Charmed Offensive Read online

  Charmed Offensive

  Spellbound Ever After Paranormal Cozy Mystery, Book 4

  Annabel Chase

  Red Palm Press LLC

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Also by Annabel Chase

  Chapter One

  Pain seized my leg and I vaulted off the bed, swallowing a scream. Magpie went flying to the floor at the same time. The hellbeast must’ve been snoozing on my chest again. I hobbled around the room at a quick pace in an effort to relax the knotted calf muscle.

  “Magpie, what did you to me?”

  The one-eyed cat took a step toward the door before turning to hiss at me. He left the room in a huff, his tail swishing with each angry step.

  It isn’t his fault you keep getting cramps in your leg, Sedgwick said. You can blame the child for those.

  I looked across the room to where the owl was perched on the dresser. “He was sleeping on my chest again. He’s probably depriving my body of much-needed oxygen.” My gaze cut to the clock on my bedside table and a sharp intake of breath followed.

  That's right, my familiar said. It's after five o'clock.

  “Why did you let me nap so long? I only meant to close my eyes for a few minutes.”

  The last time I tried to wake you, Sleeping Beauty, you scorched my feathers with a spell.

  “Only because you startled me awake,” I said. “There’s a way to go about gently nudging someone.”

  I heard the sound of the front door open and close and Daniel's voice echoed throughout the old Victorian-style house. “Emma, I'm home!”

  I pulled the sheets up, not wanting him to know I was napping again. I felt guilty for falling asleep in the middle of the day while he was toiling away at the tourism office.

  Your hair, Princess Aurora, Sedgwick said. It needs to be introduced to a brush.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m going to ban you from watching all animated movies if you keep this up.”

  I can't help that Gareth is researching age-appropriate entertainment for children, the owl said.

  “There’s no rule that says you have to watch,” I said. “Be nocturnal like all the other owls, except the northern hawk owl and the northern pygmy owl.” Thanks to Gareth’s visits to the library, I knew those two owl species were diurnal.

  Sedgwick cocked his head and pretended to snore. I grabbed a brush from the dresser and quickly ran it through my hair before hurrying to the stairs. It wasn't as easy for me to get around now that my stomach was the size of a prize-winning watermelon.

  I reached the top of the stairs and ground to a halt. Blocking my way was a white plastic gate. I tried to lift what I thought was the handle, but the gate refused to budge.

  “Spells bells,” I said. “Who put this here?”

  Daniel appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “You probably have Gareth to thank for that.”

  I searched the top of the gate to figure out how to open it, but to no avail. “I think you need a PhD to open one of these.” I wasn't in the mood to learn a new skill. “Daniel, you might want to stand back for this.” I cupped my hands around my mouth and called back to my bedroom, “Sedgwick, my wand!”

  The owl swooped down the hallway with Tiffany clenched in his beak. He dropped the light blue wand into my outstretched hand.

  No need to yell, he said. It’s called a telepathic link. Use it.

  Once my husband and familiar were out of range, I aimed my wand at the gate and said, “Reunite me with my mate/remove this barrier, remove this gate.”

  The baby gate blew backward and flew down to the base of the staircase. Naturally, my vampire ghost roommate chose that moment to appear. Gareth hovered downstairs, looking disdainfully at the gate. “Why did you do that? Do you know how long it took me to get it exactly right?” He held up his hands. “I’m incorporeal. You know how much energy I have to expend moving physical objects.”

  I took my time coming down the steps, not trusting my equilibrium. Ever since my belly grew big enough to block the view of my feet, I had trouble maintaining my balance.

  “Gareth, we don't even have a baby yet, let alone one that is moving freely about the cabin. There’s no need for a gate yet.”

  “But you need to practice living with one,” Gareth objected. “Look what just happened. You can't wait to perfect the skills. Preparation is the key to success.”

  I brushed past the vampire ghost and stepped gingerly over the fallen gate to where Daniel was waiting for me. The angel leaned down to greet me with a kiss.

  “My favorite part of the day is coming home to you,” he said. As he withdrew, he hesitated. “What time did you wake up today?”

  I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  He frowned. “Your breath. It's a little stale.”

  “Is there any way to speak to the mother of your child?” I chastised him.

  “It wasn't a criticism,” he said. “It's just that your breath only smells like that when you've been sleeping with your mouth open.”

  “Finally!” Gareth said. “The bloom is off the rose. Maybe this means he'll move out soon.”

  I glared at him over Daniel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry,” I said. I couldn't keep my secret from him. “The truth is I was napping. I only just got up because I got another cramp in my calf.”

  Daniel wrapped his hand around the back of my head. “Emma, you don't have to apologize. You’re pregnant. It's only natural that you’d be more tired than usual. You can't expect to function exactly the same as you always have. You have to make allowances for yourself.”

