Engaged off Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Short Story, Book 3.5) (3 page)

“Jade?” Kane whispered. “Did you just spell them?”

“No.” I would have noticed a little spark of magic if I’d had.
Right?
I wasn’t so powerful that I could make things happen without even knowing about it.

Except... I had with the candles earlier.

Candy pulled Charlie toward the front door. “Let’s go. I can think of better places we can... you know.”

Charlie wrapped her arm around Candy’s waist but shook her head, a small smile touching her lips. Candy started whispering in Charlie’s ear, and although Charlie laughed, she didn’t let Candy drag her out.

My other three friends were all avoiding each other’s gazes.

“What was that?” I demanded.

All at the same time, they said, “You told me to kiss her.”

“Huh?” What were they talking about? I’d mumbled for Charlie to kiss Candy, but not the rest of them.

“Hahahahaha. Oh, I do love the effect of mistletoe,” the ghost sang as she floated near me. “It always makes for an interesting party.”

“Is the mistletoe spelled?” I asked her. “Did you have anything to do with this?” Ghosts did carry energy, and if she’d been a witch in life, she could have altered them.

“Who are you talking to, Jade?” Kane asked.

“The ghost,” I snapped, losing the last of my patience.

Beside me, Ian pulled his EMF detector out of his jacket pocket and flipped a switch. A red light lit up, indicating it was on.

I rolled my eyes and pushed him aside. Did he take that thing everywhere?

“Oh, wow,” he said. “The reading is off the charts.”

“Of course it is. She’s right next to you.” I shook a finger at her. “Tell me what’s going on right now. Or I swear I’ll let him exorcise you right out of this house.”

She stopped her girlish twirling and peered at me. “He can’t do that. In ninety years, no one has managed it.” She smiled and started to glide over to the stairs.

“He’s done it before. In fact, we all sent one to Hell last year. You could be next,” I lied. While we could probably open another portal to Hell, I wouldn’t risk it on a ghost who, while annoying, seemed relatively harmless.

That stopped her mid-float. Kane put his hand on my back in a show of support. The rest of my friends started to move closer together, though they showed no signs of making more sexual advances. Thank the gods.

Lailah took a spot next to me, her gaze trained on the ghost. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Reveal.”

The ghost’s eyes went round with shock as she shimmered and suddenly appeared almost solid. Everyone in the room gasped, and chatter erupted.

“Nice trick,” I told Lailah, our resident angel. She had skills unlike anyone else’s. “Did you not see her before?”

Lailah chewed on her lip and stared at her feet. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Oh.”
Right.
I moved closer to the ghost. “Now spit it out. What’s going on here?”

Ian stepped away from the crowd, his hands full of even more beeping electronics. He actually glowed with excitement. I couldn’t stop the
Ghostbusters
theme song from running through my brain.

“You did it,” the ghost blurted. “When you used those spelled candles from the lilac room to find the mistletoe.”

“Spelled candles?” I asked.

“The pillars. They have magic. They’ve been here forever. This is only the third time a witch has lit them. Usually, the magic enhances the power of the witch, but since you used them to find the mistletoe, it made people want to kiss you. Then it gave you power over those who did.”

She backed up, her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Ian, a sneer on her lips.

“Oh, stop it,” Pyper snapped. “He isn’t going to do anything to you. He just likes data.”

I would’ve been pissed at Pyper for spoiling our upper hand with the ghost, but a light bulb had popped up over my head with her explanation. All the weird behavior my friends participated in had been a direct result of something I’d told them to do. Pyper telling Ian how she felt. I mean, I had no idea she wanted to marry the guy. I’m certain she never would have said anything like that of her own free will. She kept her emotions pretty close to the vest.

Charlie had let Candy down easy, though she had no intention of breaking up with her. Kat attacking Lucien had been at my suggestion. Though I’d only said to kiss him, not have an almost X-rated adult show. Lailah stayed in the kitchen all night, helping Kane. Pyper tried to set Lailah up with Kane’s friend. And finally, the kissing episode. I’d prompted all those things. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“Guys?” I opened them to everyone staring at me. “This is all my fault. All the crazy stuff everyone did was something I’d said to do, only taken literally. Very literally and not at all in the way I intended.”

I bit my tongue. So much for helpful advice. That would teach me to stay out of other people’s business. No one said anything. They only stared expectantly at me as if I could erase their embarrassing behavior.

“How do I void the spell?” I asked the ghost.

She glided toward the stairway.

“Camille?” Kane said.

She stopped and eyed Kane with a look of wonder. “You know me?”

He shrugged. “I know of you. Come back over here until Jade is satisfied with your answers.”

She pursed her lips and balled her fists, but she floated back.

He smiled. “Mamaw once told me she’d heard a rumor about a ghost bound here, and that she had to obey any direct orders from the owner. Looks like we’re in luck.”

Jesus. I loved how Kane took everything in stride. I beamed up at him. “You’re amazing.”

He kissed the top of my head. “You too, love.”

I turned to Camille. “How do I free my friends from this spell?”

She glared.

“Answer her,” Kane demanded.

By then, everyone had formed a circle around Camille, most of them awed by the ghost sighting. It was remarkable none of them had run screaming from the house. But my friends had been through a lot the last year. An 1890’s ghost was probably pretty tame compared to demons and black magic.

