The Wedding Spell Read online

  “A character trait that seldom appeals to mortal.”

  Sebastian shrugged. “Appeal? Tempt is more like it.”

  “Just like a witch,” Dagon said.

  Sebastian eyed the handsome man skeptically. He was obviously up to something, and since he had made his opinions of mortals clear, he was certain Dagon wasn’t there to console him. “What are you getting at?”

  “Mortals don’t trust witches. Your history has proven that.”

  “I forget,” Sebastian said with a dawning nod. “You believe witches belong with witches and mortals with mortals.”

  “Let’s call it a balance of nature,” he suggested seriously. “Mortals have never been able to cope with witches and their innate abilities. They either refuse to understand us or feel that anything more powerful than them is reason to label it evil and of course persecute.

  “You are asking mortals to accept the illogical,” Sebastian said in defense of his kind.

  “To you,” Dagon said, pointing an accusing finger at him, “it is illogical. To us it is natural.”

  Sebastian paused in his response to give his words thought. He had been taught to think one way. For all intents and purposes it was believed to be the acceptable way... and now?

  He rubbed at the back of his neck.

  “Witches belong with witches,” Dagon reiterated.

  Sebastian’s own words surprised him. “What about love?”

  “Love requires unconditional acceptance. Mortals fail to accept or love unconditionally,” he said with disdain. “Let Alisande go.”

  His words penetrated Sebastian like a sharp-edged knife inflicting permanent damage. Let Alisande go.

  Could he?

  Could he walk away from her forever? Never hold her again? Never touch her again? Never make magic with her again?

  Dagon walked up to Sebastian, the two adversaries standing face to face. “I will not see her hurt. I leave soon for Scotland and before I go I will see that Alisande is at peace with this situation.”

  “A threat?” Sebastian asked with equal bravado.

  “A promise,” Dagon said with a smile that warned.

  “I don’t fear you,” Sebastian said with an arrogant smirk that impressed and startled Dagon.

  He grinned at Sebastian and slapped him on the back. “Then you truly are foolish.”

  o0o

  Sebastian couldn’t sleep. He had left the event early, explaining to Janelle and James that he had an emergency, which he did.

  Leave or lose his mind.

  He arrived home around ten, and it was now almost midnight and sleep eluded him. He sat up in bed, the small bedside table lamp casting a soft glow to an otherwise dark, shadowy room.

  Endless thoughts had plagued him all night and that damn magical love spell repeated over and over in his head.

  Research and examination of the facts had always managed to help him in reaching a satisfactory conclusion. He reached in the nightstand drawer and withdrew a pad and pen.

  He got comfortable and began to scribble the spell out to examine, dissect, and hopefully understand it line for line. He rested his pen next to the first verse, reciting the words out loud as if hearing them spoken would help their magical meaning penetrate his logical brain.

  “True love is often rare.”

  “How many times had he heard people talk of true love? Women sighed over it and men laughed at it while silently searching for it. True love was what movies were made of... a love that binds two people together forever and always.

  Not long enough.

  His own words haunted his thoughts.

  He chased the stalking words away if only for the moment and moved on to the next line.

  “Forever love is always shared.”

  A love that lasts forever cannot exist unless it is shared by two willing people. Forever love exists deeply rooted with each soul for eternity.

  Not long enough.

  He didn’t bother to shake his head. The useless gesture wouldn’t chase away the nagging words.

  He read the third verse. “Mistaken love cannot be denied.”

  A love thought to be a mistake in the end cannot be denied. It has always existed between the two souls whether they accept it or not, especially since neither can truly deny their feelings. It will forever be a part of them no matter the outcome.

  Not long enough.

  He expected to hear the persistent words. They were as much a part of the spell as the spoken words.

  Line four was next. :”Make-believe love cannot hide.”

  He smiled. No matter how much you wanted to make believe you loved a person, you couldn’t. It was impossible to pretend to love. You either loved or you didn’t and make-believe couldn’t change that. Love was always—

  The familiar words interrupted his thoughts.

  Not long enough.

  He read verse five nodding his head. “Practical love makes two people whole.”

  Now there was the truth. Practical love filled the empty void. It was solid, reliable, something you could count on like the person being there in the morning when you woke up or wrapped in your arms at night or beside you when you needed to feel her warmth and security. This kind of love was durable and secured two people together forever.

  Not long enough.

  Soon those incessant words were going to be imprinted on his forehead. But did he need reminding? If they kept repeating so frequently in his head... maybe he did need reminding.

  His eyes scanned the last line and he softly recited the verse. “But magical love touches the soul.”

  He dropped his head back against the headboard, ignoring the whack he took to his skull.

  He couldn’t deny what he felt for Ali was magic. And as far as touching the soul? They certainly had accomplished that monumental feat every time they made love. Made magic? But what was magic real and did it endure as favorably as the other loves?

  And most of all what was the spell trying to tell him? What did it all mean?

  Was this the love she was after and wanted from him?

  Magical love?

  And what about all those other loves? How did they differ from the last verse?”

  If the answer resided in the spell, it certainly hid itself well. A troublesome thought since he had broken many a complex code. So why was he having a problem with this?

