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“I won’t let that happen,” Montgomery said. Then he wrapped a possessive arm around her shoulders. She didn’t seem to mind it.
Esme stood in front of Montgomery and her three daughters like a drill sergeant.
“Broomsticks!” she cried.
The sisters echoed robustly, “Broomsticks!” And they held up their brooms, ready to go into battle. Willow was still feeling queasy about it. She was afraid of heights, she suddenly discovered.
“Bicycle!” Esme said next.
And Montgomery confirmed the bicycle was ready. “Bicycle.”
“Do you have your silver wire?”
“In here.” He patted the box in his arms.
“Good. And remember daughters. We are Ravensong witches. Even you, Monty. Tonight, you are an honorary Ravensong.”
“Thank you.”
Esme took a small sack out of her pocket and proceeded to sprinkle the contents along the front of the bookshop. It looked to be gold flakes from Montgomery’s point of view, and as she let them fly from her fingers, they flittered up the walls before dissolving into the setting sun’s rays.
“That will hold up until we get back,” Esme said. “Zephyr. Hold the fort while we’re gone.”
Despite Willow’s insistence that Zephyr was just an ordinary cat and nothing more, she could have sworn he winked at Esme with shimmering moxie.
“Montgomery, you are the most vulnerable tonight, so I’m going to cover you in a charm.”
She waved her hand over him in a clockwise motion.
“Like a thorn to a rose
Let the whipping wind shield
As armor to your chest
Protection be sealed.”
Montgomery, not used to the protocol of having a charm put over him, bowed chivalrously and moved to the bicycle to get going. With the box of silver wire still in his hands, he went to place it in the bicycle’s wicker basket, but he had to shift something out of the way first.
Willow felt her whole face, neck, and chest burn with the embarrassment, because when he picked up the object, both her sisters hooted into peals of laughter.
“Nice book,” said Esme. “Is that the recommended reading after Tolkien’s works?”
Willow wanted to turn invisible. How could she forget the copy ofIce Planet Barbariansin her bicycle basket?
Montgomery wasn’t bothered one bit. He simply lay the book flat in the basket and placed the box of silver wire on top.
But Willow noticed the tiniest crack at the corner of his mouth when he playfully caught her eyes with the briefest glance.
“Okay then,” said Esme. “If you continue down this road, then veer right once you pass the bed and breakfast. We’ll be right above you flying in formation. If you’re not sure where you are, look up. Willow will take the lead.”
“Me?” cried Willow.
Esme gave her that mom look and bade Montgomery to go.
The four women went around to the back of the Moonstone just in case there were curious people about who’d see them lift off into the sky on broomsticks. Nowadays, nobody looked twice at that sort of thing, what with illusionists making TikToks all over the place. But Esme didn’t want to take any chances on this important night. The last thing they’d need is local law enforcement forcing them to produce a permit.
“We have to be absolutely careful,” Esme said. “We can’t fail at the Bickford mansion. Under no circumstances can we allow the Daughters of the Twilight Veil to make it to the Moonstone. They have had a century to prepare for this night. We have had one day. Do you all understand this?”
