Page 13 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Moonlight (Midlife Menace #2)

My aunt’s scowl deepened, as if she couldn’t stand the stanky smell from her very rotten soul.

“As the Phoenix, it’s her responsibility to protect the striga race from demonic threats.

The fact that she’s shirking her duty means one of two things—either she’s incredibly selfish or.

..” She paused, shadows darkening her features. “The demons already got to her.”

The flipping troll-twat.

Hazel shoved the microphone closer to Serena’s face. “You mentioned demon possession before.”

“I know.” She grimaced. “And I don’t make accusations lightly.”

“Oh, but she does,” I blurted as my very bones vibrated with rage.

“But I refuse to stick my head in the cauldron and ignore the signs,” she continued.

I wish she would stick her head in a cauldron full of gnome turds.

Hazel wrinkled her piggish nose. “What do you suggest we do if we come in contact with the Phoenix?”

“Do not engage,” my aunt said. “Recite the spell, ‘reditus insurgis,’ and we will come.”

Ethyl tilted her head. “ Reditus in —”

“Stop!” I waved a fist at Ethyl. “Are you trying to summon them?”

Her hands flew to her throat. “Sorry. I figured the wards would keep them out.”

I gave Ric a look, and he shrugged. “I’d rather you didn’t test the wards.”

“What will you do to the Phoenix if she is possessed?” Hazel continued.

It felt like all the air had escaped the room as my vision tunneled on Serena’s twisted features. “Kill her.”

I sucked in a hiss.

Hazel’s eyes widened to saucers. “But she’s your niece.”

“The magical world is doomed if I don’t. Besides, I know it’s what Luciella would want.” She had the nerve to dab imaginary tears from her eyes. “It’s what any of us would want if we were demon-possessed.”

“No, it’s what she wants, so she can control Des,” I grumbled.

Hazel arched a brow. “Do you think you’re powerful enough to defeat the Phoenix?”

Serena’s eyes sharpened to twin blades. “Yes.”

The reporter made an animalistic snort. “Why?”

My aunt’s smile was the devil incarnate. “Because I know her secret.”

Holy troll turds! Could she get any more evil? She knew my secret? What secret? That Des was the Phoenix? Yes, she had known my son was the Phoenix since his birth. Had her soul been blackened so much that she would turn her grandnephew over to the wolves that would hunt him for his magic?

“That freaking bitch!” I said on a rush of air while giving Ric a helpless look. “How could she do this to me? To Des?”

His smile was grim as he pulled me in for a reassuring hug. “It’s not your fault, mi amor . Some striga are born cruel.”

I pressed my palms against his chest. “But she’s my aunt!”

“I’m sorry.” He brushed his lips across my forehead in a move that would’ve had me melting, but I was too busy fuming to think about sex.

I was so mad, I fought the urge to summon my aunt myself and turn her to dust. I sucked in a curse, looking to Ric as the floor beneath us began to shake. “What’s happening?”

Ethyl fluttered into the wall and slid to the floor with a squeal.

Ric grabbed my shoulders, steadying me and rubbing warmth into my arms. “I think it’s coming from you!”

“Oh? Oh!” I heaved a shaky breath, willing the tremors to stop. I had to get ahold of my earth-splitting magic before I accidentally killed someone.

The ground abruptly stopped shaking, and Ric helped Ethyl off the floor.

“Sorry,” I whispered while we set her on the bed.

“I’ll go check on the others,” Ric said, quickly striding out of the room.

I sat by Ethyl, holding her hand, my shoulders falling in relief when Ric returned with a reassuring smile.

“Everyone’s fine,” he said.

Ethyl fluttered from the bed, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt while scowling down at me, as if she was about to launch into a lecture. “You need to let the Enchantress interview you.” She wagged a finger, a deep frown marring her features. “WitchTok loves her more than anyone.”

“No.” Crossing my arms, I stood, matching her scowl with my own. “I’m not doing an interview with her.”

“Luci!” Ethyl tossed her hands in the air while fluttering around me like a possessed hummingbird. “She’s our only hope.”

“Ethyl is right.” Ric gave me a sympathetic frown. “She has posted several videos inviting you for an interview. It’s time we take her up on her offer.”

Well, fuuudge.

PACING THE FLOOR, I nervously chewed my lip while trying to understand why my aunt had taken this family feud to the next level.

And now my only other option was to rely on the most annoying striga on WitchTok.

