Page 62 of The Curse of Redwood
I’d never felt anything like it before.
Chapter Twelve
“I can’t believe I let you drag me in here,” I muttered to Taylor, as we entered the mystic shop downtown.
Strings of jewels jingled as we walked across the threshold, and I got an instant whiff of something strong, like burning incense. I coughed and put the back of my hand over my nose.
“You’re exaggerating,” Taylor said. “I think it smells good.”
“Yeah, whatever. Just get what you need so we can leave.”
He sighed and walked farther into the shop, glancing at the glass cases holding a variety of crystals and what looked like potion bottles. Decorative masks hung on the walls, as did wind chimes. Ben had invited us over for dinner, so we were killing time in town before heading over.
“What is it you need again?” I asked, after a few minutes had passed. I had woken that morning with a pounding in my head, and the pain got worse as I inhaled the incense smoke. I was ready to get out of there.
“A book of shadows.”
“A what?”
Taylor spun around to me. “You know, like a book to write spells in. It can also be used to jot down the meaning of certain stones, colors, and objects. Each witch uses their book differently. It’s something personal and can be whatever you want it to be.”
“Wait… what?” I wasn’t sure if my head was spinning because of the strong smell, my headache, or if it was because of what he’d said. “Why doyouneed one?”
He awkwardly reached out and touched a crystal ball on the shelf, not meeting my stare. “I… well, I don’t know. I’ve kinda been leaning toward this stuff lately. Something about it calls to me. They say that’s a sign you’re a witch, you know.”
“I bet they say that to anyone, so they can con you out of more money.”
“Can you be any more skeptic?” he asked. “We saw ghosts for crying out loud. Why is it so hard to believe that this stuff is real too?”
“I sense a nonbeliever,” a smooth voice said from behind me.
When I came face to face with the man belonging to that voice, I stumbled back a step. He was crazy attractive—raven black hair, deep blue eyes, and perfect lips. He was taller than me but still shorter than Taylor’s six-foot-one height.
“What’s it matter to you if I believe or not?” I asked.
“It doesn’t. Your belief has no bearing on mine.” He then turned to Taylor. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too,” Taylor said, smiling. “Carter, this is Callum Gray. He’s the psychic medium I told you about.”
The moment I realized what was going on, I nearly laughed out loud. No wonder Taylor kept coming back to the store. If hewasinto men like I suspected, I wondered if he had the hots for this Callum guy.
“Are you back for a book?” Callum asked.
“Yeah.” Taylor scratched at the back of his head as his cheeks darkened. “I don’t seem to be having much luck, though. Do you mind helping me pick one out?”
I coughed to cover my laugh. That was textbook flirting 101. Taylor and I needed to have a talk. If he was questioning his sexuality or whatever, I wanted him to know he could lean on me to help him through it.
Callum cocked his head at Taylor as a smile played at his lips. “I can show you where we keep the leather journals if that helps, but I can’t be the one to choose it for you.”
“The book chooses the witch. Is that what you’re saying?” Taylor smirked and rested his elbow on the glass case, knocking over a stack of boxed tarot cards in the process. “Shit!” He straightened them up before glancing at Callum. “I meant to do that. Just tryin’ to keep you on your toes.”
“Sure.” Callum pressed his lips together.
Suddenly, the pain in my head worsened. It reminded me of when I’d passed out on Zeke in the sunroom. Was it another migraine? I whimpered and put a hand to my temple where it felt like a knife was jabbing into me.
“Carter?” Taylor asked.
“I-I’m okay. I think it’s a migraine.” I went to smile at him, but then another sharp pain went through my skull, and I fell to my knees.
