Page 41 of Must Love Scones and Secrets
CHAPTER 14
BJORN
While the morning after the storm dawned clear and bright, I wished my thoughts were equally clear. Making my way into Moonshine Hollow, I couldn’t stop replaying every moment of the night with Rosalyn—her touch, her laugh, the way her skin had glowed with that magical pink shimmer, her impressive use of her beautiful wings, the feeling ofrightnessthat had settled over me when I held her.
But with the dawn came reality.
I had lied to her from the start.
Every smile, every shared confidence was tainted by my deception. And now, after what we’d shared…
Even the fairy queen knew I wasn’t who I was pretending to be. In the Frozen Isles, our royalty was called “charmed.” Rosalyn would not have known that, but the fairy queen did.
Smoke nudged my hand, sensing my distress. I scratched behind his ears absently.
“I know, boy. I’ve made a mess of things.”
Sighing heavily, I made my way into town.
Moonshine Hollow bustled with morning activity. Vendors called out their wares, children chased each other through the streets, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from openwindows. I kept my gaze firmly ahead. I needed to speak to the dryad about the ley lines. My personal issues needed to be set aside for now.
And I was more than glad to set them aside. I would have to tell Rosalyn the truth. And there was a very good possibility she would not forgive me.
The compass bird led me to the garden gate of a shop called Thistle and Thyme. A wooden sign decorated with herbs hung above the door, swinging gently in the breeze. The display window showcased glass jars filled with dried herbs, tinctures, and mysterious powders. In the garden, medicinal plants and flowers grew. I opened the gate and made my way to the building, which had a slight slant.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door.
A bell tinkled softly, announcing my entrance.
The shop was a sensory marvel. Bundles of herbs hung from the rafters, their earthy scents mingling with the sweeter fragrances of oils and flower essences. Shelves lined the walls filled with neatly labeled jars and bottles. Behind a polished wooden counter stood a slender woman with long, curling blonde hair kept at bay under a handkerchief. She looked up as I entered, her eyes widening slightly, giving me a soft smile.
But her gentle smile was broken by a series of excited barks. A moment later, what could have been mistaken for a pile of moss scampered across the room to greet Smoke and me. Excited at the prospect of a playmate, Smoke leaned down on his front legs and wagged his tail.
“Pip is harmless, I promise,” the woman, who I assumed to be Juniper, told me. “Are you Bjorn?”
“You know me?”
The woman smiled softly. “Rosalyn mentioned you…once or twice,” she said, a twinkle in her eye. “I’m Juniper.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said with a slight bow. “I’m actually looking for Tansy. I need to speak with Kellen about an urgent matter.”
“Of course,” Juniper replied. She gestured to a narrow staircase at the side of the shop. “Tansy’s in her workshop upstairs.”
“Thank you,” I said, then turned to Smoke. “Coming?” I asked him.
Juniper laughed lightly and gestured to the animals who were eyeing one another playfully. “There’s no distracting them now. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
I gave her an appreciative smile. “Thank you. I won’t be long,” I said, then turned to Smoke. “Be good. There are too many glass jars here to handle a firewolf.”
Smoke gave me a passing glance, then turned his attention to the mosspup once more.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard Juniper speaking softly to Smoke. There were two excited yips in reply to her promise of a treat.
The workshop upstairs was a bright, airy space with windows spanning the entire wall facing the street and the river beyond. An elven woman with dark hair stood at a workbench, carefully weaving what looked like copper wire through a complex arrangement of crystals.
“Just a moment,” she said without looking up. “Almost got it…”
I waited quietly, watching as she made a final adjustment. A moment later, the entire piece began to glow with a soft, pulsating light.