I’d rather drink gnome turd coffee. I plopped onto the bed and turned to Ric with a plea in my voice, realizing how much I’d come to rely on his support, which both comforted and unnerved me. “So what do I do?”

Ric sat beside me, a steadying hand on my knee. “You inbox her.”

Expelling a shaky breath, I opened my WitchTok messages and summoned the courage to type the words that would seal my fate. Hello, I’m ready to talk.

My phone rang, glitter exploding from the screen, and I dropped it with a gasp. “What the hex?”

“She wants to FaceTime you, Luci,” Ethyl screeched, snatching the phone and shoving it in my face. “Answer!”

I backed away from the phone as more glitter exploded from it with each blaring ring. Luckily, it was only an illusion, because it disappeared before it hit my face. “I need to touch up my makeup.”

“Really, Luci?” Ethyl rolled her eyes, shoving the phone toward me. “Nobody cares what you look like,” she said with a sneer, as if my appearance didn’t matter because I was well past my prime and ready to join Nana Clara in the nursing home and poo in adult diapers.

When I gaped at her, she swiped the screen with a groan, and I was suddenly face-to-face with the annoying witch who also held my fate in her manicured hands.

“Hello, darling,” she cooed while pursing her glossy lips. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you. My, you’ve caused quite a stir lately.”

“That’s an understatement,” I blurted, my mouth engaging without permission from my brain. “I’m not demon-possessed. My aunt is evil and controlling. That’s why I’m hiding from her.”

“Of course, of course,” she slurred while waving away my concern with a flick of the wrist. “Since you’re a hunted witch, it’s probably best if I come to you for the interviews.”

Ethyl let out an excited squeal that nearly blew out my eardrums.

Hang on. What? “Interviews?”

The Enchantress tilted her head, looking at me as if the Botox in her face had migrated to that hollow cavity between her ears. “A week-long series showing the Phoenix with her friends and family. Maybe a few displays of your incredible magic.”

Ethyl let out a squeal of delight, feverishly clapping her hands while her rapidly buzzing wings blew back my hair.

“Oh,” I said while trying to keep the shock and disgust from my voice. “I just wanted to do one video interview like what we’re doing now.” A week with the Enchantress? Gag. I didn’t think I had enough patience or glitter repellent to spend an entire week with her.

“Darling.” She heaved a dramatic sigh. “That won’t work.”

I gave Ric a look, not reassured when he shrugged in response. Why not? he mouthed.

The Enchantress’s serene facade dropped for a heartbeat. “Do you wish to clear your name or not?”

Flames of frustration raced across my chest and face. “Yes, I want to clear my name.”

“My followers trust me.” Turning up her nose, she splayed a hand across her chest. “And I refuse to betray that trust with one hasty interview. I need to get to know the Phoenix, and in return, I will make sure my followers see you through my eyes.”

My gut soured. “Oh. I need to discuss this with my family and friends first.”

“Of course.” I thought I saw a flash of anger in her eyes before she plastered on a smile. “But don’t take too long. It’s only a matter of time before the wrong witches find you.”

Yeah, witches like you , I thought, though I didn’t voice it aloud. Ric believed this striga could help us, and after last night, I didn’t want to argue with him again.

After I hung up with her, I turned to Ric. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Please, Luci,” Ethyl pleaded, an excited gleam in her eyes while she fluttered about the room, nearly hitting her head on the ceiling fan.

Ric pushed off from the bed and paced in front of me, a frown etched into his features. “I know, but we’re out of options.”

The hopelessness in his voice was like a blade through my chest. “What if it backfires?”

“What if it doesn’t?” Ethyl squeaked before tumbling to the bed beside me.

“I don’t trust her.” I worried my bottom lip while thinking of all the ways she could make my life miserable, like choking me to death with a glitter bomb or making Des love her more than me. “We should just lie low until this blows over.”

Ric stopped pacing, giving me a pitying look. “The world believes the Phoenix could be demon-possessed. It’s not going to blow over.”

“Ugh.” I clutched my roiling stomach. What if Ric fell in love with her pouty lips and dramatic sighs too?

She obviously had the rest of the world under her spell.

Maybe she had siren blood and would want to seduce the famous ruggel player, formerly known as the Tongue Thrasher.

Perhaps she’d try to put his tongue to use.

Maybe she wouldn’t be satisfied until she stole both Des and Ric from me.

“Either way, we take a risk.” Ric’s eyes shone with something like pride. “But if we invite her here, and she sees the Luci we all love—the devoted mother, the best friend and girlfriend—she can change the public opinion in our favor.”