  “I’ve already been making allowances,” I said. “I only spent two hours in the office this morning. Althea made me go home when she caught me with my forehead on the desk.”

  “We’ll just have to make sure that you get plenty of sleep tonight,” Daniel said.

  “I need to be at the academy by seven for the special assembly. Hopefully, Limpet won’t drone on for too long. What would you like for dinner?”

  Daniel shook his head. “I’m the chef here.”

  Gareth raised a finger. “I beg to differ.”

  “The only thing I want you to do right now his rest.” Daniel looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe we should think about taking a trip somewhere.”

  “A trip?” I asked.

  He swept away a loose strand of hair that was plastered to my cheek. Must've missed that one. “Yes. A babymoon.”

  “What's a babymoon?” I asked.

  “It's like a honeymoon, except you take it when you’re about to have a baby,” he explained. “It's our last chance to take a trip together as a couple. You seem to need more rest than you're getting and I could use it as an opportunity to do some research for the tourism office here.”

  “You can’t go anywhere in your condition,” Gareth said heatedly. “What happens if you have a medical issue or you go into labor early?”

  I smiled at Daniel. “Gareth thinks it's too risky at this stage of the pregnancy.”

  “Good thing Gareth isn't coming with us then,” Daniel said. He kissed me on the forehead. “You think about it and let me know. I’ll go and make dinner so you can digest before the assembly. What are you in the mood for?”

  “Food,” I repl
ied.

  The angel grinned. “Then food, it is.”

  “Another assembly?” Millie grumbled. “I feel like all the High Priestess has done since her arrival is schedule academy assemblies.”

  “Any excuse to listen to herself talk,” Sophie said.

  “I don't mind them,” Laurel said. Thankfully, the youngest witch in our group had finally ditched her Goth look in favor of electric blue streaks in her hair. She’d even swapped her black clothes for a bit of color. Progress. “The more she tells us in these assemblies, the less worried I am that she’s going to take action without coven approval.”

  Jamison Briar, the coven’s Black Dog, stood outside the entrance to the assembly hall, looking as handsome and ready to kick butt as ever. I had every intention of staying on the wizard’s good side.

  “Hi, Jamison.” I greeted him with a toothy smile.

  “ID, please,” he said.

  “Why?” Millie asked, trying to peer over his shoulder. “Is there a bar inside?”

  Jamison’s serious expression morphed into a grin. “No, but it’s not a bad idea. ID’s are a new coven policy. Any official event requires identification for security purposes.”

  “I never met someone more in love with bureaucracy,” Begonia muttered.

  “I think Gareth could give her a run for her money,” I said.

  Jamison approved our ID’s and my friends and I filed into the assembly hall in the Arabella St. Simon Academy, otherwise known as the ASS Academy. As we started to move toward the available seats, I caught sight of a notecard affixed to the back of the chair.

  “There are assigned seats,” I said.

  Everyone halted to inspect the notecards.

  “Stars and stones,” Begonia said. “Why do we need assigned seats for an assembly?”

  “Because Limpet is a control freak,” Millie said. “This is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about. First stop, assigned seats. Next stop malevolent dictator.”

  “And which malevolent dictator might that be?” a voice asked.

  Slowly, we turned to see that Marjory Limpet had entered the room. Short and squat with a severe hairstyle that suggested she wielded her own scissors, the High Priestess didn’t fit the image of ‘imposing leader.’ The bubble gum pink suit beneath the purple cloak also did little to dispel the notion. Despite her appearance, she still managed to radiate power and control.

  “I just don't understand why we need to be told where to sit for an assembly,” Millie said. “We’re capable of basic functions.” I had to admire her spirit. She could have easily tried to make excuses.

  “I’m sure you are,” the High Priestess said, “but I’ve noticed far too many cliques in this coven. One of my goals as the head of this coven is to stamp them out. We can start by forcing members to engage with a variety of witches and wizards in the coven.” She flashed a menacing smile. “As you’ve probably guessed, your little group has been identified as one of these offending groups.” She glanced at the row of chairs behind us. “Sophie Gale, your seat is here.” She tapped the top of the chair. “The rest of you will have to keep looking. Carry on, but don't dillydally because the assembly is about to begin.”

  We exchanged disappointed glances before continuing to hunt for our seats. The High Priestess didn’t exaggerate. Each of us was in a different row and between witches and wizards we didn't normally interact with. I was seated between two wizards—Rodrigo and Bartholomew. Rodrigo looked to be around thirty, with jet-black hair and soulful brown eyes. I knew Bartholomew was fifty because I heard through the grapevine that he’d celebrated his birthday at the Horned Owl recently and got so drunk that Professor Holmes had to drive him home.

  Marjorie took her place at the head of the room and amplified her voice. “Thank you all for joining me this evening. As you know, the coven leadership team has been working extensively to improve the state of this coven and bring the witches and wizards of Spellbound into the current century where they belong.”

