Chapter One of When Magic Sleeps, as told by Winnie’s friend Mel.
Mel closed her bedroom door and turned the lock.
Her mom and stepdad number four were really going at it. Screaming. Crying. Breakables flying across the room. The pre-divorce stand-up triple.
If it ended with Richard’s belongings in the front yard it would be a game-winning home run.
Soon her mom would be on the hunt for her next future hubby.
Fun times.
With her Screw the World playlist blasting at full volume, Mel logged into Wattpad to check on Winnie’s story. Reading would take her mind off the battle happening at the other end of the house.
No new updates on Fae of Forest Fell.
“You’re killing me, Win,” Mel said to the empty room.
She grabbed her phone and started texting.
Where is the next chapter?!
Fifteen minutes later she tried again.
Hello??? Dying to know what happens next!
And again twenty minutes after that.
WINNNNNNNIE!!!!!!!
She sent one last text after another half hour.
OMG UR THE WORST FRIEND EVA I AM LITERALLY DYING!
Then, because she couldn’t wait any longer—and because the fight outside was finally in a lull—she called.
She didn’t wait for Winnie to say hello before demanding, “You were writing, weren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
Mel could hear the smile in her voice.
“I knew it.” Mel sighed and flopped back on her bed. “I swear a nuclear bomb could go off next door and you wouldn’t notice if you were writing.”
“If a nuclear bomb went off next door,” Winnie said, “I’d be instantly vaporized.”
“At least tell me you’ve got the next chapter.”
There was a long hesitation before Winnie finally said, “Almost.”
Mel knew Winnie was still anxious about anyone reading her writing. Even though Mel had told her at least a zillion times how amazing her stories were, it was always like pulling teeth to get her to share.
“When are you going to put this up on Wattpad already? You would have a million reads in like a week.”
After the cliffhanger on the last chapter, Mel bet that there were thousands of fans out there just itching to find out what happens to the prince. She didn’t consider herself much of a reader, but something about this story was magical. She couldn’t get enough.
“Want to come over later?” Winnie asked, clearly avoiding the question. “Aunt Maureen is making cupcakes. There’ll be extras.”
They had been friends long enough for Winnie to know that food was the only thing that could distract Mel when she was on a mission. Especially Aunt Maureen’s treats.
“What kind?”
“Red velvet.”
Her mouth started watering, so she popped in an espresso toffee to tide her over.
“Sold,” Mel said. “I’ll be over as soon as mom releases me from chore duty.”
Which was code for as soon as she was sure mom and stepdad Richard were done for the day.
“And have the chapter ready when I get there,” she added and then clicked off the call just as the sound of something breakable shattering against a wall echoed through the house.
Mel placed a pillow over her head. Red velvet cupcakes and a new chapter of Fae of Forest Fell could make any day better.
Want more stories like this? Find some on the Darkly Fae series page.
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