Enchantment Page 32

  Channie followed his gaze from her tangled hair to her dirty hands as she absently picked at a hole in her flannel nightgown.

  Hunter was wearing a threadbare suit coat that fell from his shoulders and covered all but his fingertips. The waist band of his dress trousers was pleated and cinched around his waist with a belt. His pant’s cuffs pooled over the tops his hiking boots — the only part of his getup that fit. He’d gone to a lot of trouble, borrowing a suit and gathering flowers.

  She still didn’t want to marry him … much less sleep with him, but he was trying to make the best of the situation. The least she could do was change into a dress and brush her hair.

  She nodded towards the kitchen and said, “Have a seat, I’ll go change.”

  Channie found the dress Momma had made for her social debut hanging in the back of her chifferobe. Her debut would have been at the gathering during winter’s solstice which, ironically, just so happened to be Josh’s birthday. The irony of all ironies was that when Momma had taken Channie to Walmart to pick out the fabric, she’d chosen the emerald green velvet because Hunter had once commented on the unusual color of her eyes and she’d wanted to impress him.

  Channie went into Momma and Daddy’s room and pulled the dress on, but couldn’t reach all the buttons in the back. She cracked the bedroom door open and said, “Hunter? Could you …?” She turned around and lifted her hair.

  “My pleasure.” Hunter’s hands shook as he buttoned her dress.

  Channie took shallow breaths through her mouth and silently counted each button as he fastened it. Four, three, two, one, done! She stepped away from him and shut the door.

  How was she going to endure her wedding night if she could barely stand his touch on her back?

  He knocked on the door. “Channie? Are you okay?”

  “Could you get me a drink of water? I’ll be right out.”

  “Sure.” Hunter sighed so loudly, she heard it through the closed door. “Take as much time as you need.”

  Five minutes later, Channie opened the door.

  The front room was unnaturally bright. At first she thought Hunter had lit another lantern. But kerosene lanterns didn’t pulse and buzz. Channie’s heart plunged to her feet, smacked the floor then bounced back into her throat. Hunter was holding the Book of the Dead … and the damned thing was glowing.

  “Hunter! What are you doing? Put that down!”

  “Is this it? Is this the book that’s causing all the ruckus?”

  “Put it down. Now.”

  “Okay, okay.” He laid it on the table, but kept one hand on the cover. “I was just curious.”

  “And incredibly stupid.”

  “I didn’t know what it was at first, but when it started glowing …” he nodded towards the book, “I thought I’d better check it out. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  Channie wanted to smack him, but she settled for cussing him out, which had the same effect. He stepped away from the table and the book and gawked at her. He’d only known her as sweet, submissive, Enchantment. Chastity’s magic was gone, not its vocabulary. The poor boy had no idea who he was really marrying.

  By now, the interior of the cabin was as bright as the noon-day sun. A tendril of smoke rose from the book as sparks carved a new name into the cover … Joshua Veyjivik.

  ~***~

  Hunter said, “Holy mother of god. Your boyfriend is a Cumberland Mountain Mage? A freaking Veyjivik?” He backed away from Channie, reciting his own impressive vocabulary of cuss words, until he bumped against the back wall. Even then, it looked like he was trying to force his body through the mud chinks between the thick round logs. His voice rose until he was yelling loud enough to wake the dead. “What the hell? Are you trying to get me killed?”

  “Josh isn’t a mage. He’s an Empty. His last name is Abrim, not Veyjivik.” Channie’s breath caught in her throat. Her hands tingled then went numb. Her fingers curled into fists against her will. Mr. Abrim had adopted Josh when he was a baby. Joshua Vincent Abrim …

  She didn’t know any mages named Vincent, but … there was one named Vengeance. Dominance’s oldest son, Vengeance Veyjivik, the crown prince. He refused to participate in the coup that deposed Dominance’s father so she could take his place. According to all the stories, Vengeance died along with the rest of the royal family. But he must have escaped the palace fire and hid amongst the magically disabled, at least long enough to father Josh.

  The front door slammed open. Josh burst into the cabin and said, “What happened? I saw the glow in the window.”

