Page 352 of Castings & Curses

Kate nibbled on her lip, unsure of how to respond. Eying the others, she took a deep breath and decided it was better to just get it over with.

“Well…Kendall didn’t show up last night. Or today.”

“Is she prone to that kind of behavior?”

“No.” Kate shook her head. “She’s been reliable, actually. Helpful to the max.”

Lucia nodded, her gaze flickering to the other two.

“Anything strange going on with you?”

“Nope. Unless you count Melissa Rodriguez not showing up to get her bakery order. The woman is like clockwork. But tonight, not a thing.”

“Hmmm. Grace?”

“No. Just the usual, I’m afraid.”

Lucia nodded. “Okay. Word from the other covens in town is something is going on. At least two of their younger members have gone missing in the last few hours. If Kendall is part of this, then we have at least three.”

“I don’t really know about Melissa. She’s never mentioned a thing.”

“Keep your ears open. If I were you, I would call it an early night.”

“Well, that’s kind of hard to do.”

“I know. But listen…I overheard one of the patrons talking about a couple of dead teenagers behind the coffee place earlier tonight. They’re still working the case, but they might be part of the witching community.”

“Oh no.” Grace pressed her lips together. “That’s right down the road from the shop.”

“No kidding.” Jocelyn frowned. Her pottery studio was only a few blocks away as well.

“Just, everyone keep an ear to the ground, okay?” Lucia sighed and met Kate’s eyes. “What?”

“So, Kendall went to the swamp to meet someone who wanted a spell.”

“Oh, Goddess.” Lucia closed her eyes. “That place is off limits for a reason. Has been for years.”

Jocelyn snorted. “You all know the kids will always go hiding where they think we can’t see. Hell, we did it.”

“We did. But it wasn’t teeming with off energy back then, either.”

“True.”

“I sent a searcher spell but it hasn’t come back yet,” Kate said, pulling her hair behind her ear.

“Girl, be careful. I don’t like the things I’m hearing.” Grace’s lips thinned into a line.

“I don’t want any of you taking chances. At least not until we get more info from the powers that be.”

Kate didn’t either, but as they dissolved for the night, she knew exactly where she was headed, like it or not.

Her spelled blade burned a hole in her pocket, and she grit her teeth. Something wasn’t right and she was going to find out what it was.

CHAPTER7

“Areyou going to change back, or am I going to have to live with the smell of wet cat in my car?”

Cappelli glared down at her, and Devi proceeded to rub her face in the towel Avery brought from the house. They were still by the water, and the scent of magic drifting through the air was really making her nuts. She really needed a shower, but that was going to have to wait.

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