Page 114 of Real Fake Hauntings

But it was still Key’s grandma’s.

Key was young but not a child. I couldn’t keep pretending danger didn’t exist nor that Key couldn’t take care of herself. It was time for me to put on my big girl flying brooms pants and let Key take control of her own life. And that included this spellbook.

Reassured by my decision, I returned downstairs. Soon enough, we had closed the shop and made our merry way through the crowds to the cemetery.

THIRTY-FOUR

Alex was manning the tickets table now, chatting and joking with a young man while a few other people had gathered close, waiting for the next tour to start.

On the opposite side of the gate, Natalia was currently offering hot cocoa for five bucks. More than half the waiting people were warming their hands with a paper cup of the steaming chocolate beverage.

I was impressed. I should’ve thought of that.

“Hey, boss,” Alex called out, waving us over. The guy he’d been talking to moved to Natalia’s station to fork over some money. Had we been gone that long? How had she set this up so fast?

Fluffy bounced to Alex’s side, bee wings flapping happily on her back.

“Hey fluffbutt.” He reached down to pat her. “How have you been?” Giving me a measuring glance, he added, “Hutton told us about what happened. You okay?”

“Yeah. Where’s Shane?”

“On Garreth duty.”

I checked the small crowd. “Ian?”

“Haven’t seen him yet, sorry.”

“Hutton?”

“Trying to fix the broken light.”

I stifled a laugh. “Really?”

“Yeah. Allen almost got electrocuted trying to fix it, so alpha man is giving it a try.”

It was tempting to go take a video.

One of the groups returned from the tour, a glowing Key in front. She thanked everyone, reminded them to check my shop—aww—and waved them goodbye. Noticing me, she came over, a huge grin splitting her cheeks.

“Hope!”

Her grin was contagious. “Having fun?”

“It’s been wonderful.”

“You’ve been wonderful,” Alex added with a wink.

I studied her reaction closely, but she didn’t blush or act like the compliment affected in any way deeper than as a friend. Maybe Ian had gotten lucky and there was no love triangle to be found here.

“Thanks, Alex,” she said, then fanned her face. “I’m parched.”

Alex dug into the cooler and handed her a water bottle.

I waited until she took a few good gulps before pulling her away from the waiting people.

“I don’t know if they told you, but we found the dark witch in the cemetery.”

“I guessed when I saw that wolf at the mausoleum.” She shivered. “Was that Ian?”

---