Enchantment (The Channie Series Book One)

  Josh shook his head and smiled. “If that’s your idea of an answer—”

  “Yes, Joshua Abrim, I’ll marry you,” Channie sank to the floor then crushed her lips against his.

  Aunt Wisdom cleared her throat and said, “Save it for the honeymoon. We have a wedding to plan.”

  “Aunt Wisdom!”

  Josh said, “We didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Obviously.” Aunt Wisdom froze, then held up a finger and said, “Hang on a second.” She turned around and marched onto the porch. “Hunter Feenie, get in here this instant.”

  She drug him into the cabin then shut the door. Hunter stumbled forward, tripping on the cuff of his trousers.

  Aunt Wisdom said, “You need to take a death pledge before you slink off like a weasel.”

  Hunter’s entire body seemed to shrink in on itself. “I ain’t gonna tell nobody.”

  Aunt Wisdom grabbed his left wrist with her left hand and said, “Then you have nothing to fear from pledging your silence.”

  Hunter’s face paled when Aunt Wisdom pressed her right palm over his heart and said, “Hunter Feenie, do you pledge to keep secret all you’ve learned this day concerning Joshua Veyjivik, Channie Kerns and anything else that might endanger them or benefit their enemies, upon pain of death?”

  Hunter groaned and squirmed, but he could not escape Aunt Wisdom’s magically enhanced grip. He bowed his head in surrender, placed his right hand over her heart and said, “All right, all right already. I, Hunter Feenie, pledge upon pain of death that I will not intentionally reveal any secrets that might endanger Channie Kerns and Joshua Veyjivik or benefit their enemies.”

  Aunt Wisdom narrowed her eyes. “Try it again, this time without any contingencies.”

  Hunter tried once again to wriggle free. He tried to pry Aunt Wisdom’s hand off his wrist with his fingers like an angry toddler, but her magic was too strong for him. “I shouldn’t have to die just because I accidentally let something slip.”

  “If the consequences are fatal, you’ll be a lot less likely to let something slip.”

  Hunter trembled like a rabbit caught in a snare. “Wait! Just put a remember-not spell on me.” Channie actually felt sorry for him. He knew as well as she did that remember-not spells weren’t reliable. There was no way that was going to satisfy Aunt Wisdom.

  Sure enough, she pressed her lips together and shook her head slowly, left, right, left.

  Hunter said, “You can’t force me to say it.”

  Aunt Wisdom said, “No, I can’t...maybe I should just kill you now.”

  Hunter gulped a couple of noisy breaths, dropped his chin to his chest and put his right hand over Aunt Wisdom’s heart. She repeated the words of the binding spell.

  This time, Hunter recited them back exactly.

  Aunt Wisdom released him and said, “That wasn’t so hard, now, was it.”

  Hunter rubbed his wrist and flexed his fingers. “Can I go now?”

  “Of course you may, but feel free to join us for dinner.”

  Hunter looked at the floor and said, “No thank you, ma’am,” then muttered under his breath as he passed Channie on his way to the door, “She’d probably spike mine with hemlock.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob then turned towards her and said, “It was good to see you again, Channie. I’m glad things are working out the way you want. Have a great life.”

  He swallowed twice and licked his lips then shifted his gaze to Josh’s nose, stopping just short of actual eye-contact. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Veyjivik. If there’s anything I can ever do to be of service, let me know.”

  Josh narrowed his eyes and said, “The only thing you can do for me is stay the hell away from Channie.”

  “Got it.” Hunter nodded then nearly jerked the door off its hinges in his haste to escape.

  Aunt Wisdom turned towards Josh. “Now, let me see your phone. You did get a picture of this spell, right?”

  Josh handed her his phone then pulled out a kitchen chair and settled Channie on his lap.

  Aunt Wisdom sat across from them and squinted her eyes as she studied the screen. “You have one year to learn and grow, to gain the skills you need to know.”

  Channie pressed her cheek against Josh’s chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. It seemed to say, be mine, be mine, be mine. She could scarcely take it in. Josh was a mage...her mage, the one she had to marry to save both their lives. She was selfish enough to be glad of it, but she was more frightened than ever. Instead of going home to a mundane life of safety, Josh was going to fight in a mage war. He would be right in the middle of it.

