Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist (Maple Hollow #1)

Juniper spun me around, her viselike grip returning to my throat as she held my back to her front like a human shield.

Jordyn stood in the doorway, her whole body vibrating as wind twisted around her and moonlight beamed from her eyes. The air filled with static, zaps of lightning flying around the room as a storm cloud of power loomed over Jordyn’s head. She was a goddess of elements. My savior. If this was the last thing I’d see before I died, I was glad it was her.

Iris appeared a few steps behind Jordyn, all charged up with magic and ready to release havoc with her coven mate. Agnes and Rudy stood a few steps beyond, their faces slack with shock.

“Stop this, Juniper,” Jordyn growled. “Let her go or I swear hurting her will be the last thing you do.”

“You couldn’t just stay away from another human, could you, Jordyn?” Juniper seethed. “You flaunted her in front of me just to hurt me?—”

“No,” Jordyn cut in.

“You brought her to my swamp!” Juniper screamed and squeezed my throat tighter.

My eyes bugged.

A bolt of lightning landed just beside us, and I jolted, a silent scream forming on my lips.

“Can’t hit me without hitting her, love,” Juniper said. “I’m fixing this for us. You and me, Jordyn. We can finally be together without the humans in the way.”

Agnes stepped forward. “This is enough, Juni,” she hissed coldly. “You’ve taken this hate of humans too far.”

Of all the people I thought would come to my defense, I certainly didn’t think it would be the vampire.

“This is what you wanted, Agnes,” Juniper crowed. “No more humans living amongst the monsters.”

Jordyn let out a sound so feral, I wondered if she was part wolf. “Even if you were the last being in town, I would never choose someone as hateful as you, Juniper. Never.”

Juniper froze for a second, and I was sure Jordyn’s words had landed heavier than a bolt of lightning ever could. Still, Juniper said, “You just don’t see it yet, love. You’ll see one day. You and I were always meant to be together.”

Something slimy and bitter filled my mouth, clammy fingers shoving it down my throat and forcing me to swallow.

“No!” Jordyn’s scream filled my ears.

Iris gaped at her. “You’ve lost your fucking mind.”

More locals gathered, all bearing witness to the display. But no one moved; no one could. Even with all the magic in Maple Hollow, who was faster than this swamp monster? No one seemed willing to risk an attack while I was in the crossfire.

Juniper tightened her grip and yanked me backward, edging us toward the hall that led to the back door. We skimmed the countertop by the knife block, and I knew this was my only chance. But when I reached for the knives, my broken wrist wouldn’t lift. Sharp pain shot through me. My mouth bobbed open like a fish on dry land. My vision was narrowing, the periphery filling with black, and I desperately clung to consciousness.

Juniper let out a watery choking sound and her hand released me.

I dropped to my knees, sucking in sharp breaths of air. I looked up to find Juniper staring vacantly above me, the tip of a knife protruding from the center of her chest. She dropped like a stone, revealing a wild and terrifying Lou standing behind her.

A twisted grin pulled at Lou’s lips. “Damn, that felt good.”

I was holding on the best I could, but my eyes were drooping as sweet oxygen rushed into me and my heart pounded in my chest. The last thing I saw was Lou’s eyes fixed on me as madness turned into calm. Then everything went black.

30

JORDYN

Isat slumped in the armchair beside Harlow’s bed, reliving the last time we were here over and over again as I watched her sleep.

This was my fault. All of it.

Harlow was bright and vibrant and loving, and I’d dragged her into this danger. First, it had been because I’d wanted to get rid of Lou, but quickly—faster than I’d like to admit—I’d kept her close because I was falling for her. Because she looked at me like I was something more than just a product of my town. Because she and I seemed to see each other in ways no one else ever had.

And it had felt so good and right to be loved by her that I’d never considered pulling her into this Lou investigation would lead to this.