Page 8 of Magic's Dawn

Hartford Cove has been in hiding for so long that the town was completely cut off from the rest of the paranormal world. But they know we’re here now, and they’re still trying to decide what to do with us.

They expect us to simply accept that there’s a governing body we now have to answer to. But Hartford Cove has its own form of government, and there are enough of us to make them nervous, especially after what happened with the huntsmen.

As of now, they haven’t proven they deserve to be listened to, as far as I’m concerned. They’ve dropped the ball a lot since making themselves known, first with bringing Tris’s evil ex into our home. Then they arrived only after we had handled the huntsmen’s attack ourselves.

Only Mel makes me want to give them a chance, and it’s a slim one.

My chosen mentor steps into the room and pauses at the end of the table, with Aspen at her side.

This morning, Aspen wears a cream-colored, short-sleeve button-up tucked into a pair of suede trousers, and his pale blond hair sweeps back in artful waves from his face. Next to him, Mel wears another floaty skirt and blouse, without a speck of her usual eyeliner in sight.

I don’t like it. Not one bit. She shouldn’t feel self-conscious about the clothes she prefers to wear and be forced into this fake uniform of a witch.

Mel smiles around the room. “Let me make introductions for the new people in the room.”

She turns to Abony first. “This is Abony. She works here at the diner and is a close friend to Rowe.” She motions down the table. “The burly mountain man is Jesse, and the man next to him is Barron, who owns and operates Books & Blots. They are also close friends to Rowe.”

She motions to the silent figure at her side. “And this is Aspen Redfern, second-ring practitioner and former head of the White Thorn coven.”

Jesse slips a protective arm around Barron. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Aspen’s cool gaze sweeps over the gathered crowd. “More wolf shifters?”

Abony stiffens at his words. “Got a problem with that, itchy man?”

He turns to her. “Not at all. It’s just unusual to find a witch surrounded by so many wolf shifters. Your kind rarely feel comfortable around us. As you said, we make you itchy.”

“The Wendall family were the only witches in Hartford Cove until this last month.” Haut’s gaze shifts to Ros. “The only non-wolves, in fact.”

“What Haut means to say is that we’ve acclimated to magic over the centuries,” Owen cuts in smoothly. “The barrier around our town is a constant source of magic, so those who find it intolerable don’t stay long.”

“Fascinating.” Aspen pulls out a chair and waits for Mel to sit before taking the one beside her. “And do many of the wolf shifters here take part in the teaching of magic?”

“Before you get caught up in that line of questioning,” Mel breaks in, “how about we place our orders for breakfast?”

“Pie and French fries,” Tris and I call out at the same time, then clink our milkshake glasses together.

“Waffles with extra bacon,” Ros says.

The others quickly give their orders, leaving little time for Aspen to acquaint himself with the menu. Even Mel has her standard order by now.

“I’ll take the three-egg breakfast.” Aspen skims the menu. “Wheat toast, no butter, scrambled egg whites, and fruit instead of hash browns. Oh, and no salt, please.”

“Good lord,” Tris whispers in horror.

Abony shakes her head as she takes the order. “Bacon or sausage?”

Aspen passes her the menu. “Do you have a meat alternative?”

“Yogurt?” she offers, clearly at a loss.

He smiles. “That would be lovely.”

I wave for her attention. “Can Ros have his bacon?”

Ros nudges me with his elbow. “I already got extra for you to pilfer.”

Jesse leans over. “I’ll help her with the pilfering.”

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