A Match Made in Spell (Fate Weaver Book 1) Read online

  "It's my birthday, it's my birthday." I did a little dance and moonwalked across the hardwood floor and into the bathroom. Too bad I hadn't mastered that glamour spell yet; it would make getting ready in the morning so much easier. Just as I had every birthday I could remember, I found a tiara resting on the top of a stack of clean towels, the words "Birthday Girl" emblazoned across the front in glitter.

  If there was one thing my godmothers were good at, it was birthdays. When I picked the tiara up, I realized this was not the plastic novelty item of years past; this was the real thing: some type of unbelievably shiny metal that probably hailed from the Faelands.

  Glittering gems caught and reflected the light; aquamarines, a personal touch from Evian flanked a flawless diamond that had Terra written all over it. A polished carnelian screamed Soleil and I could only assume that the luminous moonstones were Vaeta's contribution. It touched me that Vaeta cared enough to have a hand in the beautiful, priceless gift. The second I put it on my head, I felt a rush of pure love and protection that brought tears to my eyes.

  "All hail Alexis, Queen of the Balefire," Salem announced as I descended the staircase with my nose in the air and the skirt of my dress in hand, to a chorus of oohs and ahhs.

  "My loyal subjects, I pronounce this day "Lexi Day" and command thee to party as though it were the year nineteen-ninety-nine!" The four of them, plus Salem, cheered and bowed, and kissed my cheeks. Soleil pressed a hot mug of coffee into my hand, and the scent of vanilla tickled my nose. Our first stop was the kitchen, where a brunch to rival the Waldorf's was laid out on silver platters, complete with a mimosa fountain and a giant cinnamon roll decorated to resemble a birthday cake. Something told me that today they would break the twelve-cake record of my 21st birthday bash with ease.

  The entire downstairs was carpeted in lush grass, and flowers sprang behind me at every step. A nice touch, but I have to admit my favorite thing this year was the fountain in the backyard. Jets of colored water arced and played over an ice sculpture of me dressed as Marilyn Monroe in that iconic scene where her dress billows up over the steam grate.

  "I love it," I squealed and hugged Evian.

  I could see into the dining room, an interior space with no windows that was reserved for company and thus rarely used. Countless fireflies danced inside hundreds of glass jars placed all around the room, and another cake, this one four tiers high and covered in multi-colored fondant, occupied the center of the table.

  Vaeta sent our loaded plates, coffee mugs, and champagne flutes through the door on a gust of wind, and everyone settled in, chatting up a storm while tiny sprites placed linen napkins on each of our laps. I noted the way Salem skirted the edge of the group, practically drooling until Terra scratched him behind one of his human ears with a fond smile and instructed him to sit down with the rest of us.

  Evian raised a glass, her silver-tipped fingernails shining in the firelight, and gazed at me indulgently. "To Lexi! Our life, our love, our birthday princess!" Everyone cheered, I blushed pink under all the attention, and then we dug into our meal. I knew from experience that today would be a marathon, and justified the extra carbs as fuel for the duration.

  "As usual," Terra addressed the group, "we have everything set for the Beltane celebration. It's a big one; the fire is burning at full power, and we'll see a much more enthusiastic turnout this year. This will be Lexi's coming out party, and it's sure to be one hell of a night!"

  "So basically I'm going to be on display, like some animal in a zoo?" I asked, not having taken the time to think about what would actually happen once I came face to face with half the witches on the east coast.

  Vaeta's musical laugh echoed across the room. "My darling, it'll be more like you're being worshiped by your loyal subjects. Next year it will be old news, but when a Balefire comes into her powers, it's usually on the chair."

  "You mean off the chain?" I couldn't help riffing on Vaeta's limited knowledge of today's vernacular. At least she'd stopped saying she was going to nip a problem in the butt.

  "Whatever. You know what I mean." I wanted to LOL, but pressed my lips into a line and nodded sagely instead. Salem covered a giggle with a large cough and quickly snagged a piece of bacon, refusing to make eye contact with Vaeta.

