Page 1 of Bewitched by the Fruit Bat King (The Bewitching Hour #3)

Ethereal Hearts and Naked Parts

Willow

M oonlight has a way of making everything look magical.

Even if "everything" is just my flower shop crammed into the converted parlor of what was once Magnolia Grove's finest Victorian home.

Not that I'm complaining; the old girl still has her charms, even if they're now more "botanical wonderland" than "Southern aristocracy.

" The bay windows that once showcased debutantes now display my pride and joy: walls lined with shelves of flowers, period alcoves stuffed with vibrant bouquets, and enough candles to make a fire marshal nervous, filling the air with vanilla and patchouli.

I hummed softly as I moved through my shop, the original hardwood floors creaking their familiar greeting beneath my feet.

Behind the well-worn wooden counter, salvaged from the town's first apothecary, I'll have you know, I delicately plucked moonflowers and baby's breath from their copper bucket.

"Jasmine for sensuality," I murmured, my fingers dancing over each stem, "rose for passion, lavender for devotion.

.." The timeworn surface had witnessed countless such arrangements, though perhaps none quite as purposeful as this one.

I added spikes of purple salvia as a finishing touch, because every good spell needs that little something extra.

"That ought to do it," I said with a satisfied nod.

After last week's dating disaster (thanks ever so much, Bethany), I was done leaving my love life to chance.

That awkward lout she'd set me up with had the table manners of, well.

.. a wolf. Which shouldn't have surprised me, considering he actually was one.

No, at thirty years old in a town where everyone's business is everyone else's entertainment, I was taking matters into my own hands with a bit of magical intervention.

I brought the aromatic bouquet to the center of my shop, to the circle of candles and crystals I had laid out earlier that evening after locking up.

I pulled my hair up into a messy bun to get it out of my way for what I was about to do.

Spells tended to be unpredictable. Closing my eyes, I began chanting the incantation, allowing the magic to flow through me into the exotic arrangement of flowers.

“No barrier can keep us apart,

Be he mortal or ethereal at heart,

Our souls entwined before life's start,

Bring to me my other part.”

The candle flames stretched skyward as my voice rose with them, each word carrying more power than the last. As I delivered the final phrase with what I'll admit was a touch of theatrical flair, the bouquet began to glow with an inner light, lifting gracefully from its resting place to spin lazily in the air like nature's own chandelier.

"Show me my destined love, no matter where he may roam!" The words rang out clear and true in the quiet shop. Right on cue (and isn't it satisfying when magic actually behaves?), the flowers burst into a spectacular shower of light and petals, quite the exit, if I do say so myself.

I smiled, feeling rather pleased with my handiwork. Somewhere out there, my mystery man was in for quite the magical wake-up call. I extinguished the candles with a satisfied flourish, ready for whatever romance fate had in store.

Post-spell cleanup is the less glamorous side of magic that no one talks about, but I dutifully swept away the scattered petals and herbs.

After one last check of the front door's locks, I made my way upstairs to my apartment. The old staircase squeaked under my weight, a sound that always reminded me of the generations of witches who'd walked these same boards before me.

Great-grandmother with her apothecary, Grandmother and Mother with their bookshop, and now, me with my flowers.

The building had been more than just a family business; it was our way of serving Magnolia Grove's magical needs, whether the town knew it or not.

Plants had always been my particular gift.

"Floramancy," they called it when I was young, after I'd used my plant-enhanced spells to heal those thought beyond hope.

It seemed only fitting to name my shop after that old title.

The full moon cast long shadows across my living room as I entered, its light playing across my carefully curated furniture. Each creaky floorboard beneath my feet felt like a welcome home as I settled into my cozy apartment above the shop, my own little piece of our family's magical legacy.

The glossy leaves of my potted plants beckoned as I passed the bay windows, their smooth surface cool beneath my trailing fingers. A night breeze whispered through the old window seams, carrying with it the comforting scent of Luna and lavender from the dried bundles hanging by my fireplace.

My favorite velvet armchair beckoned from its perfect spot between the windows and hearth.

I sank into its familiar embrace, feeling the aged wood frame and feather pillows conform to my body.

The ornate lamp on my sleek side table cast a warm glow across the space, while across the room, my grandmother's armoire stood proudly, its glass doors displaying an array of crystals, dried herbs, and carefully arranged magical tools.

