Coffin Girls (Elegantly Undead: Book 1 of the Coffin Girls Witch Vampire Series) by Aneesa Price Page B

satisfaction of seeing her flinch. He
vaguely heard Sophie explain that “where y’at” was a New Orleans term for “hi,
how are you?”
    Anais wasn’t telepathic and had no idea of the verbal
warfare going on in front of her. What she saw as flirtatious by-play made her
want to claim him blood and body! God, those fucking hormones again! She
really, really needed to get laid – as soon as the witches were gone.
    A booming voice shook them out of their thoughts. “Y’all
goin’ stand there and let my cookin’ go cold or y’all goin’ to eat?” Miss
Suzette was watching the inter-play, twitching lips betraying the demanding
voice as she stood with her hands on her hips pretending to glare.
    “Boy, they don’t teach you manners in that Ireland of
yours?”
    “I’m sorry. Excuse my poor manners, please. My ma would be
ashamed to think she’d wasted her time boxing my ears for nothing. My name’s
Conall and…”
    Miss Suzette grabbed his outstretched hand and pulled him
into her ample bosom for a huge bear-hug. “The name’s Miss Suzette. Welcome to
Papillion.” 
    Veronique entered the kitchen, Marie hot on her Choos,
followed by two equally hot guys. Strike that – the Choos always won.
    V rolled her eyes, “I see that you’re already getting the
home-grown treatment.” No harm will come from making up an excuse to cover up
the sneaky hair-pulling she witnessed Miss Suzette treat Conall too – no doubt
for some of her kitchen magick. “I’m Veronique but you can call me V like
everyone else round here.”
    Marie stepped forward and shook his hand, “Marie”.
    “Conall,” he returned. This woman was one of few words… and
she reeked of magick that wasn’t quite that of a vampire or witch, yet he
couldn’t detect its origins. Something was off. Not wrong, just not entirely
right. On the surface, this would look like any initial gathering of new
acquaintances but there was more to these women than great looks and vampire
magick. He projected that thought to his friends as they stepped up to
introduce themselves.
    “You’re all very welcome.” Anais concluded the
introductions. “Please, let’s sit and eat.” She indicated the table. “We’re
very fortunate to have Miss Suzette as part of our family and as she makes the
most divine culinary creations, she holds the power in this household.” Anais
grinned at Miss Suzette’s bashful wave of her hands. “You’ve probably already
picked up that she’s not a vampire.”
    “I did,” acknowledged Conall while Sylvain and Niul nodded.
Miss Suzette smelled like a human with magick, a pulsing energy surrounded her.
“You do have magick though, Miss Suzette.” Conall turned to look at the object
of their conversation as he took a bowl of steaming seafood. “Not just in the
kitchen, I think. Your magick is strong but different to mine.”
    “God has been kind enough to bless me with the gift of a bit
of kitchen magick.” At the sceptic look he threw at her, she cackled, “I see
there’s no wool to pull over your eyes boy. You’ll know it as voodoo.”
    Conall nodded in understanding. “I’ve heard of voodoo. We
don’t have many that practice it in Ireland but I can respect a gift of magick
as old and beneficent as ours.” He waved at his friends to include them in the
categorization.
    “So you’re all three witches?” Sophie asked, bringing over
pitchers of mint sweet iced tea, choosing to sit next to Sylvain. She was
intrigued by him. He was a juxtaposition of physical qualities, slight of build
and not as broad as Conall and his other guard, Niul but just as muscular,
honey-colored hair like innocent sunshine and sky-blue eyes that glittered with
mischief.
    “We’re all of magick.” Sylvain’s answer was as close to the
truth as he could allow. He looked at Sophie and seamlessly changed the topic.
“Tell me of this beautiful house and the delights it has in store for us. Have
you always owned it?”
    “It’s Anais’