Chapter 1

WYNTER

They say in order to find true love you must love yourself first. Well if that's true, then I am entirely fucked. People tell me I'm wicked. Evil. Cruel. Which I guess is accurate. I think it's more to do with me not liking anyone though, including myself.

It wasn't always like this. I was once a bubbly person. Full of hopes and dreams but after being stood up at the altar not once or twice, but three times you kind of start to not give a fuck.

They all swear it wasn't me, but it had to be right?

My mother jokes it's the curse, but at this point I've given up. My heart is now cold and black, and I'm fine with it. I'll just run this bar and bookshop until I'm old and gray, and then adopt a hundred cats and call it a life.

Who needs a man or children to make them happy? All they do is break hearts and make messes. Nope, I'll stick to my brews, books and cats.

Leaving the bookstore, I walk down the spiral staircase to my bar, getting it ready to open for the night. Halee and Roy are already here getting the chairs set up and lights turned on. We have an open mic night tonight and usually I would be at home and not have to listen to people wax poetic or sing off key, but Karl called in sick and me being the boss, I had to suck it up, pull up my big witch panties, and bite the bullet.

Roy gets on stage and starts to sing some off key popstar's song, and I cringe. He's lucky he's a damn good bartender and semi-friend of mine or I would fire his ass and maybe curse him for good measure.

"Roy, for fucksake! Don't make me kick your ass," I shout and he laughs making the microphone screech. Ugh, I did not need a migraine today. Rubbing my temples, I leave the bar area and walk into my office to chill out before we get busy.

Tomorrow I need to look into hiring a contractor for my expansion. This place is too small for everything I want to do. The bar is a good size, but the bookstore upstairs needs an addition added on.

I'd like to maybe have a bakery added in, but we will have to see. It's hard finding good work. I'd call up my ex who could just give me a magical renovation, but I think he's still mad that I gave him warts on his face.

Shouldn't have left me on our wedding day. Standing there with everyone looking at me with pity as I fought the tears while my heart was shattering into a million pieces.

No, I will just have to find someone in the Witches' Black Pages. I should just move somewhere and start over. This place has only brought me misery. Maybe a new town or hell dimension would be better.

I could start fresh… Hmm, something to definitely consider. A knock on the door brings me back to what I came in here to do and I reach into my desk drawer for a pair of magical invisible earplugs and a potion to prevent a headache.

I'm going to need both.

ARSEN (SIN)

"I still can't believe I let you drag me here," I grumble to my brother. When he suggested we grab some beers after work, I didn't think he was leading me into the Wicked Witch's lair.

"Will you stop! You haven't seen Wynter in years, and it wasn't your fault that her fiancé dumped her," he replies while dragging a chair along the polished floors and taking a seat.

I follow suit and glance around the place. I haven't been here in years but it doesn't look like much has changed, not that surprising considering Wyn was always set in her ways. A cute blonde comes up to our table with some complementary shots of whiskey and a notepad.

"Hey, y'all, welcome to Brews & Books, I'm Halee and I'll be serving ya this evening," she says while placing the shots in the middle of the table with a big Texas smile on her red painted lips.

"Have you been here before or do we have a couple of virgins in our midst?" she asks, and my asshole twin chokes on his shot, guawfing at the absurdity of her question. I smirk and watch as her cheeks become rosier than the blush she's wearing.

"Haven't been a virgin since high school, honey, but as for coming here it's been awhile. What do you suggest for an appetizer?" I say with a grin, then reach for the shot and down it like a champ.

This isn't my first time with whiskey either. Jack and I are good ole friends.

Halee giggles and looks over to the bar where a man in tight leather pants and mesh top is assisting some women. After a moment and composing herself, she gives me her full attention again.

"Oh, well, I'd have to say the garlic parmesan truffle fries or the witchin' chicken bites."

Astor grabs a menu, and Halee tells us she'll give us a moment and then come back to take our order. I grab the beer list and browse it, trying not to let the flashbacks in. We used to hang out here for hours after classes.

"Check, one, two," someone says into the microphone, and I turn to see who's speaking. A spotlight shines on Wynter Nefari, the girl I once loved that passed me up for my asshole ex-best friend.

"Welcome to our open mic night at Brews & Books. I see a few regulars in the crowd, but for the people who are new to us tonight, this is where we open up the stage for popstar and rockstar hopefuls. We also allow karaoke an hour before last call and drinks will be half off."

"Damn, she's changed," Astor mumbles, and I nod. Don't get me wrong, Wyn is still gorgeous beyond belief, but her green eyes no longer sparkle. They seem dull and lifeless, and the smile that she always had on her lips is now a purse or scowl.

I turn my back as she exits the stage and grab the menu, lifting it to hide the side of my face. "You do realize we're twins right?" Astor mumbles, and I sigh.

Thankfully we aren't spotted and soon Halee is back to take our order. A guy with a banjo gets on the stage and I cringe after the first few minutes of his performance.

Astor's green eyes are gleaming as he bites his bottom lip, trying not to laugh.

"Fuck, maybe we should get the food to go," I grunt, and he chuckles, shaking his head.

"This is the longest I've seen you in weeks, so no. You are going to sit here and have a meal with your favorite brother, then drink some beers and sign up for karaoke with me."

My eyes widen. "The fuck I am!" I blurt, and he sighs.

"Yes, Arsen, you are. It's time to move on. It's been a year since…"

"Don't say her name!" I hiss and he waves his hand in the air.

"This is my exact point. That witch shouldn't even be mentioned. She was cancer, and I'm glad you finally saw her for the poison she was and got rid of her lying, scamming ass."

My phone rings, breaking up the heated tension between us. I can't believe he brought Annabelle up. Grabbing my phone, I don't bother seeing who's calling and answer it.

"Is it just me or am I currently staring at the back of your beautiful head?" my best friend Rus says, and I turn around, searching the crowd for him. My eyebrows raise when his blue hair shines below the bar lights. He waves and I hang up the call.

"Well look at what the cat dragged in," he says moving in and giving us a fist bump before pulling out the only other chair at our table.

"What brings you out tonight?" Astor asks him and he turns, giving him a wink.

"Well the ambiance of course," he retorts and steals my beer, finishing it off, and raising his hand in the air to get our waitresses' attention.

"What the fuck," I growl and he laughs, leaning over and pinching my cheek.

"Don't be a Grumpy Gus, Sin. I needed something, I was beyond parched. I'll get you a new one."

"Hi, what can I get ya?" Halee asks Rus, and he gives her his winning smile.

"Well, aren't you just a delicious peach? A round for the table, darlin' and some shots of your best," he says and she bites her bottom lip, looking him up and down. I'm straight and even I know that Rus is hot.

Blue hair with purple eyes, that he swears aren't contacts, tan from being in the sun all day long, and built like some linebacker due to his construction business.

But all of that aside he's also got one of the biggest hearts and he's my best friend, aside from my twin that is. I mean we shared a womb, that makes us inseparable.

Flopping back into my seat, I settle in for a long night of booze, good food and horrible singing. God help us.