Page 32 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

Stevie lay on her back beneath the covers.

She attempted to be sly and roll to her side, ever so sneakily, while peeling open her eyes to study Kit.

Her stomach dipped at what all they’d done over the past several nights after spending the long days searching for Levi and Reese with Lucia’s spells.

He’d brought out an animalistic part of herself that she hadn’t known existed.

Getting down on the kitchen table? That was new.

Against the wall? Nope, hadn’t done that before.

Even something as simple as her riding him on the couch had been risqué to her.

In the past, it had always been the bed with her ex.

So these days she considered herself a bit of a sexual daredevil.

“You know I don’t sleep, right?” Kit turned to face her, his hand slipping beneath his invisible head. “So I see you watching me.”

“Then that would qualify as you watching me too.” Stevie bit her lip.

“You look adorable in the morning.”

“Wild tangled hair and raccoon mascara? I think I look more feral.” Stevie grinned, her smile instantly slipping when the bubble she’d placed them in for another night popped.

Tomorrow night was the new moon, and everything they’d aimed to resolve had failed.

No locating Reese since there mysteriously wasn’t a single strand of hair in his house.

No Inferno. No less fog or darkness. No finding Kit’s head.

Her mom continued to remain healthy, but the next full moon could put that to an end.

“Sometimes knowing it’s the end will hurt less,” Kit said, his voice resigned. “I came to terms long ago that spending eternity in the Hollow could be my destiny. But it’s not just about me or Inferno anymore—it’s you.”

Stevie tried to keep what would come next, if the gateway opened, behind a curtain to focus.

“Nope, we aren’t going to have that kind of attitude in this house.

We still have over twenty-four hours. So positive vibes.

” Before Kit could respond, the doorbell rang.

She shoved out of bed, grabbed a T-shirt and pajama pants from the floor, then threw them on before answering.

A familiar bald warlock, Julian, stood on her porch in the morning fog and … darkness. The sun had never risen… In his hand rested a golden envelope. “From the Crowned Witch. See you soon.” He bowed his head before leaving, and Stevie shut the door and tore open the envelope.

Stevie,

I’m summoning only you and your male guest to a meeting one hour after receiving this letter since you both were unable to fulfill the task at hand. However, I have made a wonderful discovery and we will discuss your next steps. Dress in appropriate attire once more.

The Crowned Witch,

Adelia

“Vague as ever, but it does sound like she found out something!” Stevie said, holding out the letter to Kit who was already near the door.

Kit stepped beside her, fastening the last two buttons of his shirt as he read over Adelia’s words. “Perhaps she found Levi’s location or the council discovered Reese.”

This was most likely their last shot unless a witchy miracle occurred.

“Lucia’s car is still here—let’s see if she knows anything.” Stevie stepped out into the fog and knocked on her sister-in-law’s door. A second later Lucia answered, her hair damp with sweat.

“Good, you’re here!” Lucia pulled Stevie inside. “And you too, Kit! Come to the basement—I’ve been working on something for the past couple of hours since Adelia dropped my errands for the day.”

Stevie halted Lucia by the arm. “I think I know why. Her servant just brought me a letter, and I have to leave soon.” She lifted the folded sheet of paper.

Lucia furrowed her brow as she read over the letter. “In case she doesn’t have a solution, I have something to try. It’ll be quick, I promise.” She led them down to the basement and passed Stevie a needle, then pointed toward a vial bubbling a purple brew. “You know what to do.”

Stevie pricked her finger and added a drop of blood to the liquid.

Lucia corked the vial, then shook it. “I’m attempting to tie Kit to Sleepy Hollow by using his hair, but without his head, his seer eyes might be too strong for the possibility. We’ll try though. Drink it down, Kit.”

“Tell Lucia I said thank you.” He tossed back the contents in one shot.

After leaving Lucia’s, Stevie didn’t have time to fiddle around at the costume shop for a new dress, so she threw on the rented one she’d yet to return. Forgoing makeup and only brushing her hair, she flung her wallet and phone inside the satchel before they hurried out the door.

