Preserves & Premonitions Read online

  Preserves & Premonitions

  A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery

  Bella Falls

  Evermore Press

  Copyright © 2021 by Bella Falls

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author, except where permitted by law or for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  All Rights Reserved.

  Also by Bella Falls

  A Southern Charms Cozy Mystery Series

  Moonshine & Magic: Book 1

  Lemonade & Love Potions: A Cozy Short

  Fried Chicken & Fangs: Book 2

  Sweet Tea & Spells: Book 3

  Barbecue & Brooms: Book 4

  Collards & Cauldrons: Book 5

  Red Velvet & Reindeer: A Cozy Short

  Cornbread & Crossroads: Book 6

  Preserves & Premonitions: Book 7

  Grits & Ghosts: Book 8

  Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries

  Flea Market Magic

  Rags To Witches

  Pickup and Pirates

  Vintage Vampire

  Bargain Haunting

  Bait and Witch

  *All audiobooks available are narrated by the wonderful and talented Johanna Parker

  For a FREE exclusive copy of the prequel Chess Pie & Choices, sign up for my newsletter!

  Share recipes, talk about Southern Charms and all things cozy mysteries, and connect with me by joining my reader group Southern Charms Cozy Companions!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  Hextra Free Stories

  Series Order

  Series Order

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Mason shoved a full glass of gray sludge in front of my face. Wrinkling my nose and giving him some serious stink eye, I pushed the disgusting concoction away from me.

  “I’ve had enough of those to last me two lifetimes. No, three!” I exclaimed with a pout.

  The hotness level of my detective boyfriend dropped at least one point with his insistence. “Come on, Charli, stop being so stubborn. You know you need its help. So, drink it all down and then I’ll treat you to a piece of pie.”

  “Where? At the Harvest Moon Cafe? At Sweet Tooths? Or at Sassy’s new place?” I clarified, hoping the current town debate of who served the best pie would distract him.

  He raised an exasperated eyebrow at me. “Nice try, but you should remember that I’m a highly trained warden and have a keen ability to detect a pile of malarkey in seconds.” Mason moved the glass in front of me again. “Now, as your grandmother is fond of saying, quit your dawdlin’ and get to it!”

  His attempt at a Southern accent cracked my grumpy demeanor. “Fine. But I’m only doing this for the pie,” I grumbled, snatching the drink from him.

  Holding my nose, I tipped the glass back and let the thick potion gloop into my mouth. Swallowing it down as fast as possible, I drained the contents until I couldn’t take anymore.

  Mason held out a napkin for me to wipe my mouth. “I would tell you that it wasn’t as bad as all that, but I have no desire to get punched in the stomach. Or shoulder. Or wherever your irritated fist might land.”

  An uncomfortable bubble burbled in my chest, and out of spite, I let out a very juicy burp. Covering my mouth, I giggled a little. “Excuse me.”

  My patient boyfriend sighed and shook his head at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I suppose that’s better than a bruise.” He took the glass from me and went to the sink to rinse it out.

  I smacked my lips and grimaced, needing something to take the edge off the awful taste in my mouth. Nana had started making me drink the sludge again after she had failed to find a way to break the spell that bound Dash and me together. Sure, we’d done it for a good cause, but looking back on the whole debacle, I constantly wondered whether or not the end results were worth it.

  My eyes flitted to Mason, who poured sweet tea into a different glass just for me. He tried so hard not to show his concern over the binding, but I knew it had to bother him. I mean, he had just told me he loved me and then I went and connected my soul to another guy.

  At least the sludge allowed me to block off sharing too much of myself with Dash. Nana had tweaked her concoction until we’d found the best combination that shut down the binding’s effects as best we could. And maybe Dash’s return to his home in the mountains also lessened the consequences of our hasty decision. His absence helped me reassure Mason that I was all his.

  “Here you go. Maybe this will sweeten your disposition.” The detective placed the glass of sweet tea on the table in front of me.

  As I reached out for the new drink, a wave of nausea hit me, and I knocked the tea over as I flinched. Beads of sweat broke out over my brow, and I stifled a moan, not wanting to alarm him.

  “Sorry. I’ll get a towel to clean that up,” I gritted, trying to stand and failing.

  Mason held onto my arm. “Stay here, I’ll take care of things.”

  He left my side, and regret battled with the sickening vibes racking my body. Any designs I had for us to be able to completely ignore my current predicament today flew out the proverbial window. It was getting harder to hide the growing magnitude of my symptoms from fighting the binding.

  Something wet and cold pressed against my forehead, and I reached up to touch Mason’s arm. “Thanks,” I uttered, closing my eyes and breathing in deep to keep the nausea at bay.

  He moved the wet washcloth to the back of my neck. “You’re more than welcome.” His controlled tone helped me maintain a level of calmness I wouldn’t have had by myself.

