A Royal Witch Read online

  A Royal Witch

  A Beechwood Harbor Magic Mystery

  Danielle Garrett

  Copyright © 2019 by Danielle Garrett

  Edited by Magical Words Edits

  Cover Design by Alchemy Book Covers

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

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  Contents

  Books By Danielle Garrett

  Introduction

  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

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Also by Danielle Garrett

  About the Author

  Books By Danielle Garrett

  BEECHWOOD HARBOR MAGIC MYSTERIES

  Murder’s a Witch

  Twice the Witch

  Witch Slapped

  Witch Way Home

  Along Came a Ghost

  Lucky Witch

  Betwixt: A Beechwood Harbor Collection

  One Bad Witch

  A Royal Witch

  BEECHWOOR HARBOR GHOST MYSTERIES

  The Ghost Hunter Next Door

  Ghosts Gone Wild

  When Good Ghosts Get the Blues

  Big Ghosts Don’t Cry

  Diamonds are a Ghost’s Best Friend

  HAVEN PARANORMAL ROMANCES

  Once Upon a Hallow’s Eve

  A TOUCH OF MAGIC MYSTERIES

  Cupid in a Bottle

  Newly Wed and Slightly Dead

  Couture and Curses

  Wedding Bells and Deadly Spells

  Introduction

  A Royal Witch

  The Beechwood Manor is filling up fast and Holly’s feeling the pinch.

  There are several new roommates in the Beechwood Manor, and one of them is a royal witch.

  Literally and figuratively.

  Unrest in a haven-ally magical kingdom leads a foreign princess into hiding and the Supernatural Protection Agency deems the Beechwood Manor as the perfect safe house—and Holly, her perfect guardian.

  But with Holly's business taking off and a new apprentice under her wing, a royal babysitting detail is the last thing she needs. Besides, the spoiled princess is adamant she can take care of herself. So who could blame her if her supervision is a little lax?

  When tragedy strikes, the bratty royal’s problems land at the manor’s front door and it’s going to take all hands on deck if the paranormal roomies hope to make it out alive.

  Chapter 1

  When you live at the beach, it doesn't take much to create the perfect summer afternoon. A cold drink, a floppy hat, and a good book. Oh, and time. I’d been lacking on that last component for far too long. So when I finally had the chance to take a lazy day, I jumped at it. By eleven, I had an iced latte in one hand, a paperback in the other, and a perfect view of the sandy shore from the outdoor seating area behind Siren’s Song. The tide was rolling back out and the seagulls were hopping through the foam, looking for a late breakfast.

  Of course, in a small town like Beechwood Harbor, one couldn't expect to sit at the main hub for too long without being spotted. Evangeline Loren was the first to home in on me when she came in to take a break from managing her day spa next door to the coffee house.

  “Hey, Holly! I didn't expect to see you here.”

  I smiled as she joined me at my table. “I’m playing hooky. Don't tell my boss; she can have a real attitude problem sometimes.”

  Evangeline laughed. “One of the perks of being self-employed.”

  “Definitely,” I agreed.

  “If I’d known you were in town for the day, I would have offered you Lucy’s cancelation this morning. You're way overdue for a manicure,” she said, dropping her gaze to my hands.

  I frowned and considered my nails. “They're not that—”

  Evangeline raised her brows.

  “Okay. They are.” I laughed. “A manicure sounds great. It's just been one of those things that's slid way, way down the to-do list. Besides, with the amount of time I'm spending with my hands in the soil, I'm not sure it would be much of a good investment.”

  “I can't wait to come to the warehouse and see all the progress you've made. You still planning the grand opening for the weekend after Cassie and Chief’s wedding?”

  I nodded and set my book aside. “That’s the goal.”

  “I can't wait!”

  “It's been a process, that's for sure. But having an apprentice is a huge help. I don't know why I waited so long to hire one.”

  “I like Harmony,” Evangeline said, leaning back in her chair. She lifted her glass tumbler to her lips and sipped at the creamy coffee drink inside. “I’m glad she's working out.”

  “Me too. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to hire my best friend’s sister, just in case it didn't work, but so far it's even better than I imagined.”

  “What do you think about Meryl?” Evangeline asked. Her tone was nonchalant but it was a loaded question. We both knew it.

  Meryl Miller was a fresh-faced SPA junior agent who’d moved into the manor around the same time as Harmony, six months ago. Her spunky personality and long blonde hair belied her kick-butt powers and past career as an SPA prison warden. She mostly kept to herself, spending the majority of her waking hours working to carve out her new station as the sole agent in Beechwood Harbor. The SPA had installed her in town to keep an eye on things, likely in no small part thanks to the supernatural disasters my roomies and I ended up wading into on a regular basis. She was young and hungry and sometimes a little … intense.

