Among Silver Bells and Magic Spells: Goddess Blessed, #2

Table of Contents

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1

Lily yanked the dead pansy stems out of the cold ground with a terrific pull.

If Nia had been able to, she’d have done the same thing to my heart when she broke up with me.

The thought came, unbidden, to her mind. It sobered her, making her long to run back to her bedroom, close the curtains against the icy winter sunlight, and stay in bed until spring rolled around again...in four months from now.

Forget about her. Violet said you can do better, and she meant it, she told herself.

Lily wiped her eyes and flung the dead plant away. At the sight of the pixie hole underneath the frozen dirt, she nodded, satisfied.

I knew I saw you jerks on the windows yesterday, she said to herself. Reaching in, she pulled one out—a male, by the looks of the loincloth on its nethers, instead of a jumpsuit that covered it from shoulders to groin. Holding it aloft, she locked it, squeaking and squealing, in the cage she’d brought along.

"Excuse me. Could you tell me where to find Symphony Hall?″

A thrill went through Lily at the depth of the voice speaking to her. It purred, making something deep in her belly shiver in pleasure. Lifting her gaze from the bed of dead flowers outside the Cedar Beach Sanctuary, she gasped.

A real, live, breathing angel stood next to her, all six tall, broad, and handsome feet of zir. Straight, sandy-blonde hair had been swept back off their forehead to kiss the collar of zirs shirt—a t-shirt, as a matter of fact, a casual contrast to the black suit jacket and pants that ze wore. Still, it suited zir, giving zir a professional air without turning them into a stuffy, elitist business person.

Then there was the matter of the instrument case at zirs side—violin, by the looks of it. She’d run into a number of orchestral members on her way into town that morning, and each one had had a black or blue case just like this danging from their hands or shoulders.

She was so entranced, she barely even remembered the Pansy Pixie wriggling in her grasp. Not until it squealed in fury and bit her hand through her gardening glove.

With a yelp, Lily squeezed the creature and then flung it away. It hit the side of the Sanctuary, hard, and then rolled into the beds, unmoving. Lily’s jaw dropped and she went cold.

"Oh no,″ she whispered, diving into the flowers after it.

"Here, let me help.″

Before she could even start searching, she glanced over to find the angel at her side, on zirs knees, rummaging through the leaves with her.

"Oh, no, you don’t have to,″ Lily said, breathless with both her attraction to the angel and her carelessness with the pixie.

The angel laughed a little. "What kind of angel would I be if I didn’t help those in need?″ ze asked.

Lily dug faster, and let out a cry of relief at the sight of the pixie, half-lost behind a mound of faded brown mulch. Far more tenderly than when she’d first caught it, she picked it up and offered it to the angel.

"Is there anything you can do?″ she asked.

The angel’s golden brow furrowed, the chiseled plains of zirs face going tight with concentration. Ze waved a long, strong, square hand over the creature. After three passes of this, the poor thing took a deep breath. Color returned to its green cheeks.

"Oh, Goddess bless you,″ Lily whispered, stroking the pixie with her pinky finger.

"She often does,″ the angel whispered back.

Their gazes met over the pixie, and the angel gave her a small, joyous smile. Lily’s neck went so hot, she unzipped her jacket.

Clearing her throat, she picked up the wicker cage she’d brought with her and opened the door. Only one other pixie sat inside, glaring. At the sight of its injured companion, it squeaked at Lily, but pulled the injured one out of the angel’s grasp, curling around it at the back of the cage and wrapping it protectively with its own, dragon-fly-like wings.

Sighing, Lily closed the door. I’m sorry,″ she said, putting the cage aside. Sitting back, she rubbed her hands over her face and shook her head. And I’m sorry to you, angel. This wasn’t what you came out here for, and yet you get dragged into pest control with me.″

The angel stood up. "Not at all. I didn’t realize how tenderly pixies cared for each other. It’s cute.″

Lily nodded. "Cute, yes, but they’re still pests. They’d be cuter if they weren’t ruining our flower beds,″ she said, motioning to the garden. When she turned back to the angel, ze was brushing zirself off. She couldn’t help noticing just how well zir shirt fit zir...and how well ze kept zir body in shape.

"Well, I don’t mind the detour. It’s one of the better ones I’ve been on, though I seem to have lost the rest of my group,″ the angel said, shaking Lily from her current examination of zir.

"Sorry, what was the question?″ Lily asked, flustered all over again.

The angel smiled and stuck a hand in zirs pocket. "Could you tell me where the Symphony Hall is?″

Lily relaxed. "Oh! Yes, of course. You’re close, actually, though everything in Cedar Beach is pretty close. Down the road, at the center of town. It’s labeled with enormous letters, you can’t miss it unless you’re as near-sighted as I am,″ she said, tapping her glasses with a self-depricating shrug.

"Thank you,″ the angel said, holding out a hand as if to shake hers.

When Lily’s fingers met zirs, ze bent zirs head and pressed zirs lips so lightly to her knuckles, she shivered again. She’d never felt anything as soft as that kiss before.

I’ll let you get back to your work. It’s beautifully done, by the way,″ ze said, nodding to the plants. You and your team should be proud.″

Lily ducked her head. "Thank you. It’s for the Yule Bash.″

"Maybe I’ll see you there, then,″ the angel said, turning to leave.

