Mia heard Gloria’s giggle and, from the look on her face, so did Abigail. “We still have a golem and a library filled with ghosts. I’m not sure they’d even notice Cerby or Buddy.”
“I don’t think Damien likes being thought of that way.” Abigail looked up the stairs where Mr. Darcy sat, watching them come through the door. “And your cat is being awfully protective of your new houseguest. He’s following him everywhere.”
“It has to be weird for him to have Dorian as a guest in his body for so long, then to meet him in real life. Most cats just have to deal with eating dinner and finding a sunny spot to nap. My guy has familiar duties as well as his cat nature. And he’s suddenly alone in his body. Mr. Darcy has a lot going on.” Mia smiled at him and he waved his right paw at her. “But he seems to be doing well with it all.”
“Okay, well, I’m going back to the kitchen. We don’t need you, but if you want to come in and help or just hang out, you’re welcome.” She glanced at the office. “Have you heard when Christina and Levi are going home?”
“We haven’t talked since the party. Why? Has Levi said anything?” Christina Adams was Isaac’s little sister. Mia had been engaged to Isaac and when they broke up, she’d gotten emotional custody of the teenager. Mia thought she got the best out of the deal. Now, Christina was an adult. She’d finished her degree and been offered a catering director position in Portland, Oregon. Levi, who was Abigail’s son and Trent’s brother, had bent down on one knee and proposed, as well as moved to the Pacific Northwest with her. They were starting a new life. Except they were still in Magic Springs after their eventful engagement party.
To make matters more complicated than finding the right apartment or shopping area, Christina had just found out she had magical blood. She didn’t necessarily have powers, but she came from a magical family. Now, she was studying the same books that Mia had been studying to take over her kitchen witch role andto take the stupid test. Mia hadn’t wanted to test high; she just wanted the coven to leave her alone. If Christina decided to test after she finished her initial training, she’d know if she had any natural power.
Something was bothering Mia about Christina and her move. Maybe because she wouldn’t be running around like a headless chicken this week, she could focus on what was really going on with her best friend. Was it jitters from the upcoming wedding? Or something more?
Her phone rang, pulling her out of her pondering. Since the caller ID showed the Lodge, she assumed it was Blake. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
“Go ahead, I just wanted to warn you about the mess.” Abigail headed to the kitchen as Mia started up the stairs. Mr. Darcy followed her to the third-floor landing and waited for her to open the door. Had she fed him this morning?
“This is Mia,” she answered the phone before it could go to a fourth ring.
“I am so mad at you. How in the world did you get measles? Don’t tell me didn’t get your vaccinations. It wasn’t an option for me, but maybe I’m older than you.” James Holder, the Lodge’s head chef, kitchen manager, and one of Mia’s friends, chastised her.
Mia wanted to chuckle. She had gotten her normal vaccines as a normal kid, but then she’d moved to Magic Springs, where other illnesses surrounded the magical kids. She’d just gone through a series of vaccinations from the local witch doctor. No, that sounded wrong. The coven doctor. “No, I got my immunizations. I don’tthink I have measles, but my doctor wanted to be extra careful until the tests come back, just in case. I don’t want to make a lodge guest sick by coming in.”
“Oh, well, that sounds more reasonable. Blake made it seem like you had the plague. There’s so much going on out there. You never know what’s going to hit you.” He paused, then with the next breath, asked, “Are you okay? Do you need anything? What can I send you over? Chicken soup?”
“Abigail’s here and mothering me already.” Mia hated to lie, but James didn’t know about her heritage. Besides, how could she explain something like this? “How’s work? Anything I need to know?”
“You left a few minutes ago. Nothing has happened yet. You’re getting freaked out about something that may never happen,” James replied.
“You just wait. The first night is always itchy. May you pay for your insolence in tons more reports for our boss lady,” Mia joked as she opened the apartment. She needed to make a list of things to get done here at the academy or she would go crazy. The good thing was, she always had a long list of things to do. The one thing she wasn’t adding was studying for her test. If she scored lower, maybe all this attention would go away.
“Blake brought us all together a few minutes ago to talk about your inconvenient absence. Her words, not mine. Anyway, she had to have a meeting, never mind that I’m busy keeping the food coming out.” A crash sounded on the other side of the line. “I’ve got to go. My new line cook is all thumbs. Tell Finn to expect as many hours as she can give me.”
As she said goodbye, she thanked the Goddess for the opportunity to keep Finn out of the house more. Maybe Damien would find a new home sooner rather than later. Sounds of hammers and saws drifted up from the second floor. Or maybe not. He sounded like he was making some major changes to the old classrooms. She shut the door and glanced at Mr. Darcy. “You’re loving having Dorian back, aren’t you?”
In answer, he flicked his tail, then jumped on the couch for a nap. He blinked his eyes at her once, then curled up on a pillow.
At least someone’s world had been changed for the better with all the craziness around here. Her cat was purring.
Mia looked over her planner for the week. The test was Friday, which meant that the witch protection spell might not be reapplied before Monday. She hadn’t mentioned that to Blake. She would have just complained more, but it wouldn’t be a shock to her. And who knew, maybe the coven would be timely because this was overkill on their part. Mia wondered who had complained to the National Office about her scores. It wasn’t like she’d worked on making anyone in the coven leadership her friend. In fact, she’d done the opposite and not joined the rank and file because she wanted to be independent. From the stories Trent and Abigail told, membership made that hard. The coven did what it wanted to do with your life. Including giving you leadership jobs you didn’t want and decidingwho you should marry and procreate with to strengthen the bloodlines.
She was making those decisions on her own, thank you.
As if her mind had summoned him, Trent’s name showed up on her caller ID. “Hey, just checking on you. Buddy said you looked a little lonely.”
She smiled at the phone as she sent her last reminder email to her staff. “Is ‘lonely’ one chortle or two?”
“I’m sure Sonja has a dragon language book you can borrow. Oh, tell Mark it’s bad news. Tempest is a hellhound. His family is stuck here with me for six weeks.”
“Five weeks, six days, but who’s counting.” Mia texted Mark to let him know. Sarah had probably already broken the news to him, but Mia added a standing invitation to dinner. He probably had dinners sitting in the kitchen freezer with a how-to-heat list organized by days, as well as instructions on when and where to buy more packaged salads. But he might like the company. “How are my three favorite guys?”
“Two guys, one female dragon. I thought I told you. Mom says that sometimes it’s not clear what the dragon’s sex is until they go through puberty.” He sighed. “I’m not looking forward to that.”
“Buddy’s a girl? When did you find out? We need to change her name. Buddy sounds wrong.”
“I’ve had that conversation with Cerby and he insists it’s Buddy. His friend. No name change needed.” A female voice called his name. “Anyway, it’s dinnertime here. I need to go. We all eat together, but thankthe Goddess for Sarah. Neither Sonja nor I are talented in the cooking department. I love you.”
Mia started to answer but realized Trent had hung up. She made sure everything looked clear on her calendar, then decided to wander downstairs. Damien—she was trying hard to think of him with that name—stood on the landing, talking to a man Mia didn’t know.
