Flipping the Bird (Shift Creek #1) - Carrie Pulkinen Page 0,61

of warm, white light formed in his palm. A giggle rolled up from his chest—not the manliest way to laugh, but he didn’t give a damn. He had magic!

Closing his fist, he extinguished the light and gazed at the moon’s reflection on the water. Shift Creek had changed him. He’d come with the intent of taking a magic that didn’t belong to him, but in the end, he’d been willing to give it all up—his home in New York, his chance at having powers…everything—to restore the same magic he’d wanted to steal and to save this town.

All for the elegant black bird flying above him. This creek had been blessed for love, and love had revived it.

“I don’t get it.” Marty climbed up his arm to settle on his shoulder. “The book said you had to make a sacrifice, but you ended up with more than you gave.”

“Many times, in magic, intent is the driving force. Perhaps the fact we were both willing to give up our powers and live as humans was enough to restore the spell.” He ran a hand over the water, and golden magic sparkled on the surface. “I may have also promised to live here for the rest of my life with Alice and tend to the creek to keep it healthy.”

“So this is our forever home?”

“It is.”

Marty hopped to the ground and stood on his hind legs in front of Donovan. “And I can stay, even though you have powers now?”

He scratched the mongoose beneath his chin. “No one could ever replace you, Marty. You are my familiar.”

Marty let out a relieved sigh as Alice landed next to them. She ruffled her feathers before a deep emerald light formed around her, and she shifted into human form.

“How was your flight?” Donovan asked as he rose to his feet.

“Fantastically awesome!” She took his face in her hands and kissed him. “Ten to one there’s a party at The Crow’s Nest. Wanna go so they can meet the man who rescued the town?”

“You mean the woman?”

“Both.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and brushed his lips to hers. “Perhaps we should make ourselves a little more presentable. I’m sure your parents wouldn’t appreciate us dripping creek water all over the floor.”

“They’d murder us.” She grinned. “Race you to the house.”

“On your mark, get set, go.”

As Alice shifted to her crow and took off toward the manor, excitement fizzed in Donovan’s chest. He recited a teleportation spell, and, in an instant, he found himself standing on the front porch.

“Not cool, boss,” Marty shouted from the creek before scurrying through the grass toward the house.

Alice landed on the steps and shifted to human form, resting a hand on her hip. “That’s cheating.”

“You used your magic; I used mine.”

“Okay, I guess that’s fair. Let me get cleaned up. Good thing I left some clothes here.” She strode into the manor.

Marty panted as he reached the front door. “Can I come to the party?”

“Of course.” Donovan followed them inside.

Alice took a quick shower to wash the creek water from her hair before throwing on the jeans and t-shirt she’d left in one of Donovan’s drawers. She blew out her hair until it was mostly dry and padded to the foyer to find Donovan standing with his hands clasped behind his back.

He wore dark jeans and a pale blue button-up, his thousand-watt smile brightening when he saw her. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. Are you ready?”

“Almost. Before we go, I need to ask you something.” He dropped to one knee, and Alice’s heart took a quick dip into her stomach before lodging in her throat.

Holy mother of happily ever afters! He hadn’t even asked the thing he was going to ask, and tears were already welling in her eyes. She swallowed hard, sending her heart back into her chest where it belonged. “What’s this?”

He held out his hand, and a small black box appeared in his palm. “I love you, Alice.” He opened the box to reveal a sparkling diamond set in white gold, with two emeralds on either side of the stone. Shiny, just how she liked things.

Her bottom lip trembled as her gaze bounced between his dark eyes and the glittering ring.

“I made a promise to the creek that I would live here forever and tend to her health. Will you do me the honor of staying by my side?”

“Donovan…” Her stupid heart bounced back into her throat, making her choke on a sob.

“Will you marry me, Alice?”

“Yes! Heck yes!”

He plucked