  Aunt Wisdom leaned across the table and took Channie’s hand in hers. “That’s not much time to prepare, but since the final battle will be fought during the total eclipse of the moon on winter solstice. Who knows what sort of magic will come? The last time the heavens aligned in such a way was December 21, 1638, over three hundred years ago.”

  Josh said, “Hey, that’s my birthday.”

  Aunt Wisdom squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and blinked three times. “What?”

  Josh chuckled and said, “I wasn’t born in 1638, obviously, but I was born on December 21.” Aunt Wisdom’s grip tightened around Channie’s hand. She continued to stare at Josh, wide-eyed with amazement, bordering on reverence.

  Josh squirmed and said, “Um...1991?” as if he were questioning the year of his birth.

  Aunt Wisdom took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You were born...on December 21...1991...during a partial eclipse of the moon?”

  Josh rolled his eyes. “Here we go again, more moon lectures.”

  Aunt Wisdom let go of Channie’s hand and cuffed Josh’s ear. So much for reverence.

  Josh rubbed the side of his head and scowled at Aunt Wisdom. “Sorry. I forgot how touchy you guys are about the moon.”

  Aunt Wisdom leaned towards Channie. For a moment she thought she was going to smack her too. Josh must have thought so as well. He twisted sideways, shielding Channie with his body. Aunt Wisdom leaned back and said, “Why didn’t you tell me he was born during winter solstice, 1991?”

  Channie peeked over Josh’s shoulder and used one of his favorite excuses. “You didn’t ask.”

  Aunt Wisdom groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “You kids will be the death of me.” She squared her shoulders, shaking them a little as if it would rid her of Channie and Josh’s annoying ineptitude. She picked Josh’s phone up and frowned. “Nothing is promised, nothing is given...There’s no guarantee Josh will even survive the battle, much less ascend to the throne. It merely states that the eclipsed moon will ordain the heir that wins the fight.”

  Despair’s chill fingers slid down Channie’s spine once again.

  Josh kissed the top of her head then said, “Follow your heart and save her life, take the enemy’s daughter and make her your wife...The moon’s up. Let’s do this.”

  Aunt Wisdom chuckled and said, “First things first, Romeo. Without a power name, you aren’t really a mage...Wait a minute, when you asked Channie to marry you...did you call her Channie...Belks?”

  Channie nodded and said, “Daddy changed our surname to Belks when we went into hiding.”

  “Oh good lord. Was that before or after he named you Chastity?”

  “Before.”

  Aunt Wisdom muttered a string of epithets about Daddy’s sub-normal intelligence and general lack of decency.

  They bounced different ideas for power names back and forth until Josh’s stomach growled like a wild beast. Aunt Wisdom chuckled then got up from the table and pulled a sack of cornmeal out of the pantry. She talked as she worked, measuring the ingredients for cornbread into a ceramic bowl...a handful of meal, a pinch of salt.

  Channie wanted a name that would protect Josh’s compassionate nature from his Veyjivik blood. She knew too well how a power name could adversely affect a person. “How about Honor?”

  Josh scrunched his nose. “That’
s a girl’s name. Besides, how’s that going to help me protect you? I want something like Invincible Guardian.”

  “You only get one word and Guardian won’t protect you—in fact it will put a target on your back—and Invincible is just an adjective. You need a noun, they’re stronger and more stable.”

  Aunt Wisdom held the bowl in her arms and leaned against the counter as she stirred the batter. “I tried to talk Channie’s parents out of naming her sister Abundance, but they didn’t listen. We all know how well that turned out. Might as well just call her Bunny instead of Abby. She breeds like a rabbit.”

  Channie loved Aunt Wisdom, but her disparaging remarks about Daddy, and now Abby, were pissing her off.

  Josh wove his fingers through Channie’s. It was amazing how just the touch of his hand on hers soothed her. He said, “How about Invincibility? That’s a noun. And my middle name is Vincent, so it sort of makes sense.”

