Charmed Ever After (The Halloween LaVeau Series Book 6) by Rose Pressey

it.”
    “Well, I’m no longer the leader of the New Orleans Coven.” Liam’s words rushed out like a dam had broken on a rushing river.
    So now they were both out of jobs because of me. “I’m so sorry, Liam.”
    “It’s not your fault. I didn’t call you to make you feel bad. I’m sorry.”
    I knew he hadn’t meant to, but it was inevitable that I would feel this way. All this was my fault. If I had stopped the witch from getting the spellbook none of this would’ve happened. Everything would have been perfect. I had let down not only myself, but my friends and family. I had no idea how I could make it right. That seemed impossible.
    “I don’t suppose she gave you any reasonable explanation?” I asked.
    “I believe her words were, ‘I don’t like you.’”
    “I guess that’s reasonable,” I said. “Reasonable in her crazy world.”
    “Why don’t you come here to Enchantment Pointe? We can have dinner tonight and discuss what we can do to stop her.”
    I tried to remain positive, but deep down there was self-doubt. I didn’t want to make the guys feel any worse than they already did though.
    “Yeah, I guess I could do that. I’ll call you. I’ll be there around seven.”
    Liam sounded down and definitely not himself. He seemed distracted. I hoped he would feel better by the time he got here tonight.
    ***
    At seven o’clock I was sitting in the local Italian restaurant at the back table, waiting for Liam and Nicolas. The smell of marinara sauce lingered in the air and made my mouth water. I was sure that we would come up with some plan tonight over dinner.
    The dim lights in the restaurant made a romantic setting. It would be awkward to have a romantic dinner with both men. Considering a short time ago they’d both asked me to marry them. The restaurant was full and I’d gotten the last table. Chatter and the sound of clanking dishes did little to calm my nerves. I couldn’t shake the antsy feeling in the pit of my stomach. 
    It would be some grand scheme that we would pull off effortlessly. The book would be mine again and Nicolas and Liam would be coven leaders again. I checked my watch again for the tenth time. It was now ten minutes after seven. It wasn’t like either one of them to be late.
    I tried to talk myself out of worrying just yet. I was never good at talking myself out of worrying though. The waiter came back around again, asking if I would like to order now.
    “I just need a few more minutes,” I said.
    I’d also told him that ten minutes ago.
    I sent Nicolas a text, but he didn’t answer. That definitely wasn’t like him. Next I sent Liam a text, but he didn’t answer either. He was more likely not to answer than Nicolas, but still… I couldn’t believe they were both no-shows. Things had just gone from bad to worse. I’d been stood up.
    This just let me know how hopeless they thought I was. No, no I had to stop thinking negatively. All of the thoughts were wrong. They would be here. There was something else going on. The fact that they hadn’t answered their messages meant something bad happened. I had to find them. So much for no negative thoughts.
    They must be together. I doubted that they were in Enchantment Pointe. Maybe they were in New Orleans. Unless they were here looking for the new leader at LaVeau Manor. This could be bad. I had to get to them right away.
    I didn’t want to go alone just in case things got bad, although I hated to drag Annabelle into this. She was my best friend and reluctant partner in crime. I knew she’d want to go. I pulled out my phone and dialed Annabelle.
    “What’s up?” she asked.
    “I have a favor to ask. Are you busy?”
    “Just cleaning out the birdcage. Other than that, no.”
    “I think Liam and Nicolas went to the manor. We have to go there and find them.”
    “But we’re not supposed to be there, remember?”
    “This could be life or death,” I said.
    She sighed. “Okay, let me put the newspaper down and