Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

" O ne more time," Greer ordered, his voice unusually terse, his jaw clenched.

"Dude! She's exhausted. Let the fuck up already," Nina yelled from across the murder basement as she stalked toward them, her feet clomping against the brick flooring with angry stomps.

Greer tightened his fists, strengthening his wide stance. "If we don't get this right, we can't find out if my coven is in danger, Nina."

He was being harder on her than he'd ever been, trying to instill in her the feel of the spell, the connection she needed to make to its meaning, but she kept bombing.

Clearly, his fear for his coven was real, but the man she'd shared that earth-shattering kiss with was a very different man today. He was tense, on edge and frowning.

But oh, that kiss. She thought about it every free second she had. It had been everything. Perfection. The best kiss she'd ever had in her entire life. Her knees went weak just thinking about it.

Yet, since they'd heard the news from January about Soledad, they hadn't discussed it. And it was just as well left a memory. Her life was in disarray, adding the complications of her feelings and how much she liked Greer wasn't a good idea.

Though, he didn't make it easy when he strutted around in jeans that showcased the bulge of his thighs, and his silky hair was still imprinted on her fingertips.

Nina interrupted her lusty thoughts when she yelled, "Did you hear me, Taskmaster? I said, let the fuck up!"

Greer's jaw went hard. "Nina. Please. We need to focus."

But Nina didn't like that answer. She approached him, her gaze hot, jamming her face in his. "I don't give a fuck what you need. You're not going to get the results you want if you fucking bully her, and because I'm a supreme bitch, I'm not gonna let you bully her. Got that, Cover Model? She looks like she hasn't slept in a fucking week. Now, lay the fuck off and let the kid have a break or I'm gonna break something—on your body. Something you need in delicate fucking matters. Literally ," she threatened.

"Nina, it's okay," Robbie said, dragging her tired legs toward them to grab her hand. "He's right. I have to get this right. I'm the only one who can do this from the outside."

Grabbing Robbie by her shoulders, Nina protectively tucked her behind her. "You're not gonna get this right if you pass the fuck out. Or, I dunno, die of exhaustion. Back off, Greer, or I'll make you back off," Nina growled.

Raking a hand through his hair, his face ragged, Greer gave a curt nod. "You're right. Take a break, Robbie. I'm going to take one, too." Pivoting on his heel, he strode out of the murder basement, leaving silence in his wake.

Nina tipped her chin up, gazing into her eyes, steadying her as she wobbled. "You okay, kiddo?"

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Robbie nodded. "I'm fine. I really am. He's just worried about his coven."

They'd been working for two days to find the spell that would locate his coven, her magic being the only thing that could accomplish that, but the harder she tried, the harder she failed.

Worse, January's friend still hadn't heard from Soledad, only compounding their fears.

The vampire crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes filled with Nina's stubborn brand of grit. "Well, he can fuckin' worry about it while he gives you a damn break. You look like shit, Glinda, and I don't like it. I'm not gonna let him browbeat the fuck outta you while I watch. Now sit. Tater Tot texted from the kitchen. He's bringing you a healthy snack and something to drink. He said you need to replenish your electrolytes or some weird shit."

Hervé skittered into the room and headed straight for her, leaning against her side, his bristles scratching the brick floor. "Mon amie, are you sick? How can Hervé make it better? Shall we fly to ze moon?"

That had been a trip. As she'd practiced and gotten better, Hervé had taken her higher and higher in the sky. Seeing the moon so close like that for the first time was a memory she'd always treasure.

Yes, they'd definitely bonded over these last couple of weeks, taking steps toward a deepening friendship that, according to Greer, would last as long as Robbie was alive.

Patting him on the top of his handle, Robbie gave him a weak smile. "Not right now, buddy. I just need a sec."

Nina grunted. "Listen, my little Casanova, go see if the mop needs a new friend, eh? Or the Dyson. I hear she's lonely. Right now, Mommy's resting from all things magic."

Hervé purred at Nina. "Hervé loves when ze beautiful beast tells him what to do! Eets so sexxxy!"

Robbie gave him the sternest look she could summon, as tired she was. "Hervé, what have we talked about? No objectifying women, buddy. Now scoot!"

He chuckled as he scurried off. "Objectify, obschmectify. Is it so wrong to appreciate ze beautiful woman?"

"Hervé!" she shouted.

"Hervé is going already!" he called back, sweeping out of the murder basement.

