Page 26 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

A metallic scent filled the air as Stevie spilled a bit of blood into three brews.

She and Lucia were working in the basement together since an influx of orders had come through after the fog and darkness had only gotten worse—they wanted protection charms as a precaution, and the apothecary was closed on Sundays.

Kit had waited for Stevie to make it into Lucia’s house before leaving on horseback to search the woods once again.

There was so much she’d been thinking about.

How Levi was most likely wandering around in hiding, how he’d somehow spelled her blood from letting anyone see her memories, how she’d touched herself in front of Kit.

The last matter should’ve been the least important thing, but she couldn’t stop inwardly groaning about it.

“All right,” Lucia started as she stirred a brew for Stevie while she rubbed healing ointment on her finger.

“So you said Rainier once saw Levi’s ghost go into the woods where Kit was murdered after drinking blood from siren twins, and he couldn’t see anything in your blood because he could taste the warlock’s magic, right? ”

“Yep!” Kit had also described Levi as having hair past his shoulders, his height a little shorter than Kit, a slim build, high cheekbones, and an amulet around his neck. But with the white coloring being so generic, ghosts were much harder to pick out of a line-up.

“Hmm.” Lucia pursed her lips together. “From what Rainier found out about your blood, this will be enough for the council to have to dig up Levi’s bones and allow me to see if I can locate him.”

“That would be ideal.” Stevie took the brew from Lucia and drank it down. She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “This one doesn’t taste bad. Like lemonade.”

“It won’t lift the veil in your blood for two weeks.

You have to drink one a day to fully cleanse everything.

At least we can get that dark spell out of you though.

But now this means your blood might help with another spell I want to try at the bonfire since the warlock’s magic is inside you. With all the sacrifices—”

“Pumpkin sacrifices,” Stevie clarified.

“ Pumpkin sacrifices, which are still sacrifices, to add to the spell. With that, Kit’s bone, the link between you and him, his ghost there, you there, my spell, the first Eye opened, and Levi’s lingering magic, it could potentially work.

No, it will work!” She squeezed Stevie’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure of it.”

If any witch could make it work, it would be Lucia. And if not, they would come up with a Plan Z if they had to after trying every other letter.

“So what else happened?” Lucia asked. “Rainier drank your blood which means vampire venom was included. My aunt’s told me things that I wish I could unhear about her times with Rainier.”

Even though Kit was long gone, Stevie scanned the room to make sure he hadn’t slinked back in behind her somewhere. But the coast was clear.

She pinched the bridge of her nose as the images flashed in her mind. “Rainier was fine and left. But after … things got a little R-rated with Kit.”

“You two had sex ?” Lucia gasped. “After you said you two could touch, I knew it was highly probable.”

“No!” Stevie hissed. “I mean, I sort of asked him to… And when he didn’t, I took care of myself. In front of him. Like an idiot,” she mumbled under her breath.

A grin spread across Lucia’s face. “You knew the warning label that comes with a vampire’s bite. And how sweet that Kit didn’t want to take advantage. You’re not under the venom influence anymore though...”

“The sex with the ghost part wouldn’t be weird per se. At least not to us in Sleepy Hollow, but if he doesn’t find his head, he won’t be here after the new moon.” A pit formed in her stomach at the thought of him in the Hollow, being picked apart by demon vultures.

“That just means I’ll work harder on the spell for the bonfire.

Give me a moment.” Lucia went upstairs and brought back Maxine.

She set Maxine on a nearby shelf, the plant looking less lively than usual.

Lucia plucked a small vial, the smoke settled, completing Lucia’s part of the spell.

“Can you add one more droplet in this and place another on Gideon’s plant?

He was upset last night when he found Maxine wilting.

I’m going to have him drink the vial—he was freaking out that he’s balding because there were a few extra hairs in the sink. ”

Stevie shook her head and sighed. “My brother has thicker hair than me! He’s such a drama queen.”

After squeezing a bead of red into the vial, she approached Maxine. The plant snapped at her hand, her rows of sharp teeth on display.

“Calm down,” Stevie soothed when Maxine snapped at her again. “I know you’re hurting, but this will help you feel better.” As she squeezed one more droplet into the flower’s mouth, the doorbell rang.

“Always right after I put the gloves on,” Lucia said, peeling the latex from her hands, pieces of hair falling against her face from her messy bun. “I’ll be right back.”

The flower hissed, and Stevie stroked the plant’s blue and white polka-dotted head. “Just another second.” Maxine leaned into her touch, a teeny purr escaping her sharp-toothed mouth. The leaves at Maxine’s side perked up, the deep green returning to the spots that were browning.

Lucia bounded back down the steps, a cheek-to-cheek smile on her face.

“Important news finally showed up on my doorstep!” She waved a golden envelope in the air like she was waving Willy Wonka’s golden ticket, which in this case, it sort of was.

“Adelia replied in her vague manner in case her letter was intercepted. She’ll be here as soon as she can but definitely before the new moon.

She’s taking care of a rabid vampire problem in Maine first. Adelia said that suspicions and no proof isn’t a reason for her not to finish her current task.

But this is good news!” She tapped a finger against her chin.