  “I like her,” I started, a note of hesitation in my voice. “I mean, she’s a lot of fun to hang out with, when she’s got her work guard down.”

  Evangeline nodded thoughtfully. “Agreed. I think she’ll settle in eventually, but in the meantime, it might be good to get some space between her and Posy.”

  I cringed. “Yeah.”

  Evangeline sighed. “Before I left for the shop this morning, Posy cornered me in the kitchen to ask me about this meeting Meryl called. She’s really riled up about it.”

  “Oh, Brothers Grimm.”

  “Any idea what it’s about?”

  I shook my head. “Not a clue. Whatever it is, she’s keeping it super close to the vest.”

  “I’m kind of hoping she’s announcing her condo is finally ready to move into,” Evangeline said, her expression pained. “Does that make me a terrible witch?”

  “No.” I laughed. “Or, at least, if it does, then I’m one too.”

  “The manor is a little crowded,” I added. “That’s probably making Posy a bit edgy, too.”

  The patio doors opened and another familiar face appeared. Nick Rivers, local private investigator and werewolf, smiled in our direction. He held an iced mocha, his own summer staple, and a small white dessert plate with a large brownie square. The man liked chocolate more than any woman I knew. I was halfway convinced that Hershey’s ran through his veins instead of blood.

  I waved him over to our table and stood to grab one of the chairs from the unoccupied table beside ours. “A little afternoon pick-me-up?” I asked as he sat down in the offered chair.

  He chuckled and set the plate down. I immediately stole the fork and cut off a bite from one corner. “Aha, ulterior motives for inviting me over,” he said as I popped the decadent bite into my mouth. “I should have known.”

  Evangeline laughed. “We were just talking shop,” she told him. “How’s the PI biz treating you?”

  Nick shrugged. “Can’t complain. It’s been a busy summer so far. I just got done handing over my findings to a client a few minutes ago, actually. Infidelity case. Always unpleasant.” He gestured at the brownie. “Hence the need for a little sweet treat.”

  “Yikes.” Evangeline cringed.

  I stole another small bite and then passed him the fork.

  “You’re too kind,” he teased, taking it from me with feigned gusto. “What about you two?”

  “The Emerald is busy, too,” Evangeline replied. “This time of year things go from busy to nuthouse. We offer a few different package options in partnership with the local rental property management companies and hotels. You know, couple’s massages or bachelorette weekend pampering, that kind of thing.”

  Evangeline’s day spa was only a little over a year old, but the former actress was a savvy businesswoman and had made the most of her time, turning the town’s old gardening shop into a top-rated
spa destination for tourists and locals alike.

  “As for me,” I started, “things are kicking into high gear. Getting the potions shop going is gonna be a little bit of a pinch, what with the wedding festivities on the horizon, but I should be able to make my deadline and have my grand opening the weekend after. I haven’t had a day off in six weeks, until today, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve already got a bunch of buzz going and several high profile guests coming to the party.”

  “Nice! I can’t wait to see the place.” Nick smiled.

  “See where your money’s going?” I teased.

  Nick was an early investor and the main driving force behind my efforts to open my own potion shop. Thanks to his infusion of cash, I’d been able to rent out a warehouse space for Harmony and I to create potions and grow the majority of the herbs and botanicals needed for my custom creations. I’d also managed to sign a lease for a small storefront right in the center of the Seattle Haven, and would soon be able to sell my potions directly to customers.

  The whole thing was slightly dizzying. I’d gone from running an underground—and, strictly speaking, illegal—potion business to being granted my master potion license and opening my own supply shop and retail space all within two years. There were times when the sheer speed of change would smack me upside the head and force me to take a deep breath and really drink it all in.

  “How’re the wedding plans coming along?” Nick asked. “Last time I saw Chief Lincoln, he was complaining about going to a second tux fitting after Cassie changed her mind on the color scheme.”

  I laughed and craned a look over my shoulder to make sure the bride-to-be in question wasn’t in earshot. As the manager of the coffee shop, she was bound to be somewhere nearby, and I didn’t want her accidentally overhearing us talking about her. She was a week and a half away from her wedding, and considering the couple had already gone through two delays on their way to the altar, it was imperative nothing rocked the boat.

  “I think we’ve got everything nailed down,” I replied, straightening in my seat once I verified she wasn’t out on the patio. “Finally.”

  Nick chuckled. “Chief told me that when the time comes, I should convince my betrothed too elope.”

  Evangeline snorted. “Poor Chief.”

  “It’ll all be worth it,” I said with a smile. “He’ll get it as soon as he sees her in her dress. It’s going to be beautiful.”