Plopping down in one of the new client chairs that had been delivered earlier in the week, Robbie ran her hands over her eyes, grainy and tired from hours and hours of practicing this locator spell.

She'd been lots of places while trying to perfect this stupid spell. Like Calabria, Italy—which, by the by, was beautiful this time of year. But somewhere in the East Antarctic Plateau? Not as much.

Still, she'd had zero success locating Greer's Moonfall Cove with her magic.

Zero .

As Wanda, Carl, and Marty entered the room with Tottington right behind them, carrying a silver platter chock full of cut vegetables and yogurt dip for her, she felt like crying. "I'm failing, guys. If I don't get this right, Greer's coven could be in serious danger."

Carl tugged on a strand of her hair, leaning down to kiss her cheek with a lopsided grin. "No fail. Best…wiii…witchhh ever."

Grabbing hold of his duct-taped hand, she pressed it to her cheek. "I love you, Carl. You're the best zombie ever."

Marty pulled up a chair next to her in what they'd dubbed the cheerleading section of the basement and shook her invisible pom-poms. "But! Look at all the places you've been these last couple of days. You're going to get there, honey. I know you will."

Clenching her magical hand, she shook her head, sick with disappointment in herself. "I have to get this right, Marty. I have to."

Nina sat on her haunches. "Listen, kiddo, this isn't something you perfect fucking overnight. Greer had years to get his shit together. You were just thrown into this by accident. You can't expect to remember it all in two GD weeks."

Tears welled in her eyes, knowing the stakes. "But by now, after hours of doing the same thing on repeat, I should be able to make it work."

Wanda took her hand, frowning. "Said who?"

Robbie's head popped up. Um…yeah. Said who?

Her and perfectionism, that's who. The tiny voice in her head that said she was a failure, and constant embarrassment said so.

"Said me, that's who," she replied stiffly.

"And maybe your mother?" Marty asked.

Her, too. Her mother had always demanded perfection. And now, unwittingly, as a result of years of conditioning, Robbie did, too. She wasn't willing to give herself a break until the job was done right.

It's why she hadn't asked any questions of Greer before he'd willingly offered answers. She'd been taught to put her head down and work until the job was done. No excuses, no back talk. No time for fun unless it made the Tisdale's money or a new connection, and even then, you only pretended you were having fun. The laughter was always hollow.

But after spending her days with these people who'd become so dear to her in such a short amount of time, she'd come to consider this magic a gift, and this group of people—people she wanted to accept her—a byproduct of that gift. A fun, warm byproduct.

They made her laugh They laughed with her—and yes, sometimes at her. But they let her laugh at herself , at her mistakes. They shared their joy with her, and they let her share theirs.

They weren't scary anymore. Not at all. She admired them. She wanted to be like them. She wanted to help people like them.

Her magic wasn't scary anymore, either. It was thrilling, knowing the things she could do with it, the coven she could be a part of because she shared the same power as others.

Okay, maybe some of it was a little scary. She didn't want the part that allowed her to raise the dead, that still freaked her out. But levitating things? Cloaking herself? Riding a broom? Going to Italy simply by closing her eyes and muttering some words?

Yes, please.

Those were only a fraction of the things she was learning to do. They'd help her become a part of something, something she desperately needed right now. She wanted to feel like she belonged somewhere again. She wanted to feel connected, and as the idea of having magic grew on her, Robbie wanted to deepen the link to her power.

She didn't want to squander this gift by failing to use it correctly. She wanted to use it well, when it was needed most…

And she was afraid she was failing.

Shrugging, Robbie whispered, "Maybe. My mother did demand perfection, and realistically, I know that's impossible. But there's a part of me, a part that says if you don't get to perfection, you'll be rejected— again . I mean, my own family rejected me all my life for far less. If I can't do this, if I'm the coven's only hope and I flop, they won't want me either."

"I don't believe that shit, but if that's true, then fuck 'em," Nina growled with anger. "You can be a part of our whatever the fuck this is."

"Friends. Nina means we're friends," Marty corrected, stroking her cheek. "Or as she calls us, framily. There will always be a place for you here, Robbie. Good, bad, ugly. We don't rate you on how perfect you are. You don't have to work yourself to death to prove you're worthy. Not the way you're doing now, not the way you've done all your life. You're worthy. Period."

