Moonlight Murder: An Inept Witches Mystery by Amanda A. Allen, Auburn Seal Page B

chops to do it magically. But Autumn was a cold ass dove and half the job of coven elders wasn ’ t so much magical power but magical mentoring. Even Ingrid could see that Autumn would be terrible at that, and Ingrid barely wanted to be part of the coven. Mostly she just wanted Emily ’ s family to accept them as they were.
    The coven had these sweet young girls who worked hard at their magic, unlike Emily and Ingrid. And those girls deserved someone better than the mean dove scowling at them right now. Look at that , Ingrid thought, I ’ m thinking responsible, caring for the well-being of others thoughts . It was Gabe rubbing off on her, and that made Ingrid want to curl into a ball.
    Ingrid held up a vial of Saffron ’ s truth serum.
    Autumn sighed.
    “ Look, ” Emily said, “ I ’ d just as soon beat you to death or run you down with our haunted Camaro, but Aunt Hazel would never forgive us or let us get away with murdering a member of her coven. ”
    “ That doesn ’ t mean, ” Ingrid continued, “ that I won ’ t text Gabe right now that you had a … hmmm … how best to say in the nastiest and rudest way possible. ”
    The door opened behind Autumn and one of her two daughters stuck her head out.
    “ Hi Ingrid, Hi Emily, ” the girl piped. She had bright eyes and lovely skin. And a rebellious streak a mile wide. She was nearly college-aged, and the rebellion was ripe and vibrant. Ingrid could see it radiating from the girl ’ s gaze.
    “ Hi, ” Ingrid said. “ We ’ re just here to ask your mom a few questions about an —”
    Autumn grabbed the serum and motioned Ingrid and Emily inside.
    Emily snorted as she passed Autumn, but Ingrid just grinned her widest, evilest grin.
    “ Go to your room, Veruca, ” Autumn said.
    Ingrid winced. “ What a traditional name. ”
    “ It ’ s an interesting choice, ” Emily added.
    “ It ’ s awful, ” Veruca said, “ I go by Meg. My sister is worse though, Branka. What sort of potion was Mom shooting? Right? ”
    “ That is not your name, and I said to go to your room. Branka and Veruca are lovely names. ”
    “ It ’ s the name I would have had if you hadn ’ t screwed Dad over with potions like you do. ”
    “ I like this kid, ” Emily said. “ And that ’ s saying something because kids suck. ”
    “ Go to your room, Veruca, ” Autumn said.
    “ Meg, ” the kid said. “ I mean, if you had to go traditional why not Sage or Willow or Gwen? ”
    “ Those are indeed valid points. ” Emily said, nodding. “ Saddling someone with Veruca or Branka is the type of life choice that leads to destruction and mayhem. Violence even. ”
    “ You, ” Autumn said, “ Be quiet. ” She pointed her finger at Emily in a classic I-am-about-to-jinx-you position.
    “ Mom! ”
    “ I wouldn ’ t, ” Emily said mildly. “ Hazel would make you pay so hard. ”
    “ Veruca. Room. ”
    Ingrid winked at Meg, who winked back.
    “ I think, you know, with your kid here, we have you in an interesting position. ” Emily ’ s threat was delivered coolly. They ’ d have never been able to get away with something like that without Hazel as Emily ’ s aunt and Hazel being a huge believer in things like keeping your marriage vows and not hexing your coven sisters.
    Autumn looked at her daughter ’ s bedroom door and then back at the other two. Ingrid was pretty sure their faces were matching cat-who-ate-the-canary expressions.
    “ I am not taking a potion that you made. ”
    “ Please, ” Ingrid said, “ truth serums are completely out of our skill set. Saffron made that. ”
    Autumn ’ s eyes narrowed, but she downed the potion.
    “ The sky is gre … blue. I did not murder Sheldon Peters. You are the worst witches I have ever known, and I will fight Emily becoming a coven elder until my dying day. ”
    “ Good news, ” Emily said. “ I have zero desire to be an elder. I ’ d rather be flamb é ed. ”
    “ That is a real possibility, my favorite