The sight of my beloved books lining the shelves, the gentle crackling of the fire, and my thriving plants filled me with a deep sense of peace.

This space held the essence of generations of witches, their magic woven into every floorboard and beam.

Now it was my turn to add my own magic to these storied walls.

A sudden scratching sound pulled me from my thoughts. I turned toward the window to find a tiny fruit bat clinging to the glass, its little claws scraping against the pane.

"Well hello there, little one," I murmured, approaching the window with careful steps. The creature's beady black eyes watched my every move as I extended my hand, palm up, in gentle invitation.

The fruit bat hesitated only a moment before crawling onto my palm. Its tiny body trembled beneath the soft fur, but as our skin met, a rush of warmth flooded through me like summer sunshine. The sensation pooled in my chest.

"Don't be afraid," I whispered soothingly. "I won't hurt you."

My eyes widened as the bat began to change before me, its fur melting away to reveal pale skin, wings elongating into human arms. With a startled squeal, I flung the transforming creature away from me.

It landed on the floor as I scrambled back, pulling my knees tight against my chest, my entire body up on the chair, like a child hiding from monsters under the bed.

Within moments, a man knelt where the bat had fallen.

His dark eyes blazed as he rose to his full height, lean muscles rippling beneath skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

His chiseled jaw clenched, and I caught the gleam of fangs behind his scowl.

Dark hair fell across his forehead, making his otherworldly pallor even more striking.

"What magic is this?" He snarled, stalking toward me. "How did you summon me here, witch?"

"I...I..." The words stuck in my throat as I trembled beneath his piercing gaze. His commanding presence seemed to fill my entire apartment, made all the more intimidating by his complete lack of clothing after the transformation.

My mind raced as I searched for an explanation.

What kind of fool was I not considering the consequences of a love spell?

And now I had an angry shifter... or wait, was he a shifter?

I'd never heard of bat shifters before. This had to be some kind of cosmic joke.

There was absolutely no way my destined mate could be a bat of all things.

"I didn't intend to summon anyone specifically," I explained hurriedly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was, um, experimenting with an old transportation spell from my family's grimoire. I must have botched the incantation."

His eyes narrowed as he considered my words. "Transportation magic? And you expect me to believe you accidentally pulled me through an interdimensional portal into your home?"

I winced at how ridiculous it sounded. "Magic can be unpredictable," I offered lamely, knowing how weak the excuse was.

His gaze swept around my apartment, taking in the spell books, crystals, and lingering traces of magic in the air. His expression shifted from anger to something more contemplative.

"Perhaps this was not mere coincidence," he mused. "Powerful forces may have interfered."

I shrank back as he stepped closer, his supernatural presence overwhelming in my small living room.

The air around him thrummed with ancient power.

Then I saw it – his eyes darkening to pitch black as fangs slowly descended from his perfect white teeth.

That peek of his fangs earlier was nothing compared to what showed now.

My blood ran cold as realization struck.

I'd been too rattled to notice earlier, but those weren't shifter fangs.

Only one creature had fangs like that. This wasn't a bat shifter at all – this was a vampire. And I'd just invited him into my home.

My fingers found the potted ivy on the table beside me as I kept my eyes locked on his imposing form. As he continued his approach, I subtly brushed the leaves, drawing power from the living plant.

"You need to explain yourself," he commanded, towering over me.

"Of course, right away," I replied, voice trembling. As he waited expectantly, I quickly whispered the improvised incantation, weaving the ivy's energy into my words:

"Plant's gift, swiftly send, Unwanted presence end, By leaf and stem and root, Make intruder scoot!"

I thrust my palms toward the vampire. Bright blue light filled the room along with the sharp scent of crushed greenery. The vampire let out a roar of surprise before vanishing into thin air.

I sagged against my chair, lungs burning as I gulped in air.

The hasty transportation spell had ed me, but at least the vampire was gone.

My mind whirled with questions. Had I botched the original spell somehow?

Maybe adding "ethereal at heart" had twisted the magic.

Instead of summoning my fated mate, I'd called forth a vampire. Stupid, stupid, stupid .

After triple-checking that my wards and protection spells were still intact, I dragged myself to bed, utterly exhausted. It seemed Bethany's blind date was back on the table after all. At least a werewolf with bad table manners couldn't drain me dry.