Page 36 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

“They’ve got Kit!” Stevie screamed and hurled herself toward the opening gate. Deep growls filled the air, but all her sense had already gone out the window after seeing Kit’s ghost taken by a demon. Just as her fingers brushed the ground, Lucia yanked her back.

“We have time!” Lucia said, her chest heaving. “The Eyes are still open, and I can feel my spell trying to tie him back to the land. But we have to focus, or we won’t be able to get him out.”

“Fuck!” Reese gritted his teeth as he sat on his knees, gripping his bleeding shoulder.

“I’ll make them suffer more than they can imagine down there,” Adelia snarled.

“Go to your Horseman’s remains,” Lucia rushed out, placing Kit’s finger bone into Stevie’s palm.

“Then we’ll close the gate. If it cracks any further, we’ll have to shut it sooner.

Your blood won’t be enough for Kit since his ghost is gone, so I’ll have to also perform a necromancy spell to get him out of the Hollow. ”

Stevie sank beside Kit’s remains and added his finger bone to the pile.

“I’ll help with the spell,” Adelia added. “You too, Ginger. A triad of strong witches is a power like no other.” She turned to Reese. “And you, boy, don’t you dare run.”

Reese’s throat bobbed as he nodded.

“Stevie, add your blood to Kit’s bones and save the skull’s mouth for last,” Lucia instructed, handing her the dagger. “Then we’ll start the necromancy spell to draw him out from the Hollow.”

Stevie sliced open her hand—Lucia wasn’t kidding when she’d said more blood than usual would need to be shed. Holding her palm above Kit’s remains, she let the bright red liquid trickle onto his bones, and finally, inside his skull.

Adelia, Ginger, and Lucia clasped hands, forming a circle around Stevie and the bones.

They chanted, the sound musical, their incantation a soft melody, one that Stevie hoped would hurry and pull Kit’s soul from the Hollow.

Reese stood in the same position, silently watching them, but she couldn’t worry about him now.

The bones rattled, clacking together as they moved around.

Stevie’s lips parted when one after another slid against the next, locking in place.

Her drops of blood spread across the bones, licking up each speck of white until the entire skeleton was red.

Organs sprung up inside the rib cage like flowers rising from the dead.

Muscle came next, followed by a spiderwebbing of veins.

And then tan skin slipped out, hugging the layers of flesh beneath it.

Black hair sprouted from Kit’s head and grew to his shoulders.

The way Kit’s body was coming to life reminded her of Hellraiser , which was her mom’s movie of choice, the way the villain’s body received layers of flesh after murdering people.

Minus the killing shenanigans. But Kit’s chest wasn’t rising, and when she pressed her hand to his chest, the heart remained still.

Stevie wasn’t a witch, yet she would assist them, regardless if it didn’t make the song more powerful. She enfolded her hand around Kit’s, humming the song until a pale white form rose from the ground, drifting above their heads. Kit . But not only Kit. Inferno .

Tears beaded Stevie’s lashes—however, she didn’t stop the incantation, not even as Kit’s ghost lowered into his physical body, and Inferno just outside the circle.

Both their eyes were closed, though a ghost never slept.

Roxy nudged the horse with her nose, but the Hollow had already begun to do something to them.

“He needs more seer blood,” Adelia uttered. “Not you, Stevie. Go with Lucia and seal the gate. Kit and his horse’s ghost are safe here.” She looked toward Reese and snapped, “You, boy. Help fix this now. Do your part. More blood in his mouth.”

Even though Stevie wanted to see if Kit and Inferno would wake, she needed to take care of the town and help close the crack. She knelt beside Lucia near the opening, where more ghoulish hands swiped at the air, beckoning them closer.

“Two more drops of blood is all we’ll need,” Lucia said, placing her palm against the dirt. “Repeat the words after me.”

Stevie winced while squeezing her hand, the blood falling to the ground in what felt like slow motion.

The demons’ growls grew desperate, more ravenous for a taste of her blood.

Flashes of beady yellow eyes glowed from within the darkness as the demons waiting to enter Sleepy Hollow peered up at them.

Lucia chanted, deep and otherworldly, and Stevie followed her words.