  The first round of presents--yes, I said first round; don't judge--included a gorgeous Zac Posen party dress I had circled in last month's Vogue and left open on the kitchen island, and another set of jewels so lavish I felt like I should write a check to a children's charity ASAP.

  When you can create diamonds and gold on a whim, money becomes a non-issue, but I have enough crazy in my life that lavish living would be too over-the-top. Besides, I love my work and the satisfaction of being able to pay my own way. With my birthday falling on the one day a year where a magical party was not only accepted, but expected, we went all out for the Beltane festivities.

  I noticed a gift from Flix in the pile and wondered why he hadn't shown up this morning. I'd missed him even if I hadn't needed him to talk me out of my failure funk this year, and I was a little hurt at the thought that he didn't want to share in my happiness when things had finally turned around. The box felt like it was filled with absolutely nothing, but inside I found a photo of Flix holding a pair of Manolo Blahnik strappy sandals that matched the dress perfectly in one hand and a note that said "Bliss" in the other.

  "Go meet him at the spa, Lex, we've got the Beltane preparations covered. All you have to do is show up." Soleil practically pushed me out the door before I could finish my second mimosa.

  ***

  "How do they make mud feel so luxurious?" I asked Flix sleepily. Wrapped in a cocoon of wet dirt I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks.

  "It's the peat mixed with the mineral water. It has healing properties." He responded languidly before lapsing into silence again.

  "Why didn't you come wake me this morning?" I asked, still a little hurt despite the 600 dollar shoes he had splurged on for my big day.

  "Your house is a bit on the insane side lately, so I figured I'd stay away. Not all faeries take kindly to halflings; your godmothers are an exception, but I don't know how this Vaeta would respond. Plus, I'm not terribly fond of that feline." He made a face at the mention of Salem.

  "You never had a problem with him before. Did you know he was a familiar?" I had been wondering how all three godmothers and Flix had failed to see Salem's true nature.

  "I figured he was, but what good would it have done to tell you that when I knew he wouldn't be able to change. It would have wigged you out, and with you so attached to him, keeping mum seemed like the best option." Made sense, but somehow I still felt mildly betrayed.

  ***

  Back at the house, I deftly sidestepped an encumbered Elven cater waiter, holding open the door to the butler's pantry while averting my gaze from the rest of the decor. I didn't want to get sidetracked, and I had business of my own to attend to. Besides, walking head-on into a faerie party with no expectations is pretty spectacular; I preferred to wait until I made my official entrance to take it all in. A dozen mice skittered in front of me on their hind legs, carrying a box of what looked like tulle and glitter over their heads. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see four blue jays busily covering the windows with some kind of shimmery fabric I knew would block the view of the inside from the street; if they were enlisting the help of woodland creatures, this party was sure to impress.

  I hightailed it to my bedroom, shut the door and enjoyed the calm before the storm while I applied a drugstore's worth of lotions, balms, and cosmetics, taking care not to mess up the complicated updo Flix had tortured my hair into.

  The din from below was audible enough now to set my nerves tingling, so I took a moment to center myself before venturing downstairs. I pulled a purple candle from my stash, anointed it with lavender oil, and sent up a prayer to Brighid, the goddess of eternal flame; Hestia, the goddess of the hearth; and Ma'at, the goddess of balance.

 
"Grant me balance, and the ability to preside over the hearth and flame as my fore-mothers did. Grant me peace, Goddesses."

  With a whisper of a breath, I extinguished the flame and felt a surge of power as a blanket of calm enveloped my body. I don't know if it was because it was my birthday, or because it was Beltane, or if it was simply because I performed the ritual with more confidence and intention than ever before, but I knew in my bones I had completed my first successful spell. I carried that feeling with me into the hallway, where I paused for a breath at the top of the stairs.

  The dining room was a ghost town, but I could hear laughter and bright voices in the parlor. My throat tightened. If you've ever felt like an outsider, you'll understand why. Women say more with a look than men do with a song. A tilt of the head, eyes that slide away, bright smiles paired with subtle frowns all show that pity and sympathy are close cousins.