  Aunt Wisdom poured the cornbread batter into the pan and slid it into the oven. “No one’s invincible or immortal or perfect so cross those and their noun derivatives off your list. Any of those names would just give you a dangerous dose of false confidence. Besides, there’s more at stake here than just the two of you. If either of our clans are going to survive, you’ll have to tear the reins of power out of Dominance’s clutches and broker a peace treaty between the Ozark and Cumberland Mages.” She wiped her hands on her apron, reminding Channie of Momma, until she looked at Josh and smiled at him with respect—something Momma would never do. “You need a name that will give you every advantage. You need to be equal parts warrior, ambassador, and king.”

  Aunt Wisdom hung her apron on a nail by the kitchen sink then sat down at the table.

  Josh said, “There was this comic strip my dad used to read to me when I was a kid.”

  Channie pressed her cheek against the base of his throat and felt his skin grow warmer. She smiled. He was blushing.

  “Um...so, the main character’s name was Prince Valiant. Not that I want to be named Prince or Valiant, but he was definitely a hero type.”

  Channie kissed his cheek and said, “How about Valor? Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. But it also suggests a high level of honor.”

  Aunt Wisdom leaned across the table and squeezed Channie’s arm. “That’s perfect.”

  Josh chewed on his lower lip for a few seconds. “Okay. As long as no one calls me Val.”

  Aunt Wisdom said, “We need to keep your identity a secret for as long as possible...so for now, let’s stick with Josh.”

  Channie brushed Josh’s ear with her lips and whispered, “Now...and forever.”

  ~***~

  Aunt Wisdom explained the naming ceremony to Josh and said, “Normally your parents would do this for you, but since your circumstances are so...unusual, I see no reason why I can’t name you. Especially since your mother isn’t a mage and we have no idea whether your father is still living.” She frowned and puckered her lips then said, “Speaking of parents, do yours know where you are?”

  “Not exactly. I talked to my Dad a couple of days ago and told him I’d keep him posted, but I haven’t been able to get a signal out here.”

  “Are they going to send law enforcement to look for you?”

  “I’ll be eighteen in a few weeks and I told him what I was doing, so I’m not exactly a runaway kid. The cops aren’t going to waste time looking for me. What about Channie?”

  Channie rolled her eyes. “They won’t even miss me.”

  Aunt Wisdom said, “I doubt that, but they know better than to come back here with the Veyjiviks looking for them. And they don’t trust the police.”

  She put a folded quilt on the floor and motioned for Josh to kneel in front of her. “Are you ready to become a mage?”

  He took a deep breath then smiled at Channie and nodded.

  Aunt Wisdom placed her hands on his head.

  I now bestow the name of Valor

  Let it guide you hour by hour.

  For on this day, you come of age.

  You knelt a boy, now rise a mage.

  Aunt Wisdom slid her hands from Josh’s head to his shoulders then kissed his cheek. “How do you feel?”

  His eyes widened as he began to tremble—a whole body quake that rumbled the floor.

  Aunt Wisdom grabbed Channie’s arm, flung the front door open and shoved her outside. “Run!”

  Aunt Wisdom was not easily frightened or given to dramatics so when she said run, Channie should have run. But she was worried about Josh and hesitated. A blast of energy knocked her off her feet. She flew backwards off the porch, smacking the side of her head against the handrail.

  She woke up in Momma and Daddy’s bed with a cool, damp rag on her forehead that smelled faintly of willow bark—and a throbbing skull. The room spun when she tried to sit up. Strong hands pushed her back against the mattress, but they were not the hands she wanted.

  “Where’s Josh?”

  Aunt Wisdom said, “Outside, pacing and draining excess magic.”

  “What happened?”

  “I’d never given a power name to an adult before, but that’s no excuse, I should have known better.” Aunt Wisdom took the cool rag from Channie’s forehead, dipped it in a basin of water and wrung it out before she replaced it. The scent of willow bark was much stronger now. “When his power-well was opened for the first time, all that pent up energy had to go somewhere.”

  “Is he all right? Can I see him?”

  “He’s fine. Or at least he will be when I tell him you’re conscious and asking for him. You have a nasty concussion, I stopped your brain from swelling, but it’s going to take time for the headache to go away.”

  “How much time?” Channie tried to sit up again, but gave up when a wave of nausea twisted her stomach. “I’m supposed to marry Josh before the moon sets.”