“You know what, to Hollow with this dress. We’re taking the moped,” Stevie said.

Kit chuckled as he climbed on behind her, and she sped toward the Crowned Witch’s. The fog grew thicker, and it was hard to see even with the headlamp guiding her way through the darkness. The ghosts she passed almost blended in with the fog despite their soft glow.

As she reached the woods, Stevie zigzagged through the trees, then took the trail leading to the gate. It opened when she neared, and Julian waited outside the garden at the front of the house.

“The Crowned Witch has quite the black cat collection,” Kit said, his body facing the garden.

Stevie arched a brow and found six cats near the black flower bushes. The felines meowed as she passed, but she didn’t have time to pet them.

“Come on.” Julian motioned them inside. “The Crowned Witch has much to do and doesn’t have all day. Follow me.”

“I don’t like him,” Kit muttered under his breath.

“Likewise. But if Adelia’s found a solution to your problems, then maybe everything can be solved a day early.” Stevie beamed, walking beside Kit down the hallway to hopefully change his doomed fate.

Adelia sat at the head of the dining room table, sipping from a brass goblet. A golden dress hugged her curvy form, and her hair was tucked under a white aristocratic wig, her lips a glossy red.

“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, Stevie.” Adelia smiled, setting down her goblet. “Is Kit with you? We should get started immediately since a few things have come to light.”

“He’s here,” Stevie confirmed. “Any news on Reese or Levi?”

“The pitiful council has been as quiet as scared little rabbits.” Adelia stood from her chair and walked toward Stevie, her dress swishing. “However, I found Reese. But first I need Kit to describe what Levi looks like.”

Stevie’s heart practically stilled in her chest. Adelia had Reese! That meant they could get some answers if the witch hadn’t already.

Kit shrugged. “He was a couple of inches shorter than me, sharp angles, thin lips, slim, blond wavy hair to his shoulders, blue eyes, used to wear a ruby amulet.”

Stevie repeated Kit’s description, and Adelia shook her head. “No, no, we need more than that. What was the shape of his nose? Are his teeth crooked or straight?”

“He did have a canine tooth that stuck out slightly further than the rest. And there was a bump on his nose from when it had been broken,” Kit said.

Stevie’s eyes widened as she put the features together, interlocking the pieces to form a deceptive little puzzle.

He could’ve easily tied back his hair, dressed more modern, switched out the satchel for a backpack, and hid away his amulet.

A simple disguise but good enough for her not to put him on a suspect list. Kit had never been around to identify him either.

Besides at the bonfire where she hadn’t thought to point the ghost out to him. “I think I know who Levi is.”

“What do you mean know him?” Kit sounded alarmed.

“Go on.” Adelia nodded, focusing harder on Stevie.

“The resident ghost in the comic book shop where my brother works matches that description minus the ruby amulet. He told me his name was Erik, and he always has a backpack with him.” Stevie was positive she was right on the money that Erik was Levi.

And then there was Reese who also dealt with comics…

Adelia tapped a finger against her cheek. “When Kit encountered Levi before he was murdered, what was the last thing the warlock said to him?”

Before Kit spoke, another familiar voice spilled through the room. “I can tell you precisely what I said. I know the tale rather well.”

Stevie whirled around to find Reese standing in the room, dressed in a similar old fashion as everyone else. A black suit with a high collar and his fingers caressing a ruby amulet hanging from a silver chain around his neck.

He hadn’t said Levi, he’d said I .

Levi was inside of Reese.

The world of the living and the dead had never collided in that sense. Ghosts weren’t supposed to be able to take possession of a living body the way demons from the Hollow could. But Levi had. Because of the dark magic the warlock toyed with.

“ You ,” Stevie hissed. “You’re so dead. You even got my fox to like you.”

“ Me . Levi, yes.” The warlock smirked. “Your pathetic fox shouldn’t be so trusting.”