  Hunter pointed at the table.

  Josh crossed the room in three strides, took one look at the book and said, “How’d that damn book know my name?” He rolled his eyes then ran a hand through his hair, leaving behind a wake of rooster tails. “Not that it changes anything.”

  Tears filled Channie’s eyes as her world splintered into a thousand pieces, then rearranged itself into a glorious, new reality. “It changes everything.” She cupped his cheeks in her palms and gazed into his sapphire eyes. “You, Joshua Veyjivik, are my royal mage.”

  ~***~

  Hunter said, “Um … I hate to interrupt, but that book is on fire.”

  Channie pulled her mouth from Josh’s with an audible smack that made them both laugh. Until they smelled the smoke. This time it was all lemon and sandalwood. Not a trace of lavender or sage.

  She reached for the book, but Josh grabbed her wrist and said, “Don’t you dare go all Harry Potter on me.” He pointed at Hunter and said, “Go find Channie’s Aunt.”

  Hunter said, “Yes sir,” and ran outside, slamming the door behind him.

  Josh did a double take then cocked his head and quirked the side of his mouth into the crooked smile Channie loved so much. “Did he just call me… ‘sir?’”

  Channie giggled, then slapped her hand over her mouth. Josh was still Josh, but he was also a Cumberland Mountain Mage. A freaking Veyjivik, as Hunter had so eloquently put it. But that wouldn’t protect him from Dominance. In fact, if she learned there was a legal heir to the throne, she’d forget all about Channie’s family and focus all her resources on finding and killing Josh.

  Josh reached for the book.

  “No!” Channie grabbed his arm and dug her fingers into his bicep. Things were complicated enough without adding another curse to their lives.

  Josh turned around and hugged her, resting his chin on her head as he rocked her back and forth. “It’s okay, babe. I have a feeling.”

  “Of course you do.” Channie didn’t want Josh to touch the book much less open it, but it was his name on the cover, his scent in the air, his magic guiding him. She knew instinctively that everything they’d gone through had intentionally led them to this moment. She stepped to the side but kept a hand on Josh’s shoulder as he opened the book.

  Just like before, sparks danced across the page and revealed a new set of instructions in poetic form …

  Son of Vengeance seeking light,

  Grasp the hilt and join the fight.

  Claim your place among your kin

  And lay to rest your father’s sin.

  For you were born to rule and reign,

  To save us all from ruin and pain.

  You have one year to learn and grow,

  To gain the skills you need to know.

  For the total eclipse on solstice night

  Ordains the heir that wins the fight.

  Nothing is promised, nothing is given,

  Never give up, ‘till all is forgiven.

  Follow your heart and save her life,

  Take the enemy’s daughter and make her your wife.

  Josh snapped a photo of the words with his phone then said, “You are my enemy’s daughter, right?”

  “Your clan swore a blood oath to kill my whole family.”

  “And I have to marry you … or you’ll die?”

  Channie folded her arms across her chest. “If that’s your idea of a marriage propos
al, Joshua Vincent Abrim, you can just kiss my lily white—”

  Josh kissed her all right, full on the mouth and with so much passion it took her breath away. Her heart stopped then made up for lost time, pinging against her breastbone, ribs and spine like a ricochetting bullet.

  Josh dropped to his knees, both of them, not just one, and said, “Will you?” His pupils dilated as he gazed at her. “Channie Belks, will you marry me?”

  Still dizzy from his kiss and completely mesmerized by his eyes, Channie just nodded.

  Josh shook his head and smiled. “If that’s your idea of an answer—”

  “Yes, Joshua Abrim, I’ll marry you,” Channie sank to the floor then crushed her lips against his.

  Aunt Wisdom cleared her throat and said, “Save it for the honeymoon. We have a wedding to plan.”

  “Aunt Wisdom!”

  Josh said, “We didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Obviously.” Aunt Wisdom froze, then held up a finger and said, “Hang on a second.” She turned around and marched onto the porch. “Hunter Feenie, get in here this instant.”

  She drug him into the cabin then shut the door. Hunter stumbled forward, tripping on the cuff of his trousers.

