Page 351 of Castings & Curses

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”

Without a word, Kate headed for her car. With any luck, her sister witches would have some ideas. Her thoughts kept coming back to the bandage on Cybelle’s arm and filed it under the thousand and one questions buzzing in her brain.

CHAPTER6

“We thoughtyou’d never get here.” Jocelyn glanced up from her froth-covered beverage.

Goddess, but she loved her monthly bitch sessions with the girls. Lucia had taken the old Block and Tackle bar and turned it into Lucia’s Botanicals and Brews, a place where they could all let their hair down. It wasn’t just beer, although she had some unique draughts on tap, it was the botanical potions and brews that drew people in.

In other words, it was a bar for witches.

And it was freaking fantastic.

Orlo was a kitchen witch and his food rivaled anything she could get anywhere else in town, no matter if it was a steak, a fig vinaigrette salad, or a basket of onion rings. The man had talent. If she actually leaned that way, she would be tempted to marry him just to have him cook for her the rest of her life.

But sadly, he and his husband were happily married and adopting a baby girl. A tiny little part of her was jealous, but they’d all made their choices. Even if hers left her a little lonely at the end of the day.

Love was for other people. Hers had left town with little explanation, but deep down she thought she knew. Being trapped into a relationship wasn’t cool, and Kate had tried to do just that.

Warning her that it was close to a full moon, she’d seduced her right into bed, and when Devi accidentally marked her, it had been a bittersweet gift. It tied them together forever, but it also scared her off.

Goddess, she’d been an idiot.

Seven years later, she couldn’t get the cat out of her mind and no other familiar would do.

Loneliness was a bitch. But she didn’t blame Devi. All she’d ever wanted was to be a cop and to help people. Staying in Bixby and just being a familiar wasn’t something in her blood. Especially with her family’s bullshit kicking up dust. She had a lot to prove. Demon magic left a stain, even when she wasn’t the one using it.

People had choices. And she wasn’t going to stand in her way if leaving was what she wanted.

Her thoughts drifted back to the present as a steaming basket of onion rings drifted under her nose.

“Earth to Kate…”

The small table was laden with potato skins, cheese sticks, and now a heaping basket of onion rings with a vat of ranch that earned a happy grumble from her tummy and reminded her that she hadn’t eaten much since breakfast.

But that was fine with her. All the better to enjoy the food, drinks, and atmosphere.

The lighting was dim, just like she liked it, but the plants Grace helped Lucia cultivate to share the space were especially suited to thrive and give the place an even more unique edge.

“I know. Sorry. It’s been a hell of a day,” Kate responded, taking her seat on the high bar stool.

“Tell me about it.” Grace winced. “The garden shop was overrun with Karens and Chads and I ran out of succulent dirt.”

“The world is indeed ending.” Lucia made her way over, a large beer mug overflowing with goodness on her tray. “Here you go, Kate. You look like you could use this.”

“Yes. Thank you.” She grabbed at the mug with greedy fingers and sucked down a large gulp, the heady, malted brew like heaven on her tongue.

She loved the ladies at the store, but just soaking in the silence was a welcome change. If only her thoughts would follow. She was worried about Kendall and her visit with Cybelle had done nothing to assuage her fears. Frankly, they’d only added to them.

“I’m glad you could all make it. Especially tonight.” Lucia set down the tray and climbed onto the last bar stool. Her dark eyes flashed with something like concern and Kate put her drink down with athunk.

“What’s happened?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. The Council sent out a notice for all members to use caution in their travels.”

“What does that mean?”

“There’s been a rash of missing witches in town tonight and I wanted to see if you’d noticed anything odd.”

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