Kit barreled toward Levi, swinging his unsheathed sword, but before the blade connected with the warlock’s heart, the Horseman was thrown backward, landing hard against the floor.

“In case you’re wondering how it’s possible, Kit.

” Adelia’s gaze was focused on him, seeing the Horseman clearly as he pushed up from the floor.

He reached for his weapon, but his sword slid to the other side of the room by magic.

“Ghosts of a witch or warlock can take possession of the living, but only ones who gave their soul up to be tied to the Hollow.”

Adelia was working with Levi. She had betrayed them all.

“You’re a seer ?” Stevie spat. “And you’re working with him ? Why?” She inched toward the Crowned Witch, then halted. Adelia was one of the most powerful witches in the world, and Stevie was nothing but a seer, a witch’s assistant. She needed to book it out of there and call Lucia, not fight.

“Wrong guess.” Adelia smiled wide. “I’m not a seer.”

“Get away from that lying bitch ,” Kit roared. “Run, Stevie! Now!”

Stevie bolted toward the open door, but Levi was quicker, yanking her back by the shoulders and shoving her down into one of the chairs.

“Do stay,” he snarled. “We have a conversation to finish.”

Stevie thought that maybe Kit had made it out until her gaze found him writhing against the floor. Translucent chains bound his ankles and wrists, and a rope was in what had to be his mouth, knotted at the back of his invisible head.

“Let him go!” Stevie shrieked, balling her hands into tight fists and twisting from Levi’s firm hold. She hardly stood when a brown rope flew through the room and wound itself around her, trapping her to the chair by her chest.

“No, I believe the Horseman will stay.” Adelia laughed, bending her knees in front of Stevie so they were at eye level. “My husband and I have been apart for far too long, and now, at last, we’re together again.”

Stevie arched a brow. “I’m sorry, what ? You’re like ninety years old! But I guess the age gap leans more toward him since, technically, he’s older.”

“You foolish girl.” Adelia laughed again. This time though, a white glow separated from Adelia’s face, displaying another head. A ghost was inside the Crowned Witch. Stevie should’ve suspected this as soon as her husband had revealed himself. The witch hadn’t betrayed them at all—she was possessed.

Stevie gasped, unable to take her unblinking stare from the ghost’s face. “Clara! How? We saw you pass on in the cemetery.”

“No, you thought you saw me pass on.” The witch’s lip curled into a sneer.

Stevie rattled her chair, screaming, hoping for any other witch in Sleepy Hollow to hear her.

“No one will hear you.” Levi waved a hand in the air, and her words became mute, even as she shouted louder. Terror washed over her when Levi lifted her chin. “You know, Erik wasn’t really Magneto’s name either. It was just an alias for the time being.”

If Gideon were there, he would’ve told her that she should’ve brushed up on her comic book history. Her silent curses at Levi became more frequent as he fished out her phone from her satchel.

He cocked his head and smirked. “I do believe Lucia should know you will be remaining here and running errands for Adelia . We don’t need that pesky witch getting involved more than she already has.”

“When I’m finished with this body, her time will come soon enough,” Clara cooed. “As for you, Stevie, I think it’s time for you to be sent to your sleeping quarters.” In Clara’s grasp now rested an open glass box.

Stevie frowned, but as her muscles twitched, she peered down at her hands.

Her heart skyrocketed in her chest when they shrunk to the size of a doll’s, the tiniest of dolls.

It wasn’t just her hands though—her entire body was turning smaller.

She screeched, still mute, but when the ropes fell from her, she ran toward the chair’s edge.

Before she reached it, Clara’s large fingers snaked around Stevie, swiping her up.

“Did you want to die? A fall from your height to the floor would have ended in a bloody delight.” Clara cackled while placing Stevie inside the glass box.

“There you go. You’re protected now.” With a pleased smile, she studied her like a prized pet.

“Don’t you worry, seer, this will only be temporary until I need to tear out your eyes to open the Hollow’s next six gates. ”