  Aunt Wisdom said, “You need to take a death pledge before you slink off like a weasel.”

  Hunter’s entire body seemed to shrink in on itself. “I ain’t gonna tell nobody.”

  Aunt Wisdom grabbed his left wrist with her left hand and said, “Then you have nothing to fear from pledging your silence.”

  Hunter’s face paled when Aunt Wisdom pressed her right palm over his heart and said, “Hunter Feenie, do you pledge to keep secret all you’ve learned this day concerning Joshua Veyjivik, Channie Kerns and anything else that might endanger them or benefit their enemies, upon pain of death?”

  Hunter groaned and squirmed, but he could not escape Aunt Wisdom’s magically enhanced grip. He bowed his head in surrender, placed his right hand over her heart and said, “All right, all right already. I, Hunter Feenie, pledge upon pain of death that I will not intentionally reveal any secrets that might endanger Channie Kerns and Joshua Veyjivik or benefit their enemies.”

  Aunt Wisdom narrowed her eyes. “Try it again, this time without any contingencies.”

  Hunter tried once again to wriggle free. He tried to pry Aunt Wisdom’s hand off his wrist with his fingers like an angry toddler, but her magic was too strong for him. “I shouldn’t have to die just because I accidentally let something slip.”

  “If the consequences are fatal, you’ll be a lot less likely to let something slip.”

  Hunter trembled like a rabbit caught in a snare. “Wait! Just put a remember-not spell on me.” Channie actually felt sorry for him. He knew as well as she did that remember-not spells weren’t reliable. There was no way that was going to satisfy Aunt Wisdom.

  Sure enough, she pressed her lips together and shook her head slowly, left, right, left.

  Hunter said, “You can’t force me to say it.”

  Aunt Wisdom said, “No, I can’t … maybe I should just kill you now.”

  Hunter gulped a couple of noisy breaths, dropped his chin to his chest and put his right hand over Aunt Wisdom’s heart. She repeated the words of the binding spell.

  This time, Hunter recited them back exactly.

  Aunt Wisdom released him and said, “That wasn’t so hard, now, was it.”

  Hunter rubbed his wrist and flexed his fingers. “Can I go now?”

  “Of course you may, but feel free to join us for dinner.”

  Hunter looked at the floor and said, “No thank you, ma’am,” then muttered under his breath as he passed Channie on his way to the door, “She’d probably spike mine with hemlock.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob then turned towards her and said, “It was good to see you again, Channie. I’m glad things are working out the way you want. Have a great life.”

  He swallowed twice and licked his lips then shifted his gaze to Josh’s nose, stopping just short of actual eye-contact. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Veyjivik. If there’s anything I can ever do to be of service, let me know.”

  Josh narrowed his eyes and said, “The only thing you can do for me is stay the hell away from Channie.”

  Hunter nodded and said, “Got it,” then nearly jerked the door off its hinges in his haste to escape.

  Aunt Wisdom turned towards Josh and said, “Now, let me see your phone. You did get a picture of this spell, right?”

  Josh handed her his phone then pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down, settling Channie on his lap.

  Aunt Wisdom sat across from them and squinted her eyes as she studied the screen. “You have one year to learn and grow, to gain the skills you need to know.”

  Channie pressed her cheek against Josh’s chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. It seemed to say, be mine, be mine, be mine. She could scarcely take it in. Josh was a mage … her mage, the one she had to marry to save both their lives. She was selfish enough to be glad of it, but she was more frightened than ever. Instead of going home to a mundane life of safety, Josh was going to fight in a mage war. He would be right in the middle of it.

  Aunt Wisdom leaned across the table and took Channie’s hand in hers. “That’s not much time to prepare, but since the final battle will be fought during the total eclipse of the moon on winter solstice. Who knows what sort of magic will come? The last time the heavens aligned in such a way was December 21, 1638, over three hundred years ago.”

  Josh said, “Hey, that’s my birthday.”

  Aunt Wisdom squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and blinked three times. “What?”