  “You need to do more than just marry him. This is one time you can’t say, ‘not tonight dear, I have a headache.’”

  “Why not?” Channie pressed her palms against her temples but the added pressure only made her head hurt worse. She had no intention of postponing the honeymoon, but she wanted to know why Aunt Wisdom was so worried about it.

  “The marriage isn’t real until you consummate it.”

  Channie didn’t like the word ‘consummate.’ It was too official, cold and practical—like signing a contract. She wanted to make love to Josh, not consummate him. And she didn’t want to do it with what felt like a herd of wild beasts trying to claw their way out of her skull. “I know it’s risky to mess with my brain, but just this once, couldn’t you—”

  “I’ve already done all I can safely do. There is a reason your head hurts. Listen to your body and let your pain protect you. I’ve already talked to Josh.”

  Channie groaned and not just from the pain of her headache. “What did you say to him?” Josh had a tendency to be overly cautious when it came to Channie’s wellbeing.

  Aunt Wisdom ignored her question and said, “It’s about ten o’clock. I want to perform the binding spell when the moon reaches it apex at twelve-thirty. If I leave to go get Josh, will you promise to stay in bed?”

  “I promise.” Channie couldn’t even sit up, much less get out of bed.

  ~***~

  When Josh knocked on the door and poked his head into the room, Channie’s heart soared, in spite of her headache. It fluttered against her ribs like a caged bird...a very happy, excited, about-to-be-married caged bird. Just the sight of him lessened her pain.

  Josh grinned at her. “You look...amazing.”

  Aunt Wisdom had buffed and manicured Channie’s nails into perfect ovals and brushed her hair until it fell around her shoulders in smooth, glossy waves.

  “So do you.” Josh was wearing a new pair of jeans and a dark blue sweater that enhanced the color of his eyes.

  “That dress is beautiful.”

  It was the same dress she’d had on all evening, but it didn
’t surprise Channie that Josh hadn’t noticed it until now.

  “I wish I could stand up and twirl around so you could get the full effect, but Aunt Wisdom won’t let me out of bed.”

  Josh grinned and said, “I like you in bed,” then frowned. “Your aunt said you fell and hit your head when she shoved you outside. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Aunt Wisdom must have blamed herself for Channie’s injuries so Josh wouldn’t be burdened with guilt.

  “Is it okay if I sit beside you?”

  Channie scooted over and patted the mattress.

  The springs creaked when Josh sat down.

  Channie cringed. She didn’t care if she were half dead, she was not going to spend her wedding night in Momma and Daddy’s bed. She’d find a way to get into her own bed if it killed her.

  Josh picked up her left hand and kissed her fingers, over her promise ring. “I’ll get you an engagement ring and a wedding band as soon as we get home.”

  “I don’t care about the rings, except I can’t wait to put one on your finger, so everyone knows you’re mine.”

  “I’ve been yours since the first night I saw you in Heritage Park.”

  Channie dropped her gaze to her hands. “Josh? Are you okay with this? Mages marry a lot younger than Empties so this isn’t out of the ordinary for me, but I know you had other plans for your life.”

  He stroked her cheek with his fingers and gazed into her eyes. “You, Channie Belks, are my life.”

  Aunt Wisdom knocked on the door. “Are you two ready?”

  Josh nodded.

  Channie said, “Yes.”

  But instead of Aunt Wisdom joining them in Momma and Daddy’s room, Josh picked Channie up and carried her outside.

  The full moon floated in a cloudless sky. Its brilliant light painted everything in shades of blue and silver. To Channie’s amazement, Momma’s roses were in full bloom. So were the lilac bushes, the redbud trees and the flower garden. And in the middle of it all was Channie’s bed—under a wedding bower.

  Four sycamore branches supported a frame of evergreen boughs. Roses, lilacs and larkspur were woven into the greenery. The flowers’ sweet perfume drifted above the clean scent of pine and warm fragrance of cedar, tickling Channie’s nose.

  “How …? What …?”

  Aunt Wisdom and Josh both laughed. Aunt Wisdom said, “I told you Josh had a lot of pent up magical energy.”