Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Pizza?” Breena suggests.
Before I can agree, I get goose bumps up and down my body, and the same awareness that moved through me earlier today when Jonas walked into my shop settles over me.
“I don’t think I can join you,” I say slowly. “I’d better head home to Nera.”
“And maybe Jonas?” Lorelei asks and smiles knowingly. “Go get ‘em, honey. Breena and I will just have to eat all the pizza ourselves.”
“I’ll see you guys later,” I reply and set off for home. It’s not far, and I don’t mind the walk.
The trees lining the streets are starting to turn color. In just a week or so, it will likely look like everything’s on fire with the riot of yellow, orange, and red leaves. This is my favorite time of year.
When I reach the house, I see that my one employee, Delia, has already closed up for the day. She comes in three times a week to take over in the afternoons for me.
I adore her.
Nera rushes over to greet me, and after I rub him down and kiss his head, I reach for my basket to gather flowers in the garden.
Maybe the feeling I had earlier was wrong.
But when I step outside, I see that it wasn’t. Jonas is standing at the garden gate, his hands in his pockets, waiting.
When I step outside, his eyes light up, and his lips tip into a half smile.
“You don’t have to wait out there,” I inform as I walk toward him, feeling that same pull to him that I did earlier.
“I do, at least until you invite me in,” he says.
“Are you a vampire?” I pause in opening the gate, waiting for his reply.
“No. Do you believe in such things?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I’ve never met a vampire, outside of a psychic one, and I’m certainly not one myself. I just believe in manners is all.”
I smile at that and then open the gate to invite Jonas in.
“I was about to make dinner,” I say, taken aback once again by the pull I feel to him. “You’re welcome to join me.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
He pets Nera and follows me into the house.
“Have a seat,” I offer, pointing to the barstool at the island. “You can chat with me while I cook.”
“I’m at your service,” he says. “I can cut and prep, but I’m not a great cook.”
“No need. You’re a guest. I hope you like fish and chips.”
“I don’t remember the last time I had them,” he admits. “Sounds great.”
“Okay, then.”
I pull the fish out of the fridge and set the oil on the stove to heat up.
“So, we established earlier today that I’m a witch,” I say as I break an egg and toss the shell into a jar for later, then whisk the white and yolk with a fork. “Now my question is, do you realize that you’re one, as well?”
I glance up and see Jonas’s eyebrow lift. “You think I’m a witch?”
“I know you are, Jonas. The power comes off you in waves.”
He sniffs, exhales, and narrows his eyes at me. And then, without looking away from me or moving, lights the candles all around the kitchen, one at a time.
I grin. “I never could master that one.”
“How nice it must be to be who you are. Not having to hide your gifts or worry about persecution.”
I narrow my eyes at the statement and reach for the flour. “No one is going to burn us at the stake. Not in this lifetime, anyway.”
But he doesn’t laugh as I intended. His expression is sober as he watches me dredge the fish in the egg mixture and then the flour before sliding it carefully into the oil.
“You said you’re not from Salem,” I say as I put the fries in my air fryer. “Where are you from?”
“Honestly, I’d like to hear more about you,” he says. “Tell me more about your Craft and your business.”
“Well, that’s easy.” I smile and flip the fish over. “I was born here in Salem, as were my parents and theirs, going back for as long as recorded history of such things—all witches, of course.”
“Were your ancestors killed in the witch trials?”
I still and then look over at him. “Of course, not. No actual witches were murdered in those trials, Jonas.”
“I know. I was wondering if you knew.”
I nod and get back to the task at hand. “My dad passed away when I was a kid. He was a fisherman, and his ship went down about ten miles out on the Atlantic, along with my two aunts’ husbands, as well.”
“That’s tragic.”
“It was a horrible time,” I agree. “I have two cousins, Lorelei and Breena. Each of the three sisters had one child. A girl. The six of us have always been extremely close. Then, my mother passed away last year.”