  Evangeline propped her elbows on the table and dropped her chin into her hands as she shifted her attention to Nick. “Speaking of, have you dipped your toe back into the dating pool since that mess with Narissa?”

  Nick choked on a hunk of brownie and coughed into his fist.

  I patted him on the back and pushed his mocha toward him. “I’m thinking we take that as a no,” I said to Evangeline.

  “Hmm.” She frowned. “How do you feel about blind dates?”

  Nick sucked in a long sip and cleared his throat. “Not good.”

  “Oh, come on. I know just the one! Hannah Sinclair. She’s in her early thirties, never been married. At least, not that I know of. She’s a Pilates instructor, loves to garden, and has the most adorable little dog, Peanut Brittle.”

  “The dog’s name is Peanut Brittle?” Nick asked, his brow furrowed.

  “Yeah. She’s a little corgi mix with long hair and the cutest little snout.”

  I sipped my latte to stifle a laugh.

  Nick smiled politely. “I appreciate the thought, Evangeline, I really do. But I don’t think I’m in the right frame of mind to start anything right now.”

  Evangeline wilted. “Are you sure?”

  “You know she’ll just arrange for you two to bump into each other at the grocery store or McNally’s if you turn her down,” I told him.

  Evangeline shot me a look, but we both knew it was 100% something she would try if given half a chance.

  Nick sighed. “I don’t know. I mean, obviously the whole thing with Narissa was a disaster—”

  “Let’s just assume that this Hannah isn’t posing as a Pilates instructor while secretly in the service of a homicidal billionaire,” I teased.

  Nick slid a frown my way. “Thanks for the recap, Holls.”

  I shrugged. “Just sayin’, your date-o-meter is a little miscalibrated. So, maybe getting set up on a blind date wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

  “At least Narissa was a shifter. She was part of our world and accepted what I am,” he said.

  I tilted my head toward Evangeline. “Any chance your gal is magically inclined?”

  “Sadly, no. Or, if she is, she keeps it to herself.”

  Nick held out his hands. “Sorry, Evie. I’m not trying to burst your bubble, but it’s a pass.”

  “I’ll find someone,” she said, rallying. “Just you wait.”

  Nick gave me a look that suggested he wasn’t sure whether he should feel excited or a little scared.

  Evangeline glanced at her gold watch. “I probably should get back to work. I have a mile-long to do list and a short day thanks to Meryl and her house meeting,” she said, throwing a soft eye roll at the end.

  Nick’s furrowed his brows. “I thought only Posy could call house meetings.”

  Evangeline snorted. “Yeah, she thought so, too.”

  I sighed. “Let’s just say, it’s been a long week and it’s only Tuesday.”

  Nick’s cell phone rang and he grimaced when he peeked at the caller ID. “Not again,” he muttered, silencing the call.

  Evangeline glanced at me and I shrugged.

  “It’s that insurance agent who moved into the office next door to mine,” Nick explained, a pained look still etched between his brows. “Valarie Moore.”

  “Why is she calling you?” I asked.

  Nick reached for his drink. “She’s been coming to me twice a week since she moved in. She’s constantly coming up with new insurance fraud cases she wants me to work. I swear, it’s like she doesn’t think people can actually get injured in a car accident. To her, everyone is a faker.”

  “So, what, you have to follow people around and make sure they’re really hurt?” Evangeline asked.

  “Yes,” Nick grumbled. “It involved countless hours of surveillance and most of the time, there’s nothing to find, so it goes on until I finally cry uncle and tell her it’s a legitimate claim.”

  “Why don’t you turn her down?” I asked. “If you hate it so much.”

  Nick dropped the grip on his tie and leaned back in his chair. “We’re neighbors in the building. I don’t want to have some awkward conversation with her and then bump into her every day and have this weird tension. On top of that, the jobs might be tedious, but they’re the kind of bread-and-butter jobs that keep the lights on. It’s not like Beechwood is brimming with PI work. At least, not on the human side.”

  Nick wasn’t struggling for money. I knew this only because he’d recently become an investor in my potion business. Not to mention, he drove a newly leased car, lived in a swanky condo on the other side of town, and had more shoes in his closet than I did.

  And let’s not get started on the man’s monthly mocha bill.

  “Maybe you could tell her you’re working a big case and don’t have time for the smaller stuff right now?” Evangeline suggested with a small shrug. “Eventually she’d get the hint.”

  “Maybe,” Nick replied doubtfully. “It would be nice if a big case did come along. Not that I want anything terrible to happen, of course, but sometimes … .” His eyes took on a faraway look.

  “Nick?” I said gently.