Page 19 of Dawn Unearthed

“Never discount yourself. That’s true for anyone, but especially for a witch.”

“You keep calling me that, and yet all I’ve done is see my tattoos moving around my body and somehow raise water levels that nearly killed Rome’s fish.”

Rowen shook her head. “You’ll understand soon. You’re a Prince, after all.”

My heart clenched ever so slightly. “No, I’m a Reed now.”

Rowen reached out and squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry for your loss. Your aunt spoke highly of Rupert.”

That made me smile. I didn’t cry or scream when I thought of my late husband anymore. While I wasn’t healed, not entirely—a widow never could be—I had moved on. I was on my path to finding happiness. Without his family, who always thought I was nothing. And without the town that hadn’t known me at all.

“He was amazing. And though Iwasborn a Prince, I’m a Reed now. My mother kept her maiden name, but I didn’t. I don’t want to think of myself as a Prince and forget Rupert, if that makes any sense.”

The other woman nodded. “It does. And I understand. But you can honor both names to know where you came from. On both avenues, to see where you’re going.”

“It’s hard to see where I’m going. And, sometimes, the past seems so tangled.”

“The Princes were one of Ravenwood’s three founding families. The Ravenwoods themselves, my ancestors, built this town, but two other families came soon after—the Princes and the Christophers. Laurel comes from the Christophers.”

My gaze shot to her. “All three of us are from founding families?”

“As it was written. The last coven should be of the three families, the ones who will bring us forward into the light.”

“It sounds as if you’re speaking from a prophecy or something.” I tried to infuse laughter into my voice, but none came.

“Many things are written, but not all is seen.”

“Now you sound like a fortune cookie,” I said drily.

“You know, that’s what I’ve always maintained,” Laurel said as she walked towards us, her boots clicking on the cobblestones. “She likes to sound sage and wise, and yet, she sometimes sounds like a cracked, stale cookie.”

“Let’s not start today. I’m trying to introduce Sage to the town.”

“You’ve told her about the founding families and some of the businesses on Main Street. Have you introduced the town?”

“I’d like to see my bakery if that’s okay.”

“We can do that. First up is Ravenwood Pages. Laurel works there.”

I looked at the other woman. “You do?”

“Sometimes. I help my brother with a few things, but that’s online, so I also help your aunt from time to time.”

I noticed that Rowen had stiffened at the mention of Laurel’s brother, but I didn’t ask. It wasn’t my place. And, honestly, I didn’t have enough room in my mind to worry about anything else right now. It was enough that I was attempting to believe in magic and keep up with everything the residents of Ravenwood threw at me. I didn’t need to add anyone else’s emotions. Although, that was easier said than done. Rowen was so tightly wound that it felt as if she were suffocating next to me. Her feelings leaked through a tiny sliver in her control every once in a while. I could barely feel anything, but I did feel it. Laurel, on the other hand, burned brightly. Anger and pain wrapped around her as tight as a fist. Every once in a while, a flame of energy flicked off her as if the pain were screaming.

And even as I thought the words, I wondered if maybe I had known who I was my entire life. Yet, it had taken me taking my first step into this town to understand what exactly I had been feeling all these years.

I moved past the women and looked up at the building to our right. I grinned. “It looks like the photos,” I said, smiling.

“Your aunt has been doing a wonderful job with the place. I always find the books I want. It’s as if she knows what I need to read each morning.”

“That’s what latent witches do,” Laurel said, rolling her eyes. “You can go in now, but your aunt isn’t coming in until later today. You should probably go in with her then. She’ll want to show you the place.”

I nodded, my gaze still on the two-story building with its blue shades, cream wood exterior, and beautiful front porch. Each of the businesses looked as if they were older homes from the original town’s founding and had been converted along the way. Everything was picturesque and set in an older time, with a few new-century editions like WiFi signs and streetlights.

I loved it. It called to me. Spoke to me as if I were finally home. However, I didn’t quite understand how I could feel that way so quickly.

“Your building is next, and my shop is on the other side.”

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