Page 1 of Bargain with Fate
Chapter
One
Iopened the front door of my cottage to greet the day—or in my case, grumble at it—and nearly slipped on a white square where no white square should be.
“What’s this, Jinxy?” The envelope was addressed to Maya and Jinx August.
The black cat jumped on the porch ledge for a closer look.
“Careful,” I told her. “Curiosity has been known to kill your kind.” I tore open the envelope and groaned.
An invitation to a party for Gina Tomasetti’s cat, Nefertiti.
Gina was a nymph who dressed her cat in clothes, pushed her around the Neighborhood in a stroller, and—apparently—threw parties in her honor. Was it even a birthday party, or just a random reason to bake a cake for cats? I mean, I wasn’t judging.
Okay, maybe I was judging a little. I’d have to work on that.
“I blame you,” I told the cat. Gina wouldn’t have invited me otherwise. I knew I shouldn’t have bought a litter box for Jinx. She wasn’t mine officially, more of a neighborhood cat that showed a preference for my cozy cottage. Could be due to the food and water bowls I kept filled for her.
Possibly.
I showed the invitation to the cat. “What do you think? Any feelings one way or another toward Nefertiti?”
Jinx’s meow was soft and melodious. Not a no, then. Hmm. Maybe Jinx could attend on both our behalves.
I carried the envelope inside the cottage, Jinx hot on my heels. “How many others do we think she invited?”
The universe answered my rhetorical question with a phone call from Joan Byers, a Neighborhood witch and all-around badass. Prior to her arrival on Evermore, her most notable act was one of revenge: when she divorced her cheating husband, he forced her to sell their Palm Beach home instead of letting her buy his share. Joan posted his photo with the word “cocksucker” in huge red letters on all the billboards along the interstate.
“Good morning, Joan.”
“Gina said she invited you to her ridiculous excuse for a party. Why can’t she celebrate her own birthday like a normal person?”
“No one on the island qualifies as a normal person, Joan.” Evermore housed a retirement community of elderly paranormal beings who’d “aged out of the system.” Modern technology made it increasingly difficult for the older ones to avoid detection, and a solution presented itself in the form of a series of secret islands. Evermore was located off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, and there were other similar Neighborhoods around the world.
“Whatever. You know what I mean.”
Joan didn’t have an animal companion, which meant Gina had extended the invitations to catless Neighbors. I double-checked the party’s location. Gods above. She’d rented out a clubhouse ballroom.
“She must’ve invited half the Neighbors if she’s hosting it in the Palmetto ballroom,” I said. There was even a theme—ancientEgypt. Well, it was clear that Gina had a favorite historical period.
“Maybe she just needs space for the cats so they don’t fight with each other.”
I glanced at Jinx. I knew the cat wasn’t a big fan of people, but I had no clue where she stood on other felines. The party had disaster written all over it.
“I’m not sure I can make it,” I told Joan.
“You’re the acting director of security. You should probably be there whether you want to or not. What if she invited werewolves? Things could spiral quickly.” Joan paused. “On second thought, this party has promise. I think I’ll attend after all.”
This time, I groaned inwardly.
“See you at Meemaw’s this week?” Joan asked.
I played cards with the Neighborhood witches on occasion. “I’m not sure yet.”
“You spend so much time on the fence, I’m starting to think you enjoy the feeling of a post up your ass. I mean, hey, I’m not kink shaming. We all have our preferences.”
“Bye Joan.” I could hear her laughing as I hung up.
