Page 25 of A Touch Enchanted

I was so tempted to keep walking, but this wasn’t just about me. This was about my parents’ business as well. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Olivia gave me a smirk that turned my blood cold. “Sure you don’t.”

She was toying with me. She’d probably heard rumors, same as my parents, but couldn’t prove anything unless I overreacted and gave her what she wanted. Instead, I plastered a bright smile on my face. “Did you hear Finn and Thora got engaged? They never stopped loving each other and it shows. I couldn’t be happier for them.”

Her face paled as Paige glanced between the two of us with narrowed eyes, trying to sniff out a salacious piece of gossip she knew she was missing. I gave the two of them a little wave and continued on my way. When I glanced back, Paige was already grilling a clearly shaken Olivia. It was no less than she deserved. I hoped she’d live the rest of her life in fear of people finding out what she’d done to Finn and Thora.

I dropped off my latest box of jewelry at Audrey’s shop, but she was so busy, she didn’t have time to stop for coffee. Just as well, since I still had one stop left to make.

When I made it back to the park, I headed toward the old men who gathered to play checkers. Ever since Donovan had come home, he could usually be found out here with them on his lunch break, but no sign of him today. Not that I’d scanned every face looking for his.

They all looked up and shouted my name as I approached. I’d like to think it was because they were happy to see me, but I was willing to bet they were happier to see my cookies. I had a soft spot for the old park men and had been bringing them snacks for years. It was probably how Donovan ended up playing with them every day. He followed the scent of baked goods.

I’d just passed out the last chocolate chip when dark gray clouds gathered overhead. It wasn’t supposed to rain. A sense of unease tickled the back of my neck when a group of birds shot out of a nearby tree and flew away at breakneck speed and a squirrel raced down the bark and darted across the street. Animals were always the first to sense danger.

I heard the crackle of dead leaves before I saw the snake. Its giant black body slithered over the grass, faster than a normal snake and twice as large. It was headed straight for me. I took a stumbling step back and raised my hands in front of my face. As it reared its head back in preparation to strike, Stewart Koning took a swing at it with his cane.

The snake narrowed its dead eyes and swung around, sinking its jaws into Stewart’s side. He crumpled to the ground immediately, hitting his head on the stone bench on the way down. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. I let out a scream, drawing the attention of more than a few tourists who had come out to walk their dogs.

The snake released Stewart, dropping him like a chew toy that no longer interested it. The crowd that had gathered backed up as the snake swayed side to side. As if choosing its next victim. Remembering what Thora had told me about the curse’s aversion to touch, how it was the opposite of magic, and therefore touch made it weaker, I dove for the snake and wrapped my arms around its slick and slimy underbelly. My magic wasn’t activated, so I had no idea if it would work, but I couldn’t let it go after innocent people when it had intended to target me.

Its fangs tore through my shoulder before it disappeared in a puff of black smoke. It felt like I’d been stabbed by a hundred knives at once. Blood spread across my white dress like a paper towel commercial as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. My arm hung limp and useless at my side as my shoulder throbbed with the blistering pain that sent my stomach rolling.

The small crowd that had gathered gasped or murmured amongst themselves. A couple of people took pictures. Had I really been grateful for tourists on the walk over here? I was now beginning to have serious second thoughts.

One guy, who accidentally mistook the attack for a performance, started clapping until he realized he was the only one. Blood continued to soak into my dress as I lunged toward Stewart and pressed my hands over his gushing wounds. He was knocked out. Alive, but just barely.

“Call Donovan,” I choked out. “Tell him to get Finn and Thora to the park now.”

I didn’t want to take my hands off Stewart to make the call myself. It would only be a matter of minutes before he’d bleed out completely. The snake must’ve hit a major artery.

Bob Garret fumbled with his cell phone, but managed to place the call. While I continued to press my hands into Stewart and pray for Finn and Thora’s speed to come through, I tried not to let my panicked thoughts overwhelm me. It was the first time the curse had attacked a non-magic user. It had officially stepped over a line I’d been so sure wouldn’t come until later.

And I had no idea where we were supposed to go from here.

Chapter nine

Donovan

WhenIgotthecall from Bob, the entire world stopped. The Earth just fucking quit turning. Violet was in the park, hurt, Stewart was bleeding out, and I was stuck on the other end of town, unable to reach her. Unable to do anything other than call Finn.

“You and Thora are needed at the park. Now.” I hung up before he could reply and threw my phone against the wall.

Burying my hands in my hair, I paced around my kitchen. This was such bullshit. Our island was too damn big to go without cars for three months out of the year. The park was a two-and-a-half-mile walk. I didn’t own a bicycle. Like Wes, I refused. I had a motorcycle though …

Fuck it. I’d deal with the consequences later.

I dug through the bowl where I stored my keys in the summer. When I found the one I wanted, I stormed out to my garage and fired up my Ducati. At the sound of the engine revving, several of my neighbors peeked out their windows. A few of them frowned at me, like I was an entitled Latham prick who just wanted to take one of his toys out for a joyride. It would only be a matter of time before one of them called the mayor. I didn’t give a fuck.

I took off, opting to cut through the walking trails. Those tended to be less populated in the mid-afternoon when the heat was at its highest. It didn’t take me long to zip along the dirt path. If I hadn’t been so damn worried about Violet, I might’ve been able to enjoy the feel of the wind in my face for the first time in ages.

It had been too long since I’d been on a bike ride in the summer, and even if Thora wasn’t my friend, I’d still be voting for her this fall for the motor vehicle rule alone. Although that might’ve just been Wes’s thing.

By the time I got to the park, it had been roped off with caution tape. Finn stood off to the side, rubbing Thora’s back to keep her from going feral on the mayor. A small crowd of tourists had gathered and it looked like the mayor was trying to convince them all there was nothing to see here. He’d have his hands full with that.

My eyes immediately found Violet and the blood crusted to her white cotton dress launched my heart into my throat. She sat on one of the stone benches, next to Stewart, holding his hand and making him laugh. Both of them appeared to be okay. Thank fuck.

I parked my bike next to the curb and climbed off. The heat from Violet’s gaze reached me from thirty yards away. Good to know her magic had a bike kink.

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