The Shifter Romances The Writer

Roxy shook her head in amazement. All Delaney had done was offer Pandora Williams a slice of her Tall, Dark and Handsome chocolate cake and Pandora had shown up thirty minutes later. Now the three women sat in Delaney’s kitchen, ruining their appetites for dinner and talking around the reason Delaney had invited Pandora over.

Roxy couldn’t take it anymore. “So now that I know what Nocturne Falls is really about and I’m starting to find out who people really are—like you being a witch, Pandora—it’s making me feel…I don’t know, sort of like I’m standing on the outside looking in.”

“I get that,” Pandora said. “Being a witch isn’t that far removed from being human. In fact, being a witch is pretty different from being a vampire or being able to shift into a different shape. Although we can do that too, if we have enough magic and the right spell. Of course, that shape carries the limitations of the spell, which includes an expiration date, but it’s still a possibility.”

“I’m glad you mentioned that,” Roxy said. She couldn’t have asked for a better segue. “That’s kind of why Delaney asked you here. So I could talk to you about a spell.”

Pandora swallowed the cake she’d just eaten. “Oh? What can I do for you?”

“First of all, I should ask what you charge. I have money, but as you know, most of it has gone into the house and that aquarium. So if this is going to be a lot of money, it’ll have to wait a while for my bank account to recover.”

Pandora scoffed. “I’m not going to charge you for a spell. I mean, if the ingredients are super expensive, then we’ll have to talk. But seriously, I’m so happy to finally be able to do magic again that I’ll do just about anything for free.”

That was a curious thing to say. Roxy squinted at her. “What do you mean about finally being able to do magic again?”

Pandora finished the last of her cake. “My magic only recently started working again. All my life, my gifts were so unreliable that they were worthless. Nothing I did went as planned. I pretty much gave up using magic altogether. Then I met my boyfriend, Cole, and everything changed. Turned out he’s a human familiar. Long story short in terms a normie can understand, his presence makes my magic work. And work well.”

“Wow, that’s really cool.” Roxy looked at Delaney. “Did you know about that?”

“A little.” Delaney smiled. “Nothing stays secret in this town for long.”

Something to remember. “Well, I’m really glad you got your magic working again. And not just because I’d love your help. But I would.”

“All right,” Pandora said. “What kind of spell do you need?”

Roxy took a breath. “I don’t know.”

“And neither do I,” Delaney said.

“But,” Roxy went on, “Delaney said if anyone would know, it would be you because your mom has a pretty intensive library of spell books, and because you’re mentoring a young witch, so you must be pretty knowledgeable.”

“I like to think so.” Pandora smiled. “I spent years trying to figure out why my magic didn’t work, so I’ve done my time with those books. And now I’m super curious to hear what you’re after.”

Roxy sat up a little straighter. “I want a spell that will turn me into a shifter. Specifically, the same kind as Alex Cruz. A panther shifter.”

“Oh, fun.” Pandora’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll have to do some research, but I’ll see what I can come up with. In fact, I’ll swing by my mom’s on the way home and have a look through that library.”

“Really?” Hope rose through Roxy’s body like a current of spring air. “So you think it’s possible?”

Pandora chewed on her bottom lip. “I think it might be. I feel like I’ve heard about a spell like that, but let me do some research before I give you a firm yes. Hey, maybe I can tell you tomorrow at the signing. I plan to swing by anyway. I’m going to bring Willa Iscove with me. But be prepared. She’s probably going to go total fangirl. She loves your books. She got me reading them.”

Roxy smiled. “I love her already. Is she a witch too?”

“Nope. She’s fae. And legitimately the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. It’s a fae thing. They’re like unnaturally pretty. Totally not fair to the rest of us, but there you have it.” Pandora’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. “Huh. Speaking of witchy things, Agnes Miller just texted me to call her about tomorrow.”

Roxy tilted her head. “Is Agnes a witch?”

“Yep. Besides the regular books she carries, she handles a lot of grimoires and spell books too. I should call her real quick.” Pandora looked at them. “Do you mind?”

Roxy and Delaney shook their heads at the same time.

“Great.” Pandora dialed. “Hey, Agnes, what’s up?” She listened intently as she ate the remaining crumbs on her plate. “Uh-huh. Really?” Pandora glanced at Roxy. “No problem. I’ll ask him, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. Okay. See you then.” She hung up.

“Everything all right?” Delaney asked.

“Not exactly.” Pandora looked at Roxy. “You didn’t say anything about having a stalker. What the heck is going on?”

Roxy explained as briefly as possible. “But why would Agnes call to tell you about that?”