Camille’s shoulders sagged as if she’d lost a great battle. “Fine. Repeat after me.”

I nodded.

“Candles of Summer House, release your hold. Bind your will to mine and rest for another season.” She stared at me, her steel-gray eyes raging with defiance.

“Try again,” I said quietly and released a thread of coven magic, just enough to form the five-point pentagram at Camille’s feet but enough to let her know that
I
knew what that spell meant. I would not be bound to any foreign magic, and that was what a binding did.

Panic flashed in those gray eyes. “I mean...uh... sorry, it’s been a long time. And I’m dead.”

“Handy excuse,” Pyper said, her trademark sarcasm firmly back in place.

Camille tried to back up, but the unintended circle held strong. “Okay. This should do it. Candles of Summer House, release your hold. Your magic is not welcome this night.”

I met Lucien’s gaze. He gave a slight nod. Yes, I thought that was safe enough. I repeated Camille’s words and added, “Contain your power within your wick, for the leader of the New Orleans coven shall control your magic from this day forward.”

Camille gasped. “How dare you? That was my only access to power, and you just took it away from me! I’m dead. Don’t you understand? It was all I had left.” Her image flickered as she shot straight up in the air. “You’ll pay for this, Jade Calhoun. Mark my words. You’ll pay.”

“Not tonight, Camille,” Kane said, his voice calm. “Go away now. You’ve caused enough trouble.”

Before she could open her mouth again, she vanished.

“No! Damn it.” Ian waved his EMF detector in the air. “Those were some of my best readings ever.”

Pyper burst out laughing. “Ian, dude, the ghost was right in front of you. Just enjoy that for now.” She grabbed his hand and tugged. “We need to talk.”

“Oh?” Ian was so far into his work, he’d obviously forgotten about the marriage revelation.

“Yeah, we need to clear up an earlier conversation.” She gave me a reassuring smile and dragged a distracted Ian into the den.

“Jade, Kane?” Charlie called. “I’m going to take Candy home. We’ve got to... well, I’m sure you can figure it out.” Her wicked smile left nothing to the imagination.

I laughed. “See you later.”

Kane waved, and the door shut softly behind them. Kane’s friends said hasty goodbyes, both appearing dumbstruck. That left Lucien, Kat, and Lailah. The three offered to help us clean up, but I shooed them away. All I wanted to do was eat cheesecake and go to bed, preferably both at the same time.

Lailah barely met Kat’s eyes as she said goodbye and told me she’d call me later. Kat and Lucien stayed glued together. They left shortly after. From the way they were looking at each other, it wasn’t hard to guess what they’d be up to as soon as they got back in the French Quarter. Maybe the night wasn’t a total disaster.

Ian and Pyper emerged from the den, joking about drive through Elvis chapels. When Kane questioned them about it, they doubled over laughing, barely able to breathe. Okay. Maybe someone really had dipped too much nog. They were holding hands and still laughing when they left. Hand holding was better than glaring. It was progress.

I grabbed a dirty tray and headed into the kitchen.

Kane joined me at the sink a few minutes later. “Not exactly the party we planned.”

“Ha. No, not exactly.” I started scrubbing melted cheese from the tray.

“It’s one of the things I love about you.” Kane took the tray from me and set it aside.

“What’s that exactly? That I attract ghosts and demons? Or that my friends all seem to be closeted lesbians?”

He chuckled. “No. I love that every day is a surprise.” His arms came around me, and he leaned in. He stopped just before our lips met. “Are you up for this?”

“Kissing you? Always.”

“No, the consequences.” He pointed up.

Above us was the fifth glowing mistletoe. Ah, I’d forgotten about it. If he kissed me right there, he’d have to do whatever I said.

A devilish smile made my lips twitch. My eyes met his eager ones. “Yeah,” I breathed. “You?”

“Always.” His warm, demanding lips met mine, nipping and teasing as our tongues danced together. Seconds later, I pulled back, breathless. “Ready for cheesecake?”

He nodded, heat in his eyes.

I pointed to the refrigerator. “You grab the cake. I’ll get the utensils.”

“Who needs utensils?” he asked, his gaze running the length of my body.

I laughed, a low sexy sound, and dropped the forks back in the drawer. I grabbed the whipped cream and moved to the door. “After you.”

He glanced over his shoulder to watch me watching him. “As you wish, my pretty witch.”

Oh. My. Cheesecake, whipped cream, and a submissive Kane. I licked my lips. Forget the party. The night had just begun. 

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The Jade Calhoun Series in order:

Haunted on Bourbon Street

Witches of Bourbon Street

Demons of Bourbon Street

Engaged off Bourbon Street (A Short Story)

Angels of Bourbon Street

Shadows of Bourbon Street

Incubus of Bourbon Street

Spirits of Bourbon Street (A Novelette)

D
eanna is a native Californian. After spending five years traveling in an RV, she and her husband moved into an adorable cottage in a small town outside of New Orleans. After about six months, Deanna was convinced their 1907 home was haunted. Late at night as she penned 
Haunted on Bourbon Street
, she often heard footsteps throughout the old house. Luckily, the spirit appears to be harmless, as he/she has never done more than make a little noise and possibly smoke a few cigars. However, if the ghost ever shows up in a dream, you’ll be the first to hear of it. Smudge stick anyone?

When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, and making glass beads. Visit her website at
http://www.deannachase.com