34. Magnolia
RIGGS.
I look around and realize that Kera and Ginger have gone outside without me even realizing it. Two thoughts go through my head simultaneously: one, she’s a lot stronger than I realized if she managed to divert my attention from her, and two, she’s too close to Riggs.
My body flushes with heat and I’m in front of the door, ready to throw a punch into Kera’s smug face, when Aspen appears beside me.
“Wait.”
“Why?” I growl, glaring outside. “I’m going to kill her.”
Aspen’s hands curl over my fists and her voice is low. “Not yet. Besides, murder isn’t a good look.”
“I think now is a perfect time, actually.”
Willow’s voice rises behind me. “Let’s give our cousins some tea.”
Breathing unsteadily, I let Aspen move me away from the door while Willow prepares to step outside. The honey that Kera insists on using in her tea is infused with the herbs that create our Truth Tea blend, and they’re completely untraceable. We’re starting there.
In the sudden quiet of the kitchen, the aunts all cast curious glances at the three of us. Persephone speaks up. “What are you doing?”
Mom locks eyes with me, and I know it’s my story to tell. But why will they believe me, especially Persephone? She’s the one who was—is—friends with Ginger, after all. I swallow the lump of shame in my throat and shake my head. “Discussing tea.”
“My dear, I say this with all the love in my heart: that’s bullshit. Your aura screams you’re lying,” Phoebe says, her dark bun precariously balanced on top of her head. She nudges Calliope beside her. “Surely she knows we can see that?”
Startled, I glance at Juniper, who grimaces in confirmation. Crap. How did I not think about the aunts and all their various gifts? Of course some of them could see auras. Behind me, Riggs’s voice sharpens and everything in me screams to get outside.
So I do. The aunts can wait.
Outside, Kera smirks at Riggs, who glares back at her with so much hate that it’s a wonder Kera’s even standing. A quick glance at Riggs tells me something’s happened, but that he’s fine. A spike of anger blasts through me, and the skin beneath my skirt pocket heats. The veilstone. It’s reacting to my emotions, which isn’t surprising. Its bond with me has only intensified, and while I’m still learning what it does, I knew today was the day to have it with me at all times. I can only hope that Ginger and Kera don’t sense it the same way that Calliope did.
“Tea?” Willow asks innocently, holding the tray with practiced ease. “The two of you came outside so quickly that I didn’t get a chance to offer.”
The women accept the cups, and Aspen pours the tea. Passing a look between them, Ginger and Kera smell the tea, and Ginger sips it.
“Honey?” Willow smiles at Kera. “I remember you prefer yours a little sweet.”
With a saccharine smile at Willow, Kera dips the spoon in the honey, then swirls it into her tea. She takes a tentative sip, then a larger one.
Perfect.
Quinton steps forward. “Got some for me?”
It takes everything in me not to blanch. I have no idea if Quinton takes honey in his tea, and if he does, things will get interesting.
“Me, too.” Riggs steps forward, and I’m pretty sure he growls at Kera.
Riggs, who definitely takes honey in his tea.
Riggs, who doesn’t know the full plan, because he didn’t need to.
Riggs, who, like Quinton, is highly sensitive to our magic.
Willow glances at me, and all I can do is widen my eyes in an I have no idea what to do expression.
We can’t manage any kind of swap, because Willow brought out enough for everyone. All I can do is watch helplessly as Riggs dunks a healthy amount of honey in his tea. Quinton does, too.
Shit.
Aspen turns her caramel eyes to me and narrows them, but what am I supposed to do? Knock the tea out of both men’s hands?
I love them, but these two men are being such…men right now that I’m momentarily overcome by exasperation.
Seriously. Men.
Anyway.
“How’ve you been, Kera?” I ask as Willow excuses herself to take the tray back inside with a mouthed I’m so sorry in my direction.
She shrugs. “Busy,” she says airily. “You?”
“Same.”
“Looking forward to tonight,” she continues.
“Same.” Can I help it if my voice is flat and full of repressed rage? No. No, I cannot.
“You seem…tense.” Kera finishes off her tea.
“Oh, you know,” I reply. Just preparing to undo this curse you landed on me for no good reason and trying to keep you out of my head and keep everyone around me safe, no big deal.
The door bursts open behind us and everyone streams out, breaking the growing tension.
