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)
Thirty minutes later, all the jars are refilled, and I make a note of the others that could use a refresh tomorrow before I move to the oils and salves.
My skincare line has become a new favorite among the customers and needs to be restocked badly, so I make a list of what I need to gather from the supply closet, then check the homemade incense and smudging sticks.
“Delia was busy today,” I say to Nera. “She went through a lot of stock.”
The hair on the back of my neck suddenly stands up, and I turn to check behind me, making sure no one is watching me through the door.
That sometimes happens shortly after closing, when customers are hopeful that we’re still open.
But no one’s there.
“Hmm.” I snag a smudging stick for myself. “I know we usually do this just once a week,” I say to Nera as I light the end of the bundle of rosemary, black sage, and pine for protection. It’s wrapped in rose petals to make it pretty and invite love into the space. “But we’ve had more people in and out than usual, and who knows what kind of icky energy they’ve brought with them? You know the drill.”
Nera takes his place at my side, and starting at the doorway, we make our way widdershins around the room, spreading the smoke from the bundle and moving from left to right in a circle as I cast the protection spell.
“Any energy here that does not serve me must go. Only love, joy, peace, and comfort may stay.”
We systematically make our way through the whole house, not just the shop, and I open windows as I go to let any banished energy leave the building.
When we return to the apothecary, I snuff the bundle.
“As I will it, so mote it be.”
I smile down at Nera before getting back to work.
“There, that feels better already, doesn’t it? It’s just that so many people are in and out of here so often. We have to clean out that energy. Let’s recharge the tourmaline while we’re at it.”
I gather my crystals from the top of the doorframe and the corners of the room and take them back to the kitchen with me, placing them in a selenite bowl for cleansing, and then get to work restocking the shelves in the shop.
On one of my passes through the kitchen, I stop to check the eye cream I have cooking in the Crock-Pot.
“Almost done. Perfect timing.”
I swear something passes by the front door when I walk out to place the bottles and tubs on the shelves.
A shadow.
But Nera hasn’t uttered any kind of noise at all, and he’s usually very in tune with anything supernatural.
“I’ve been awake for too long,” I mutter. It only takes me another hour to get everything looking just the way I like it and then sweep and mop the floor.
Nera smiles up at me when I stow the mop.
“That’s right, we’re all done for the day. We get to go see Breena now.”
His head cocks to the side.
“That’s right. Do you want to go see Breena?”
His whole body starts to wag in delight, making me laugh.
“I think that means yes. Okay, let me grab my bag, and we can walk over.”
But lightning fills the sky, then thunder booms just before the rain starts hammering down.
“Never mind, we’ll drive.”
I grab the dandelion root for Mr. Edison and the bag of goodies for Breena and then we’re off, rushing out to the safety of the car.
“We only ran for ten yards, and we’re both soaked,” I say with a laugh as I start the engine and drive the half mile or so to Mr. Edison’s house. Once I make that delivery, I take us to Breena’s.
I haven’t seen her since the other morning after our night with the coven.
If Breena hasn’t reached out to one of us in days, it’s a clear sign that she’s mad.
“Come on, let’s go make this right.”
Nera and I hurry through the downpour to Breena’s covered porch, and I press the doorbell.
A few minutes later, my cousin opens the door.
“Oh, I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I brought you some things, and I wanted to talk to you.”
Breena’s too polite to turn us away, so she just shrugs and gestures for us to come inside.
“The weather sure decided to get dramatic,” she says as she closes the door behind us, then leads us to her craft room, where she has all kinds of things covering her worktable. “I’m just making moon wreaths for my online store.”
“These are always gorgeous,” I murmur as I pick up one of the finished products and admire the craftsmanship. It’s a crescent moon wrapped in flowers and branches and adorned with crystals. “You should make a few for me to sell at my place.”