Page 23 of Love's a Witch
“This. Is.Chanel.”
“He’s still learning,” I explained, giving her a wide berth as I crossed the room to where Tam held out her arms.
“Give me the fierce beastie. I bet you like a cuddle, don’t you?” Blue collapsed in Tam’s lap, and she scratched his belly, cooing over him.
“Um, so, hi.” I raised a hand awkwardly at the middle-aged woman I hadn’t met yet. She wore slim black trousers, a silk blouse, and a matching black jacket. Gold winked at her ears and neck, and her blond hair was sleeked back into a knot at the nape of her neck. She walked over and held out her hand.
“Deidre Valor.” Two pumps, a firm grip, and a sharp nod of the head.
“Hi, Deidre. I’m Sloane.”
“I own Valor Real Estate.” A card materialized in my hand, and I blinked down at it, then back up at her. “I’m a house witch.”
“Ah, right.” A house witch typically specialized in all spells for hearth and home, particularly in the protection of an abode. It made sense for her to be a Realtor. “And one of the Charms?”
“Aye.” Another brisk nod, and Deidre returned to scrolling on her phone as she flipped through a stack of manila folders.
“Is she… working?” I asked out of the side of my mouth.
“She’s never not working.” Tam shook her head. “Her cortisol levels have to be through the roof.”
“Right, now that we’re all here”—Mandy Meadows clapped her hands—“we can call our first official meeting of the Charms as a whole.”
“Is this the entire coven?” Lyra looked around from where she sat curled on the couch, a latte in hand that looked professionally made.Knowing her, it had cinnamon and honey, with a touch of cayenne sprinkled on top.
“It is.” Broca smiled at me from her armchair, where she was stitching sequins to a purse. “There’s nine of us here, and that completes the coven.” Witches and their multiples of three. Go figure.
“Mandy, Felicity, Tam, Deidre, Raven, Lyra, Nova, Broca, and… me.” I pointed a finger at myself. “The Scottish Charms.”
“At your service,” Raven trilled, looking fresh as a garden rose this morning in a soft navy jumper and faded wide-legged jeans.
“I brought snacks,” Felicity said, from where she sat hugging her tote on a dining room chair next to Deidre. Blue poked his head up, interested.
“I think just coffee,” I said, backing slowly away from the room of women as though they were a bomb that could go off at any moment. This really wasn’t how I thought my birthday morning would go, and tension knotted my shoulders. Were they expecting me to perform or something in front of everyone? I was awkward on a good day, and I had barely been awake long enough to brush my teeth, let alone privately test out my magick.
I could sense it, though.
Humming, just below the surface, like that little tingle you get when you get zapped by static electricity. Waiting to be used. Calling to me. I wondered if I could just ask it what it was…
“Sloane.” My name was the only warning I had before the tray of doughnuts and croissants slid off the counter and went flying toward my feet.
Blue roared from across the room, but my hands were already up, and… I felt it.
My magick unfurled, stretched, and stepped into the light.
The tray stopped before it hit the floor and hung there, levitating. I froze, uncertain what to do next.
“Tell it where you want it to go,” Broca instructed.
Go back to the counter, I instructed in my mind.
The tray trembled but then floated gently back to the counter.
No way.I’d just done that.Me.Whirling, I looked at the group, my mouth hanging open. Blue lifted his wings and air-waddled his way over to me, and I caught him in my arms. He licked my cheek, seeming to be proud of me, and I beamed at him.
“Levitation,” Tam said, giving me a pleased nod. “Well done.”
“Right, then, Charms. Looks like we won’t be needed here as long as we thought.” Mandy Meadows sniffed and checked a slim gold watch at her wrist. “I’ll see you at the cèilidh later.”
