Page 6 of Heart of a Witch
“Just sort this.”
He huffed and pushed himself away from the balcony, rolling up the sleeves of his blue shirt as he walked back to his room. I waited for his footsteps to creak to nothing and draped myself over the couch.
A headache pounded through my head—probably from the lack of sleep, water, or both. I’d been overdoing it, but no one else was taking the threat seriously, except my mother, who couldn’t do anything to help. Ember and Cas didn’t know Jackson well enough to really care that he’d been killed, but it did shake them a little, even if Cas didn’t show it. I, on the other hand, did know our cousin. I’d played with him when we were children, and he’d always been the first to spur on adventures. He was a free spirit, which was probably what had got him killed. He was too trusting of humans.
I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts drift. I’d need to open the shop soon. Today marked the beginning of autumn; the frosty air circling the house through cracks in the walls and windows confirmed it. It was the perfect time to make more coin, with the townspeople more willing to spend their dramair on things they didn’t need.
My youngest sister, Alex, bottled crystals and made some into jewelry. Ember made different charms—for luck, love, marriage, and health—packaged sage, and made different types of candles with intoxicating scents. My mother knitted scarves, blankets, hats, and gloves and stayed behind the till, taking payments and talking to customers.
Cas begrudgingly wove dreamcatchers between his shifts at the apothecary, which was what my father did before he passed.
I oversaw the finances, the bills, supplies, ordering, and everything else that helped our shop run. Together, we made upAmberwood Boutique.
Before I could muster motivation to get up, Cas walked down the stairs and stopped next to me. “These will help with energy and the headaches.” He placed two green capsules on the side table next to the sofa.
“How did you know?”
“It’s not a far leap. Besides, I figure if you can give me a headache within only a few minutes, then hearing yourself all the time must be a constant migraine.”
I shot him a look but swallowed the capsules.
Damn, if he wasn’t talented. They worked almost too quickly. He waited, tapping his foot against the ornate rug. “Admit it.”
I rolled my eyes at his stretched smile. “They worked.”
“Always so giving with the praise,” he sassed and pulled on his blue coat. “I’ll be back this evening. I need to work a double shift. People are worried another plague is coming.”
Ah. That was why he was up so early. He was doing the morning shift instead of his usual evening one. “Idiots.” I clicked my tongue. “Herbs are not going to help against it. You’d think they would have learned from the last time.”
“Those so-called idiots are keeping the shop open.” He pointed at me when he reached the door. “Try to rest and take it easy today. You look like death.”
“Have a terrible day,” I called after him, half joking. “I know I will.”
Two
My fear of Ember working at the club followed me throughout the day as I tempered finances and checked inventory. She finally joined me in the back after the final bell tinkled over the door. “We didn’t make much today: four gold and twenty-two silver dramair.”
“Put it in the safe. I’ll join you back at the house once I’ve finished counting inventory.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I’m going straight to The Black Card. My shift is in an hour.”
My fingers flexed. “I’ll assume Cas hasn’t had a chance to talk to you yet, but even he agrees you should hold off until the hunter leaves.”
“Oh, Cas.” She rolled her eyes and smiled. “He came to see me at lunch and didn’t say a word. Wished me luck for tonight actually. He probably just said that to get you off his back.”
I gritted my teeth. “Aren’t you too tired to go? It’s been a long day.”
“Nope.” She grinned. “Only excited.”
“Is there anything I can say to stop you from going?”
She shook her head. “Nope, but you can wish me luck.”
I gave her a look. “Ember.”
“Tori,” she snapped back, angling her head. Amusement flicked on her features. “Lighten up a bit, please. I’ll be fine. You worry too much. If you’re so concerned, maybe you should come down to the club, have a drink. You know, actually talk to other people. Maybe you’ll even meet someone.”
“I have no interest in fraternizing with humans.”
