Page 98 of Magic's Rise

“No, it’s been very pleasant, actually,” Aris says.

I glance at Levi, who focuses on driving but is clearly listening in. “You’re not just saying that because Big Bad Werewolf here might get offended?”

Aris laughs, shaking her head. “No, seriously, it’s been fun. Having someone else cook for me is a treat. And Kaela, Mina, and I have been binge-watching some shows together.”

“Oh, yeah?” I turn in my seat to face her. “What have you been watching?”

For the rest of the ride, Aris animatedly tells me about a show where a human falls in love with a vampire in a small town, which makes me think of Ros and his opinion of how humans portray vampires. I miss my fanged mate and hope he’s not getting too hungry without me there.

Soon enough, we pull up to Aris’s house, another quaint little cottage on the same road as Elana’s home. It’s a bit run down, with peeling paint and overgrown greenery, but undeniably charming with its gingerbread shingles.

Levi parks at the curb, and Aris leads us up a brick pathway and onto a narrow porch with a rocking chair. “Home sweet home.”

Aris opens the unlocked door and steps inside.

In a back room, which must have once been a formal dining area, Aris pushes through one side of a pair of French doors, revealing her magical sanctuary.

Shelves upon shelves of raw materials for charm crafting line the walls, and a metal table in the center holds a small forge and various carving tools. It’s like stepping into an enchanting little workspace, where anything is possible.

“Wow,” Tris breathes, his eyes wide as he takes in the organized chaos.

“Let’s see those unlocking charms!” I rub my palms together with anticipation.

Aris walks over to a cabinet filled with tiny drawers and opens one that overflows with key-shaped charms.

She dumps them into a cardboard box and hands them to me. “Here you go. All yours.”

“Whoa.” I stick a finger into the charms, stirring them around. “You’ve made so many!”

Aris blushes, looking pleased with herself. “Well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“Are you sure you want to give us all these?” I ask, suddenly feeling guilty for taking her hard work.

“Of course.” Aris beams at me. “I’ve already had the fun of testing them out. Now it’s your turn to enjoy them!”

With a grin, I clutch the box to my chest, imagining the tricks I’ll play on my friends once we’re back in Hartford Cove.

The sun dips lower in the sky as we step back outside and walk down the block to Elana’s house.

“Okay, let’s see.” I shake the charm box, trying to decide where to start.

Aris points to a key with a crescent moon etched on its surface. “That one works on Elana’s front door.”

Levi raises an eyebrow at her, and she quickly defends herself. “Elana had all of my family’s grimoires. If she ever tried to kick me out of the coven because I’m only a charm witch, I wanted a way to get them back.”

“So resourceful,” I praise as I lift the key. “How does this work?”

“Hold it next to the lock, and the charm does the rest.” Aris motions to the door knob. “They don’t actually have to be shaped like keys, but I think they’re cute.”

“So cute.” I do as directed, and it clicks open. “Adorable breaking and entering.”

We hurry inside and to the greenhouse at the back. The thrill of the heist bubbles through me, making it hard to suppress a giggle.

“Shh!” Tris warns, but a grin stretches across his lips.

The glass walls shimmer in the sunlight, and the humid air carries the scent of earth and greenery.

I take my box to the locked cabinet nestled between two towering ferns and pull out the first of the keys, holding it in front of the lock.

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