Winter Magic Read online

  As the two of them faced off, Autumn conjured popcorn and sat back to enjoy the show. Summer bit her lip to keep her laughter at bay, and Winnie placed a hand over her mouth to hold back her giggles. Holly didn’t bother to stem her amusement. All the men sat stupefied by the shrew who had possessed Spring.

  “I’ve never heard her raise her voice before today,” Zane said in awe.

  “That’s what makes this so hilarious,” Winnie laughed.

  Knox rose to his feet and glared down at Spring from his imposing height. “You say you’re not a kid anymore, but you only ever act like a child. Maybe if you behaved like an adult, people would treat you like one.”

  Spring’s expressive green eyes lost their light and turned to a mossy shade. Winnie imagined she saw the sheen of tears, but as quickly as they appeared, they were gone.

  Spring glanced around the room at all the watchful expressions. When she faced Knox, her chin rose a good two inches and a polite smile graced her heartbreakingly beautiful face. “You’re right. I apologize.” She turned to Alastair. “If you’ll excuse me, Uncle, I’ll start that research so we can get a jump on the location.”

  Winnie hadn’t been aware of squeezing Zane’s hand until he surreptitiously loosened her fingers. She sent him a silent apology for cutting off his circulation. “I’ll go see what I can do to help Spring look.”

  As she jogged up the stairs to the attic, Winnie wracked her brain, trying to find the words to soothe her sister’s hurt and embarrassment. She came up with nothing. Spring had been Knox’s shadow in their younger years. The two had been as thick as thieves until Spring developed into the bombshell she currently was. It seemed once Knox had realized her sister wasn’t a child anymore, his friendly attitude toward Spring had dried up.

  Winnie found Spring staring out the large bay window.

  “Sister,” she called softly.

  “I’m okay, Winnie. I’m used to his contempt.” Spring rested her forehead against the cool pane of glass and closed her eyes. “I don’t understand why Alastair is forcing him on me when anyone with two eyes can see he hates me.”

  “He doesn’t hate you, Spring.”

  “Oh, he absolutely does. Do you remember this summer when Autumn and I went to retrieve Eddie?” At Winnie’s nod, she continued. “After Autumn left to meet you and Summer downtown, Knox caught me by the pool.” Spring swallowed hard, and Winnie had the urge to offer comfort. Her sister charged on with her story. “I practically threw myself at him. I flaunted my body in my tiny bathing suit and flirted for all I was worth.”

  “What happened?”

  “He shoved me in the water next to Eddie and asked me if I had any pride. He told me that one day, if I kept acting like a slut, some guy was going to take me up on my offer. That the man would take what he wanted and leave me cold.” Spring knuckled the moisture from her eyes. “I thought I loved him, but in that moment, I hated him.”

  “Oh, Spring,” Winnie cried softly, hurting for her baby sister.

  “But he wasn’t wrong, sister. When I got home, I took a good long look at myself. I didn’t like what I saw. I was needy and trying to cling to someone who didn’t give two shits about who I am as a person.”

  “I’m sure that’s not true!” How could Spring believe she wasn’t lovable? It defied imagination. Spring was as lovely on the inside as she was on the outside.

  “It is. Six years, Winnie. Six years I tried to get him to see me as a woman and not a little girl.” Her tears flowed faster, and she viciously swiped them away. “And there I was today, acting like the child he accused me of being. I don’t know what it is about him that brings out the worst side of me.”

  “Do you still love him?”

  Spring shook her head, but whether it was in denial or confusion, it was hard to say.

  “I don’t know what love is,” Spring said and collapsed on the edge of a nearby chair. “I truly don’t. I thought perhaps I did. I was attracted to his handsomeness. His kindness to a lonely kid. But I’ve started dating other men. I figure I’ll learn a little more about myself in the process. What I want or don’t want in a guy. Maybe I’ll even fall in love with one.” She rose and toyed with the edge of the family grimoire. “It might be nice to date an average guy and not one so beautiful it hurts to look at him.”