“Clementine!” Quinton enthuses, opening his arms wide. “My darling Clementine,” he croons as she steps into his arms. He hugs her tight and starts humming the old song, which I’m frankly surprised the Canadian knows.
Clementine chuckles. “Hey, hot chocolate. I need your help. Come with me.” She takes his hand and begins leading him in the direction of their house, situated on the back right of the property.
I catch on quickly. We need these two out of here. With a barely-repressed glare at Kera, I step forward and grab Riggs’s hand. “Oh, that’s right. We need you two to finish up with the tents.”
“But we finished,” Riggs says, utterly oblivious to what’s happened to him, bless his heart.
I drag him off the porch. “There’s one more.”
“There is?”
Mom draws everyone else’s attention away from us, and I increase our pace.
“You’re going too fast,” Riggs complains, his boot scraping through the grass with every other step he takes.
“Clementine!” I hiss. She slows and we catch up.
As we slow to a regular pace, Quinton looks at his wife, then me, then Riggs. “Fuck me,” he breathes. “We’re dosed, aren’t we?”
“Is that what’s happening?” Riggs asks.
I push happy thoughts into my touch, and instantly, Riggs’s face blisses out. “Yep,” I admit. “Just truth tea, but with all the energy of the equinox today, plus a full moon, plus all the witches around…you two didn’t have a chance.”
Riggs waves an arm in the air. “Don’t care. You’re making me so happy right now, even though I hate that woman back there, and her mom, too—they are not nice.” He pouts that last part like a put-upon toddler.
Clementine snickers and angles Quinton’s hand toward my free one. “Do it to Quinton.”
“Hell no,” Quinton says, yanking his hand out of my reach. “Damn witches.”
“You’ll feel soooo nice.” Riggs almost slurs the words.
Quinton looks at him and flattens his lips. “Brother, you are a mess.”
We get the men into Clementine and Quinton’s house and sit them both on the couch. My sister looks over at me. “What kind of sports are on right now?”
I shrug. “Football? Maybe? I don’t know.”
“Just give me the remote.” Quinton holds his hand out. When Riggs tosses it to him, Quinton turns on the television and looks back at us. “It was the honey, wasn’t it?”
“Daaaaamn.” Riggs draws out the word and slumps further down into the couch.
“It’ll only last a couple of hours,” Clementine assures them. “I have no idea how long the bliss that Riggs is feeling will go for.”
“She tried something on me,” Riggs says. “Felt slimy.”
I go rigid. “She what?”
“I shut her out, though, because I’m awesome.” He gives me two thumbs up, and it eases the frost building inside me. “Maybe I do have some of my great-grandmother’s magic. Wait. Grandmother’s? Great-grandmother’s. I dunno,” he shrugs happily.
I look at Clementine, then Quinton. “I swear I didn’t know my touch would do all…” I wave my hand up and down Riggs’s slumped form, “…that.”
“Just stay here, Q, and keep that one in check.” Clementine points at Riggs.
Quinton wraps his wife in his arms. “Okay. I love you. I’m worried about you, but I know you’ll take care of yourself and our girls. Because I want boys, but no way are they boys, because I just don’t think that’s a thing, and I’m babbling, and whatever, damn truth tea. Be careful, sprite.”
Clementine melts into him, and the two of them look at each other so gooey-eyed that it’s kind of disgusting. I glance at Riggs.
“Hugs?” he asks, holding his arms out from where he’s pooled into the couch. His aura is a ball of sunshine, and the love beaming out from him warms me from my toes to my hair follicles.
Laughing, I lean down, and he yanks me on top of him into a crushing hug. When he finally eases up, I rise onto my elbows and meet his gaze.
His eyes, those beautiful bright blues, come into focus. “I love you so much, Magnolia.”
I smile gently. “I love you, too, Riggs.”
He runs a finger from the top of my forehead, down over my nose and lips, and then pulls me to him for a soft kiss. “I believe in you.” His voice is low. “You’ve worked so hard. You’re so strong, and wonderful, and I don’t deserve you, but I’m selfish enough that I’m keeping you anyway. And I will love you even if she turns you into a troll.”
I snort. “Thanks, babe.”
“You’re welcome,” he says seriously. “I’ll be cheering you on from where I’m apparently becoming one with this couch.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing, and he releases me so I can get up.
Quinton shakes his head. “Fucking witches, man.”