Chapter 9

9

Ethan rolled to his back and frowned up at me. "Mother is parked by the road. We had to rent a moving truck to put your giant boyfriend in. I may not be able to do magic on this property, but you can't cross its boundary. I heard the Baba Yaga say that she cast your confinement spell herself."

"And I heard your mother wants to kick Carol to the curb. Who will protect your lying pansy ass when the Baba Yaga finds out about Lady Meagan's treachery? I'll tell who, Ethan— no one will ."

"You know nothing about my mother," Ethan said.

"Peace, will you watch him while I go rescue my bear?" I asked the fairy.

"Yes. I will not allow him to follow you."

"Jezel, how far will my innkeeper's magic reach?"

"You cannot cross the boundary of the property without reverting to your non-innkeeper self. May I suggest you call your protectress to you instead? Your bear is in your bed now. The house did what you wanted without being asked. It reads your heart."

"Is there a dungeon in the basement? Because I'm thinking I'd like to put Lady Meagan and Ethan in it."

When Jezel looked as if I'd slapped her, I nearly laughed.

"One does not put a dungeon in an inn. It is not welcoming," she said sternly.

"So what did you do with the bad guys who attacked you?" I'd bet all the money I had that she didn't simply let them go.

"I put them in the well out back. Unfortunately, some well-meaning wolf shifter filled it in over a century ago because he thought it was dangerous. What is dangerous about a natural water source? If you want the witch protectress, you can absolutely call her here. She's the owner. You're the innkeeper. The house has enough power to summon anyone you want, even her."

"Oh, great! The Baba Yaga is going to LOVE being summoned. How do I make it happen?"

"Picture her here and hold the thought." Jezel sighed and lifted her hand. Magic sparked from her fingers. "Repeat this spell when you have need."

" Bippidity, dippity, flippity, flue.

Come to the inn when I summon you.

I summon the Baba Yaga. "

"Don't do it, Selene," Ethan warned.

"Too late. Jezel already did." I turned from Ethan and looked at Jezel. " Bippidity? "

Jezel lifted her transparent chin. "It was a different time—a time when witches did not swear when casting spells."

I looked up at Peace. "The Baba Yaga should be appearing in the kitchen. Please check the room off of it. See if there's a bear. I repeated the spell in my head to summon Farley."

Peace nodded once and disappeared.

I felt magic hit me in the back. It didn't get through all the clothes. Since I needed to stall, I called out in pain and grabbed my stomach as if she'd hurt me.

"This is over, Selene. You've done quite enough damage to my plans. And how dare you reject my son?"

Ethan looked up. "Be careful, Mother. Our magic is limited here and Selene's more powerful than she looks. That ghost is advising her."

"Ghosts don't possess magic, Ethan. They're unable to manifest."

Ethan climbed to his feet and stared at Jezel. "She's not only a ghost, Mother. I think she's part of the house."

"You can see through her, Ethan. She's inconsequential. All we need is the fairy."

"Selene refuses to give her up. Are we supposed to fight to the death to take her?"

"Yes," Lady Meagan said as she moved her determined gaze to me.

Finally realizing what I was wearing, she looked me over.

I smiled and held out my arms. "How do you like it? This is my pilgrim innkeeper look. I heard it was coming back in style this year."

Ethan grunted. "She's lying about that too. The house makes her wear those clothes. I think they increase her power."

Lady Meagan laughed. "Inanimate objects can be drained of their magic. If we don't get the fairy, we'll take those horrific clothes and drain the house."

"That's a great idea," Ethan said with a smile.

Peace chose that moment to lead a stumbling Farley out onto the porch. I held up my hand. "No, Farley. Stay inside the house for now. Those broken boards won't hold you. I'm putting them on Paul's repair list for tomorrow."

"What's going on?" Farley asked.

"I'm just doing a little innkeeper business. Nothing to worry about."

Farley looked me over. "Why are you dressed like a pilgrim, Selene? Did you join a Salem witch reenactment group while I was gone?"

I couldn't help myself. The bear always made me laugh. "Yes," I said to him. "It's something just like that." I looked at Jezel. "This outfit seriously needs a makeover."

The ghost huffed and crossed her arms.

I felt magic tingling down my back. Lady Meagan was on the attack again. I turned to face her. Now that Farley was safe, I could fight without concern for him.

I smiled and lifted my wand. "Bring it, Lady Bitchy McBitchington. I'm the freaking innkeeper."

"Innkeeper Selene!" Jezel's chastisement set me laughing again.

I zapped Lady Meagan, who stumbled back. "That was a warning and the only one you're going to get today. You are not welcome here. Be gone."

Peace came tearing out of the house. She held a glowing globe in her hands. "Here. This is what you want. Take it and go. Leave the innkeeper alone," she said to Ethan. "All Selene wants is to protect me."

Ethan's smug smile made me want him dead.

I turned on the fairy princess. "Why would you give someone like him your precious fairy crystal?"

Peace bowed her head. "Because you protected me when you had every reason to despise me. You are more honorable than me, Innkeeper. I must protect you in return or risk leaving imbalance as my legacy here. The queen would never forgive me."

Ethan walked to stand next to Lady Meagan. "We have it, Mother. We have our prize. Let's go home."

She peered into the glowing globe. "We're not quite finished here, son. We can't kill the fairy, but Selene knows too much."

Ethan laughed. "Who would believe anyone wearing a stupid pilgrim witch costume?"

" Me ," a commanding voice said from the doorway.

We all turned to look at the Baba Yaga who stood there in all her glory. Except she was wearing my robe. I probably should have kept my mouth shut given what I was wearing. But that wasn't in my nature.

I lifted an eyebrow as I looked at the witch protectress I might or might never be real friends with again. "I see you helped yourself to my limited wardrobe, Great One. You couldn't conjure yourself some of your own uniquely fashionable clothes to wear? Or gotten one of your warlocks to bring you something?"

Was it wrong of me to chuckle when she glared? It probably was, but I didn't care. And you know what they say about payback being a mother-trucker.