Charmed & Deadly by Candace Havens Read Free Book Online

tossed a fireball. It was small, but it flew from my fingertips and set his jeans on fire.
    “He stood there staring for a minute in disbelief. In that moment I saw him for the evil he really was, and it made me angry that I hadn’t noticed it before.
    “The flames grew and triggered the fire alarms. At first I hadn’t realized where we were, but then it dawned on me: we were below the gym near the lockers in a storeroom. He rolled around on the ground trying to put out the flames, and I remember thinking I wished he would scream louder. He wasn’t hurting enough.
    “The police and firefighters showed up in minutes. That was one of the great things about having them on campus. They took off the chains and wrapped me in blankets. Then the spook squad showed up and rolled Jason up in some bag. He was still alive but had burns over a good part of his body.
    “I never had to see him again. I had forgotten about him until I felt his dark magic on that gunman’s clothes in Amsterdam.” I shook my head.
    Kira and Margie both took one of my hands. “Tell us what we can do to help.” Kira squeezed my hand.
    Margie’s hair swung as she nodded. “You know, Bronwyn, there’s not a woman in the world who hasn’t had to deal with a jerk or two in her life, but you sure do get more than your share. Hell, girl, you’ve got a homing device for assholes.”
    That made me laugh.
    “You know, you’re right, Margie. That’s why it’s good to have girlfriends like you. I think it’s time to leave this morbid subject behind and eat some enchiladas.”
    We even broke out the tequila. I didn’t drink any. The sangria had been enough for me. The night wasn’t a total loss. Margie had finally had enough tequila to tell us she and Billy had been talking about marriage.
    “So far he doesn’t seem real keen on the idea, but I don’t care.” Margie frowned, and pushed her straight auburn hair behind her ears. It was a new color, and I really liked it on her. “Well, I do care, but I’m trying so hard to act like I don’t.” She slapped a hand against her mouth as if she’d said too much.
    Kira and I looked at each other over Margie’s head and smiled.
    “You don’t worry about it.” Kira patted her arm. “These things usually work out the way they are supposed to.”
    She was right. After Jason, I never thought I could care about another warlock, but I was wrong. Sam was the love of my life. A year ago I wouldn’t have ever believed that possible. Love’s funny like that. You never know when it’s going to slap you upside the head and invite itself in.

Six
    Sweet, Texas
Friday
Noon
Prozac-worthy witches: 1
    I really, really don’t like it when I feel this way. I woke up in a bit of a panic, but I don’t know why. Nervous, antsy, that skin-crawling, mind-niggling feeling that something wasn’t right washed over me. Dread . That’s the word I’m trying to think of and I hate it when that happens.
    Immediately I sent my mind out to all the usual suspects: Sam, Kira, Caleb, the PM, all of them. Nothing. Everyone was fine.
    Then my favorite demon-slaying best friend, Simone, called.
    “What’s wrong?” I didn’t even give her a chance to say hello.
    “Geez, Bron, take a Xanax.” Simone is never one to mince words.
    “Sorry. I’ve got one of my icky feelings.” I apologized. “That always makes me a little crazy.”
    She snorted. “Well, it’s not me. At least I hope not. I’m in San Fran tracking some idiot Chelon demons who have strayed a bit far from home.”
    “What the hell’s a Chelon?” I know a lot of demons but hadn’t heard of those.
    “Dumbshit horse-looking things. Used mostly for manual labor. Pulling semis out of the dirt, that sort of thing. They usually hang out in the Mojave so I’m up here trying to figure out who’s using them. Then I’ll kill them all.” The words were said so nonchalantly it made me laugh. Like she was doing laundry or something.
    Simone is tall, dark, and