Free Wanted: Hexed or Alive by Charity Parkerson Page A

me what I need and let me worry about acquiring a spellcaster.”
    Pushing his glasses up his nose, Randall inspected the woman more closely. There was something about her. She wasn’t a witch, but neither was she mortal. It was a puzzle, but he knew he’d figure it out before she left.
    “Let’s see,” he said, relenting. “Some acorn oil and Goldenseal for protection and luck,” he mused aloud as he collected the bottles and searched for more. “Monkswood to redirect your enemy and a lemon for cleansing.”
    With all the items needed to perform the spell gathered in his arms, he headed toward the register. “Would you like a lime today also, to bring peace of mind?” he asked as he rang up her order.
    “No. I have everything that I need right here,” she answered as she rocked back on her heels and glanced curiously around the shop.
    “Okay, that’s twenty-three fifty.”
    “Oh,” she said, smacking herself on the forehead. Reaching behind her, she pulled out a purse that he knew for a fact had not been there a minute ago. He felt a satisfied smile touch his lips. That little act of magic sent out a mental signature that gave her away and all the puzzle pieces clicked together.
     
    ***
     
    Randall only knew of a few people capable of sending a Fate to his door and, fortunately for him, they all lived in the same house. Ella, a local witch who had once worked for him, was now married to a former heavenly guard. When he took up residence with her, Samuel the dark angel had brought along a couple of permanent guests. Now, they could damn well tell him why he was getting otherworldly visitors.
    The white-board house seemed cheery despite the graveyard looming behind it. Randall supposed it was the love contained inside the home that could be felt even from the outside. Landing a solid knock on the door, he clasped his hands behind his back and waited.
    Even through the solid oak door, he could hear the scuffle taking place on the other side, and when it swung open wide, Randall was hard-pressed to tell which creature’s wings looked more disheveled from the race to get there first; the angel’s or the pixie’s.
    Since the angel, Thomas, was the larger of the two, he blocked a majority of the doorway. However, the pixie, Tam, would not be denied and she changed sizes, becoming a foot tall before landing on the angel’s shoulder.
    “Hey, it’s the mad scientist,” Tam cheered when she finally caught a glimpse of him.
    “It’s the over-sized bug,” he shot back, but his affection showed in his words, taking the sting from the insult.
    Thomas, who seemed less thrilled to see him, crossed his bulging arms over his chest, and used his massive frame to block Randall’s entrance.
    “What do you want?” he growled, looking at some point past Randall’s shoulder and refusing to meet his gaze.
    “I’m here to see Samuel.”
    Instead of stepping aside at Randall’s answer, Thomas held his ground. Tam sat down on Thomas’ shoulder and crossed her legging-encased ankles as if settling in for a long haul.
    “Samuel is indisposed,” Thomas began.
    “He’s getting busy with Ella,” Tam said, interrupting him and causing Thomas to let out an aggravated sigh.
    “You’re not supposed to tell people that,” Thomas admonished.
    Popping her hands on her hips, Tam’s brown hair whipped out as she swung her head in Thomas’ direction. “And why not, I ask,” she said on a huff. “If I had someone delighting in my delicious body, then I wouldn’t care who knew. ‘Sides, Randy’s all sciency like. He gets the needs.”
    Thomas rubbed the spot between his eyes as if a pain bloomed there, before responding, “It’s private .”
    “I hate to interrupt this,” Randall said, cutting in and drawing their attention his way. “But Samuel sent a Fate to my shop.”
    “Which one?” Tam asked, but Thomas glanced away.
    “Which one what?” Randall asked absently while staring harder at Thomas, who refused