Page 15 of The Tea Witch’s Secret

"What about your mum?"

"We have some nice memories together, like making steamed buns, but she mostly paid attention to Eva. They're the same kind of weather witch." I got out two of my handleless teacups and set them down, along with my tea pet, the little clay rabbit already having turned reddish-brown from all of the tea I'd poured over him over the years. "I think Mum was always disappointed that I turned out to be a tea witch like my father."

"It shouldn't matter what type of magic a child has, your child is your child," Pepper said, sounding very firm about it.

It was a nice thing for her to say. "Weather witches are very sought after," I said. "So I can understand why she was disappointed." I picked up the teapot and poured some of the tea over the teapot, watching it as it drained over the smooth surface.

"What's that?" Pepper asked curiously.

"A tea pet," I said. "They're good luck if you pour tea over them. They change colour over time as they absorb more of the tea. It's like a memory of all of the drinks shared with family, friends, and..." I trailed off, realising that I wasn't sure what other word to say there.

"I've never seen anything like it," she admitted. "It's very cute. And a rabbit. Your favourite."

"I love rabbits," I said as I poured us both cups of tea and held one out to her.

She reached out to take it, her fingers brushing against mine as she took it from me, causing the same fluttering feeling in my stomach I'd felt around her a few other times. I was sure it didn't mean anything.

I pulled my hand away and focused on my own cup, picking it up and blowing across the top of it so that it would be cool enough to drink. The fragrant grassy steam drifting from the top of it was instantly comforting, even if I wasn't entirely sure it was sleep-inducing. I welcomed it anyway.

Pepper tried some of the tea, humming appreciatively. "This is nice. Bitter but refreshing. Tastes different to what I'm used to."

"All tea is tea, but the preparation and ageing methods vary vastly around the world," I said, wondering where Purple Oak was getting their tea. I had heard about their treaty with a nearby nymph settlement to cultivate their own tea gardens, but they couldn't possibly be mature yet.

Maybe if we stayed here long enough and gained the trust of the Four Families, I might be able to visit the tea garden sometime. It would be very interesting.

Pepper finished her cinnamon bun and licked the glaze off her fingers, but there was a big glob on her nose.

"You've got something on your face," I said, trying not to smile. I didn't want her to think I was mocking her, but it was still a little bit of a comical sight.

"Where?" Pepper asked, moving her tongue around her mouth.

"On your nose. I don't think you can reach it with your tongue." There was no stopping the giggle that came from me.

She grinned. "Don't underestimate my skills." She tried to reach the tip of her nose with her tongue, but resorted to wiping it away with her hand when it didn't work. "Fine, maybe I didn't manage that, but that doesn't mean what I said wasn't true. I've got it on good authority that I'm very skilled with my tongue." Her lips quirked up into a smile as she said it.

I ate some more of my cinnamon bun, not quite sure what Pepper was talking about. I understood what she was saying, but not why she was boasting about this. Then again, I never understood why men bragged about their excellent bedding skills either. According to Eva, that was just something people did sometimes.

"I've got long fingers," I said, holding out my hand as if to prove it. "My last partner enjoyed that very much."

Pepper burst into a coughing fit and fanned her face, looking very flustered. Almost choking would do that to a person.

I went over to her so I could pat her back, just in case there was something stuck in her windpipe. It brought me very close to Pepper and made me realise we'd never touched before. Not like this, anyway.

She smelled of bread and cinnamon, a nice combination that I could certainly get used to. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and dark. There was something about her expression that was making my mouth dry, but not in an unpleasant way. She looked intense. Really intense, even if I wasn't quite sure why.

"Lian," she said, her voice coming out a little hoarse. Was that still because she choked on her tea, or was there another reason?

"Yes?" I said, freezing when I felt her fingers brush over the back of my hand. A touch could mean so many things, and I always had trouble figuring out the difference between them. Was this a friendly touch? A comforting touch that meant nothing? Or was she coming onto me?

Something clattered in the background when Snowie came in through the window, and it broke the moment and the tension hanging between us. Especially when the cat was carrying a mouse in her mouth, and Pepper jumped up to chase her away.

I went back to my own seat, still trying to figure out what just happened, still confused. And I didn't know what questions I could ask to clarify the situation. Perhaps it would be best if I could talk to Eva about it first, rather than potentially making a fool of myself with Pepper.

Chapter 10

Lian

Eva's laughter snapped me from my thoughts, making me realise I hadn't heard a single thing of what she or Max had said in the past few minutes. Luckily, the twins didn't really need me to keep a conversation going. If anything, I should be grateful they no longer spoke their twin language between them. That phase of living with them had been truly exhausting, and while I knew they hadn't meant to do it, it had always made me feel like an outsider.