Page 1 of Fresh Old Bounties

ONE

It was an overcast early October morning in Olmeda, and I was posing in front of the Tea Cauldron.

Hannah, my favorite magic-unaware repeat customer, crouched in the middle of the street, taking photos. She had assured me she could fix them later on her computer to make them as bright as I wanted, but I rather thought the lack of sunshine made me and the shop look cozy and inviting and so very witchy.

Perfect branding.

A slow grin curved my lips as I mentally ran through all the fun teas and potions I’d planned for Halloween.

At a delivery truck’s honking, Hannah stepped closer to the curb.

“Let’s do a few more, Hope,” she called. “Act casual.”

My limbs immediately became stiff plastic, and I lost all control over my hands as my smile became worthy of adorning comic book covers—in the villain category.

I should’ve drunk one of my own soothing potions before embarking on this adventure.

“That’s it,” Hannah said enthusiastically. “Let me see the T-shirt logo.”

Hooking my thumbs on the belt loops of my jeans, I cocked my hips like I was in some kind of western. A cowgirl with a cauldron printed on her front rather than a flannel shirt. My jaw tensed with the need to chew some gum.

“Less stiff, please.”

Think of Grandma, Hope. Think of the shop. Your shop. Your dream come true.

Sure, I still had a few months left on my probation, but recent events had proven that I could conquer anything thrown into my path. Converting dark magic users with placebo potions? Not a problem. Surviving sabotaging, murderous best friends? Been there, done that. Saving the local shifter alpha through the use of good magic instead of dark? Child’s play.

Yes, the shop was still not one hundred percent mine, but it might as well already be. Grandma might no longer be around to enjoy it, but I’d realized our dreams for her.

My smile was so bright, we didn’t need a single ray of sunshine to illuminate the street.

“Perfect!”

Hannah took a few more shots, ignoring the honks from a passing car. Being a professional photographer, she had been the obvious choice when I’d decided the shop’s website and social media could do with a photographic update.

She had even given me a discount.

While the secret magical side of the shop was thriving, the monetary side could use a boost. As soon as I was done taking these pictures, I was putting up Halloween decorations. With a name like the Tea Cauldron and its old brick facade and multi-pane windows, how could the shop fail to attract visitors during the season?

The door of the shop next to mine opened, and a couple of men stepped out. The Corner Rose was an old, two-story building forming the corner of the block, with the store on the first floor and the living quarters on top. It had been closed down since its owner died trying to kidnap and murder me.

But that was history. Since then, I’d done several cleansing spells to clear the street of bad vibes, and walked Fluffy, the world’s purest fluffball of a dog, around the block.

I frowned at the men as they talked in hushed whispers in front of the ex-antiques shop. Mr. Lewis had died in severe debt, and the shop had gone to the bank instead of Dru, who’d been his manager for years. Was the bank showing the property to prospective buyers? Dru had attempted to buy it from them, but they had deemed her too much of a risk for such a big loan.

One of the men, handsome and tall with dark brown skin and close-cropped hair, caught my stare and gave me a curt nod of acknowledgment.

Startled, I lifted a hand to wave at him. Should I invite him over and ask if he was interested in the shop or would that be too weird? Before I could decide, the two men got into a blue car parked by the corner and drove off into the distance.

Never to be seen again? For Dru’s sake, I hoped so.

“Check these out.” Hannah walked up to me and showed me some of the shots on her camera.

I forced myself to pay attention to the small screen and made sounds of agreement even though I couldn’t tell the difference between the shots.

“I’ll bring you the best in a couple of days, and we can discuss if you want any alterations,” she added.

“Thank you so much, Hannah. You’re a lifesaver.”

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