3. Ava

My stomach growledas I walked into the kitchen, my thoughts on what I could whip up for everyone for lunch. We”d been buried in research since dawn, and breakfast was now a distant memory. As I moved to the fridge, I spotted a note stuck to the stove, scribbled in Winnie”s hand.

Biscuits are in the oven, heading back to Faery, will pop in later, Winnie and Alfred.

How did I not hear them come in? A hello would”ve been nice. Maybe they slipped in and out while we were at the mayor”s office. That had to be it. They wouldn’t just pop in and out without telling me unless I wasn’t here. Hence the note.

I opened the oven, the scent of biscuits hitting me before I saw them. They were a bit cold, so I cranked the heat, giving them a few more minutes to get that perfect golden brown.

”Those smell amazing,” Wallie said, striding into the kitchen with Michelle right behind him, each holding one of the babies.

”Credit to Alfred,” I replied, closing the oven. ”He and Winnie left them for us.”

Drew ambled over, taking Selby from Wallie, and started making funny faces at the ogre baby. Selby”s giggles filled the room, a sound that warmed me more than any biscuit could.

The back door creaked open, and in came Zoey and Larry. They’d gone for a long walk, saying they’d missed our beach.

”Hey, Ava,” Sam called out, poking his head around the corner. ”I”m off to grab Sammie. Taking him to that summer day camp with Carrie.”

”Sounds fun. Carrie is the best,” I asked. She’s also been a huge help with Sammie since his powers unlocked with Olivia’s had. Carrie was Sammie’s kindergarten teacher last school year. She’d become good friends with Olivia and me.

”I agree.” Sam chuckled. His eyes were heavy with the need for sleep. ”After that, I”m crashing until my shift at the bar tonight.”

”Are you okay?” I asked, looking at him. Was he feeding enough? That was the purpose of the bar–Red Lips Mary. It was modeled after Jax’s Catch and Release bar. Vampires could safely feed and compel their human to forget and send them on their way.

He gave me a wry grin. ”Gotta make the most of the daylight Olivia”s blood gives me. But we”re rationing. It”s not like she has an endless supply.”

”Right.” I nodded, understanding the delicate balance they had to maintain. Olivia’s fae blood and the fact that they were fated mates allowed him to stay up during daylight hours, but it didn’t last long. Most baby vampires–newly turned–were out as soon as the sun rose.

”All right, see you guys later,” Sam said, retreating from the kitchen.

”Later, Sam!” The chorus of farewells followed him out.

I took Imogene from Michelle and pressed a kiss to her cheek as her little fists grabbed at nothing. ”Olivia,” I said, catching her attention as she entered the kitchen, ”Winnie and Alfred must”ve swung by earlier. They grabbed some stuff and left breakfast.”

Her blue eyes lit up, a small smile spreading across her face. ”Really?”

”Yep, biscuits warming in the oven,” I confirmed, watching her deftly retrieve the biscuits. She placed them on the counter with a gentle clink.

”Perfect,” Olivia murmured, fetching butter and jam from the fridge. She set them down next to the biscuits, and everyone converged like moths to a flame.

Drew was the last to join, Selby cradled in his arms. He smeared a tiny amount of jam on his finger before dabbing it on Selby”s lips. The ogre baby”s green face contorted into an expression of delight, his little tongue chasing the sweetness.

Selby gurgled, chubby hands reaching out. Giggles erupted from him as Drew allowed his jammy fingers to be engulfed by Selby”s eager mouth.

”Easy there, big guy,” Drew chuckled, looking up at me. ”You”ll get your fill.”

Just as we finished eating and cleaning up, a knock sounded at the front door. Winston opened the door before I got there. Melody entered and greeted me with a smile. Mai, one of the younger witches in the coven, was at her side.

Behind them, cars were pulling up, tires crunching on the gravel. Leena stepped out of her car, waving to us.

”Good timing,” I said, ushering them inside. ”Thought you”d be here later.”

”I almost canceled the meeting,” Melody said with a hint of relief. ”Found the spell we need.”

”Did you now?” I leaned against the door frame as they walked in, curious.

”Apparently it”s been in the coven”s grimoire for ages,” she explained. ”Each leader has it passed down to them.”

”Never made it to me,” I pointed out with a half-smile. Then again I’d only been the coven leader for a short time before handing it off to Melody. My life was too chaotic to be responsible for a coven.

”You would”ve gotten it…eventually.” She shrugged one shoulder and stood beside me as the others walked up.

”Yeah, I suppose so. So, why didn”t you cancel the meeting if we have the spell?” I asked.

Melody exchanged a glance with Mai before responding. ”Mai brought something to my attention.”

Mai stepped forward, her face pale. She drew in a deep breath and said, ”I was at a PTO meeting at the elementary school when everyone started talking weirdly.” Her hands twisted together nervously. ”Strange intonations, honestly, it sounded almost canine.”