Marty's words, words she'd longed to hear all her life from the people who were supposed to love her unconditionally, made her choke up. "But I want to do this, Marty. I want to do it for this coven I hope to be a part of someday. I want to do it for Greer. I want to do it for me, and if that means casting spell after spell until my fingers bleed, I'll do it."

Wanda smoothed the hair on the back of her head. "Oh, sweetie, stop listening to that voice in your head that says you're not enough. Stop ," she whispered. "You're beautiful and smart, and funny and annoying as all get out when your food touches and you make that face, but we don't care. We care about you and your mental health and the pressure you're putting on yourself."

Closing her eyes, she absorbed their kind words, their affirmations. "All my life, my mother accused me of being nothing more than a dreamer, of not doing enough. No matter what I wanted to do, she sucked the joy out of it because it was unrealistic, because ‘ in the real world, Roberta, the prince doesn't save you from the beast. You have to save yourself . Work more, spend less time with your empty head in the clouds .' Well, I'm doing that now and look where it's getting me."

Tottington nodded, his face grim. "She did indeed say that. Often. She never encouraged playtime. There was very little laughter in the Tisdale home. Agatha was quite rigid."

Nina threw her arm around his shoulder and squeezed him. "She was a bitch, Tater Tot. If you can't say it, I'll say it the fuck for you."

Tottington cringed at her coarse language, but he nodded. "Thank you, Miss."

Nina winked and grinned at him. "Anything for you, Tater Tot."

Marty nodded. "I think it's the only thing your dreadful mother's said that I agree with. Not about dreaming. We should all dream—always. But you did save yourself, Robbie. Look at what you've accomplished. You left with nothing and you made your way just fine."

Her laugh was bitter. "Is ‘fine' a shithole for an apartment and a job at the Dollar General? Is that fine? I think that's more like mediocre, and mediocre won't cut it now."

Tottington reached for her hand, pulling away from Nina, his gray eyes fierce. "Don't you dare say such things, Roberta Tisdale! That horrible, controlling woman took everything from you. Your money, your home. She blackballed you in the business community with as many contacts as she could, just so she could keep her Louboutin on your neck. You are anything but mediocre. How dare you scoff at your resourcefulness, your…your moxie!" he spat, tiny beads of saliva shooting from his mouth.

Nina held up a fist to him to bump with a wide grin. "God. I'm obsessed. Fucking speak, Tots!"

When Tottington got fired up, which was never, she listened. Laughing, Robbie smiled at all of them, squeezing Tottington's hand. "I didn't know you even noticed." Tottington had always been so expressionless. She never imagined he paid attention to what was going on around him.

"I wasn't supposed to, Miss. My job was to tend to the household's needs, but please don't ever think there weren't at least a hundred occasions I wished to tell your mother to shut her horrible mouth. Had she physically harmed you, I surely would have handled her. Now that I see the psychological damage she's done, I regret not speaking out. However, 'tis why I left with you. Being poverty-stricken by your side is a far better life than the one provided by your mother."

Feeling bolstered by his words, she jumped up and gave him a hug she knew he'd feel uncomfortable about. "I love you, Tater Tot." Then she turned to everyone with a smile. "Thanks for the pep talk, guys. What will I do without you when this is all over?"

Wanda cocked her head as though Robbie had gone mad. "You won't do without us. Ever ."

Tears stung her eyes, but tears wouldn't find Greer's village. Clapping her hands together, she straightened her shoulders and looked at them all. "Okay, let's try this again, yes? Let Greer have some time to himself. He's worried about the people he loves, and if he's pushing me, it's only out of fear."

"He better rein that fear in, or I'll show the fucknut what fear really is," Nina groused.

"Nina," Robbie said, her eyes round and pleading. "I'm okay. I really am. Yes, I'm tired, but doing a good job sometimes means long hours, and I really want to do a good job, Vampire. I want to find out if these people are in danger and if I can help. The sooner the better."

Wanda leaned into her with a light nudge to her ribs. "That doesn't sound like something a dreamer with her head in the clouds says," she teased.

Robbie grinned. "Except, look at the dreamer with something people dream about all the time." She twirled her left hand, making a tiny ball of orange and purple fire appear, turning it around in her palm. "Magic. I have magic ."

"God, I love when you do that," Marty complimented, clapping her hands with a giggle.

Robbie loved doing it, too. It was a light, easy connection to this new feeling coursing through her veins.

Now if only she could get the locator spell to course through her veins, and not ship her off to a marketplace in Bangladesh.