  Winnie didn’t have the heart to point out that everything Spring was saying convinced her that her sister was indeed in love with Knox. Instead she asked, “How are you going to be able to work with him to find the artifact for Uncle Alastair?”

  “An herbal form of Xanax?”

  “Marijuana?”

  Spring snorted her laughter. “I was going for valerian root, but I like the way you think.”

  “Do you want me and Zane to go after Thor’s Hammer? He’ll do it if I ask him.”

  “Oh, Winnie.” Spring rushed across the space and hugged her tight. “Thank you for your offer, but I can’t ask that of you. So far we’ve been successful because Uncle Alastair has picked the perfect pair to retrieve what he needs. I’m sure he has a reason for what he does.”

  “Matchmaking?” Autumn said from behind Winnie.

  Spring paled. “Goddess, I hope not.”

  Almost certain her older sister was right but loathe to say it, Winnie hugged Spring a second time. “You’re the smartest of us, sister. I’m sure you’re going to teleport in and out in a matter of minutes to retrieve Uncle Alastair’s item.”

  Summer and Holly joined their group, laptops at the ready.

  “Where do we start?” Holly asked.

  As her sisters grouped around the center table, Winnie unconsciously wrapped her hand around the tanzanite stone around her neck. A sense of well-being struck. They were all strong women in their own right. Intelligent, driven, and innately kind. She had no doubt that this group of women, along with their male counterparts, would be able to accomplish any task Alastair could think up.

  “That’s what I believe as well, child.”

  “I’ll pass this necklace to Spring, shall I?”

  His soft chuckle sounded in her mind. “Yes. Do that, I have the feeling I’ll find her thought process fascinating.”

  “I love you, Uncle Alastair.”

  “I love you, too, Winter.”

  When she felt their connection ebb, she called out to him one last time. “Uncle?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think maybe, when you’ve finished matchmaking with my sisters, you could do something to help Aunt GiGi and Uncle Ryker?”

  A long silence greeted her question, and Winnie assumed he’d already disconnected their link.

  His voice came as she was about to release the stone. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Epilogue

  Winnie hummed a tune as she hand-whipped her latest batch of arthritis relief cream. She measured out the peppermint in a miserly fashion and capped the bottle.

  “Miss Win?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the teenage boy. “Hey, Justin. You can stack those boxes in the van. Come back when you’re done with that. We’ll raid the kitchen.”

  His elated grin warmed Winnie’s heart to see. Five months ago, when he’d shown up to work, there was little resemblance to his bubbly sister, Penny. Justin had been sullen and sarcastic at every turn. But each day he had mellowed a little bit more until the boy was almost as happy-go-lucky as Penny.

  Just then, Spring walked by on her way to her gardens and waved, gracing Justin with a soft smile.

  And three, two, one…

  Justin fumbled the boxes in his arms with a strangled cry—almost a daily occurrence. With a flick of her wrist, Winnie saved her products from an undignified end and Justin from a face plant into to dirt.

  Embarrassment colored his cheeks as he straightened, boxes secure in his arms once more. “Sorry, Win.”

  “She’s gorgeous. I’d be surprised if you didn’t trip over yourself when you saw her,” Winnie laughed as she joined him by
the van.

  Justin stroked the jagged scar on the side of his face. “Is that a glam thing? Like does she make herself that beautiful on purpose?”

  “No. She’s naturally that beautiful.”

  Winnie watched as her sister strolled the Thorne gardens in the distance, stroking a plant here or there to restore its vitality. A sense of sadness pervaded Winnie’s heart. If only Spring’s mind could be restored as easily.

  Spring hadn’t been the same since she returned from her journey to South America, and Winnie missed her younger sister desperately. If she could turn back time, Winnie would’ve taken Spring’s place in searching for Thor’s Hammer—if only to save her from the horrible tortures she’d endured.

  Winnie sighed and lifted the top box from Justin’s stack. If she dwelled on what had happened to Spring, she’d wallow in guilt and pain. Spring needed to heal from her ordeal in her own time.

  With a side glance in Justin’s direction, Winnie said, “I didn’t realize your scar still bothered you.”

