Page 40 of Guarded By the Gargoyle

“I know my dear, but sometimes Lady Fate moves us in mysterious directions.

“Of course, of course. Only we probably need to get your inventory out of the old shop and into the new one,” Goody Albright told me. “Unless you think it’s safe to leave it all behind for a while?”

I thought about how the police had probably gotten the door open and seen the evidence of the shooting by now. Would they impound my entire inventory as evidence? I wouldn’t put it past them—especially once they realized that Carlo was missing.

“No, it’s probably not safe,” I admitted. “But how can we get everything from New Orleans up to New England. Er, wearein New England, right?”

“We most certainly are but the distance isn’t a problem. We can simply do a large-scale transfer spell,” Goody Albright told me. “Would you like to do it now? We can always do anothertransfer spell later if you decide you want to move on from Hidden Hollow and go someplace else.”

“Um, okay.” I shifted—the duffel I was carrying was getting really heavy.

Kael seemed to sense my problem because he lifted the thick strap from my shoulder.

“Let me take that for you, Mistress,” he murmured.

“Take it back to the Flower Bower if you wouldn’t mind, please Kael,” Goody Albright said politely. “And I’ll gather what I need for the spell.” She eyed me for a moment, her eyes lingering on my neck. “Would you like to freshen up before we start?”

I realized she was looking at the bruises Carlo had no doubt left on my throat and felt my cheeks getting hot. It felt shameful that my ex had marked me.

But he’ll never be able to mark me again,I thought and shivered as I remembered my last sight of Carlo with his head caved in and one of his eyes dangling from its socket. I quickly pushed the grizzly image away.

“Yes, thank you,” I told her. “I’ll just take Miss Sassy up to the cottage and get her settled.”

“Very good. Come meet me on the porch when you’re ready. Take your time,” Goody Albright added. Then she glided back into the inn, presumably to get whatever she needed to work the spell.

I sighed and looked up at Kael.

“Well, I guess we’re heading back to the cottage.”

“After you, Mistress.” He gestured with one hand, his muscles bunching with the motion. It occurred to me that I was basically moving in with him—was that going to be weird? We barely knew each other.

And yet, we’d been through so much in the short time we’d been together, I felt like I knew him more deeply than I’d ever known a man before. I knew he would kill to defend or avengeme for one thing. And I knew he would protect me no matter what. That said something about the big gargoyle—it spoke of his loyalty and his caring.

I wondered if I could finally begin to trust a man again…I supposed I was about to find out.

23

WILLOW

The transference spell was fascinating. Goody Albright set up five white pillar candles in the shape of a large four-pointed square right in the middle of the empty store. Four candles stood on the floor to form the points of the square and the fifth was in the middle on a tall silver candleholder which put it about the level of my chest.

“I thought a pentagram had six points,” I said, as I watched her setting up the candles to form the square.

“Oh, it does but we don’t need a pentagram for this. We are not calling on any demonic or angelic elements,” she told me. “We just want to transfer all of your inventory from your shop in New Orleans to here.”

“Is this spell like the one in the cottage, where you can wish for anything you want and the cottage brings it?” I asked curiously.

“In a way.” Goody Albright made a see-saw gesture with one hand. “But this will be on a much larger spell. We’re not just asking for a single item at a time—we need multiple items which is why we’re doing a much larger spell.”

“Is it okay for me to fill this place with my stuff, though?” I asked uncertainly. “I mean, who owns this building anyway?”

“All the shops and stores along Main Street are managed by the Town Council with the exception of Goldie’s Diner and Goodman Kreeture’s Grocery and Emporium,” she told me. “They decide what businesses they want in the stores and then they put out a magical call for just the right proprietor.”

“But I didn’t come because of any magical want ad,” I protested. “I came to Hidden Hollow running for my life!”

“That doesn’t matter, my dear. Many people with magical talents are drawn here in times of great danger or need,” she said briskly. “And don’t worry about the Town Council, either—they have already approved you and the use of this building for a new Magical Supplies shop.” She winked at me. “I talked to them earlier.”

“Wow—were you really so sure I was coming back?” I asked.

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