Page 88 of Sigils & Spells

“Scarlett, really? That’s a bit shallow.”

She shrugged. “It’s true though. And he’s single.” Her grin was unrepentant.

I couldn’t deny my attraction to him. He was intelligent, easy to talk with, and oh, those hands. I’d date him.

Not that there would be any dates. Aidan hadn’t shown any interest in me other than as a helpful citizen. And I hadn’t been all that helpful.

“I thought he looked familiar but I couldn’t place him,” Scarlett said. “Caspian knows him.”

That didn’t surprise me. The much-sought-after divination witch was a busybody.

“The detective graduated with my brother, Sean.”

Sean was twenty-five, three years older than Scarlett. Which meant Aidan was nine years younger than me. Well outside my plus or minus five-year dating range. Not that there would be any dating.

“So where did he take you?”

“I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about it.” I pressed my fingers tightly against the insistent throb in my temples. I didn’t think coffee would cure this headache. “I’m going back to the kitchen.”

“You need a soother?”

“Maybe. I think if I eat something it will help.”

“Priya brought in blueberry muffins.” Scarlett checked her watch. “I’ve got a soother in the kitchen. It’s one of Thea’s. You eat and I’ll fix up a cup for you.” She hurried over to the front door, tutu flouncing, and locked it.

“What are you doing?”

“It won’t kill anyone if we close fifteen minutes early.” She skipped—yes, skipped—to the doorway and pushed back the starry velvet drapes. “Thea’s herbal concoctions are way better than Rebecca’s if you ask me.”

She’d get no argument from me. Thea Lykaois might not be a witch, but her healing remedies were pure magic.

Not in a skipping mood, I followed her down the hall. A fan-shaped wedge of late afternoon light spilled from the kitchen doorway, illuminating most of the passageway.

Planters with lavender, thyme, and rosemary rested on the kitchen window ledges. Tiny, cylindrical glass bottles filled with essential oils were scattered across the granite countertop, probably from last night’s class. Scarlet and Stella meticulously cleaned up after their classes. That meant Abby had taught yesterday.

Scarlett glared at the essential oils. “I’m not cleaning up after her.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll talk to her.” Abby didn’t work until this weekend. I’d tidy up later.

Eight high-backed chairs surrounded a long rectangular oak table I’d got at a second-hand shop. A plate with the promised muffins sat at the end of the table.

I accepted the paper towel Scarlett handed to me as I took a seat. I peeled off the baking cup then broke off the top of the muffin, my favorite part, and set it on the paper towel.

Scarlett went over to a shelf, took down a ceramic mug, and filled it with water.

I broke off a chunk of muffin and ate it.

“Can you at least tell me if you found any more of your spells? Wherever it was you went?”

I winced when she put the mug in the microwave. We had a perfectly good kettle on the stove. It didn’t take that long to boil water.

“I found one spell.” I wondered again if Jonah placed the charm on his backpack. If not him, who? And why had he been out there in the first place?

“What was it hiding?” A conspiratorial tone infused her words.

“Scarlett.”

Who had hijacked my spell? Had they used black magic to do it? I hoped my dad would share his thoughts on the charm. He could be a stickler for protocol.

---