  Could it be that simple?

  Her words offered a clue. Was he searching so hard that he couldn’t see the obvious?”

  What exactly had she made him feel when she cast the spell?

  He recalled feeling warm, a strange sensation spreading in his chest. Not all that uncomfortable, rather soothing, even a bit titillating. What had she done to him? What had she made him or forced him to feel? Love?

  He sprang straight up in bed, shaking his head and talking out loud to himself. “Could she have allowed me to feel a faint stirring of her heartfelt emotions for me? Had she given freely of her love for me to sample? Was the sensation I felt the stirring and blossoming of love in her heart?”

  He grew more excited and jumped out of bed, pacing the floor naked. Did the spell contain all the ingredients that when mixed together crated the last component and the most important... magical love.

  He was finally getting somewhere. If he probed deeper he might better understand and just possibly get somewhere in sorting out his troubled thoughts. He pounced on the bed, grabbing for the pen and pad.

  The clock struck midnight.

  He shook his head. What had he planned to write? The thought was right there in his head, but he couldn’t seem to grasp hold of it. It was as if someone permanently erased it from his memory.

  “What was it?” he mumbled angrily, taping at his temple, trying to jar his memory.

  “I can’t forget. I can’t,” he warmed himself, the very thought frightening him.

  The words resonated like a fearful omen in his head.

  Not enough time.

  Chap
ter Twenty-nine

  “You take care, my dear boy,” Sydney ordered like a concerned parent, walking arm and arm with Dagon toward the atrium.

  “You must visit,” Dagon said and stopped just outside the etched-glass atrium door. “I have a strange feeling I may require your—”

  “Help?” Sydney asked with a smile.

  “Expertise,” he said firmly. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”

  “Sydney cast a worried glance inside the atrium to Ali, who sat on the wicker settee looking lost and troubled in her thoughts. “Sometimes we all need a little help.”

  Dagon cast a worrisome glance through the door. “I wish it wasn’t necessary for me to leave right now. I thought I could help her through this, fix it, and make it all better for her like I did when we were young.”

  Sydney patted his arm. “You aren’t young anymore. She must face the consequences of her actions.”

  Dagon stepped away from Sydney and paced the area beside the door. “All that mortal needs to do is admit that his love for her is real and not caused by a witch’s spell. What’s stopping the fool?”

  Before Sydney could respond, Dagon continued. “And if I had enough sense to ask you or me for help, then we could tell him exactly what was needed without worry of the consequences of the blasted spell.”

  Sydney smiled and approached Dagon. “Calm down. There is no more you can do.”

  “I feel I’ve failed her,” he admitted reluctantly.

  “Never,” Sydney chastised with a gentle understanding. “Ali’s choice was made when the spell was cast. You must accept as she must accept the outcome.”

  “Which is?” Dagon asked cautiously.

  “As it should be,” Sydney said and kissed him on the cheek. “I leave you to say your good-bye.” She gave a loving pat to his arm and walked away.

  “Sydney,” he called to her and she turned. “I was thinking of stopping by Wainwright Security to say farewell. Do you think it wise?”

  She smiled. “I think you have already made your decision and the die has been cast.”

  He waited until she was a safe distance away and mumbled. “Damn.”

  He heard her reprimand in his head. Watch your manners, dear boy, and give my regards to Sebastian.

  It was all the encouragement he needed. He walked into the atrium feeling relieved.

  Ali jumped off the settee and ran to Dagon and as usual he caught her in his arms in a comforting and secure hug.

  “I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon,” she said fighting the threatening tears and the feeling of loneliness she always experienced with his partings.

  “You will visit, I insist,” he ordered like a brother would to a special sister. Her body trembled and he hugged her close to him, walking her to the settee, where he sat down along with her.

  “I really messed things up this time,” she confessed, the tears starting to run slowly down her cheeks. “You couldn’t even get me out of this one.”

  That cut him to the quick. He pried her gently away from him, held her firmly by the shoulders, and gave her a brief shake. “Ye of little faith.”

  Her wet eyes rounded and looked to him with such hope that he almost cried himself. Almost, but not quite. A male witch simply didn’t shed tears.

  She shrugged and collapsed back in the corner of the chair. “I’m being my usual selfish self.”

  “Wait, I want a witness to this admission,” he said seriously but with a smile.

  She gave a dismissive wave. “You have done all you can and I appreciate your help. I was foolish—”

  “A normal affliction for you.”

  A weak smile joined the tears that slipped without regard down her face. “And one that has cost me dearly.”

  “Are you sure about your love for this mortal?”

  “Without a doubt,” she answered. “I want to spend the rest of my life making magic with him. I want to have his babies and share the pleasures and pains of watching them grow, and I want to grow old in his arms and when our time comes I want to face eternity together.”

  “That’s a long time.”

  “Not long enough,” she said. Her bottom lip quivered in a concentrated effort to fight back the burst of tears that spilled down her cheeks.