“I don’t know if she’ll receive the letter I sent yesterday before she leaves.

But if she does, I know she’ll come sooner since the sky darkening earlier has to be some sort of proof.

The priests are blessing the land and witches are putting extra protection spells down.

Maybe I’ll do another one at the bonfire. ”

“Probably two.”

“Before I forget,” Lucia said, “when you meet with Adelia, you’re going to have to dress up. And by dress up, I don’t mean a fancier dress, but a fancier dress.”

Stevie arched a brow. “You mean like the last time you went and saw her?” She recalled Lucia’s tight bodice, the poofy lacy skirt of the dress reaching her ankles, the white wig, the fan, the pearls. Lucia had been Marie Antoinette reincarnate.

“That was a witch coronation, but close. Just think old Sleepy Hollow times. Like Kit.” She beamed. “But don’t worry since I’ll be dressed up and going with you and the Headless Horseman. Only us three are allowed to attend.”

Stevie snickered. “Gideon’s going to throw a fit.”

“We’ll probably have to pick him up a suit just to wear for when I come home.” Lucia chuckled.

Stevie wrinkled her nose because she knew what that meant. Sexy roleplay.

“Looks like we’ll go shopping today so we’re prepared for when Adelia arrives,” Lucia said as she corked her potions and handed Stevie the Crowned Witch’s letter to read over.

Stevie stared at the sapphire gown in the mirror.

When she’d thought she would just pick up something cheap at a thrift store, Lucia had waved off that idea and taken them to one of the best costume shops Sleepy Hollow had to offer.

The strip center wasn’t as busy since the tourists weren’t flocking toward the stores.

They normally visited the costume shops and put on historical suits and dresses to take black and white pictures that would make them look as if they were from that time period.

Studying the bodice of the gown, Stevie ran her palms against the silky material.

Black lacy buttons lined the front, and a square neckline accentuated her décolleté.

It was the first dress that had caught her eye when she’d entered the store, but Lucia had made them try on dress after dress, needing to make sure Adelia knew they weren’t cutting corners while in her presence.

“That’s the gown!” Lucia screeched when Stevie stepped out of the dressing room.

Stevie rolled her eyes. “This is the original one I picked out.”

“We needed to confirm it was the best.” Lucia swished her red skirt, then brushed a finger across the sweetheart neckline. “Do you think this dress is the one?”

“That’s the winner!” Stevie looked down at the price tag on her sleeve and her eyes widened. “Actually, how about we go to the thrift shop instead? Or can’t you just spell one of my old dresses?”

Lucia’s grin grew wide. “I could, but Adelia can tell. Besides, that’s the purchase price. We’re only renting these. So as long as you don’t ruin the dress, you’ll be fine. Or have sex with a certain ghost who’s staying with you while wearing it.” She waggled her brows.

Stevie pursed her lips. “It was the venom .”

“ Sure it was.” She laughed softly and whirled around. “Can you unbutton me? I think I need to retry two on. Just to make sure.”

“That dress is literally perfect on you.” Stevie unfastened the buttons lining the back of the velvet dress. But really, all the gowns looked good on Lucia, except for maybe a puke green one that wouldn’t have worked for anyone.

Stevie returned to the dressing room and hung her gown on the hook. As she slipped her skirt back on, her phone rang and she scurried to answer it.

“Hi, Mom,” Stevie grunted while shoving on her boots.

“So, I hear you have a secret meeting coming up.”

“Did Gideon call you cry-babying that he couldn’t attend?” Before Stevie left with Lucia, her sister-in-law had asked Gideon to deliver the package to her mom since there were pressing matters to attend to. And of course he was going suit shopping after like Lucia had guessed.

“You know Gideon,” her mom said. “But don’t worry. He’s keeping it hush-hush with everyone else. So did you find a dress?”

“I did. It’s something straight from centuries past. I’ll be a good little girl and have my ankles covered.”

“I’ve never met Adelia, but I hear she’s a headstrong woman.” She paused. “And don’t forget to send me pictures. You chose to attend an antique auction over going to prom, so I want to see you in something lavish.”

“I have no regrets about that day. I’ll send you a picture though.

” Stevie smiled, and an instant later it fell from her face.

“What about the weird stuff going on around town with the fog and it getting darker earlier? Are you feeling okay? More customers than usual are asking for protection spells, and I just want to make sure you’re all right. ”

“You mean that my heart is all right,” her mom said gently. “And it is. A little extra fog and darkness isn’t going to make it leap out of my chest, sweetie.”

She was right of course, but the more of it that came, the closer the second Eye was to opening.

Kit only had so much time in the hourglass he was currently standing in before it covered him completely.

And the question she had was, when had Levi spelled her?

Was it before or after the last new moon?

What if the satchel he carried held Kit’s ghost head?

Could he use a seer’s eyes as his own? With magic, dark magic, she bet he could.

“Earth to Stevie,” her mom chimed.

Stevie blinked, snapping herself out of her thoughts. “Sorry, what?”

“I asked if Kit was being a gentleman, or do I need to kick his ass?”

“He’s been a good little Horseman, Mom.” It was her who hadn’t acted in a very ladylike fashion.