Page 31 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Tinsley placed a hand on her chest. “I’m a kitchen witch. My power is in the spells and potions I create through food and drink.”

I stared down at my tea, suddenly worried, and Tinsley chuckled. “It’s only tea. Trust me. I didn’t add anything to it.

“There are other types, too,” she continued. “A green witch has an earthy scent, and they specialize in herbs, plants, and nature. They tend to enjoy living in tranquil environs. An augury witch”—Tinsley reached forward and tapped the tarot cards—“is one who can foretell the future and channel prophecy. They have a smoky, woodfire scent. There are many more—cosmic witches, ceremonial witches, et cetera. What you smell like, dear Kirsten, is what we call an eclectic witch.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“An eclectic witch is the most rare of our kind. A witch who can specialize and master all the different kinds of magic. Your scent changes from person to person, yet stronger than any. To me, you smell of pine and leather, the amber scent of a ceremonial witch. But when I noticed the way the black opal called to you?” She winked and gave me a sly grin. “It was easy to see there was more to you than simple ceremonial magic. Only an eclectic witch could wield a magical item as strong as the opal.” She gazed at me intently. “What makes no sense to me is that you have no knowledge of this. How old are you?”

“Me? I’m thirty-two.”

Tinsley shook her head. “Not how old you look, how old you are.”

“I’m thirty-two,” I said again, more forcefully. “This is me.”

Tinsley sat back slowly, eyeing me again. “How old do you think I am?”

“I don’t know. You look like you’re in your late twenties?”

“I am seventy-nine years old.”

I almost choked on my tea. “Jesus. What kind of skincare routine do you have?”

A musical laugh burst out of Tinsley. When she recovered, she said, “I take it your powers never manifested at sixteen? You never had a coronation ceremony?”

The photo of Nana had those same words written on them. I most certainly would have remembered something like that happening. I shook my head. “No. I’m a teacher. I teach kids math and reading. As far as I remember, my sixteenth birthday was pretty boring and uneventful.”

Tinsley chewed on her lip and glanced toward a bookshelf. “Hang on. There is more than I can tell you today. Let me grab you a few things.”

She sat her teacup down and glided over to the bookcase. I watched, feeling like I was swimming through a strange dream, as she pulled out three books and slid them into a paper bag. She put the bag on the tarot table before heading behind the counter.

“What are you doing?” I asked as she pulled out a small, delicate hammer along with a sharp chisel.

“One moment,” she said, then moved to a large purple crystal on a shelf behind the encounter.

With hands deft and precise, she used the hammer and chisel to break off a shard of the crystal. She pulled out a roll of silver wire and pliers, using them to bind the crystal in a weblike container. Faster than I could have believed had I not seen it with my own eyes, she returned with the crystal attached to a thin metal chain.

Without asking, she swept the chain around my neck and attached it. “There.”

“What is this?” I asked, fingering the crystal that now sat just below my collarbone.

“This,” she said, tapping the crystal, “will help you center your magic as you learn to control it. The books will explain much more than I can.”

Something she’d said earlier came back to me, and the question was out of my mouth before I could stop it. “You said shifters can smell magic?”

She nodded, a wary look coming over her face. “Yes. Do you know any?”

“I actually live a few hours away in a place called Crestwood. It’s a shifter town. My nana’s cabin is right on the outskirts of their territory.”

“Be very careful around wolves, Kirsten,” Tinsley cautioned, her tone suddenly grave. “Watch that you are mindful who you spend time with. At best, shifters are ambivalent toward us. At worst, they crave our power and are desperate for us to increase their power.”

“Duly noted,” I said, standing and picking up the bag.

“If you have any additional questions, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks. This was really weird,” I said.

“Magic usually is,” Tinsley said with a grin.

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