Page 82 of Sigils & Spells

I handed a paper gift bag with the Besoins logo on it to Vixen. “Come again.”

“Just this.” The platinum blonde handed Scarlett the concealment lotion.

“Did my order of Egyptian clay come in?” Colleen asked. Dozens of silver bangles adorned her arms.

“Not yet. One of us will call you when it does.” I put the lotion in a bag and handed it to Vixen’s companion. “Come again.”

Colleen set her basket on the counter. She gave the departing women the side eye.

Scarlett waited until the two had left before commenting, “I can’t believe Vixen keeps coming back after activating yourDo No Harmspell and getting hauled out of here.”

If I had to guess I imagined she came back for the Rejuvenate. She could go directly to Thea Lykaois to purchase it, but I doubted she’d venture into pack territory. Vixen’s only other option was buying it here as I had an exclusive distribution contract.

Since I didn’t like to talk about customers in front of other customers, I shrugged.

Scarlett had no such scruples. “I’m a little surprised she came in here with a witch. She’s always so snarky with Priya.” She wrapped bubble wrap around an amber glass bottle filled with a causticscourspell.

“Foolish witches,” Colleen grumbled. “Vampires only want us for our blood. The magic in it gives them a hell of a power boost. And once they’ve had a taste they become addicted. It never ends well for the witch.”

“Or for blood bunnies,” Scarlett murmured.

Colleen uttered an expletive, letting us know her thoughts on the naturals who voluntarily fed vampires. “Do you have any more of Mr. Abernathy’s locating spells? There weren’t any on the shelves.”

“There are a few left in the stock room. Scarlett, will you—”

“Sure. Do you want the fifty-yard locator spell?”

“Yes, just one.”

Tutu bobbing up and down, Scarlett zipped over to the hallway and disappeared through the velvet curtains.

“You be careful, girl.” The silver bracelets on Colleen’s arm jangled as she pointed a canary yellow lacquered nail at me. “Stop selling spells to idiotic teenagers. Better to lose a little money than rile up witch parents.”

I donned my professional of-course-you’re-right smile.

“Priya’s already alienated some witches in the community by dating that ridiculous vampire.” She studied me for a long moment. Huffing in exasperation, she said, “I’m wasting my breath. You’re just like your father. You won’t listen to good advice.”

Before I could make an unwise, rude reply, two men entered Besoins, diverting my attention. I knew for a fact I’d never seen either in my store before. The first man wore cowboy boots with his suit coat and tie. He had enviable thick, ink-black hair and a stern expression on his face.

The second man earned a doubletake. The worddashingfired through my mind. He didn’t look precisely like Westley from “The Princess Bride” but the vibe was there—the shape of his face, his athletic physique, and the way his auburn hair fell rakishly across his eyes. A small smile played over his full lips.

“Got it!” Scarlett’s proclamation startled me. She held up a neon orange golf ball triumphantly.

“Anything else?” I managed to ask Colleen as I imagined how the attractive newcomer would look in the Dread Pirate Robert’s black ensemble.

“That’s all.” Colleen inserted her credit card into the reader. “Text me when the clay comes in.”

“Of course. Receipt with you or in the bag?” I asked.

The men stopped, standing just behind Colleen. Thick, dark lashes framed the pirate’s forest-green eyes.

“In the bag.”

I dropped it inside and handed the paper sack to her. Colleen half-turned, and scowled at the pair.

“Pardon me.” Her lip curled in distaste.

“Ma’am.” Cowboy boots, who had the wild, earthy energy of a shifter, stepped back, allowing her to pass.

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