Changeling

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CHANGELING 

By  

Debbie Herbert 

CHAPTER ONE 

Firefly  

Another spell gone kaput. Damn. 

A thin curl of smoke wafted to the left from the candle's weak flame, an omen of defeat. The same sign as last week when she tried to concoct a love potion with a lock of Tanner's hair. If her family's Book of Shadows were any lamer it would have a picture of freaking Tinker Bell on the front. She should have been studying tonight instead of casting worthless spells. Freshman year at college was harder than she'd anticipated.  

Skye blew out the sputtering pink candle. No matter how hard she tried, they never worked. Maybe asking for Tanner to come over immediately and declare his hidden and undying love was too much of a stretch for even the all-powerful divine.  

Bet Callie could do it.  

Skye whipped out her cell phone, but stopped mid-dial. Callie would say it was wrong to request a specific person's love because it violated their free will to choose for themselves. Only do a spell to open yourself to love and for the right person to come along. Same thing Skye told customers at The Green Fairy trying to get their boyfriends back.  

As if there could be anyone for her but Tanner.  

What she really needed was courage. She should tell Tanner how she felt. It was possible he was blind to her feelings even after all these years. 

The crunch of gravel in the driveway and the rumble of a car engine startled her and Skye opened the curtain. Tanner's old Dodge Charger pulled up. 

Unbelievable - her spell actually worked this time. Maybe she had some witchy-talent after all.  

Tanner sprang out of the car, waved, then bounded up the steps laden with paper bags in both arms. His easy smile twisted her insides like it had since grade school.  

She would do it. Tonight. Just get it over with. She'd mooned over him all during those miserable, outcast high school years when she'd been branded as the weird, Goth girl. College was supposed to be different. Her chance to escape labels and dare try new things. 

Skye opened the door and Tanner stopped short, one fisted hand raised to knock. "Eager to see me?" His deep voice filled the silence, his tone was always teasing, always seemed to hold a secret laughter and confident charisma.  

Skye's breath caught for a moment. He looked sexy as hell with his dancing eyes and wind-swept hair. Her spell was answered; maybe her dreams would be too. If Callie were here, she would tell Skye to believe and all would work out.  

"Michael asked me to drop this by." Tanner held up the bags. "He noticed your fridge was looking pretty low last time you cooked for us." 

"Oh, right. Thanks." She led him to the kitchen and put up the groceries, hyper aware of his masculine presence. "What's Michael doing tonight?" Her brother and Tanner were almost always together. 

Tanner wouldn't quite meet her eye. "He's busy. Where do you want me to put this bottle of Diet Coke?" 

Everything clicked. Michael's dad, their dad, was in town on a visit. A visit that didn't include his daughter. It hurt, but it was no surprise. He'd left home not long after she was born and they were strangers. Michael had been two years old at the time. Time enough to, in pop psychology-speak, 'bond'. Dear ole Dad must have slipped Michael some money and her brother was sweet enough to share.