  There were so many things I should say to my kind boyfriend that I didn’t know where to start. The humongous elephant that followed us around and hung out right on the edge of every conversation grew larger as each day passed and I got a little worse than before. Fear of the consequences of what needed to be said kept me quiet.

  I blew out a long breath, relaxing as the sudden need to throw up passed. Mason took the seat next to me, the worry in his eyes blazing at me. His lips were pursed in frustration.

  I drew the washcloth from the back of my neck and busied myself folding and unfolding the damp fabric in my hand. “I guess there are some things we should talk about,” I admitted in a low voice.

  A loud yawn interrupted me, and Beau entered the kitchen, scratching the few hairs on top of his bald pate. “Mornin’, y’all.”

  “It’s after two in the afternoon,” I corrected him.

  My vampire roommate shrugged. “We vampires don’t find it necessary to keep track of time. Day, night. Doesn’t make much difference to us. Oh my,” he broke off, staring at me. “You look positively pale.”

  Mason failed to stifle a chuckle, and I shot him a heated glare.

  “Beauregard Pepperpot, where are your manners?” I scolded. “Thought you were supposed to be a gentleman.”

  “
I am. If I were speaking my mind, then I would tell you that you actually look dreadful,” he added with a slight sniff. “I hope my amorous pursuits are not keeping you from getting your beauty sleep.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “What have I told you about bringing your dates back to the house?”

  The vampire rolled his eyes. “I promise you that no hanky-panky occurs in my bedroom. Only some skilled wooing in the parlor.”

  My stomach rumbled, and I feared a different flavor of nausea would overtake me. “Let’s get out of here,” I mumbled to my boyfriend, who couldn’t seem to find the ability to stop being amused.

  We made it all the way out to the front porch and into the sunlight. The creaking of one of the rocking chairs startled me, and I turned to find Fenwen sitting in my usual spot with Peaches settled next to her, soaking in the sun’s rays and the attention of our fairly new roommate.

  “Hey, Fen,” I called out to her.

  The sprite shielded her eyes to glance at me. “You look a little green around the gills. Feeling sick again?” she asked.

  “Again?” Mason repeated, lifting an eyebrow at me.

  Pixie poop, I didn’t need my most recent roommate to confirm some of my detective boyfriend’s suspicions about my health.

  “Nothing that a little fresh air and maybe some of that promised pie wouldn’t take care of.” I forced a smile on my lips and hoped my fae roommate wouldn’t give Mason anything else to worry about.

  “Okay, sounds good. But I’ll be sure to make you a new sachet of dried lavender and chamomile flowers for you to keep under your pillow to help you feel better,” she offered.

  Peaches lifted her head and meowed at me. Her little furry insistence broke through my defenses. In a few short steps, I closed the distance between us and scratched her little head between her ears.

  “I would appreciate that. Thanks, Fen.”

  We said our goodbyes and walked out to Mason’s car on the edge of the property. The longer the silence stretched between us, the heavier it became. And although I’d almost had the courage to talk to him with more openness, that familiar fear gripped my stomach and made me swallow all the words I almost said.

  Expecting his car to head down to Main Street, I got a little miffed when he turned onto the road to my grandmother’s house. “Where are we headed?” I asked, acting as if I didn’t already know.

  “I promised you we’d go get some pie. Never said where it would come from.” He slowed down and parked next to a few other vehicles I recognized.

  I crossed my arms as he turned off the engine. “This is an ambush, isn’t it?”

  Mason reached across from the driver’s side and undid my seat belt buckle. “Charli, I think you’d agree that we’ve all been more than patient with you. But things are getting way too serious, and it’s time to face the fact that you can’t ignore the problem away.”

  I crossed my arms and pouted. “I can’t believe you would bring me here so that people can fuss at me.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted up, and he took a gentle finger and ran it across my jutted lip. “Not fuss. More like show you that you don’t need to carry the burden all by yourself.”

  Glancing out the window, I debated how far I could make it if I made a run for it. But in our small supernatural Southern town, nothing was kept secret. Soon enough, I’d have the whole community on my tail.

  Before I could make a run for it, Nana stepped out onto the porch. “If y’all are waitin’ for a formal invitation, you’ll be out there till doomsday. Get your behinds in here already!”

  I closed my eyes and groaned.

  Mason took my hand in his. “Feeling nauseous again?”

  “No,” I said. “I’m girding my annoyed loins for what’s coming.” With an unnecessary grunt, I opened the car door. “Let’s go.”

  My feet trudged up the porch steps. Nana held open the swinging screen door, her mouth twisted in an amused bow at my childish antics. She popped me on my behind, and I yelped as I hurried past her.

  Familiar voices conversed in the living room, and I followed the noise until I found a sea of friendly faces glancing up at me from their seated positions all around the room.

