Page 102 of Sigils & Spells

The satisfying snick of the door’s latch was music to my ears.

I turned to find Scarlett bent over hyperventilating.

“Take a break.” I steered her to the hallway as our lone customer set her purchases on the counter. I managed a few more restorative breaths before greeting the woman.

She grinned, fanning herself. “Oh my! Those men were hot! I’d buy a calendar if they were in it.”

Franz had been strikingly handsome, it must be a requirement to becoming a vampire. All the better to lure in prey I supposed. But my dad?

I choked back a snort of disbelief. “Did you find everything you needed?”

“You don’t happen to have either of their phone numbers, do you?” she joked.

At least I hoped she was joking.

Once I was alone, I braced my elbows against the counter and rested my head in my hands. My nerves were shot. This day had been a nightmare.

“Hey.” Scarlett slipped back into the store.

I straightened up. “Hey.”

Silver strands of hair at her temples were damp, presumably from splashing water on her face. “I’m sorry. The only vampire I’ve been around is Miles and he isn’t like most of them. I just—froze.” She shivered and hugged herself.

“You did great. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” I walked around the counter and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze. “I can’t believe Dad brought a vampire here!”

“My esteemed colleague.” Scarlett parroted my dad, then burst into giggles. She clamped a hand over her mouth when she couldn’t stop.

“Right?” Tonight we’d have a little talk. He could NOT bring Franz by again. It had been sheer luck my customer hadn’t realized one of the hot guys was a vampire.

“Do you think he took him to Vivian’s for lunch?”

“Dear goddess I hope not.” Vivian’s was an amazing Italian restaurant frequented by Council members. A horrifying thought struck me, making me jerk as if electrified. “What if he invites Franz over for a home-cooked meal tonight?”

Overcome by a fit of laughter, Scarlett doubled over.

Rubbing her back, I composed a stern text to my father in my head. When her giggles subsided, I asked, “Why are you here? Where are Stella and Priya?”

She stood, wiping her eyes. “Stella had some babysitter drama and she won’t be here for another hour. And Priya got a call from Detective Kelley.”

My temper flashed. The next time I saw him would be too soon. The man thought I was self-centered and shallow, only worried about my business.Andhe possibly agreed with his partner who thought I was a criminal. The very idea they could believe that pissed me off.

“She’s meeting with Jonah’s parents at two. Pri asked me to cover for her so she could meditate and get ready. I didn’t have any plans. So here I am. Believe me, she owes me big time now.” Scarlett frowned at me. “Why are you here? I thought you had a ward job.”

“Nope. They reconsidered their options and fired me.”

Scarlett’s violet eyes widened. “No!”

“Yes.”

Her expression went from surprised to incredulous. “Because of the assassin’s game?”

“No, not the game.” Indignation spiraled up again. I opened my mouth, ready to vent my frustrations over the deputy, only to close it again as I thought about Jonah, Clancy, and Raven. I rubbed a fist over my sternum trying to ease a knot of tension tightening my chest. “You heard about the missing witches?”

“Yeah, Priya filled me in. Why?”

“I opened—.” I broke off. I couldn’t start there. She’d bury me in questions. “Let me go back a bit.” I chewed over how to start the story. I’d love to skip over the part where I broke into the building. I’d made light of it this morning with my dad. Scarlett wouldn’t let me get away with that.

She waited, watching me with an intensity that made me squirm.

---