Page 28 of Witch's Dawn
"What? No," I protested, waving my hand dismissively. "I'm not charging you fortea."
"Deja, you are a businesswoman." She tried to sound stern but a smirk played on her lips. "I may be your grandmother but I don't want any special treatment. I have enjoyed the product of your business and want to pay forit."
"Absolutely not," I insisted. "In fact, here. I have something else foryou."
Ignoring her protests, I went behind the counter and pulled open my cooler where I stored my extra homemade tea blends. After rummaging for a minute, I pulled out a vacuum-sealed, quart-sized bag of loose leaftea.
"This should make you at least a dozen cups, probably more," I said, holding it out to her. "It's a blend of chamomile, lemongrass, and spearmint. All grown and driedmyself."
She took the bag as if it were the most precious treasure on earth, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at it. A strange feeling spread throughout my chest, and I wondered if this was how children felt when their parents said they were proud ofthem.
"Deja, this is work that you did," she said, eyes shimmering as she looked up at me. "Please let me payyou."
"I'll accept free magic lessons as payment," I chuckled, pulling my grandmother into ahug.
"Oh, damn it. Well, I'll just have to corner that sweet employee of yours and shove money in herhand."
"You can try but she's loyal to me," I said with a wink as I walked her to the door. "Or just give it to her as a bigtip."
We said our goodbyes and I quickly washed our cups and tidied up the shop before headinghome.
The moment I walked through my front door, I collapsed facedown on mycouch.
My head still pounded with a dull ache and I had no doubt my body would be sore tomorrow. I felt like I somehow did an intense full-body workout while also studying my ass off for anexam.
It was that exhausting but good feeling. Body spent, brain fried. I did learn a lot and knew I'd sleep like a baby once I took something for myheadache.
Something still nagged at me though and I couldn't put my finger onit.
The whole time she talked about demons, I wanted to lash out, to yell at her,Shut up! You have no idea what you're talkingabout!
But then again, neither did I. So why did every instinct within me want to refuse what she was claiming? To defend the demon race against the bias and discrimination, despite knowing nothing about them? I nearly drew blood from my tongue while biting it sohard.
I peeled myself off the couch and stumbled into the bathroom in search for some Tylenol. Once I collapsed into bed, it dawned on me that my search for answers was only leading to even morequestions.
17
DEJA
Islept soundly,although a bit disappointed at the lack of sexy shadow visitors in my dreams. I had just started getting used tothose.
If I'm actually hoping for kinky sex dreams, I probably really need to getlaid.
A resigned sigh escaped me as I sat up in bed and stretched. Light tendrils of soreness traveled along my limbs but nothing hurt toobadly.
Diana's warning rattled around in my brain as I showered and got ready for the day ahead. I knew she was trying to protect me but seeing as I was on the cusp of thirty years old, maybe she was overreaching alittle?
She spoke to me last night as if I were a rebellious teenager hell-bent on spending time with the high school bad boys. Yes, I knew the demons were bad news. Yes, they looked like they belonged onGQcovers and carried more charm and seduction than any mortal man had in his pinky finger, but we were all adults, weren'twe?
Okay, maybe she had apoint.
I couldn't imagine how difficult it was for her to lose her only daughter, then subsequently being cut off from her own granddaughter. To watch another family raise me and actively try to suppress my natural abilities simply because they couldn't understandit.
If it had been me in her position, I probably would have reacted the same way. I'd do anything to protect the family I thought I'dlost.
Once the tea shop opened and our morning flood of customers poured in, I tried to lose myself in the hustle and bustle of the breakfast rush. But even though Nona and I didn't stop moving for a good two hours, the back and forth in my mind didn't stopeither.
We finally reached a lull in customers which allowed us to catch a breather. Until Ash's tall, imposing figure walked through my door and everything in my brain and body came to a screechinghalt.
