Page 5 of Bewitched by the Fruit Bat King (The Bewitching Hour #3)

Another knock at the door. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remember exactly what I'd done last night. What had I said? Something about returning things to their proper place...

"Please work, please work, please work," I chanted, holding my hands out over his still form. "Return this vampire to his lair, before customers give me a scare!"

Nothing happened.

"Really? That's the best rhyme you could come up with under pressure?" I hissed at myself. "Okay, try again..."

"Return this man to his fancy bed... no, return him home before I end up dead? Ugh, that's worse." I ran my fingers through my hair, probably looking more deranged by the second.

Another knock. I swear the orchids were judging me.

"Okay, think Willow. Last night you accidentally summoned him while trying to attract love, and then you.

.." I paced around his body, gesturing wildly.

"I was screaming something about 'back from whence you came' while trying not to look at certain parts of his anatomy.

Very professional. Peak witchcraft right there. "

He remained stubbornly unconscious on my floor, somehow managing to look both dead and unfairly attractive.

"Send this vampire back to his tower, before my business loses all its power?

No. Return this man to where he should be, so my flower shop can finally be free?

Gods, that's terrible." I grabbed a spray bottle and misted my face with orchid water.

"Focus! He's going to wake up soon and either kill me or sue me.

Or both. Can vampires sue you after they kill you? Is that a thing?"

The door rattled again.

"Just a moment!" I called out, voice rising an octave. "Minor magical mishap!"

"You just had to come in here all threatening and loomy, didn't you? Couldn't send a strongly worded email about the accidental summoning like a normal person?"

"Return to the place that you call home, so I can stop my panicked—" A customer started drumming their fingers against the glass and I lost it. "Oh for heaven's sake! JUST GO BACK TO WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE YOU DECIDED TO STALK MY SHOP!"

There was a flash of light, a sound like a champagne cork popping, and he vanished.

I sagged against the counter in relief. "Oh thank the goddess, it actually worked." My hands were still shaking as I smoothed down my apron and hair, trying to look like I hadn't just magically yeeted a vampire to parts unknown.

"Coming!" I called out, flipping the sign to 'OPEN' and unlocking the door. A harried-looking woman in a business suit practically burst in.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, but I called yesterday about the birthday arrangement for my boss? Pink roses and—"

"—and white lilies, of course!" Grateful for the distraction, I hurried to the cooler where I'd stored her order. "I have it all ready to go. Added a few sprigs of baby's breath too, since you mentioned it was her 60th."

"You're a lifesaver," she said, fishing out her credit card. "I'm already running behind for work and I’m already on the short list."

I managed to keep my hands steady while running her card, making small talk about birthday celebrations and flower care that probably made zero sense. The moment she left, clutching her perfect arrangement, I collapsed onto my stool.

"Okay. Okay. He's gone, no one saw, and I can just... pretend this never happened."

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

"You know," said a familiar voice, managing to sound both amused and menacing, "most CEOs start their day with coffee in their office. Not sprawled across their boardroom table in front of the entire executive team."

My stomach dropped. "CEO? The... entire..."

"Tell me, little witch," he continued smoothly, "do you know how difficult it is to maintain an air of corporate authority when you've just materialized unconscious in the middle of a meeting?"

I could hear muffled laughter in the background before he hung up.

"Well," I told the judgy orchids as I started to clean up the water from our spill, "at least he's not dead.

And hey, maybe showing up dramatically unconscious in front of his employees will hurt his scary vampire reputation enough that he won't murder me.

" I paused. "Though this probably means I should start updating my will. "

The heavenly aroma of rosemary chicken and baked potatoes filled my cozy apartment as I pulled the casserole dish from the oven. I was stress-cooking, which was better than stress-hiding under my bed, which had been Plan A.

Right on time, a knock sounded at the door. Because of course Bethany would be perfectly punctual for dinner, even during my emotional crisis.

"Coming!" I called out, nearly dropping the potatoes when a stray cat meowed outside my window. Not a bat. Definitely not a bat. Just a cat. "Get it together, Willow."