The ground quaked beneath them, not pulling apart further but sealing back together.

They continued repeating the spell until the line vanished as if it had never been there.

Lucia smacked her hand against the dirt, giggling, actually giggling.

“We did it. Me and my badass assistant.”

“You mean, badass witch.” Stevie smiled, her chest heaving.

“And now you and your Horseman can rekindle your romance. I do believe he’s awake.” Lucia grinned as Roxy trotted up to her side.

Stevie whirled around to find Kit standing, wearing Reese’s robe and running a hand down Inferno’s mane. Adelia, Ginger, and Reese lingered a few feet away from him.

“Hi, Your Non Headlessness,” Stevie breathed, stepping toward him, studying the face that she’d been waiting to make a comeback.

Kit’s hand left Inferno and he smiled, the first bewitching smile she’d seen from him yet. “Hi, Pumpkin.”

Tears stung her eyes and she ran toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips like a spider monkey.

As he held her tightly, she inhaled spice and pine, something she did wish she had a candle made of.

She finally stepped back to the ground and cupped his face, leaning in close.

Even in the darkness, she could finally see the color of his irises. “Green. Your eyes are green.”

“I hope that means you’re pleased.” He smirked.

She rolled her eyes and pressed her hand against his chest to feel the beat of his heart.

Stevie’s gaze latched onto Reese and her smile dropped. He rubbed the back of his neck, seeming nervous. “What happened?” She frowned. “When did you start helping Levi?”

Reese exhaled loudly. “It’s pathetic. I’m pathetic.

I’ve seen Levi my whole life. He was my family.

Levi told me what you were and how I had to spy on you for him because you were planning to open the Hollow with the Headless Horseman and a troop of witches.

He said we needed to prevent it from happening.

After I met you, I wasn’t sure it was true, but then I saw the Horseman with you. ..”

Stevie bit her lip. “You could’ve asked me, Reese.”

“I could’ve.” His shoulders hunched forward. “But I didn’t. Not since I didn’t really know you like I thought I knew Levi. And after he possessed my body when I was leaving the bonfire, I knew you were in danger. By then, it was too late to warn you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Kit said. “I know how they play their little games to earn your trust. I was a part of Clara’s once.”

Reese nodded, but shame danced in his eyes.

“So,” Lucia piped in while petting Maxine’s head. “Who wants to stay here for the night and make sure that doesn’t happen again?”

The eight of them remained guarding the gate throughout the night until both Eyes finally shut, their red glow sealed away.

Lucia clasped Stevie’s arm as she yawned with a smile, the fog clearing and the darkness lifting. “I’m going to take you guys home, but looks like I won’t be sleeping any time soon. I have council members to find and cats to reverse spells on.”

Stevie locked the door to her home behind her. With the Eyes shut, the world between the living and the dead was separated once more. “Do you want a shower before sleeping?” Eight full hours of sleep sounded like winning the lottery at the moment.

“Mm-hmm. This will be my first experience with one of those,” Kit drawled.

“I think you’ll be having a lot of firsts.

” She grinned, her gaze fixed on his green irises that were much brighter in this light.

Even though, yes, his face was very much an Adonis one, at least to her , it wouldn’t have mattered if she never set her sight on it again.

Because Kit wasn’t his face, nor was he the Headless Horseman anymore—he was just himself.

Someone Stevie really wanted to be around.

But she wouldn’t lie that she hoped she wouldn’t ever have to stop seeing his brilliant green eyes.

Stevie placed a fluffy towel on the counter in the bathroom and turned on the shower. She then pointed to two bottles. “You can use these to wash your hair and body. If you need me, you only have to shout my name.”

“I’m certain I’ll need you quite a bit.” Kit’s shapely lips curled up at the edges.

Stevie blinked, studying him in his robe, still naked beneath it, for a beat too long. “Good,” she finally got out and shut the door behind her before she jumped his bones.

Roxy lay on the floor beside the kitchen sink while Kit’s horse remained in the woods until probably tonight as usual. Reese had stayed quiet for most of the night, but she’d learned that he’d yet to come across his own sidekick.