  A smattering of applause followed.

  “One of the positions the leadership team has been debating is the newly established Voice of the Coven. In case you don't recall, the Voice of the Coven serves as a conduit between the rest of the town and our local coven. The witch or wizard in this role must be able to remain calm and collected in a crisis situation and possess fine-tuned diplomatic skills.”

  Millie will need to work on that if she wants the role, I thought.

  “The leadership team has narrowed it down to three contenders,” the High Priestess continued.

  I bristled every time Limpet referred to the leadership team. The term reminded me of a corporation rather than a coven.

  “I’m pleased to announce the following members of the coven have made the short list. Rodrigo, Gina, and Millie.”

  Beside me, Rodrigo beamed. “I made offerings every night this week in the hopes that they would choose me,” he admitted in a velvety voice. “I think I'd be an excellent Voice of the Coven.”

  I offered a polite smile. While he seemed like a perfectly nice wizard, my allegiance was to Millie. “Best of luck,” I whispered. Then I turned around and gave Millie a thumbs up.

  “Each candidate will give a speech in this very room at the end of the week and the coven will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end,” the High Priestess said. “Then we’ll put it to a vote right there and then.”

  Bartholomew leaned across me. “You've got this, Rodrigo.” They bumped fists in front of me.

  We would have to do everything in our power to help Millie win—not only because Millie wanted this for herself, but also because it would be good to have someone on the inside. After Lady Weatherby’s treachery, I’d feel better having someone as close to the High Priestess as possible.

  “Now, on to other matters,” the High Priestess continued. “The name of the academy has been a contentious matter ever since I first raised the issue. There seems to be strong feelings on both sides, so I have decided to put this issue to a vote as well.”

  I hadn't realized how tense I was until my body relaxed. A vote was the right way to handle the matter and I was pleased that the High Priestess chose this option rather than unilaterally changing it.

  “Voting will take place at the same time as the Voice of the Coven. The options will include the existing Arabella St. Simon Academy, the Sun and Moon Academy, as well as a write-in option. If the write-in option garners the most votes, then that will be the new name of this academy.”

  Another relief. We’d have to start drumming up support for the academy founder. It wouldn't be the same without Arabella’s name attached to the coven’s academic institution.

  “There is one more matter of new business to share,” the High Priestess said. “The leadership team has decided to institute a new rule regarding coven membership.”

  I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I’d been permitted to remain a member of the coven, even after it was discovered that I was actually a sorceress. If Marjory Limpet wanted to reopen my case…

  “Offspring of coven members will not automatically be entitled to membership,” she continued. “Obviously, if both parents are members of the coven, then there is no issue. However, if one partner is of a different nature, then the child will only be invited if and when he or she is old enough to display the appropriate magical credentials.”

  My jaw tightened. Marjory Limpet disliked that I’d been admitted into the coven in the first place. Now she wanted to make sure that my child would be excluded. At this point, I had no idea what a sorceress-angel hybrid would be like. Nobody did. My friends and I had been researching the topic, but there wasn't much information out there. It didn’t help that I knew very little about my father, not even his species.

  From the other side of the hall, Laurel piped up. “Excuse me, High Priestess, but what would these magical credentials entail? Have you written specifics into the rule?”

  “Thank you for your thoughtful question
, Laurel. We’ve left it vague enough to make allowances for unforeseen skills, but the magic must be of the sort practiced by this coven.”

  Although no one said anything in response to the new rule, I felt their eyes on me.

  “Lastly, I'm sure you noticed the assigned seats during this assembly. The leadership team has decided to take a proactive approach to encourage more inclusion among coven members. This is a new initiative aimed at promoting strong bonds within the coven and to discourage cliques. Much damage has been done over the course of this coven's existence and it is my goal to help us to get to know one another again.”

  “If she says intimately, I’m running for the hills,” Rodrigo joked. “I don’t care how tight she wears it, pastel suits aren’t sexy.”

  Bartholomew chuckled, but I remained tight-lipped. I had no interest in attracting any more attention from Marjory Limpet. It seemed that my baby and I were already part of her agenda to ‘improve’ the coven. I cradled my stomach and did a silent prayer to the gods that my child inherited enough magic to qualify.

  Chapter Two

  “I don’t see what you’re so worried about,” Althea said. We sat in my office the next morning where I gave my assistant the update on Limpet’s improvement measures.

  “What do you mean?” I leaned back in my chair in an effort to get comfortable. My lower back ached and I had pins and needles in my leg.

  “Does it matter if your child isn’t in the coven?” she asked. “Your husband isn’t. Not all your friends are either.”

  I stared at the Gorgon. “It sounds so sensible when you say it like that. Still, I hate the idea of my child being excluded from something before she’s even born.”