“I know I am. Which is also why you are going to help me get furniture from Celeste’s scary attic and maybe finally come over and see how the apothecary is coming,” Lu said, almost cringing at having to ask again. “As soon as possible. Like, this week, before Beltane.”
I rolled my eyes, which, in Lu world, meant yes.
“What are you planning on stocking anyway?” I asked.
We hadn’t really talked at all about it since she had bought the place.
Maybe I’d really been too adept at distancing myself from everyone.
“I figured you’d, of course, sell the usual candles, bottle spells …” I let her take over.
“There will be our soaps that we usually sell and lotions, just like we do at the markets. There will also be jar candles on this wall”—she waved, listing off her plans like she could visualize the whole place in her head already—“and a collection of pillar candles of varying colors over here with their meanings listed below. I also plan on printing out pages from myBook of Shadows.”
She mentioned the last part almost casually. If anyone knew Lu and her craft, however, they would also know that it was a big deal, proven by the nervous look on her face. She had guarded that book with her life for the past few years. Writing and rewriting in it with tiny, detailed illustrations on each page.
“Ryan thought it would be a good idea since they are illustrated and so detailed. A page would accompany each spell so that whoever the purchaser is, if they don’t have it done in shop, they can follow the directions and know the possible end results as well as repercussions.”
At that, I smiled. We all knew that I was dealing with just the kind of repercussions someone could expect when dealing with the gray area of magic.
“I figure I’ll even print out some of myBook of Shadowspages in posters and such. Like the moon phases and crystal magic.”
“You should, your BOS is a work of art.”
“I’ll probably position it for sale on that wall with the crystals. I’m not sure how I want to organize them yet though. By use, by color, or by how they can be used—in water or charged in moon versus sunlight.” Lu shook her head. “A lot to consider since I don’t want anyone getting angry when they drop their selenite into the tub with them and it starts to disintegrate.”
“Seems like you have it all covered,” I said.
“It’s going to be beautiful when it’s ready.”
I agreed with her.
“There is one thing I was hoping to ask you …”
I stared at her, narrowing my eyes. Eventually, I sighed, already starting to nod in what would have been my agreement anyway.
This had better be good.
* * *
Lu was still smilingat my reluctant answer to her request that was more a favor than anything else as we made our way back toward the living space, still teeming with noise and the clatter of utensils—Ryan was probably making his way through another slice of cheesecake.
She barely noticed that we were not the only ones in the hallway as she made her way back toward Ryan, but I did.
I narrowed my eyes as I stood in the center of the hall near the staircase. In front of it, Celeste’s usual terse voice took on a stranger, softer tone. In front of her, Dom shook his head and looked toward the door, as if planning to make an escape. When Celeste reached out to touch his arm, tattoos sneaking out from his shirt, he made his move. He gave her one more look before he made his way back toward the living room where Ryan was going on about a story behind me.
There was an odd, tight look about him—from his set jaw to his shoulders. He didn’t stop as he passed me.
I turned my attention toward Celeste. Her eyes were closed until I came to stand directly in front of her as if already prepared for me to snap.
I tried to keep my voice down. “What were you talking to Dom about?”
Pausing, I expected my second-eldest coven sister to pipe up with some useless excuse for likely making Dom feel so unwelcomed. Instead, Celeste seemed at a loss for words. “Nothing.”
“I’m really not going to believe that.” I stared at her, waiting for her to fess up.
“It isn’t my secret to tell.”
A secret?
