Page 13 of Shadow Witch

“Old news,” Dewey said as the elevator continued its journey up. “I told you that.”

“I still don’t understand that. It makes no sense,” Paige said as they reached the sixth floor.

“With any luck, Reed with have more answers. If we find her.” Drucinda led them from the elevator, eyeing the signs high above them.

“Are those signs ridiculously high?” Paige asked, craning her neck to view them.

“It is the large creature section,” Drucinda said.

Paige tried to imagine a dragon wandering through the store. They’d definitely need the clearance, but… “How do they get up here?”

“There are dragon-accessible elevators at the east entrance,” Dewey said. “I remember when I used to come with my mom.”

“All right…” Drucinda furrowed her brow as she pointed at the signs. “We’re going to need the baby department.”

“No,” Dewey whined, “can’t we go to regular dragons? I don’t want baby clothes.”

“Little man, you’re tiny. That’s all there is to it. They’re not going to have a sports coat small enough to fit you on the rack.”

“But–“

“We have limited time. Not even dwarf clothes will do. We’ll need the baby department.”

Drucinda snaked through the women’s section and turned left. Soon the displays turned whimsical with giant mobiles, cribs, and massive rocking chairs.

“This is weird,” Paige said with a wrinkled nose.

“There you go again. Do you think only humans love their babies?”

“No,” Paige shot back as she stared at a mobile made up of human figures. “It’s just…”

“Oh, a human mobile! I had one of these when I was a kid. I loved it. Humans looked so fun.”

“And now you have one for a partner,” Drucinda said as she stepped off the tile floor onto the rugged area and sorted through a rack of clothes.

“Technically, she’s a witch, but sort of, yes.” Dewey fluttered into the air and sailed into the clothing section. “We’re not going to find anything here. These are baby clothes.”

“Babies still wear snazzy little outfits, you know? At least mine would have had I bothered to have any.”

Paige clenched her jaw, recalling that Drucinda had nearly raised her.

“I dressed Paige in her first onesies, as a matter of fact,” Drucinda said. “Cute little number. It said ‘I’m a badass baby.’ I really would have been a phenomenal mother.”

“You’re still young. You could still have a kid or two,” Dewey said as Drucinda lifted a cute sweater with a lamb emblazoned on it.

“Please. Single by choice, remember?”

“You don’t need to be married to have a baby. And with your looks, I’ll bet you’d have guys lining up for miles to father your baby.”

“Yes, but then I’d be weighed down. I couldn’t jet off whenever I liked. Just because I’d make an excellent mother, does not mean I should be one.”

“Good point. I wonder if Paige and Devon will have kids right away or wait.”

“Paige is not even marrying Devon, remember? It’s all fake,” Paige answered as she pulled a newborn plaid sports coat from the rack. “I found one.”

Drucinda and Dewey snapped their eyes toward her as she grinned, waving the little sports coat in the air.

“I’m not wearing that,” Dewey said as he crossed his arms.

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