  “If I could get rid of it, I would. No one wants to look like a freak,” he mumbled the last as he shoved the boxes into the cargo part of the vehicle.

  “Come with me,” she ordered.

  When they were back in her shop, Winnie gathered ingredients together. “I’m short an herb. Can you run and ask Spring for broadleaf plantain? Tell her it’s for an ointment I’m making. She’ll give you the proper amount.”

  His hand flew to his cheek again.

  “She doesn’t see your scars, Justin. She has too many of her own that she’s dealing with.”

  “She doesn’t have any scars,” he argued.

  “None visible anymore, but she has plenty inside. Go. Get the herb and hurry back. You need to make those deliveries before three.”

  As he jogged across the courtyard toward the garden, Winnie turned back to her worktable.

  “You’re good with the boy.”

  She nearly fumbled the aloe plant in her hand. “When are you going to stop scaring me and start giving me warning when you’re coming over, Uncle Alastair?”

  “And ruin my only form of entertainment?” he teased and dropped a kiss on her cheek. He walked to the front window and stared across the way. “How is your sister?”

  “The same.”

  “Does the family blame me?” he asked. Only because she’d been listening closely, did she hear the uncertainty in his voice.

  “No, uncle. No one blames you. She chose to go and find Thor’s Hammer for our mother’s recovery.” Winnie walked up and placed a hand on his back. While he stiffened, he didn’t pull away. “Truthfully, I don’t think you could’ve stopped her from going.”

  “Thank you, child.” Alastair turned from the window and perched on the sill with his long legs crossed at the ankles in front of him. “Have you and Zane set a date?”

  Winnie glanced down at the engagement ring on her finger. A wide grin took over her entire face. “Not yet.”

  “Why the delay? You’re sure of your feelings, correct?”

  She met his inquiring gaze and nodded. “Absolutely sure. And of his. But I thought it might be nice to wait for Mama to wake, you know, so she could be there, too.” Her voice cracked as it always did when she thought of her mother in stasis.

  “I think that’s a fine plan.”

  Justin came running back in and skidded to a halt when he saw Alastair. “Uh, I’ve got the plant, Miss Win.”

  Alastair’s dark blond brows shot up when he saw what Justin held. “Broadleaf plantain? Who needs to be healed?”

  “I was going to make a salve for Justin’s scars,” Winnie told him.

  Alastair’s quiet, contemplative stare unnerved Justin to the point of stammering. “You d-don’t have t-to, Miss Win.” He ducked his head and scuffed the toe of one of his Chuck Taylors across the wood floor.

  “Do you not want it gone, Justin?” she asked gently, thinking perhaps she’d confused his desire to be rid of the scar.

  He blushed and nodded.

  “Come here, boy,” Alastair ordered.

  Justin did as he was commanded and scooted closer.

  “Am I to understand that you want this removed?” Alastair gestured to the teen’s cheek.

  Again, Justin’s color heightened and he nodded.

  “I can’t hear you, son.”

  “Y-yes, sir.”

  To Winnie, Alastair said, “Winter, make your salve for the boy.” He returned his attention to Justin. “What’s your name, son?”

  “Justin.”

  “You know what I am and what I can do?”

  “Y-yes, sir.”

  “Then with your permission, I’d like to heal your face.”

  Justin’s head came up. “You can do that?” A bubble of excitement coated his words.

  “I can. But there’s a catch.”

  “I’ll do whatever you say, sir,” Justin promised.

  “I’ll heal your scars. In the immediate, the tightness of the skin will disappear as well as any discomfort that you currently have. However, the visual appearance will still take weeks to change.”

  Disappointment clouded Justin’s gray eyes.

  “But not when you look in the mirror.”

  “I don’t understand, sir.”

  Alastair shot a glance in Winnie’s direction. She understood his silent request that she explain. “Justin, what Alastair means is that he will heal your scar completely. But to the outside world, it needs to look like it’s gradually disappearing, or it will seem odd. I don’t mind if you tell people the salve is responsible. It would’ve worked that way had you used it. But you must know, we have to keep secret what we can do for the safety of our family.”

