Page 55 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
Stevie pressed her palm against Kit’s chest, where his heart should be, wishing that before the end of the new moon, she would feel its wild beat.
“Keep your eyes closed,” he instructed. “We have more to discover.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Stevie lay on her back beneath the covers. She attempted to be sly and roll to her side, ever so sneakily, while peeling open her eyes to study Kit. Her stomach dipped at what all they’d done over the past several nights after spending the long days searching for Levi and Reese with Lucia’s spells. He’d brought out an animalistic part of herself that she hadn’t known existed. Getting down on the kitchen table? That was new. Against the wall? Nope, hadn’t done that before. Even something as simple as her riding him on the couch had been risqué to her. In the past, it had always been the bed with her ex. So these days she considered herself a bit of a sexual daredevil.
“You know I don’t sleep, right?” Kit turned to face her, his hand slipping beneath his invisible head. “So I see you watching me.”
“Then that would qualify as you watching me too.” Stevie bit her lip.
“You look adorable in the morning.”
“Wild tangled hair and raccoon mascara? I think I look more feral.” Stevie grinned, her smile instantly slipping when the bubble she’d placed them in for another night popped. Tomorrow night was the new moon, and everything they’d aimed to resolve had failed. No locating Reese since there mysteriously wasn’t a single strand of hair in his house. No Inferno. No less fog or darkness. No finding Kit’s head. Her mom continued to remain healthy, but the next full moon could put that to an end.
“Sometimes knowing it’s the end will hurt less,” Kit said, his voice resigned. “I came to terms long ago that spending eternity in the Hollow could be my destiny. But it’s not just about me or Inferno anymore—it’s you.”
Stevie tried to keep what would come next, if the gateway opened, behind a curtain to focus. “Nope, we aren’t going to have that kind of attitude in this house. We still have over twenty-four hours. So positive vibes.” Before Kit could respond, the doorbell rang. She shoved out of bed, grabbed a T-shirt and pajama pants from the floor, then threw them on before answering.
A familiar bald warlock, Julian, stood on her porch in the morning fog and … darkness. The sun had never risen… In his hand rested a golden envelope. “From the Crowned Witch. See you soon.” He bowed his head before leaving, and Stevie shut the door and tore open the envelope.
Stevie,
I’m summoning only you and your male guest to a meeting one hour after receiving this letter since you both were unable to fulfill the task at hand. However, I have made a wonderful discovery and we will discuss your next steps. Dress in appropriate attire once more.
The Crowned Witch,
Adelia
“Vague as ever, but it does sound like she found out something!” Stevie said, holding out the letter to Kit who was already near the door.
Kit stepped beside her, fastening the last two buttons of his shirt as he read over Adelia’s words. “Perhaps she found Levi’s location or the council discovered Reese.”
This was most likely their last shot unless a witchy miracle occurred.
“Lucia’s car is still here—let’s see if she knows anything.” Stevie stepped out into the fog and knocked on her sister-in-law’s door. A second later Lucia answered, her hair damp with sweat.
“Good, you’re here!” Lucia pulled Stevie inside. “And you too, Kit! Come to the basement—I’ve been working on something for the past couple of hours since Adelia dropped my errands for the day.”
Stevie halted Lucia by the arm. “I think I know why. Her servant just brought me a letter, and I have to leave soon.” She lifted the folded sheet of paper.
Lucia furrowed her brow as she read over the letter. “In case she doesn’t have a solution, I have something to try. It’ll be quick, I promise.” She led them down to the basement and passed Stevie a needle, then pointed toward a vial bubbling a purple brew. “You know what to do.”
Stevie pricked her finger and added a drop of blood to the liquid.
Lucia corked the vial, then shook it. “I’m attempting to tie Kit to Sleepy Hollow by using his hair, but without his head, his seer eyes might be too strong for the possibility. We’ll try though. Drink it down, Kit.”
“Tell Lucia I said thank you.” He tossed back the contents in one shot.
After leaving Lucia’s, Stevie didn’t have time to fiddle around at the costume shop for a new dress, so she threw on the rented one she’d yet to return. Forgoing makeup and only brushing her hair, she flung her wallet and phone inside the satchel before they hurried out the door.
“You know what, to Hollow with this dress. We’re taking the moped,” Stevie said.
Kit chuckled as he climbed on behind her, and she sped toward the Crowned Witch’s. The fog grew thicker, and it was hard to see even with the headlamp guiding her way through the darkness. The ghosts she passed almost blended in with the fog despite their soft glow.
As she reached the woods, Stevie zigzagged through the trees, then took the trail leading to the gate. It opened when she neared, and Julian waited outside the garden at the front of the house.
“The Crowned Witch has quite the black cat collection,” Kit said, his body facing the garden.