Closing her eyes, Stevie petted Roxy’s head. “Don’t listen to me if there’s ever a Sleepy Hollow-ending event again.”

The fox pawed her hand, and Stevie stood to pour herself a glass of ice-cold milk, her earlier exhaustion fading.

She thought about texting her mom, but she didn’t have her phone back just yet.

Last night she’d checked on her with Lucia’s cell, then revealed to Gideon how his plant was a lifesaver.

He’d panicked about Maxine being put in danger, but his cockiness came around about his pet plant being a town hero and how he’d feed her something extra special.

“Stevie!” Kit shouted.

She almost knocked over her empty cup as she ran toward the bathroom, throwing the door wide. The patterned shower glass hid the subtle details of Kit’s form, but she could still see his outline, fine and dandy.

“I think I exaggerated what was happening in here,” Stevie croaked.

He cracked open the glass door. “You didn’t leave me any clothing.”

“Oh!” she chirped. “I can run next door and grab some from Gideon’s closet. Not his favorites though or he’ll whine.”

“There’s something else. Come here.” Kit waggled a finger at her as he moistened his bottom lip.

She arched a brow and smiled. “Are you just trying to lure me into doing naughty things?”

“Perhaps.” He smirked. “Unless you’re too exhausted.”

Stevie stepped closer and Kit opened the door farther, her gaze catching on taut muscle. He grasped her by the waist, making her squeal as he brought her into the shower with him.

His full lips crashed into hers, and she didn’t hesitate to kiss him back, to finally feel his warmth, his taste. His flavor was still like moonlight against her tongue.

“My clothes are getting soaked.” Stevie laughed, her hands grasping his wet hair.

Kit trailed kisses up her jaw to just beneath her ear, and her heart pounded at the feel of him. “Should I remove them?” he rasped.

“If you don’t, I’ll remove the one piece myself,” she vowed.

He cut her off with a kiss, slowly unrolling the knitted tube-top dress down her body and tossing it over the shower glass.

Warmth shot through Stevie at the way his fingers skimmed down her sides, in the way that she could leave her eyes open to watch him whenever she pleased.

Just as she was doing at that second, her gaze holding on to his bright green eyes before drifting down his torso to the part of him that was so very ready for her.

“Now, let’s get to work.” She grinned, cradling his beautiful face.

Kit caught her mouth with his, his deft fingers stroking her center until she whimpered. He then hoisted her up against the wall, and with one spellful thrust, he was inside her and she moaned in delight. She held onto his shoulders as he moved his hips, hitting the right spot superbly.

Stevie eagerly wrapped her legs around him tighter, one of his hands cupping her backside while the other caressed her breast. He teased her with slow, meticulous movements that made her gasp.

His pace picked up, becoming more reckless, harder, and she didn’t think she would ever stop moaning for him. Not after an orgasm like that.

Kit thrust faster, his lips back on hers, urgent, his hand tangled in her hair, until he jerked and came with a deep groan.

As their chests heaved, they studied one another, their expressions satisfied. “I do believe you’ve bewitched me, Stevie,” Kit murmured, his forehead pressed to hers.

Her heart swelled, and she didn’t think her idiotic smile would ever go away. “Say body and soul like Mr. Darcy and we can have another round before we sleep.”

“Body and soul.” Kit kissed her as if the Hollow could still rip him away. “Thank you for everything. For saving Inferno.”

Stevie tucked a lock of hair behind his ear and grinned. “I won’t lie—it did take some convincing at first. But maybe if you hadn’t been so vague .”

“You had me the night you cursed me with your crucifix.” He smirked.

“You—” Kit cut her words off with a kiss, then carried her out of the shower and into her room, where he gently lowered her to the mattress.

“We’re getting the bed all wet.” She laughed as he caged her in, droplets of water gliding down his neck and chest.

“More so than you?” he purred.

“Maybe? Maybe not?” Stevie shrugged, fighting a smile and staring one more time at his eyes. Because she could.

“You’re the prettiest pumpkin I ever did see.” Kit tugged a tendril of her wet hair and crawled down her body, trailing kisses between her breasts, to her stomach, then lower . He lifted her legs over his shoulders, peering up at her with hooded eyes. “I do believe I have my answer.”