Page 13 of Love's a Witch
“This is really working for the town.” Nova looked up as a trio of tourists, speaking Spanish, pushed past us, their arms laden with shopping bags despite the snow.
“It really is a safe spot for magickals to live,” I said. “Broca told me they dreamt it up after Airbnb became so popular, particularly with people wanting holidays based on unique experiences. It was a way to bring tourism money to the town, while also allowing those with magick to live openly.”
“Bloody brilliant, really,” Lyra mused, still transfixed on the bakery window. I was certain her head was already running with about a million ideas for new recipes.
Continuing on, we stopped across the street from a pub called the Rune & Rose. A handsome man, a winter hat pulled low over his brow, shoveled the walkway in front of the pub. He glanced up and then gave us a narrow-eyed look. Our reputation had preceded us, I saw.
“Friendly neighbors, as I recall.” Nova waved at the man shoveling, who turned his back and stomped inside. “Or not.”
“Can you blame him? We’d just gone into a bonnie autumn, and now endless winter is upon us. I’d be pretty annoyed too.” A blast of icy wind splattered snow across my face. “Scratch that. Iamannoyed.”
“It’s hardly our fault that our bloodline carries a curse. And a stupid one at that. We’re bad-luck charms for every town we live in, and we get crappy magick. It’s not fair,” Lyra complained.
The three of us were each born eleven months apart. And as the oldest, I had more misgivings about returning to Briarhaven than my sisters, mainly because I recalled my childhood having been deeply chaotic until my mother had kicked our father to the curb and dragged us to the States, swearing to never step foot here again. She’d held true to her word, stopping short of making us promise not to return, but those early days of misfiring magick and high tension had instilled in me a deep need for routine and calm in my life.
Which makes moving every year or so one of my biggest frustrations in life.
And I also couldn’t really blame Briarhaven for not rolling out the welcome mat upon our return. Our family had been notoriously difficult, largely due to my parents and their deeply toxic relationship. How we’d managed to stay in one spot as long as we had without blowing the entire place up was still a mystery to me.
“And I don’t see what the big deal is, anyway.” Lyra went on, squinting into an engraved gold makeup mirror—given to her by a besotted boyfriend—and swiping on a plum-colored lip tint despite the snow. “There’s always been magick in Briarhaven.”
“Yeah, but everyone had to hide it. Guess they got tired of living a lie,” Nova said.
“It wasn’t a lie. It’s just that historically the real world hasn’t taken too kindly to witches.”
“And werewolves. Your new brethren.” Lyra leaned closer and squinted her eyes at my chin. “Are you certain those aren’t whiskers I see sprouting?”
“I swear to the goddess I will break that fancy mirror of yours.” I dove for the mirror, and Lyra squealed, dropping it into her purse.
“Lorenzo would just replace it if you did.”
“Of course he would.” I couldn’t help myself and ran a hand over my chin. No hairs to be found. “Let’s just get this list done and get back home. I’m feeling… weird.”
“Weird how?” Instantly, both my sisters leaned forward, taking me seriously. I wasn’t one for dramatics, so if I mentioned something felt off, they usually listened.
I rolled my shoulders.
“I don’t know. Ever since we’ve been back in Scotland, it’s like… like I have an itch between my shoulder blades I can’t scratch. I feel on edge.” I twisted my purse strap in my hand. “I’m so used to being untethered, yet we have roots here. I don’t know how to match up what was with what is, if that makes any sense?”
“It’s like trying to attach a fallen branch back to a tree.” Nova nodded and patted my shoulder.
“Yeah, kind of like that, I guess. I don’t know.”
“Like it or not, your magick is about to appear. And we all know just how much you like being in charge.”
“Here’s your informational packet on our new town, ladies.” Nova’s voice took on a lecturing tone, mimicking me. “Color-coded with safety warnings, cultural nuances, and a few key phrases in the local language.”
“Remember never to shop too much, as we’ll have to pack up and leave,” Lyra chimed in.
“And above all else, tell your sisters where you’re going,” Lyra and Nova said together, and I rolled my eyes.
“You make me sound like an overbearing mother.”
“Not overbearing, no.” Lyra reached over and squeezed my arm. “It’s nice to have someone who cares. But, you know, it wouldn’t hurt to have you loosen up a little bit.”
“I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to you both.”
“You can’t protect us from everything. Hell, it’s not like Mum ever bothered to.” Nova’s voice held a cool indifference that I knew well enough hid the hurts she harbored.
