Page 48 of Seven Secret Spellcasters (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7)

A t the party, Mia walked in to see Christina and Levi already on the dance floor. She wore a sparkling white pouf of a dress, and she looked like a diamond and snowflake storm. Levi was in a black tuxedo and only had eyes for his fiancée.

Mia and Trent walked over to where Abigail and Grans were sitting. Mia sat between them, and her grandmother touched the necklace Mia had received for her induction ceremony. “You may want to keep your protection amulet on for a while. The world is shifting.”

“I’ve got it tucked away in a pocket inside the dress,” Mia admitted. “After today, there’s no way I’m going anywhere without it. But I thought this necklace was perfect for the event and the dress.”

“You still don’t know who sent it?” Grans leaned back in her chair, studying the room.

“I’ve been a little busy the last two weeks. I’ll figure it out.” Mia glanced around the room. “Where are Thomas and Robert?”

“Robert had a prior engagement he couldn’t get out of,” Grans said, but Mia heard the anger in her tone.

Abigail jumped in. “Thomas went to get us more drinks.”

“I’ll go help him, then.” Trent stood and kissed Mia’s shoulder. “Don’t move, okay? White wine?”

“That will work,” Mia replied. She would have said something sharp, like she didn’t need to be coddled, but right now, maybe she did. At least for a minute. Carol had scared her.

“Trent and Abigail filled me in. The protection alarm from your necklace was going crazy, and I was trying to call you. I can’t believe Carol did all of this.

I know she was terrorized after the attack during the competition, but that was years ago.

The coven sent in counselors, and even they thought she was better.

I guess some things never go away.” Grans emptied her glass and reached for another one off a passing tray.

“I’m worried all this is only the beginning.

Maybe it’s not a good time for Christina to be leaving the area.

We may need to quarantine together before this is all over. ”

Mia tried not to roll her eyes. Her grandmother had been talking about her dreams for years now. A war between paranormal forces. Us against them. “Grans, maybe all of this is only a dream.”

“Mia, you know that’s not true. Just because the Goddess is communicating through dream works, doesn’t mean it’s not a real message.” Grans sipped her champagne. Then she gasped and dropped the almost-full glass. It bounced on the carpet, spilling, but didn’t break.

“Grans, are you okay?” Mia stood and stepped in front of her chair. She turned her grandmother’s head toward her, looking for changes in her eyes. “Are you having pain anywhere? Any numbness?” Please don’t ’t be a stroke , she said over and over in her head.

“Stop pushing me around and get out of my way.” Grans moved Mia out from in front of her with a force that convinced Mia it hadn’t been a stroke. “I thought I saw . . .”

Grans stopped talking, and Mia turned back to see what she was looking at.

There, walking toward them, was Dorian Alexander, decked out in a tuxedo that made him a James Bond lookalike. His salt-and-pepper hair was accented by a dark tan. The man looked better than he did when he was alive. Well, his golem looked better. It all got confusing.

The band had taken a break. Dorian moved through the crowd, and everyone who was connected with Magic Springs stared, those in the coven and out. Everyone knew that Dorian Alexander had been killed. And yet, he was here, at Christina and Levi’s engagement party.

Mia heard Mrs. Adams’s voice over the now-quiet crowd. “Who is that man?”

Dorian greeted Mia first. “You look lovely, my dear. And that necklace is perfect. Consider it a gift from Mr. Darcy with a little help from me. Your cat loves you very much.”

Mia’s hand flew to the necklace. “You sent this? Why?”

“Mr. Darcy always talked about giving you something for your induction. If I was still there, we would have done it together. So, please, accept it in the manner it was intended. No strings. Just a lot of love.” He stepped around Mia to take Grans’s hand and kiss it. “You’re looking well, Mary Alice.”

“You, as well, Dorian. You seem to be fitting into your golem. So, why are you here? You know your being in Magic Springs is not allowed.”

He nodded toward Christina and Levi, who had joined the table sometime in the confusion. The music had started up again. “I wanted to toast the happy couple. I’m so glad you two lovebirds made it.”

“So you did, and now you have to leave. The humans won’t understand,” Abigail said, stepping closer to Mia.

“Oh, I’m not leaving. Not until you agree to stop this nonsense about a wedding.” Dorian stared at Grans.

“Why do you want to stop my wedding?” Christina asked, her voice choked with tears.

He looked up and smiled at her. “Not your wedding, dear heart. Mary Alice’s wedding. I’m here to fight for our relationship. Marry me, Mary Alice.” He dropped to one knee and held out an open ring box.

The crowds parted, and a different man walked toward them. “I’ m finally through with that horrible meeting. What’s all the commotion?” Robert saw Dorian with the ring pointed toward Grans. “Mary Alice, tell this creature that you already have a ring and have made promises—to me.”

Grans reached out and closed the box. “Get up,” she whispered to Dorian. “This is not the time or the place. We’ll meet you at the academy after this party is over.”

Dorian stood, tucking the ring box in his pocket. “You will meet me?”

Grans nodded. “Yes, I promise. Just go. Please.”

Dorian made his way out of the ballroom, and the crowd seemed to dissipate around them. Mia reached out and rubbed her grandmother’s arm. “Are you okay?”

When Grans raised her head to look at her, tiredness ebbed from her face. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“That man had no right to come here.” Robert sat next to Grans. “I should file a complaint with the coven.”

“Let’s change the subject, please?” Grans took Robert’s hand in hers. “This is Christina’s party.”

Levi met his mom’s gaze, then took Christina’s hand. “Let’s go dance. Now that Mia’s here, we’ll be starting the toasts soon.”

Christina nodded and let him guide her away to the dance floor.

“That was weird,” she said to Grans.

“We’ll talk about it later,” Grans said, then turned to Robert. “Please be a dear and find out what happened to Thomas and our drinks. I’m feeling a bit parched.”

Mia wasn’t sure whether Grans needed a drink because she’d spilled the last one, or if she, like Mia, was freaking out.

Dorian being back in Magic Springs changed up everything, including the arrival of Cerby and Buddy.

Now that the group was all together again, did that mean Grans’s dreams were real?

Whatever was going on, Mia wasn’t ready for a war.

No matter how many supplies her grandmother had stockpiled in her second-floor classroom. No, she wasn’t ready for war.

Especially a war that maybe no one could win.