Page 207 of Blue Moon Mistress

“Is there anything left?”

I drag the screen away again, revealing the completely cooled ashes and the tiny piece of the Yule log that remains. The latter goes into the silver box and back onto the mantle, the former… I use a bundle of rosemary to sweep the remaining ash into a pan and hand it over to Thomas before I let Joshua help me up.

“I bet this doesn’t go into the wastebin, does it?”

“It does not.”

“So what does happen to it?” Johnny wrinkles his nose at it and takes a step back.

“All sorts of fun things.”

“First thing’s first, we need to sift it and get it into its own jar. To the kitchen!”

They move around me, grabbing whatever I direct them to, performing every little inconsequential task, until I have a container of fine Yule log ash in front of me, and a bucket of things that need to be washed in the utility room sink.

“I’ve got these,” Johnny says, hefting the bucket off the counter and taking it to the back.

“And I’m going to go grab more firewood.” Joshua has already grabbed his coat. “It never seems to last long enough.”

“We, however,” Chase says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Aren’t going anywhere.”

“Good. I like you where you are.”

“What do you want to do with these?

There were only a few larger chunks in the ashes when we got them sifted, I spread them out on a small tray.

Five… a perfect number.

“Those, we are going to turn into talismans for the new year.” I pull a basket from beneath the counter. “And, since you asked… you get to pick from the envelopes.”

He gives me an odd look, but plucks one of the small envelopes out and I stash the others away again.

When I pour the contents into my hand… “Dill. The new year should bring protection, increased energy, joy, and good luck.”

“Because I picked an envelope?”

“Because the Goddess led you to pick that envelope. And because we are going to add this to the talismans.”

“More jewelry to wear?” Chase asks, shaking his head so his amber earring waves around.

“I’d probably suggest you keep these somewhere visible, usually with you, but not on your person.”

“So I’ll hang it from my rear-view mirror?” Chase suggests. “The new car needs something to make it stand out.”

I roll my eyes at him. “We’ll make those when the others are back. One each.”

I slide the bowl of ashes to them and a second one as well. They know where the measuring spoons are.

“Measure out a tablespoon of that for me?” I ask as I pull a small bowl of currants from the counter and a jar of crushed acacia gum from the back of one of the cabinets.

“What sort of potion are you making?” Thomas asks, leaning on the counter and looking at the items with narrowed eyes.

“No potion, just quill ink.” I crush the currants, straining their juice into a small bowl and adding the gum. “The perfect thing to write any holiday missives in. And new year promises… all the fun things.”

Because I refuse to accept that this year might not keep the promises I’ve already made.

Nine

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