  Dagon tucked her back in his arms. “I will do all I can, dear heart.” He lifted her trembling chin. “If by some insane magic I can manage to right this crazy spell, you are to understand that from this day forward this mortal of yours will be your protector, and you, dear heart,” he said with a wicked grin, “will owe me big time.”

  She sighed heavily. “If only you could do something. I would forever be in your debt.”

  He kissed her cheek. “The challenge is too great for me to turn down.”

  She looked at him with a mixture of hope and sorrow.

  He kissed her once more and stood. “I leave for Scotland this evening.” With his usual arrogant stride he walked to the door and turned. “I assume tonight you will cast a prayer to the heavens for help?”

  She nodded. “It’s the only hope I have left.”

  “Ye of little faith,” he said once again, winked and disappeared.

  Ali didn’t know what he was up to, and she knew how firmly his hands were tied in this matter, but knowing Dagon he would make an effort. And knowing Sebastian and his mortal nature, she wouldn’t be surprised if they came to blows.

  But then, maybe, just maybe Dagon might be able to conjure up a small amount of crazy magic that might help. Or maybe he would use mortal tactics against a mortal man.

  o0o

  The office staff had gone home around six, almost an hour ago, and yet Sebastian remained in his office alone. All day he had given thought to Ali and the spell, and all day his thoughts eluded him like haunting ghosts. They floated around, but he couldn’t quite see them. They remained too ethereal, too out of reach.

  Frustration had set in by mid-afternoon and he had become so grouchy that Ms. Smithers had threatened to quit. He had instantly taken control of his emotions, though they had continued to war within him.

  That meant he was none too happy when Dagon materialized in the middle of his office.

  “Why the hell do you do that?” Sebastian asked. “I prefer uninvited visitors to use the door.”

  “A pleasant greeting to someone who has come to bid you goodbye,” Dagon said and walked over to the chair in front of the large desk that Sebastian sat behind.

  “A postcard would have sufficed,” Sebastian snapped.

  “My, my, aren’t we in a snit.”

  Sebastian stood, sending his chair tumbling to the floor and he slammed his hands flat on his desk. “I’m in no mood to deal pleasantly with a witch.”

  “Frustrated are you?” Dagon asked and walked in front of the chair he stood behind and took a seat as if unconcerned with Sebastian’s plight.

  Sebastian fought to maintain his control. “Say your goodbye and get out.”

  Dagon wagged a warning finger at him. “You don’t want to go up against me.”

  Sebastian stood straight, fists clenched at his sides. “No, I wouldn’t want to do that, after all you are a witch and have those super-duper powers. Heaven forbid you fight me on my own level since you just might lose.”

  That brought Dagon out of his chair. “I don’t think so, but if you wish to test your erroneous theory, by all means I will oblige you.”

  Sebastian was about to slip off his jacket when he realized what he was doing. He was so distraught that he was ready and willing to throw fists. He shook his head and rubbed at the back of his neck.

  She makes me crazy.”

  “Are you sure it’s Ali who’s driving you crazy?”

  Sebastian glared at him as if he had two heads. “Don’t take in riddles. I hate riddles.”

  Dagon smiled, actually feeling sorry for the poor love-struck mortal. “I’m only suggesting that perhaps you’re driving yourself crazy.”

  “Oh, Ali h
as nothing at all to do with it? She enters my life, turns it upside down, and then expects me to—”

  Sebastian shot Dagon a blank stare. “Damn, I forgot what I was going to say.”

  Dagon eyes rounded.

  “What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked, concerned over his startled reaction.

  “Nothing,” Dagon said much too quickly to Sebastian’s perceptive ear.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Sebastian demanded, his frustration rushing to a new all-time high.

  Dagon hesitated, not sure how to precede, his help limited by the boundaries of the spell.

  “You’re keeping something from me,” Sebastian insisted.

  Dagon shook his head.

  Sebastian collapsed in his chair, shaking his head. “I’m crazy, completely and absolutely crazy. That happens when you fall in love with a witch who has—”

  “Forgotten again?”

  Sebastian nodded, the seldom used motion causing his neck to ache. “I love Ali so damn much that it hurts.”

  “Guess you would do anything for her,” Dagon said realizing mortal tactics were called for here.

  “Anything in my meager powers,” he agreed.

  Dagon rubbed his chin and leaned forward toward the desk. “I admit that she confuses me sometimes as well.”

  Sebastian laughed. “Only sometimes?”

  “Well, I was thinking that if she confused me and I know her so well, what happens when I meet a woman and fall in love?”

  “You lose your mind,” Sebastian said with a weighty sigh.

  Dagon smiled, though he wanted to laugh. “Seriously, it concerns me. How do I know I’m in love? How do I know that she’s the right one? How do I know it’s for real? It’s a frightening thought.”

  “Tell me about it,” Sebastian agreed. “You think that falling in love will be simple. You meet a woman, talk, get to know each other, fall in love, marry, have babies, fight, make up, and have more babies.”

  “Is that the way it goes?”

  “Supposed to unless you meet a crazy witch who seduces you at every turn and promises nights of magical love, which,” —Sebastian pointed his finger at Dagon— “she delivers and in turn drives you completely senseless.”

  “This really worries me,” Dagon said.