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  “If you think the summoning spell helped you find the Book of Shadows, then what do you think the bees meant?”

  I drummed my fingers on the open page of the book. “I’m not sure. Initially, I didn’t think it had any connection to Ivy. I assumed I messed up the spell.”

  “But now?” Marley prompted.

  “I think it was a story,” I said. “About Ivy. I checked this nature book out of the library.” I gestured to the book on the coffee table.

  Marley’s eyes widened. “You’re reading about nature? Voluntarily?”

  “It’s about hives and queen bees,” I said. “It’s actually fascinating.”

  Marley pulled the book onto her lap and flipped to the marked pages. Her face contorted as she read. “Bees are brutal.”

  “Which part did you read?”

  “There are bees called drones that rely on the worker bees to feed them, and at some point, they stop getting fed and starve to death.”

  “That’s a whole different kind of teamwork.”

  “The worker bees also decide when it’s time to create a new queen bee,” Marley said. “They’ll rip the stinger from the current queen so she dies.”

  I winced. “That’s hardcore.” At least the Council of Elders didn’t operate like a hive or Granger would have had far worse problems than a vote of no confidence.

  “I think you’re right, Mom.”

  I balked. “I am? About what?”

  “I think the summoning spell delivered a message. I think Ivy was trying to explain what happened to her.” Marley’s enthusiasm was infectious. She picked up another book from the library. “It tells us that she was stripped of her magic and forced to step down as High Priestess, the same way the queen was treated by the hive.”

  I started to process the information. “You think the coven is the hive in this scenario?”

  Marley nodded, barely able to contain her excitement. “Some cultures believe that bees have magical powers.”

  “Like the coven,” I said, more to myself. Marley definitely seemed to be on to something. “That still doesn’t explain why, though. What was the excessive force? Did she deserve her punishment?”

  Marley scanned the page in front of her. “I think we’ll need more than symbols to figure that out.”

  A low growl erupted from PP3, although he remained in his place on the sofa, nestled beside me.

  “Someone’s here,” I said. I extricated myself from the books and my family to answer the door. I was only mildly surprised to see Sheriff Nash on my doorstep. He had dark circles under his eyes and he couldn’t quite bring himself to look me in the eye.

  “Can we talk a minute?” he asked in a low voice. He didn’t seem to want Marley to know he was here.

  I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like an ass,” he said. “Thank you for everything you did. You don’t know much I appreciate it.”

  “I’m pretty sure I do,” I said. “Please don’t give it another thought. I know you would’ve done the same for me.”

  He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I can’t believe how badly I behaved. I can hardly stand the look of myself in the mirror.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Granger. It was a mistake. We all make them.” Some of us more than others.

  “Mama sends her thanks, too.” He bent down and produced a glass jug filled with bright yellow liquid. “She told me to bring you this.”

  I smiled and accepted it. “Homemade lemon fizz. Tell her she’s the best.”

  “I’m sorry I put you in that position, Rose. I’m supposed to serve and protect the community, not make you serve and protect me.”

  “You were only trying to take care of yourself. I totally understand that. Please don’t apologize for trying to move on with your life. It was the right thing to do.”

  “But a foolish way to do it. I should know better than to use magic to try to fix my problems,” he said. “I’m a werewolf. That’s not our way.”

  “How’s my little buddy?” I asked.

  A smile tugged the corners of his lips. “He’ll recover. He gave me a good kick in the pants, but I deserved it.”

  “So where did his foot land—at your kneecap?” I couldn’t see the leprechaun getting his own leg any higher than that.

  The sheriff chuckled. “About there.”

  A thought occurred to me. “Have you…Do you know all the women you were…?” I didn’t know how to finish the question.

  He sucked in an uncomfortable breath. “I don’t have complete memory loss. Some parts are hazier than others and I found a few unfamiliar numbers in my phone, but I’ve been working my way through them. Don’t want to cause anyone else heartache. I know how that feels.”

  “Who knows? Maybe you’ll get a real date out of all this.”

  He pulled a face. “Any woman who wanted to date that Granger isn’t really someone I’d be compatible with. I think Wyatt’s going to end up reaping the benefits.”

  I groaned. “Of course he is.”

  He closed his eyes. “Rose, did I…grab your butt?”

  I hesitated, debating whether to be honest. “No,” I finally said. “That must’ve been another woman. You were nothing but respectful to me.”

  He dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled. “Thank the gods. I was really hoping it wasn’t you, but I couldn’t remember for sure.”

  “Would you like to come in for a drink of lemon fizz? Marley and I are doing a little research. Nothing that can’t wait.”

  He seemed to consider the offer. “I should probably get going. I’ve got a life to be getting on with, and so do you.”

  “You’re always welcome here, Granger.”

  He took a reluctant step backward. “See you around, Rose.” He turned and swaggered back to his car.

  “I believe the name you’re looking for is honeypot,” I called after him.

  He gave a final wave before ducking into his car and driving away.

  Keep an eye out for Magic & Misdeeds, Book 11!

  Also by Annabel Chase

  Thank you for reading Magic & Maladies! Sign up for my newsletter and receive a FREE Starry Hollow Witches short story— http://eepurl.com/ctYNzf. You can also like me on Facebook so you can find out about the next book before it's even available.

  Other books by Annabel Chase include:

  Spellbound Paranormal Cozy Mysteries

  Curse the Day, Book 1

  Doom and Broom, Book 2

  Spell’s Bells, Book 3

  Lucky Charm, Book 4

  Better Than Hex, Book 5

  Cast Away, Book 6

  A Touch of Magic, Book 7

  A Drop in the Potion, Book 8

  Hemlocked and Loaded, Book 9

  All Spell Breaks Loose, Book 10

  Spellbound Ever After

  Crazy For Brew, Book 1

  Lost That Coven Feeling, Book 2

  Wands Upon A Time, Book 3

  Charmed Offensive, Book 4

  Poetry in Potion, Book 5

  Federal Bureau of Magic cozy mystery:

  Great Balls of Fury, Book 1

  Fury Godmother, Book 2

  No Guts, No Fury, Book 3

  Grace Under Fury, Book 4

  Bedtime Fury, Book 5

  Three Alarm Fury, Book 6

  Spellslingers Academy of Magic

  Outcast, Warden of the West, Book 1

  Outclassed, Warden of the West, Book 2

  Outlast, Warden of the West, Book 3

 

 

 
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