I opened the door to find Bethany's cheerful round face, her honey blonde waves swept up in a ponytail. "Mmm, something smells amazing!" she exclaimed, giving me a quick hug. "And you look terrible. Like, 'accidentally summoned something supernatural' terrible."

Behind her, Luna waved, the beaded bracelets on her wrist jangling. Her silvery pixie cut gleamed as she shook her head, causing her dangly star earrings to dance around her face. "Hey Willow. I tried to delay her, but you know Bethany runs on atomic clock time."

I ushered them inside to the table already set for dinner. The rosemary chicken sat steaming, next to a fresh green salad with lemon vinaigrette and a loaf of crusty bread from the bakery down the street. Comfort food for uncomfortable conversations.

"So," I said, once we were all seated. "Hypothetically, how much trouble would someone be in if they accidentally assaulted a vampire CEO twice in twenty-four hours?"

"You did WHAT?" Bethany choked on her wine, her ponytail swinging as she coughed. As a cupid-in-training, she took all matters of supernatural chaos very seriously. Especially when they involved hot men, conscious or otherwise.

"In my defense," I pointed my fork accusingly, "he showed up at my shop threatening me! After appearing NAKED in my store last night during that spell mishap."

Luna, perched cross-legged on my secondhand armchair, just hummed thoughtfully. Her silver pixie cut caught the light as she tilted her head, making her dangling star earrings chime. "Shape-shifting is pretty rare. Like, ancient-vampire-who-probably-owns-half-the-city rare."

"Thank you, Luna. That's very helpful and not at all terrifying." I slumped forward onto my dinner table. "I'm going to die. A vampire CEO is going to murder me and turn my shop into a parking structure."

"Or," Bethany brightened, straightening her pink cardigan, "this could be fate! I mean, what are the chances your love spell accidentally summoned an incredibly powerful, presumably single vampire?"

"The chances are exactly 'my life is a cosmic joke' percent," I muttered into the tablecloth. "Besides, any romantic potential went out the window when I panic-bit him and then magically yeeted him into his morning meeting."

"You BIT him?" Luna's bracelets jangled as she reached for more bread. "Like, vampire-style? That's either incredibly ironic or incredibly kinky."

"I hate you both."

"Okay, but let's focus on the important part," Bethany said, reaching for the wine bottle. "Was he hot? Before the whole unconscious-at-work thing?"

I groaned. "He looked like someone ordered a CEO from a Gothic romance catalog. All cheekbones and perfectly messy dark hair and..." I caught myself. "And completely terrifying! Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" Luna's grin was insufferable. "Like you're describing the man of your dreams while pretending to be horrified?"

"I AM horrified! He could probably crush my entire business with one phone call. Or, you know, crush ME." I stabbed a potato with unnecessary force. "Besides, I'm pretty sure 'assault with a protection spell' isn't most people's idea of flirting."

"Please," Bethany waved her hand dismissively. "I once matched a werewolf with a professional dog walker. They met when she accidentally sprayed him with citronella thinking he was a stray. They're married now."

"That's... not remotely the same thing."

"The point is," Luna cut in, "maybe this is the universe's way of spicing up your love life. When was the last time you went on a date that wasn't with your orchids?"

"My orchids are very good listeners and they've never once threatened to sue me."

"No, but they're enabling your hermit tendencies," Bethany said.

"You need to get out more! Meet people! Maybe accidentally summon more supernatural hotties! Oooh! Maybe dates for us for the fall festival? It’s coming up soon and we still need to go pick our pumpkins for the carving contest. Pick out our outfits for helping you run your flower booth… "

My phone buzzed again. The same unknown number.

"Speaking of..." Luna peered at my suddenly pale face. "Is that him?"

"I'm not answering it."

"Oh yes you are." Bethany lunged for my phone.

"No, wait—!" But Bethany had already swiped to answer, hitting speaker phone before sliding it back across the table like a hockey puck.

"Little witch." His voice filled my dining room, smooth as aged whiskey and twice as dangerous. "I trust you're having a pleasant evening?"