Before ze could disappear entirely, Lily got to her feet. "Wh-what’s your name?″ she called after them.

"Domiel,″ the angel said, turning and smiling at her, but never stopping walking. In moments, ze was gone down the street.

Lily let out a breath, feeling swoony, and checked to make sure her jacket zipper was still open. Even with the sides of her lapel flapping in the winter wind, her entire body had become hot enough to warm the Sanctuary for a weekend. She lifted the hem of her cream-and-gold sweater, fanning herself.

"Who was that?″

Lily grinned and looked the opposite way down the street. Her sister, Violet, cousin Enna, and the Sanctuary’s assistant, Ansley, strolled up to the Sanctuary in their stylish wool coats. Violet’s, a peachy pink, made her look like a cupcake, while Enna’s blue one made her look like an ice princess, and Ansley’s gray one kept her looking like she’d just sauntered out of a high-fashion magazine.

Enna was the one who’d spoken. She was also the one still staring in the direction the angel – Domiel – had gone in.

"An actual Angel,″ Lily said, unable to keep the amazement out of her voice.

"No way! Are ze coming to the Yule Bash?″ Violet asked with a gasp. Her already pink cheeks went red with excitement.

Lily shrugged. "Maybe? Ze’re performing at Symphony Hall, at any rate. At least, I think ze are. Ze had a violin case with zir.″

Violet clapped her hands, a dreamy look taking over her expression. Ansley stepped around her, already taking in the outside of the Sanctuary.

"How’s it going, by the way? I didn’t realize you were coming in on Cherie’s day off, or I’d have been here, too,″ she said. The concern in her voice touched Lily’s heart.

"Oh, I’m not here, not really. There was a pixie in the bushes, and with Cherie and the custodial staff being so busy, I decided to take the matter on myself,″ Lily said, picking up the cage.

You could’ve gotten hurt!″ Ansley said, taking it from her. The disapproval in her tone scalded Lily. What if they’d swarmed? Cherie would be so angry if something happened to you.″

"She’s right—my sister would have multiple words, with both of you, trust me,″ Enna said, coughing a little.

Lily held up her injured hand. "Yeah, it wasn’t the smartest idea. They know how to fight back, even one-on-one,″ she said, showing off the bite.

Enna clicked her tongue, taking off Lily’s glove to get a better look. "Let me get you something for this,″ she said, her deep voice resonant in the winter air. Compared to Violet’s breathy tone, and Ansley’s proper enunciation, Enna always struck Lily as deep and mysterious...which was silly. They’d been friends their whole lives. They barely had any secrets from each other.

Which was why Lily made a face at her cousin’s offer. "I’m not sure I need a love potion to heal this,″ she said.

Enna gave her hand a friendly smack. "Haven’t you heard? Love heals all wounds, including pixie bites. You’ll see,″ she said, a smug smile on her face.

Lily snorted, and then waved a hand towards the Sanctuary. "Alright, if you insist. Ansley, can you unlock the door?″

Enna shook her head, pulling Lily towards the street. "No, no, let’s go to the shop. I’m not using holy herbs and spices for this,″ she said.

Lily hung back, searching for Cherie’s assistant. "Will you be okay while I’m gone? It’ll only be a few minutes,″ she said.

"I’ll be fine. In fact, I’ll take care of the pixie,″ Ansley said, giving Lily a push.

"Can I watch?″ Violet asked Ansley, leaning close.

"Oh absolutely. Come on, I’ll show you the best place to release them,″ Ansley said, leading the other woman around the back of the building.

Enna pulled Lily’s hand. "Stop worrying about them. Ansley’s tough enough to handle a couple pests, and we need to clean you up before the Sanctuary gathering in – dear Goddess, less than two hours.″ She grimaced, checking her glinting gold watch.

Lily picked up her pace. Within five minutes, after waving hello to a great many neighbors along the way, they made it to the Six Sisters’ Spells and Solutions Shop on main street. From the outside, it looked like an apothecary, with nothing much to boast about. Except Enna gave Lily a saucy little wink, and produced the key with a flourish.

"I still can’t believe Kylie let you have that,″ Lily said, rolling her eyes at her younger cousin’s theatrics.

Enna turned the handle and flung open the door. The bell inside jangled loudly. "I guess she thinks I’m trustworthy. Maybe years of love potions and spellwork has opened and softened her heart,″ she said, leading the way inside.

Whatever the reason, now that Lily was inside the shop, she stood in stunned silence. The place, with the lights turned on, gleamed and glowed. Warmth oozed from the floating lanterns overhead. The bottles, formerly in the middle of the main area, stacked on shelves, now lined the walls in rainbow-colored formations, broken up by first what they were used for, and then alphabetically.

The center of the room still had tables, but they’d been shifted into a U-shaped reception area, opened in the center, and filled with glass walls so that they resembled jewelry counters. Plush couches sat by the windows looking out onto the street. Soft, soothing music, sung by sultry voices, drifted through the air. Best of all, the air smelled...fresh. Clean. Only the lightest hint of something sweet, like candy, caught the back of Lily’s throat: too