Page 2 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

Finally, I forced myself to walk toward the resort’s big, fancy doors.

The main building looked like something out of a magazine. It was twenty stories tall, insanely wide, and built entirely of natural-looking wood, bronze, and glass.

I’d done enough research to know it was casually calledthe towerby the residents and visitors. While a ton of people lived there permanently, there were also more than a hundred small bungalows built around the island.

The closer I got to the edge of the parking lot, the more power I could feel resonating through and around the island to form the wards that protected it. Surprisingly, there was a definite presence of witch magic. I could smell the coconut that must’ve been infused heavily in the wards, but that wasn’t the main source of energy.

I couldn’t pinpoint what the main power was. The smell was unfamiliar, and it felt… warm.

Witch magic didn’t have a feeling, so the warmth was kind of alarming.

I assumed it belonged to the resort’s owner. I hadn’t been able to find information about what kind of supernatural he was.

It didn’t take long to reach the sidewalk in front of the tower.

Unlike a human hotel, there were no valets waiting outside the resort. The doors stood open, letting the salty air inside, but no one occupied the expensive-looking furniture that decorated the entrance.

My stomach clenched with nerves as I stepped through the open doors and looked around.

I was waiting for some kind of supernatural to catch a whiff of me, realize I was a witch, and try to kill me.

They’d probably succeed.

My magic was insanely strong, but I wasn’t particularly fast or skilled with it. It was illegal, and practicing had been difficult to hide.

The resort’s expansive entryway was lined with pillars along the path as I walked past potted plants, an empty restaurant, a huge koi pond, and an indoor garden before I finally reached the front desk.

There still wasn’t a soul in sight. Just a couple pens and brochures.

I peered past the desk, trying to see through the doorway. “Hello?”

I heard heavy footsteps a moment later, and a gigantic guy came stumbling out of the room. I could tell he was a vampire the moment I saw him, thanks to the aura of his magic.

His nostrils flared, and he scowled as he stepped up to the desk. The nametag on his flowy, white linen shirt saidCecil. He had pale skin and strawberry blond hair, and was built thin but strong. “We don’t want witches in the Resort. Fuck off.”

His words were kinder than I expected. At least he didn’t yell. Or insult me.

“I have an offer for your leader. I just want to have a conversation. Please,” I said.

Thepleasewouldn’t help my case, considering he already didn’t like me because of what I was. But my coven was going to kill me if the resort turned me away, so I’d beg before leaving.

“They’re not interested.”

“They?” I was under the impression there was only one leader.

“The Supernatural Resort is owned by Liam Kohin, but we have two others who help him keep things running. None of them are interested in you.” Cecil waved his hand, shooing me toward the door. “Leave, or I’ll make you.”

It still seemed safe to assume Liam was the supernatural whose warm magic made up most of the wards.

“Liam didn’t create this place alone,” I countered. “I can smell a witch’s magic, and there’s only one kind of witch that can make wards as big as these. I’m one of them. Hewillwant to hear my offer.”

I really hoped so, at least.

Cecil didn’t look any less annoyed. “Prove it.”

It was my turn to scowl at him, but I wasn’t going to ruin my one shot at keeping myself alive.

I pulled a pin out of my hair and pricked the back of my hand before grabbing a pen off the desk. Pressing the tip of the pen to my blood, I murmured a few words for the simple charm before I handed it to the vampire.

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