Page 24 of Enduring Magic

“What are you doing?” Autumn jumped up to stay her hands. “You don’t have time to get out of and back into this monstrosity.”

Gasping, Summer spun around and glared. “You said it was a beautiful dress! Were you really going to let me walk down the aisle in something that was awful?”

“Oh, for the love of the Goddess!” Her sister sandwiched Summer’s face between her palms. “Breathe. And think. Even if I were inclined to pull a prank of that nature, Aunt GiGi and Mama wouldn’t. Your dress is gorgeous. As are you. I just meant that it’s a chore to put on and take off manually, and you refuse to use magic to do it, for some godforsaken reason.”

“I’m emotionally charged today, Tums. What if I lose control of my power and destroy the dress?” Tears shimmered in Summer’s eyes, making her sister one big blur. “I’m a freaking mess.”

“Yes, you are, but so is every woman on her wedding day. Since I’m not emotionally charged, is it okay if I help you the old-fashioned Thorne way?”

Summer nodded and turned to give her sister access to the billions of bow ties holding her filmy dress together. Within seconds, they were all undone and the dress was sagging open.

After laying it on the bed, she drew on her robe and cinched it tight. “Okay. Let’s do this thing. Where do we look first?”

“Where would Saul hide a box that size? Does he have any special places he likes to store things?”

Smacking her forehead with the heel of her hand, Summer blew out a breath. “Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?” With a shake of her head, she charged for the door. “I know exactly where he would stash it. Let’s go.”

“Wait! It’s bad luck for Coop to see the bride on your wedding day.”

“That’sinthe dress, Tums. I’m wearing a waffle robe, and I’m pretty sure there are no superstitions attached to that.”

“Right, okay.” Still, Autumn eased the door open and peered both ways before grabbing Summer’s hand and dragging her toward the stairs.

Just as they got to the landing, one of the doors opened on the floor below them.

“Cloak us!” Summer hissed, panicked in case Autumn was right about the bad luck seeing a bride in any state of dress or lack thereof.

Her sister whispered the words to effectively conceal them at the exact moment Coop and Keaton came into view. Looking haggard with his hair a tousled mess, Coop charged toward the stairs—and right at them!

With a small yelp of surprise, Summer latched onto Autumn and bolted up the steps. They pressed themselves flat against the wall of closets as the brothers passed by.

“This is hopeless, C.C.,” Keaton lamented.

“Shut it and keep searching. That damned thing has to be here somewhere.”

“But—”

“Keaton, I need you to stop with the Negative Nelly routine and help me. Or better yet, find your wife and discover what she was doing with Saul.” Coop stopped short and turned in the direction of the linen closets. With a frown, he gestured their way. “You don’t think that demented squirrel is taking his revenge on me, do you? Like maybe he hid it where we wouldn’t think to look?”

For a heart-stopping moment, Summer thought maybe he was talking to her, but it was Keaton who answered.

“Well, you did say he had a screw loose,” Keaton said dryly.

“Because he does!” Coop retorted. “He threatened to castrate me.In front of witnesses.Saul has lost his last marble, if he had any to begin with.”

Part of Summer wanted to defend her familiar, but she wasn’t feeling particularly charitable toward him at the moment, so she let Coop’s insult stand. Besides, he hadn’t figured out she and Autumn were standing only a few feet away, and Summer didn’t intend to reveal herself.

“What do you think they’re looking for?” Autumn’s eyes were narrowed on her husband. “Doesn’t it sound like they are having a similar problem to ours?”

“If Saul is trying to sabotage my wedding to Coop, I’ll shave him bald!” Summer ground out. “Let’s go get him.”

“Don’t you think we should follow Frick and Frack?” Autumn gestured with her thumb to the retreating men.

“Nah. Once we grab my tiny troublemaker, we’ll scry to see what Coop and Keaton are up to.”

Ten minutes later, Summer never wanted to strangle her familiar more.

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