  “I haven’t told anyone since I found out, Miss Win,” he said with endearing earnestness. “I swear I haven’t.”

  Winnie hugged him to her, and he didn’t struggle in her embrace, though she sensed he wanted to. She loved that the teen was learning to trust.

  “I know you haven’t. Now, let’s get started.”

  Alastair approached Justin and gripped his chin to turn the teen’s face this way and that. When Alastair was satisfied by his examination, he said, “This might burn slightly, son. It’s okay to cry out if you need to. No one will think less of you.” So saying, he went to work healing Justin’s disfigured face.

  Other than an occasional hiss of pain, Justin bore the discomfort of the intense magical healing, never once flinching when the red arc of light crackled between them and touched on his skin. When Alastair was done, all that remained of the jagged keloid was a bright pink outline where the scar had been.

  “Have a look,” Alastair encouraged.

  Justin ran to the bathroom and cried out his joy. When he returned, he held out a hand to Alastair, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “Thank you, sir. I can never repay you.”

  Alastair cleared his throat and took the proffered hand. “You’re most welcome, son.”

  “Now go make those deliveries.” Winnie rumpled Justin’s strawberry-blond hair. “After you’re done, you can stop and show Penny if you want.” She scribbled a spell on a piece of paper and handed Justin a charm. “Use this for those you want to show, but only Penny and Derek, do you understand? No one else. The spell only lasts a few minutes.”

  “I can show Derek, too?” he asked in excitement.

  “Derek, too.”

  Winnie had been happy when the two teens hit it off. And although Justin was a few years older than Derek, they both had discovered common ground over their deadbeat, abusive fathers.

  “Cool. Thanks, Miss Win. Sir.” With a nod in Alastair’s direction, Justin was off and running again.

  “Does he know what he is?” Alastair asked as he watched the van pull away.

  “No. Neither does Penny from what I can gather. But they both learned what we are. Zane swore them to secrecy, and so far, they’ve kept a lid on it.”

  “Another set of parents believing binding their chil
dren was for the best,” Alastair said in disgust. “It causes nothing but problems when they grow up.”

  “Do you think I should tell him?”

  “That is strictly up to you, child.”

  “Actually, I’ll leave it up to Zane. As someone who had his powers bound, he might have insight.”

  “Fair enough. I must be going.”

  “Uncle Alastair? Why did you stop by today?”

  His eyes sought out Spring in the garden. “Guilt.”

  “You couldn’t have known.”

  “No, but I had no right putting her in harm’s way for my own selfish needs.”

  “Maybe, but like I said earlier, she would’ve gone anyway even if you were never involved. She wanted to save our mother just as much as the rest of us.”

  Alastair grimaced and changed the subject. “Have you heard from the Maltese roué?”

  “Rafe? Yes, he went to work for Nash.” Winnie cocked her head. “But I suspect you already knew that. Like Aunt GiGi, you know everything.”

  “I know enough, but not all. I’m too busy to keep tabs on him. I have enough to do in keeping tabs on you kids.”

  “We aren’t kids, Uncle.”

  “You will always be kids to me, child.”

  Winnie’s hand went to her lower abdomen. “You’ll have another one to keep tabs on soon.”

  His dark sapphire irises brightened. “I look forward to it.” He leaned in close. “But you should make plans for more than one.”

  Shock slackened her features. “Two? Twins?”

  “Triplets.”

  “Ohdeargod.” Winnie’s knees gave out, but Alastair was quick to conjure a chair. Her butt came down hard on the cushioned seat. “How am I going to care for triplets?”

  “With patience and love, child. You don’t need more than that.”

  “I have to tell Zane we’re having triplets,” she babbled.

  A hard thud sounded behind her. When she turned, Zane was sitting in the center of the floor with his head between his legs.

  “I believe you already did,” Alastair chuckled. He strode to where Zane sat and squatted on his haunches. “Careful what you wish for, son.”

  “I’m never going to tease about baby making again,” Zane croaked.