  Every year I stood in this spot, steeling myself against the set shoulders, the forced warmth that reminded me I would never fit in. Never fit in. Those words played in my head even now when they were no longer true.

  Get over it, Lexi. I gave myself a little pep talk. Go in there and give this a chance.

  Chin high, shoulders squared, and spine straight, I followed my own advice.

  The Balefire burned so bright it hurt my eyes to look at it, so I directed my attention toward the sea of faces that turned my way. Smiles, wide and warm and real, wreathed faces reflecting the fire's glow. I barely cleared the doorway before being swamped by hugs and pats of congratulation.

  I know it's a little small-minded to dwell on the past, but a hint of bitter came with the sweet.

  Only two faces carried guarded expressions. Serena Snodgrass looked like someone had bottled her up in a fart jar with no way out. It was the pained look on her face that brought my first tentative smile. The second sober countenance belonged to none other than Athena, the missing shopkeeper. And what was that all about?

  I kept one eye on her while I tried to extricate myself from the clutch of happy witches, but they were on me like fur on a familiar. At one point, I saw Athena and Serena in a discussion that looked heated. Athena leaned in close and whispered something in the younger woman's ear and I saw Serena's face blanch before becoming more pinched than ever.

  Marvita Walthrop harnessed me for a kiss on each cheek and a discussion of how her own magic had taken a year to show up. Why she waited until now to regale me with a tale that would have made me feel more connected to my peers in years gone by was a mystery to me.

  By the time the story ended, so had Serena and Athena's conversation. With a series of jerky motions, Serena selected a willow stick from the basket we provided and thrust it into the flame. The last I saw of her, the half-witted witch was marching toward the door with a flickering twig in her hand and a look on her face that was blacker than the soot in the fireplace. Athena was nowhere to be found.

  I spent the rest of the evening getting to know my sister witches and learning how much of the distance between us had been imagined or created by my own insecurities. Wine flowed, music played, and we sang and danced--danced to honor the gods and goddesses. We danced to honor our own mortality. We sang songs of unification and I think I might have even made a few friends.

  All in all, it was a good night.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Did I mention I'm not a morning person? I think I was when I was a kid. I remember waking with the sun, the excitement of a new day coursing through my veins before sunshine gave way to a caffeine-induced alertness that never lifted me as high or for as long.

  The morning following my first awakened birthday started out like every day had when I was a six-year-old. I woke to feel energized and ready for anything. Okay, it could have been a residual wine buzz, but I didn't waste a lot of time worrying about it. For once, I would get downstairs in time for the first wave of breakfast.

  To my surprise, I found Salem hunched over the breakfast bar with a cup of milk and a plate of smoked salmon, practically purring as Soleil, Terra, and Evian bustled around the kitchen making good use of all the party leftovers. It must have been his cat form that turned them off because they seemed to like his human one just fine.

  "Morning Lexi." They all chimed in unison. Soleil reached for a coffee mug, spun around in a perfect pirouette to avoid Soleil, who ducked beneath her arm and grabbed a carton of cream from the fridge. She let go, sending the carton through the air, where it hovered over an old, slate blue Fiestaware creamer and, without spilling a drop onto the granite counter top, floated back to its cold cavern and stilled. Sugar cubes danced across a napkin and deposited themselves into the cup, and Soleil rotated her finger at a tiny spoon, ordering it to stir my coffee.

  Watching the three of them together was like having a front row seat to The Nutcracker--starring Harry Potter. They worked in perfect unison, spinning and ducking and twirling in time to an unheard tune. Soleil's affinity with fire allowed her to brown, toast, and char to perfection, and I could see Salem drooling all over his plate as he waited for another course of crisp, but still chewy bacon. Evian pointed to a pot of water on top of the stove, which immediately bubbled to a perfect simmer as two eggs slipped in and began to poach. Terra danced over to the sunny bay window and I watched as a tiny potted plant grew two feet tall and hung heavy with three types of sweet peppers. After picking, the plant returned to its previous size. She whisked them to the counter where a large butcher's knife began chopping the fragrant peppers into pieces and then, with a wave of her hand, they flew into a saute pan and started to sizzle.