Luna mouthed 'OH MY GOD' while fanning herself. I shot her my best death glare.

"I... um..." I cleared my throat. "Look, about this morning—"

"Yes, about that. My board of directors seems to be under the impression that my dramatic entrance was an elaborate performance piece about corporate burnout. They're now insisting on implementing mandatory meditation breaks."

Bethany stuffed her napkin in her mouth to muffle her giggling.

"That's... terrible?" I tried.

"Horrific," he agreed, though he sounded more amused than angry. "My HR department has already ordered meditation pods for every floor. I'm being forced to consider casual Fridays."

"I could try to banish you again?" I offered weakly. "Maybe aim for somewhere more CEO-appropriate this time?"

"I have a better proposition." There was a pause that made my stomach flip. "Have dinner with me."

Luna actually squealed. I threw a dinner roll at her.

"I... what?"

"Dinner. Tomorrow night. I promise to remain fully conscious and clothed for the duration."

"Is this a date or are you planning to murder me?" I blurted.

His chuckle was unfairly attractive. "I suppose you'll have to show up to find out. I'll send a car at eight." He hung up before I could respond.

I stared at my phone in horror. "What just happened?"

"True love!" Bethany clasped her hands together dreamily.

"Potential homicide," I countered.

"Sexual tension!" Luna contributed helpfully.

"I need more wine."

"Okay, but we're doing cards first," Luna announced, already pulling her tarot deck from her ever-present messenger bag. "Because there's no way I'm letting you go on a maybe-date-maybe-murder dinner without consulting the universe."

"The universe got me into this mess," I muttered, but cleared the dinner plates anyway. Luna's weekly readings were tradition, and her vintage deck had an uncanny accuracy that even I had to respect.

She settled cross-legged on my worn carpet, laying out her black velvet reading cloth. The cards made a satisfying whisper as she shuffled, her silver rings catching the candlelight.

"Me first!" Bethany chirped, settling down across from her. "I need to know if any of my matches this week will actually work out."

Luna dealt cards. "The Two of Cups reversed, Eight of Wands, and... oh, The Tower."

"That bad?"

"More like chaotic. Your next match is going to be a complete disaster—" Bethany groaned "—BUT it's going to lead to something amazing. Just... not with who you planned."

I snorted. "Sounds about right for your matchmaking track record."

"My turn," Luna said, dealing her own cards. "Ah. The High Priestess, Six of Pentacles, and The Star. Ooh, nice! My crystal shop's getting that shipment of rare selenite this week. Looks like it's going to be even better than I hoped."

Finally, they both turned to me with identical mischievous grins.

"Oh no," I said. "No, no, no."

"Oh yes," Bethany sing-songed. "Let's see what the cards say about your vampire date!"

Luna's hands moved with practiced grace as she shuffled. "Three for the past..." She laid out cards. "The Magician reversed—yeah, that tracks with your spell mishap. The Fool—taking unexpected leaps. And The Emperor—literally your CEO vampire."

"He's not MY anything," I protested.

"Three for the present..." She continued as if I hadn't spoken. "The Knight of Wands—passion and excitement. The Seven of Cups—lots of possibilities. And... oh my." She started giggling.

"What? What is it?"

"The Devil."

Bethany burst out laughing. "The actual card for temptation and intense attraction? The universe is not being subtle."

"I hate everything," I declared. "What's the future spread?"

Luna dealt the final three cards, then sat back with raised eyebrows. "Well. The Queen of Wands—coming into your power. The Two of Cups—new romance. And..." She flipped the last card. "Death."

"DEATH?" I squeaked.

"Transformation," Luna corrected quickly. "It usually means big changes, not literal death. Though with your date being a vampire..."

"That's it. I'm cancelling. I'm moving. I'm becoming a nun."

"The cards look amazing!" Bethany protested. "Power, romance, transformation—"

"Death!"

"—and look, The Devil is literally your card's boyfriend."

"I'm getting new friends. Less annoying ones."