  “It’s about time,” Blythe blurted out, pointing a fork at me. “I was starting to think we were going to have to come over to your place and kidnap you.”

  Lee pouted. “Aw, I had my eye on the last of the chess pie if you didn’t show up.”

  Alison Kate giggled and nudged her husband. “Stop messing with her like that.” She glanced at me and winked. “There’s plenty of chess pie left. Want me to get you a slice?”

  I nodded, unsure of what to say to all of my friends. A part of me knew why my grandmother had gathered them here, but I dreaded having to confront my reality in such a big way.

  Mason placed his arm around my waist. “Nobody in here’s gonna bite you. Except maybe me.” He leaned in to nip at my neck.

  A chorus of Ews rose in the room. Matt approached after coming out of the kitchen. “Keep your hankyin’ in private. Nobody wants to see that. Least of all me.” He stuck out his tongue as he sat down next to his wife.

  “Right, because we got this little poop machine from the cabbage patch where magical fairies placed her,” TJ teased as she bounced my drooling niece on her lap. “Not because you like to get a little frisky after—”

  I held up my hand to stop her, grimacing. “Okay, I get the point.” Nobody needed to hear what got my brother’s engines revving.

  Ben got up from one of the dining room chairs that had been dragged in. He moved to sit on the edge of the couch next to his fiancée. Lily waved her fingers at me in greeting, the diamond on her ring finger sparkling in the light.

  “Well, I think it’s absolutely grand that y’all came over to keep my grandmother company today,” I declared, taking the offered seat and plopping down in it. “We’ll have a little pie and then we can all go about our lives, minding our own businesses.”

  The first hints of pain bloomed inside me, and I clenched my teeth and hands in preparation for the wave of nausea to follow. Attempting to ignore the heat of everyone’s attention, I concentrated on not giving away how much of a toll fighting it took on me. Mason rubbed my back as I blew out the breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.

  “Sure, let’s all pretend we didn’t just watch you in nine kinds of torment. Because that’s what friends do, right?” Blythe scoffed. She stabbed at the pie on her plate to keep me from seeing the hurt and concern in her eyes.

  “I can handle it,” I gritted, catching a trickle of sweat rolling down the side of my face with my fingers.

  Alison Kate brought a plate with a generous slice of chess pie over to me. “Of course you can. You’re tougher than any other girl I know.”

  “Hey,” both Blythe and Lily exclaimed at the same time.

  My married friend ignored them and continued. “But it’s not a weakness to rely on those who love you. To allow them to help you carry the burden.” Alison Kate’s lower lip trembled.

  I took the plate from her and handed it off to Mason. After taking her hand, I held it tight. “I hear you, Ali Kat. But that’s the thing. You guys can’t really help. Nana’s been looking for a solution ever since she got better. And if she hasn’t found anything yet, then why worry the rest of you?”

  “She ain’t the only one who’s been lookin’,” Henry groused. “I kinda like my job, so I’ve been digging around myself on how to get rid of that fool binding you did.”

  “If she hadn’t done it, there’s no telling what kind of havoc that crossroads demon woman would have wreaked on Honeysuckle Hollow,” Lavender defended, her cheeks growing pinker by the second. “If it weren’t for her and Nick, then we all might not be sitting here eating pie.”

  “Lav, how can you still care about that demon?” Lily aimed a heated glare at her cousin. “Sure, he did the right thing in the end. But if he’d done that from the beginning, Charli wouldn’t be in tr
ouble right now.”

  “Oh, she’d be in trouble,” Nana groused. “Just a different flavor.”

  Lavender bent her head to hide the tears brimming in her eyes. Despite what had happened with Nick and Lorelei, she still cared for the former spa owner. I suspected she managed to stay in touch with him while he was serving a much shorter sentence for his part in the whole debacle since he helped the World Organization of Wardens infiltrate his family’s business.

  I would have gotten up to go give my friend a hug, but another wave of sickness crashed over me, and I did my best to bear it. Instead of the prickle of sweat and throbbing in my head that accompanied it, the aching lessened and went away quicker than it had in over a week.

  I breathed out a sigh of great relief and looked up at Mason standing beside me. “That one wasn’t nearly as bad.”

  Instead of smiling, his mouth turned down into a slight frown. “That’s because the one thing that I could do to help has finally arrived.”

  My brow furrowed as I tried to decipher his strange meaning until my ears caught the hint of a distinct rumbling growing louder and louder as it got closer. I didn’t have to look out the window to sense the close presence of the man who’d jumped into the deep end with me and into the pool of chaos that our decision had caused. My entire being recognized his presence now that he approached the house.

  I didn’t know whether to be relieved or scared of what might happen next.

  Chapter Two

  Nana let Dash into her house, and the wolf shifter shrugged out of his leather jacket and handed it to her as he entered the room with all of us waiting.