”Canine?” That caught me off guard.

”Yeah,” she nodded. ”I used a spell to dissolve minor curses. Thankfully, it worked very quickly.” Mai hesitated, then added, ”I had to fake a gas leak, though, and had to break a stove to sell it.”

”Smart.” I nodded, impressed despite the situation. ”Twice now, magic”s been too public. The mayor thought Imogene moved those statues... But this? She wasn”t near the school.”

”Her powers might be more advanced,” Melody said, watching me closely. “Or they could be growing?”

”Perhaps,” I said, but inside, doubt gnawed at me. I knew the limits of Imogene”s power, or thought I did. And this? This was beyond her reach. That school was miles away.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s get the meeting going and find out if anything else weird has happened.”

The mantel clock ticked loudly, almost impatiently, as the last of the coven trickled into the living room. I scanned the group and was about to call the meeting to order when the front door burst open. Ben and Brandon stumbled in with faces flushed from more than just the summer heat.

”Sorry we”re late,” Ben leaned against the wall dramatically. ”Had a situation at the BB.”

Melody stared at them wide-eyed. ”What happened?”

”This big family was checking in,” Brandon said. ”And then... Well, it was like a scene out of Poltergeist. Furniture started floating around by itself.”

”Chairs were swapping spots, the couch flipped over, and an end table...” Ben trailed off, shaking his head. ”It started doing pirouettes in mid-air.”

”Did you try stopping it?” Melody asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and worry.

”Of course, but our spells bounced off like rubber balls.” Ben grimaced. ”We had to evacuate everyone. Made up some story about electromagnetic disturbances. The family left. Canceled their reservation and everything.”

A collective murmur rippled through the room as everyone digested the news. This wasn”t just an accidental spell gone awry; this was something else.

”Let”s take a seat and figure this out.” I motioned to the scattered chairs that Winston, the house, had neatly arranged in a semi-circle without being asked. He was great.

Once settled, the room hummed with theories and whispered concerns. It was clear there was a consensus: we were dealing with something entirely new.

”Everyone, please,” Melody spoke above the chatter. ”Keep an eye out for anything unusual. Report back immediately if you do. Now, going back to the incident at the festival. I believe I’ve found the spell we need.” She pulled a worn, leather-bound grimoire from her bag. ”It”s designed to stop townsfolk from speaking about magic. The coven has done it before, it should be easy enough to manage again.”

Scratching at the front door pulled my attention away from the coven”s worried murmurs. I walked over and swung the door open. Snoozer ambled in first, his undead tail held high. Behind him, Poe and Lenore tumbled through the doorway, their kitten energy unstoppable. They’d been a constant source of amusement, playing, fighting, and zooming around the house. Lucy-Fur was last, something dark and shapeless clutched in her mouth.

”Lucy, what have you got there?” I demanded.

”Mrphm mrrph,” Lucy attempted to respond, her words distorted by her catch.

”Drop it,” I commanded and pointed to the ground. “Now.”

With an indignant glare, she complied, depositing the small item onto the doormat. Holy freaking crap. It was a tiny bat, its delicate wings folded against its body. I gasped, a reflexive sound of concern.

”Lucy, that”s not a toy. Bats can carry diseases, you know that.”

She just rolled her eyes at me. ”Chill, Ava, it”ll be okay,” she replied with her typical nonchalance.

I wasn”t so sure. Grabbing a towel from the kitchen, I gently wrapped the bat, which seemed to be sleeping, or knocked out, more likely. It needed a safe place for it, at least until I could figure out what to do with it.

In the hall closet, I found a shoe box. Shoes hit the floor with a thud as I emptied it, too focused on the task to care about the mess. Nestling the towel-wrapped bat inside, I made sure it was secure before closing the lid. Just a few air holes and the temporary shelter was ready.

I tiptoed past the kitchen, glancing at the gleaming countertops where Alfred often prepared feasts fit for a king or a Viking. The thought of him finding a bat where his sourdough should rise made me shudder. Not risking it, I carried my tiny, slumbering stowaway to the sanctuary of my office where I placed the box on my desk.

”Stay safe, little one,” I muttered and shut the door with care. “I’ll check on you later.”

Back in the living room, Melody was holding court with her usual flair. ”...and as the solstice approaches, we”ve got to make it one for the books. It”s not just about the ceremony. It”s about unity.”

The coven murmured in agreement. They were a tapestry of nods and eager faces, ready to weave their magic into the coming event. I leaned against the door frame, listening, but not completely part of their circle.

”Come on, Ava,” Melody called out, spotting me. ”You”ll join us this year, won”t you? You could use some fun.”

”Maybe,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips despite my hesitation. ”It does sound fun.”

”Good,” she beamed. ”Now, down to business. Who”s in for the silencing spell?”

Hands shot up around the room. I crossed my arms, watching the enthusiasm bubble over. There was never a dull moment here. And that”s just how we liked it.