Page 144 of Castings & Curses

“Secret sauce.”

“Geez, any more alcohol and you’ll puke your guts out tonight.”

“You’d know, right?”

“Bite me.” Sage whacked Aspen’s arm, jostling the glass in her sister’s hand, the sticky drink sloshing over the sides. “I mean it. Cool it on the alcohol. I need your head clear.”

Fake-pouting, Aspen dumped the drink in a box planter of colorful summer annuals. “I’m just having fun.”

“Have your fun. But be responsible.” When did she start playing mother in this new reality?

“Can I go play with my itty-bitty friends now?” Aspen replied in a toddler’s voice.

“Beat it.” Sage waved her off. Aspen saluted her and jogged off toward the house.

“She’s a good kid.” Ricky guided her around a raised flagstone on the path cutting through the rear gardens.

“I don’t want her repeating my stupid mistakes. Nor do I want to contribute to the delinquency of a dumb minor.” Although Jessica was Aspen and Willow’s legal guardian, Sage had adopted a quasi-parental role to her younger sisters. Another adulting item on her plate.

A group of Wilde warlocks caught Ricky’s attention on the rear patio. “You okay if I check in? Everyone has their senses peeled for clues to our situation.”

Sage bumped her elbow against his thick arm. “Go. I need a power nap, anyway.”

*.*.*.*.*

Sage woke hours later, having missed dinner and the lighting of the bonfire. Twilight descended, swathing a purple hue over the sky. Mini lights, lanterns, and candles flickered in the backyard, like a million stars sprinkling the yard and perimeter woods. The celebration spilled out of the witch-house and onto the covenstead grounds, music and revelry ringing out into the night air.

Normally, she’d be queen of the party. The one most likely to drink herself under the table, rip off her clothes, and dance naked in the meadow wearing only a floral crown. Not tonight. Although her election win was an unsurprising result of her family's long-standing authority in the witchworld, it was still worthy of a celebration. Yet, the heavy weight of her new duties dampened her already crappy mood.

She showered and slithered into a short, body-hugging dress, knee-high boots, and a tiny, leather half-jacket. Hair flowed free and lustrous. Time to make her expected appearance. Maybe she’d discover another unbonded warlock she’d missed last night. On her way out, she stooped to pick up a note Ricky had slid under the door.Text me when you wake up. R.

“Crap.” She stuck her phone in the inner pocket of her boot, needing more alone time, at least on the short walk to the gathering. Who’d hurt her with a million witnesses watching?

A mad idea hit her brain, and she rushed down the hallway. It took her a half hour to reach the French doors leading to the patio after a myriad of witches stopped to congratulate her and chat. By the time she reached the open doors, peace lured her beyond the party. “Goddess, save me from this unnatural mood you dumped me in,” she muttered.

Two witches sandwiched her in, clamoring for attention. “Sorry, I need to attend to Wilde matters. I’ll catch up to you later.” She rushed to the witch-house, greeting everyone who crossed her path, stopping shy of lingering for more chatting.

Bands of air rimmed by fire caged the unbonded warlocks at the back of the large room. Two water witches remained close to contain the fire from escaping and razing the barn. The warlocks strutted in various states of undress, all in good-natured fun. Cognizant of her identity, they catcalled and whistled to her. They surged toward her, seeking her attention, but she only had a single-minded focus for two warlocks, both absent.

“Hey, guys! You’re a feast for my eyes,” she encouraged them, touching the biceps and abs of a couple preening like studs on a ranch. No magical insta-connections. Could she find a warlock to bond from this group? “We’re missing two warlocks I met earlier today.” And Joshua. Apparently, he’d escaped the cage. One could only hope he’d hit the road. “Anyone seen Rafael or Sammy? Helwigs brought them.”

“Sammy’s bonded. He returned to the Helwig covenstead.” The familiar voice came from behind her.

Shoulders flinching, she spun around. “Hello, Joshua. Hope you’re enjoying the festival.” She nearly choked on her words. The stench of a brewery sailed off him, and he carried several longnecks.

“Not as much as I would’ve if you hadn’t spread shit about me.”

She smiled, attempting to set him at ease, but her smile ratcheted up a muscle tic in his jaw. “So sorry. You were the casualty of big ears and a bigger mouth. Join the group.” She waved her arm at the gaggle of gorgeous men. “You’ll find a witch.” She moved on. “Has anyone seen an unbonded warlock by the name of Rafael Reyes?”

“What? The rest of us aren’t good enough for you?” Joshua badgered, so close, his spit hit the side of her head.

Magic mounted inside her, and fire danced along her arm to her hand, tiny flames hardly perceptible to the naked eye. Three witches orbited the warlocks’ cage, oohed and aahed over them, not paying attention to her other than to nod in respect.

“Joshua.” Cringing inside, she touched his arm. A muscle jumped beneath her touch. “Don’t you ever get up in my face,” she gritted out. Sparks shot off her hand and scorched his flesh. He yelped and yanked his arm to his side. “See my healer about that sting.”

The music swelled, and her head pounded. Magic bristling over her body, she snagged a fresh pale-yellow drink off the bar and escaped out the back door. No one followed, and she sped down a clear path into the woods toward her favorite bench fringed by trees and flowering shrubs. Lanterns containing battery-operated candles hung from the trees, illuminating the area and providing shadows to hide in. Gwyneira launched off her shoulder and took a perch on a tree behind the bench. She sat, the warmth from the June sun close to the horizon radiating off the cement.

“Hope Zelda picks that asshole.” A titter slipped out, and she gulped her margarita on the rocks. “Ugh.” The strong drink did nothing for her, and she dumped it out. An act unheard of before that day. “I’ve lost my freaking mind. Lost my way. What a way to start my newjob.” She kicked at a pine cone, and it thrashed into the bushes. “Do this, Sage. Do that. Bond a warlock or three.” She flailed her arms in the air above her head.

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