned, giving me a friendly wave over the seat. “I’m Dan.”

I checked the info on the app again and then slid in. When he pulled out onto the road, heading farther from downtown, I leaned forward. “Hey, just so you know, I’m epileptic. If I have a seizure, just leave me alone. I’ll be fine. When we get to the address, ring the bell and my mom will come get me, okay?”

“Uh.” He glanced nervously at me in the rearview mirror.

“But nothing’s going to happen. We’re only going a couple of miles. We’re fine.” Hopefully. The poor guy looked spooked.

Luckily, we were only driving for a few minutes. Mom had a rambling Queen Anne historic home near the water in Pacific Grove, the next seaside town down the coast. Gran, however, was quite close to me.

The road south veered away from the water and into a wooded area. Tall trees popped up on either side of the car, along with a few houses between the road and the ocean. Gran had one of these rare old homes, mostly hidden from view.

“Slow down.”

The driver’s eyes shot to the mirror again. “Are you okay?”

“Sure. The driveway’s here on the right. Slow down or you’ll miss it.”

Dan turned into Gran’s drive, through a narrow break in the foliage. Pacific Madrone and Monterey Pine created a canopy over the hidden driveway, with white camellia bushes, elderberry, hostas, and hydrangea filling in the pockets around the circular cobbled drive.

“Wow. I never even realized this was here.” The driver ducked his head under the visor, trying to see as much of Gran’s home as possible.

I pulled a ten out of my wallet, adding a memory charm to the bill. I’d already paid for the ride through the app, but I offered Dan a cash tip with the charm because I really needed him to not be so interested in Gran and her place.

I had barely gotten out of the car before he started to drive away without a sidelong glance back. Perfect.

The glossy wooden door, carved with protective sigils, opened. My mother stood in the doorway.

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