  Josh chuckled and said, “I wasn’t born in 1638, obviously, but I was born on December 21.” Aunt Wisdom’s grip tightened around Channie’s hand. She continued to stare at Josh, wide-eyed with amazement, bordering on reverence.

  Josh squirmed and said, “Um … 1991?” as if he were questioning the year of his birth.

  Aunt Wisdom took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You were born … on December 21 … 1991 … during a partial eclipse of the moon?”

  Josh rolled his eyes. “Here we go again, more moon lectures.”

  Aunt Wisdom let go of Channie’s hand and cuffed Josh’s ear. So much for reverence.

  Josh rubbed the side of his head and scowled at Aunt Wisdom. “Sorry. I forgot how touchy you guys are about the moon.”

  Aunt Wisdom leaned towards Channie. For a moment she thought she was going to smack her too. Josh must have thought so as well. He twisted sideways, shielding Channie with his body. Aunt Wisdom leaned back and said, “Why didn’t you tell me he was born during winter solstice, 1991?”

  Channie peeked over Josh’s shoulder and used one of his favorite excuses. “You didn’t ask.”

  Aunt Wisdom groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “You kids will be the death of me.” She squared her shoulders, shaking them a little as if it would rid her of Channie and Josh’s annoying ineptitude. She picked Josh’s phone up and frowned. “Nothing is promised, nothing is given … There’s no guarantee Josh will even survive the battle, much less ascend to the throne. It merely states that the eclipsed moon will ordain the heir that wins the fight.”

  Despair’s chill fingers slid down Channie’s spine once again.

  Josh kissed the top of her head then said, “Follow your heart and save her life, take the enemy’s daughter and make her your wife … The moon’s up. Let’s do this.”

  Aunt Wisdom chuckled and said, “First things first, Romeo. Without a power-name, you aren’t really a mage … Wait a minute, when you asked Channie to marry you … did you call her Channie … Belks?”

  Channie nodded and said, “Daddy changed our surname to Belks when we went into hiding.”

  “Oh good lord. Was that before or after he named you Chastity?”

  “Before.”

  Aunt Wisdom muttered a string of epithets about Daddy’s sub-normal intelligence and general lack
of decency.

  They bounced different ideas for power-names back and forth until Josh’s stomach growled like a wild beast. Aunt Wisdom chuckled then got up from the table and pulled a sack of cornmeal out of the pantry. She talked as she worked, measuring the ingredients for cornbread into a ceramic bowl … a handful of meal, a pinch of salt.

  Channie wanted a name that would protect Josh’s compassionate nature from his Veyjivik blood. She knew too well how a power-name could adversely affect a person. “How about Honor?”

  Josh scrunched his nose. “That’s a girl’s name. Besides, how’s that going to help me protect you? I want something like Invincible Guardian.”

  “You only get one word and Guardian won’t protect you — in fact it will put a target on your back — and Invincible is just an adjective. You need a noun, they’re stronger and more stable.”

  Aunt Wisdom held the bowl in her arms and leaned against the counter as she stirred the batter. “I tried to talk Channie’s parents out of naming her sister Abundance, but they didn’t listen. We all know how well that turned out. Might as well just call her Bunny instead of Abby. She breeds like a rabbit.”

  Channie loved Aunt Wisdom, but her disparaging remarks about Daddy, and now Abby, were pissing her off.

  Josh wove his fingers through Channie’s. It was amazing how just the touch of his hand on hers soothed her. He said, “How about Invincibility? That’s a noun. And my middle name is Vincent, so it sort of makes sense.”

  Aunt Wisdom poured the cornbread batter into the pan and slid it into the oven. “No one’s invincible or immortal or perfect so cross those and their noun derivatives off your list. Any of those names would just give you a dangerous dose of false confidence. Besides, there’s more at stake here than just the two of you. If either of our clans are going to survive, you’ll have to tear the reins of power out of Dominance’s clutches and broker a peace treaty between the Ozark and Cumberland Mages.” She wiped her hands on her apron, reminding Channie of Momma, until she looked at Josh and smiled at him with respect — something Momma would never do. “You need a name that will give you every advantage. You need to be equal parts warrior, ambassador, and king.”