Page 17 of Hex Appeal

“Good. Stop by Spellbound, say, around seven?”

“I can be there at seven.”

I open my car door, but before I climb inside, I glance back at him.

“And Welles?”

“Yeah?”

“You might want to bring an iron horseshoe or some other anti-witch tool.” I smile sweetly. “Just to be safe.”

FOUR

WELLES

When I enter Spellbound a few hours later, I do a double take.

“What the…”

For a second—or maybe even a handful of them—I wonder if I’ve gotten lost and walked inside the wrong shop.

The place looks night and day from what it did the last time I was here. And not just because it’s now night instead of day.

The bright candle shop is gone.

Or hidden, anyway.

Dark velvet curtains cover the shelves that were filled with candles this morning. The pale cupboards behind the counter are open now, revealing rows of liquor bottles and glassware. The chairs and tables have been rearranged into intimate little groups, and tall velvet stools line the counter.

Even the lighting has changed.

Small pools of warm light glow throughout the rooms, reflecting off gold accents and glassware. Candles flicker on the tables.

Of course they do.

I automatically check the closest one. Contained vessel. Stable surface. Nothing flammable nearby.

“You're doing it again.”

I look up. Serena is leaning against the counter.

Her red curls fall loose over her shoulders, and she's changed since I saw her at the festival. Dark jeans. A top that shows enough cleavage to make me forget what the hell she just said.

“Doing what?”

“Inspecting my candles.”

“I wasn't inspecting.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Fine. I was inspecting it.”

“And?”

“Acceptable.”

“Be still my heart.”She presses a hand to her chest. “Careful with all the compliments. I might get an ego.