Page 35 of Dawn Unearthed

“We’ll make sure of that,” Rowen said, and I sighed. It seemed that everybody wanted to spend far too much money on me. And while the businessperson in me didn’t mind, the woman who wanted this place to be her home didn’t want to take advantage.

“Okay, folks, we’ve taken enough of Sage’s time. We are past closing. The bakery isn’t going anywhere. Sage is here to stay.” I looked up at Rowen’s words. Everybody began cleaning up their messes and then clapped, a little applause that made me blush from my head to my toes. I ducked my head.

“Thank you. All of you. I mean…thank you for welcoming me.”

“You’re a Prince. You’re home,” Sabrina said softly from the register. “Welcome.”

“Welcome, my favorite niece,” Aunt Penelope said as she kissed my temple. “Now, let’s help you clean up.”

I shook my head. “No, get back to what you were doing. I want a few minutes alone with my shop. Is that okay?” I asked, looking at Rome.

He nodded. “We’ll all celebrate later. Promise.”

I didn’t know what he meant by that, nor did I know what I was supposed to say or do, so I simply nodded, smiled, and helped everybody with the last of their needs before going to help Sabrina clean up.

“The place looks great.”

I looked at her. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Thanks for hiring me. I know this is your baby, but I’m glad to be a part of it. And I swear being near you while you’re working…your magic infuses my latent powers.”

I frowned, startled. “What?”

“I’m a latent earth witch. My whole family is. We can’t do much, except for some healing spells occasionally. But being with you while you bake makes me happier. So, thank you for that.”

I shook my head. “I’m not doing it on purpose.”

“Oh, I know. If you were, we’d have to charge extra.” She winked, and I shook my head.

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” I said, laughing.

“Maybe not, but Rowen and Laurel can show you the ropes. Even your aunt can.”

“You’re a witch, then?” I asked as we started putting things away to prep for the next day.

“Technically. I don’t have any real power. But my family has a line of witches, so that’s what we call ourselves. We’re safe here in Ravenwood, although no one would come at us to burn us at the stake outside of it, I don’t think.”

I shuddered. “I don’t know if I like that idea.”

“Nobody does. The Salem witch trials happened for a reason, though. And it had nothing to do with true witchcraft.”

I wanted to ask her more. I held off, knowing that if I started, I wouldn’t stop.

“You’ve done enough here for the day,” I said after we’d cleaned up a bit. “Why don’t you head home?”

Sabrina frowned. “What do you mean? I’m here to help.”

“And you did. We’re nearly sold out of everything, and what didn’t sell is what lasts longer than a day.”

“Everybody loves your bakes.”

I shook my head. “Maybe, but it was also day one. And a soft opening. We’ll have to scale back.”

“Not all of the bears showed up,” Sabrina said dryly. “Once they do, things will change. You’re going to be out of bread and anything related to honey very quickly.”

My brows rose. “For real?”

“Only a few of the shifters came today since today was mostly about witches and the dryads and some of the fae.”

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