Page 2 of Spookily Yours

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Babe. There are almost as many cats in Pleasant Grove as there are Witches. It’s the most common familiar, after all.”

Familiars were no secret in this town, and most people bonded for life with theirs. They weren’t just pets—they were part of the family.

The special bond you developed went beyond justpetsandowners.

I’d had that once before—with my first cat, Binx—a big fluffy gray thing. The moment they had placed him in my arms at six years old, it was like Iknew.He understood me, down to my soul. We had a connection that couldn’t be replicated. He’d been my familiar, my lifelong companion, and the creature of my heart.

But twenty-two years was a long time for any cat to live.

This summer, we’d dug a tiny grave in our backyard, Luna etching the little stone by hand.

Now my house was empty—quiet.

But it wasn’t just that. “This was… different.” I shrugged.

“Willow.” Her voice was soft—quiet. “I know you miss Binx. But maybe it’s time.”

To move on.

To accept that I’d have to find a new animal to fill my heart. My potions lacked a certain luster lately. Like something was missing.

Luckily, I could still make a mean mocha, since I ran the coffee shop side of our business.

I took a deep breath. “I know.”

Binx had a good life. It was time to let his soul go into the afterworld, to the beyond. He’d earned that right.

But it didn’t solve my loneliness. My sister had moved out of our parent’s home, the one we grew up in, six months ago, leaving me alone in the creaky old Victorian manor. I kept saying I needed to update it, but I hadn’t worked up the courage to go see the twins about renovations. If we weren’t witches, I would have sworn ghosts haunted it. Maybe it was.

“I was thinking about going to the shelter. Just to see.”

If there was a connection. If one called out to me. I’d been avoiding going for months. What was I scared of? That none of them would bond to me—or that one would?

I sighed, shaking my head. “I just need to get out of this funk.”

Luna dipped her finger in her icing bowl. “You know, it’s a good thing that the Pumpkin Festival is right around the corner. And Halloween! That always cheers you up.” She plopped that finger in her mouth, licking the icing off. “Needs more vanilla,” she said, crinkling up her nose.

“Yeah, but…”

I didn’t have a good excuse, so I just busied myself by getting the coffee ready.

My sister crossed her arms over her chest, staring at me. “Isn’t Eryne working the counter today? Why don’t you take the day off? Golook.And maybe go do somethingfun.You’re acting like your soulmate died, or something.”

“Hey!” I frowned. No, that aspect of my life hadlongbeen dead. When was the last man I’d even dated? Probably before my parent’s death.

There was a reason I was twenty-eight and still single. The last few years, I’d hidden away, only leaving my parent’s home for work, errands and to see my coven. I was a homebody, I’d admit. I preferred curling up on my couch with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn to going out.

“There’s always The Enchanted Cauldron too,” she said, a sly smile on her face. “Who knows, Mr. Perfect might just waltz in and sweep you off your broom.”

I snorted. “As if.”

But my brain couldn’t help conjuring an image of a man—tall, dark, and handsome—swooping in to give me the most romantic night of my life. A girl could dream, right?

I shook my head. That wasn’t happening. Besides, I’d tried it before. I’d sworn off men, especially human men, for a reason.

“Maybe mom was right,” she mused. “When she said we should look into our futures. See who we’d end up with.”

I shook my head. “You know better than to meddle in our own lives.”

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