Page 2 of Shared By the Werebears
“Oh I’m really sorry.” She gave me a sympathetic look as she added cream and sugar to the coffee. “But maybe you’ll find him—or them—soon. I was talking to Goody Albright the other day and she said she thinks love is in the air in Hidden Hollow.”
“What doesthatmean?” I asked, frowning. “Is it some kind of spell someone cast or what?”
Willow shrugged.
“I don’t know—maybe you should ask her. She seemed to think that because four couples have been matched lately—me and Kael, Sarah and Rath, Celia and Malik, and Harmony and Tark—that more are sure to follow.”
“From her mouth to the Goddess’s ear,” I grumbled. “Ihatehaving to go hunting for sexual nourishment in the Human World. Human guys are theworst.”
“Tell me about it!” Willow shivered. “Listen if you want to cast a spell to bring someone to you instead of going out to hunt for him, I’ll bringyou some of the Lust Tea I just mixed yesterday. It’s got all the ingredients for a love or lust potion—depending on how long you steep it—and all you do is drink it and speak the cantrip to bring your lover to you.”
“I’ve never tried anything like that,” I said, instantly intrigued. “Can it weed out any weirdos or serial killers? Oh, and mama’s boys—I don’t want any ofthoseeither.”
“You can customize it to exclude undesirable men,” Willow promised. “I’ll bring some over on my lunch break. Try it tonight before you trek all the way to the Human World.” She made a face. “Now that I’m settled in Hidden Hollow, I never want to go back there!”
“I wish I didn’t have to go back either,” I admitted. “It’s getting crazier there every time I go!”
“It really is—Goody Albright says that’s why Hidden Hollow is growing so much,” Willow agreed. “Everyone with any magic is desperate to get away from the craziness so they’re being drawn here.”
“Sounds about right,” I remarked. I looked up at Kael. “Anything for you, big guy?”
He nodded.
“Thank you—I’ll have some hot chocolate if you have some.”
I didn’t but it was easy to magic some up. As a kitchen witch, feeding and nourishing people is second nature to me. I poured some water into a to-go cup, muttering a ‘chocolate spell’ over it as I did.
“Warm and creamy
Sweet and dreamy.
Chocolate that is good to sip
Or into it, a donut dip,”I murmured as I poured.
The plain water changed in midair, turning into a stream of creamy, foamy, hot chocolate that filled the air with its magical fragrance.
“Mmm,”Willow inhaled deeply. “That’s amazing! I wish I had magic like yours.”
“Yes, but you can speak to people who have passed on,” I remindedher. “That’s a much bigger gift than turning water into hot chocolate. You want whipped cream or marshmallows?” I added, looking up at Kael.
“Whipped cream, please,” he rumbled.
“I don’t really use my ‘gift’ though,” Willow pointed out. “Well, except to talk to my grandfather once in a while,” she added. “It’s just not practical—yoursis.”
“Being a kitchen witch is nice,” I admitted as I reached into the fridge for a can of whipped cream and sprayed a generous amount on top of the chocolate. “I like feeding people.” I passed the hot chocolate to Kael who took a sip and murmured in obvious delight.
In fact, my magical talent in the kitchen was the whole reason the Town Council of Hidden Hollow was willing to overlook my Succubus half and let me set up a diner here in the first place—provided I promised not to “feed” on any of the male residents of the town—which was why I was constantly having to go to the Human World when my lust meter ran low.
Which reminded me, if I used Willow’s tea, I’d have to be sure to exclude anyone from the town along with the weirdos, creeps, and mama’s boys.
“Let me try that,” Willow said and Kael obligingly handed her his cup. She took a sip and gave a little moan of pure ecstasy. “And I thought yourcoffeewas good!”
“I’ll give you all the free coffee and hot chocolate you can handle if that tea of yours works,” I promised her. Imagine having my lovers come to me instead of going out hunting for them! Howuseful. I could stay in the Magical Realm and forget about the Human World entirely if it really did the job.
“I’ll bring it over on my lunch break,” Willow promised. She gave Kael back his cup. “We’d better get going if we’re going to get some bear claws before it’s time to open the shop.”
They paid and thanked me for the coffee and chocolate again beforeleaving the diner. But no sooner had the bell in the door quieted, than it started jingling again.
