Shadows & Spells

KELLY

The car hood slammed shut with a thud. I woke up, my face pressed against the cold window, blinking against the bright snow outside.

The engine rumbled to life. Jess gave a thumbs-up to the front of the car.

An old blue Ford pickup was parked ahead of us. A man with shaggy hair, similar to Jess, was walking towards it. His well-toned back was the last thing I saw before he disappeared into the truck.

I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The pickup pulled away, leaving us behind.

“Everything okay?” I asked Jess, still rubbing my eyes.

He grunted a yes and pulled out onto the road, following the pickup.

“Your brother seems to know his stuff. That was quick. I’ve always thought having a mechanic in the family would be handy.”

Jess raised an eyebrow at me. “You planning on adding him to your family?”

I laughed, looking out the window at the passing scenery. “It’s just a saying, kid. And no, remember my recent breakup hair?”

“Don’t dismiss the idea so quickly. Will’s going to be the chief soon. He’s already taking care of us with our dad being sick.

“And I remind you that I’m twenty-four. Not a kid,” he retorted, a hint of sass in his voice.

I glanced at him. He was frowning slightly. He must get the age thing a lot with an older brother in charge.

Considering he was doing me a favor, and I didn’t know him well, and that Weres supposedly had strong testosterone issues, I decided to apologize.

“Sorry. It’s just a saying. And I’m sure your brother is great. I’m just not ready to think about that sort of stuff after my recent…situation.

“Besides, being chief, he’s probably out of my league.” I gave him an apologetic smile, and he glanced over.

“Don’t worry about it, Doctor Kelly. You’re probably in the same league. He was pretty grumpy when he came to help us.

“He was all smiles getting out of the pickup, then he saw the tiny dent in my fender and got all moody and silent.”

He sighed, a sound I knew all too well, and added, “Families are complicated.”

“Amen,” I agreed.

We turned off the small public road into the commune entrance. The old green gate was wide open.

There were no active wards, which made sense with people coming and going for tonight’s event.

The entrance led to a long, winding dirt road, surrounded by thick trees. We began the final two-minute drive to the main housing area of the compound.

Even though the commune land was nearly a hundred hectares, some of which bordered the Colombia River, most families chose to live close together, about half a mile from the river.

The land was divided equally among the ten founding families, used for whatever they pleased.

Most of it was shared labor and shared gain with other members.

But if one of the younger, more energetic family members wanted to use their land for more ambitious projects, they were usually on their own until it turned a profit.

Somewhere on this land, I had my own hectare or two. I hadn’t given up the rights but had allowed my cousin, Diana, to use it.

Jess’s Jeep emerged from the woods into a large clearing. Houses and temporary trailers were scattered around.

Most of the ten families had two to four houses in the circle we simply called the Ring, which was a mile in diameter.

In the center of the Ring was a large open area for rituals, and a large barn stood nearby.

It was clear a special occasion was happening. Pop-up tents and RVs were scattered around the houses, presumably for the visiting Weres.

There were a few modern guesthouses on the far side of the Ring, but not enough to accommodate an entire pack.

Jess drove on the dirt road through the middle of the space. The Wardwell houses were closer to the river and on the outer edge.

As we passed the barn, I saw a long dinner table set up inside. It was large enough for the hundred coven members and the visiting Weres.

Lamps hung inside the barn, and it seemed that the families were finishing setting up the table. Outside, a large stack of wood was arranged into a traditional bonfire pyre.

Jess drove towards the outer edge. As I looked out the window, I saw familiar faces, neighbors I’d grown up with, going in and out of their houses.

The main Wardwell house came into view over a small hill. Jess pulled up to it.

It was a large ranch-style house with a wraparound porch, looking like it belonged in Texas.

It was elevated a few feet off the ground, with wide steps leading up to the porch and the front door.

Jess’s brother’s blue pickup was parked behind the house, next to the main guesthouse.

Stepping out of the car, I noticed the lack of wind and the absence of snow on the ground. Those elemental witches were always thinking ahead.

Casting for rain was useful, but bless the witch who could keep the freezing wind from chilling my bones.

My attention was drawn to the front door of the house. A woman around fifty, dressed in a long dark-purple cloak and dark slacks, stepped out.

Her brown hair was pulled back in a bun, with streaks of silver at her temples. Her face was lined with age, but her smile was wide.

I dropped my satchel and ran up the steps. Before I could hug her, she grabbed my shoulders, holding me at arm’s length, studying me. Her gaze landed on my hair.

“Well, it’s certainly a look.”

“Nothing but a crazy old witch,” I shot back, giving her a once-over and nodding at her cloak.

Her smile widened as she pulled me into a hug, the kind that could mend a broken heart. “Hello, Kel.”

“Hey, Franny.”