Page 7 of Ancient Magic

And if you had deep enough pockets, they could create agonizing curses to punish an enemy.

Coffee, muffins, potions, charms, and curses. A full-service business.

At the point of crossing toward the door behind the counter that hid a staircase to the upper floors, Maya came to a sudden halt.

“Is something wrong?” Skye demanded.

“Peri’s here.” Maya’s brows tugged together as if she was attempting to pinpoint their friend’s precise location. “She’s in the office.”

Skye instantly forgot her weariness, her aching head, and the wound that still seeped blood. There had to be something wrong. Since becoming Valen’s mate last summer, the couple had made it a rule that Sunday was the one day a week that they were unavailable. Nothing and no one were allowed to intrude into their privacy.

Clearly as alarmed as Skye, Maya hurried through the attached bookstore and into the back office, where Peri was pacing the floor, her body tense and her hands clenched.

“What happened?” Maya demanded.

Peri jerked as if she hadn’t sensed their approach, slowly turning to face them.

“Hello to you too...” Peri’s words trailed away as she took in the sight of her bedraggled friends. For a long moment she merely stared at them, as if wondering if she was hallucinating. Then she shook her head in disbelief. “Holy crap. You’re asking me what happened? Look at you guys.” Her eyes widened with horror. “Skye. You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine.”

Skye managed a weak smile as she edged around Peri and headed toward Maya’s desk at the back of the room. Pulling open the bottom drawer, she pulled out one of the emergency healing potions. They were nothing if not prepared. Acutely aware she was being watched, Skye tugged off the stopper and poured the thick green liquid over her wound. It didn’t instantly heal, but the bleeding stopped and the worst of the pain eased. Replacing the vial, she grabbed a disposable wipe and cleaned off the dried blood and dust.

Once she was finished, she returned her attention to her friend, who was watching her with a lift of her brows. Peri was wearing a casual pair of jeans and a Chicago Cubs sweatshirt, but she still managed to look elegant. The mage was just a couple years older than Skye with long dark curls and glorious blue eyes and a stark beauty that had softened with happiness since she’d mated with Valen.

“Are you going to explain why the two of you look like you spent the day with a horde of demons?” Peri demanded.

“Because we spent the day battling a horde of demons,” Skye admitted.

Peri’s mouth dropped open. “Why?”

“A request from the Benefactor that went sideways,” Maya answered, moving to stand next to Peri. “We can discuss our spectacular failure when you come to work tomorrow. For now I want to know why you’re here.”

Peri grimaced, wrapping her arms around her waist. “It’s nothing really. I’m sure I’m overreacting—”

“You’re worried,” Skye abruptly broke into Peri’s attempt to act casual.

Peri stiffened. “Skye.”

Skye held up her hand. “I wasn’t peeking into your mind,” she assured her friend. “But I can sense your fear.”

“Is it Valen?” Maya snapped. The older woman was as protective as a mother hen when it came to Skye and Peri. Especially when vampires were involved. “Skye and I have sensed for weeks that something’s bothering you. You might pretend to be happy, but you can’t fool your family. You’re worried and it’s only getting worse.”

“What are you talking about?” Peri tried to sound surprised, but she had to know her friends had noticed the darkening shadows in her eyes.

“You can tell us,” Maya insisted. “Has Valen done something to you? I warned you that leeches couldn’t be trusted—”

“Valen is perfect,” Peri swiftly defended her mate.

Maya narrowed her gaze, her silvery scars seeming to glow in the stark light. “Perfect?”

“Okay, maybe not perfect, but he makes me happy.”

“Are you sure?” Maya pressed. “If he’s done something—”

“Tell us what’s bothering you,” Skye interrupted before a squabble could break out.

The three of them were closer than sisters. Which meant they had a genius talent for annoying the crap out of each other. Peri hesitated before squaring her shoulders. She had come to the Witch’s Brew with a purpose, and she wasn’t happy about it.