Page 339 of Castings & Curses

“You got it?”

“I think so.”

“Well, if you get lost, just bring up one of the videos. Just be careful not to fall in.”

Jessica laughed. “I know. I went to look up a gardening hack and four hours later, Hyacinth asked me what was for dinner. Whoops.”

“You’re telling me. It’s worse than YouTube.”

Grimacing, Jessica nodded. “So true.”

Kate turned toward the group.

“Okay, gang. The project list for this month includes a wrist cuff pattern or a simple headband for you ladies who don’t want to frighten the fish, so to speak.” Kate smiled as the group began to titter with laughter. “The project models are up on the board for you to see. Personally, I think the black and pink ones are wicked cool.”

“Kate?” A young redhead in the back of the room stood up.

“Yes, Arlene.”

“Can you help me with last month’s project? I can’t seem to get this right at all.” Arlene held up a gray vibrator cozy that was supposed to be rectangular but had somehow gone horribly wrong.

“Oh wow, honey. What have you done?” Joan, a woman in her mid-forties asked, holding up her own completed project.

“Remember that little scarf you made last Christmas, Joan? Don’t judge.” Kate raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Can you see if you can help Arlene figure out where her stitches went wonky while I get everyone checked out?”

“Sure.” Joan slid her chair down and the two began comparing notes.

“Thanks.” Kate glanced around the room. Ladies were poking through some of the new wools and synthetics she had brought back with her from market. Others were at the back of the room in the kitchen sampling the iced tea and cookies she had prepared while they decided what naughtiness they were going to work on.

“Okay class, decide which project you want to start and I’ll be around to talk with you about yarn selection. For anyone interested in next month’s pattern, we’re going to work on a matching lacy nightie and a sleeping mask.”

Kate made her way to the back of the class and watched the ladies race to the project board and signup sheet. Naughty Crochet had to be her most popular class night ever. She had sunk her life savings into this shop and was determined to offer something a bit different than the average doilies and baby sweaters most of the local yarn stores offered.

“Ladies, don’t forget to take your measurements for next month. You’re going to need them for the sizing.”

Kate didn’t even bother to listen to the griping her announcement prompted. She understood. Not a slim woman, she flinched whenever she had to get on a scale, measure body parts, or go shopping. Her best moments were in her head and through her crochet hook.

Not to even mention her stash of smut novels. It was her secret joy and every night after work, she retreated into the bedroom with a glass of wine, her latest erotic pick, and her sketchpad. It was how most of her projects had been born.

Her thoughts drifted and she couldn’t wait to close shop and get over to Lucia’s. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Kendall.

Twenty minutes at the register and the shop was empty. With a smile, she snagged her purse off the back counter and reached for her keys. She could already taste one of Lucia’s brews now.

She let her senses reach out for a trace of the tracking spell, but it was still searching.

Odd.

A flick of her wrist and the door was locked and armed behind her and she headed off into the night, unaware that a pair of eyes watched her from the darkness.

CHAPTER3

It was too quiet.

That was the first thing Detective Devi Graves noticed as she stepped out of the parked car and into the alley. Normally, a crime scene would be bustling with cops and forensic techs. She looked up at the sky and grimaced. She’d gotten the orders from her captain to head back to her hometown in Bixby, Texas. If it hadn’t been for Avery, she would have just kept going.

Too much witch and shifter politics. She preferred to live on her own merits and not bound to some old-fashioned idea of what was normal in the witching world.

What about her world?

---