  I stuffed an egg, some bacon, and a piece of cheese between two halves of a buttery croissant, sipped my coffee and spent a pleasant hour hashing over highlights of the party the day before.

  Times like these, when all of the elements of my household were working in perfect harmony, I feel like I can overcome any obstacle. I basked in the glory for about three-tenths of a second before I heard the unmistakable sound of my phone ringing. Crap, I'd left it upstairs.

  A mad dash ensued.

  Blessedly, it stopped before I could answer. Six missed calls starting yesterday afternoon, all from Harry Tart. I'd like to get off this see-saw, please. What could possibly be wrong now, and when did I become Harry's personal love coach, anyway? Of course, I should have known my birthday cake-induced good mood wouldn't last. I debated calling him back immediately and instead decided to take a shower first. I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. Check that--another one of those days.

  ***

  "Lexi!" came Harry's emotion-roughened voice over the line. "You've got to fix this. I can't live without her!"

  "Slow down, Harry. Tell me what's wrong." I tried to remain calm, figuring this was another bout of panic that would dissolve as quickly as it had formed.

  I could hear the pain in his voice, and my heart wrenched for him. "She left me. Lemon left. Canceled the wedding. She says she's in love with that singer and they're going to be together."

  My heart stopped beating for a millisecond, and when it began again I could feel it throbbing in my temples at an alarming pace. Somehow, I had convinced myself that Lemon was just acting out, sowing her wild oats before the wedding. Had I been blind to just how far over the edge she had gone? Harry hadn't, and I had ignored him because I didn't want to admit Lemon might actually have a connection with Kin. Hurt, anger, and a few other emotions roiled to the surface, but I tamped them down with Harry's distress in mind.

  "There's got to be a reasonable explanation, Harry. Try to calm down, and let me see what I can do."

  "You keep saying that, but nothing you've done has helped. You said we were meant for each other, and I believed you. Everything was perfect, and now I wish I had never gotten into this mess. Do you have any idea what it's like to finally find your soul mate and then have them walk away, just like that? It's worse than never having found her at all." Harry's despair flowed through the phone line so palpably it made the
hair on my arms stand at attention. I had to get to the bottom of this or, something told me, I'd be making a huge mistake that could hurt my business. And also, I'm not ashamed to admit, my professional pride was on the line. I knew Lemon and Harry belonged together as surely as I knew my own name, and I wasn't about to let their relationship get derailed by the man I thought I might have a future with.

  "I'm sorry, Harry. Really. I'll get in touch with you as soon as I can."

  My heart tripped over itself again as an image of Lemon and Kin floated in front of my eyes, and I quickly shook my head to clear it while I dialed Lemon's number.

  "Hi, Lexi, what's up?" She answered cheerfully. Okaaay.

  "What do you mean, what's up? I just spoke to Harry, and he says you've canceled the wedding! What in the world is going on with you?" I demanded.

  Lemon's voice turned husky. "I'm in love with another man. Kin Clark. He's a musician, maybe you've heard of him?" Apparently, it was a rhetorical question because she kept jabbering on without giving me a chance to answer. "If you haven't, you will soon enough; I'm going to make him a star! I can't believe how lucky I am."

  I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

  "And this Kin is fine with the fact that until yesterday you've been engaged to another man?"

  "What difference would that make to him? I know he's the one for me; I know we're a better match than Harry and I will ever be. I mean, come on, Lexi. Lemon Tart? It felt whimsical at first--meant to be--but now that I've experienced real love...I can't walk away from that. I'm putting in my notice at the firm; I'll start my own company, with Kin as my first client. He'll be a huge sensation, and soon we'll leave this one horse town and Harry will never have to see me again."

  One horse town? Who talked like that? Whatever was messing with Lemon's head was making her even more theatrical than normal. It didn't seem like I was going to get anything else out of her, and I had a pretty good idea where I would find the next target for my irritation.