Page 48 of Witch Please

At the old witch’s words, Leanne took a closer look. “Damn. So she did.”

“It’s been ages for me,” Margie said with a sigh. “I demand vicarious satisfaction.”

Danica made a shooing gesture while her cousin glared at her. “I’ll take questions about my sex life later. Something big might be looming.” Quickly, she summarized what had happened at the bakery, glossing over the personal details.

Kerry cursed quietly. “You’ve made two service calls there recently. If this guy’s the real deal, he could have followed your energy trail.”

Danica let out an unsteady breath. “Exactly what I’m thinking. I haven’t bothered using a dispersal ritual in ages. I got comfortable. And careless.”

“He hasn’t got us yet,” Ethel said with a pragmatic air. “My mother told me about one who came sniffing around in the ’30s. They didn’t find us then either. Try to calm down.”

Priya came over and rubbed Danica’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. I suspect that none of us have been as careful with our magic as we could’ve been.”

Vanessa nodded. “It could have been any one of us that pinged on his radar.”

Sighing, Danica shook her head. “But I’m the one who’s spiking like crazy. My output is off the charts lately.”

“At least you admit there’s a problem.” Clem’s tight tone made it clear there would be a reckoning for this, but her cousin had the grace not to call her out in front of everyone.

I’ll hear about having sex with Titus later.

Ignoring that, Danica turned to Ethel. “You said there was a hunter here in the ’30s. Did your mother tell you how they got rid of him?” She didn’t mean it literally, of course.

If witches went around murdering hunters on their trail, it would only confirm the suspicions and result in even more hunters tromping around. The solution had to be clean and clever. Hopefully the elder witch knew what to do.

“First, we protect this place so he can’t sense our workings,” the old woman said. “And then we do a joint casting to confirm if he’s the real deal.”

“Divination is your forte,” Vanessa said.

Ethel nodded. “That’s why I’ll be taking the lead. Priya, can you lock the apartment? You’ve lived here for years, and your imprint is stronger than Kerry’s.”

“Understood. I’m on it.” Priya went room to room, strengthening her wards, until not even a glimmer of energy should bleed through to the outside.

Danica could feel the protections building, a soft glow that radiated security. Usually, they’d be laughing and chatting, noshing on the various food and drinks that Kerry and Priya had set out. Clem had bought cinnamon rolls as she promised, relieving Danica of that responsibility, but nothing else was turning out like they’d planned.

Once Leanne confirmed that the seal was solid, Kerry and Priya got the implements Ethel requested, white candles and purified water in a copper bowl along with various ceremonial herbs. The old witch took the lead, intoning softly as she scattered the carnation and mugwort, finishing with sea salt for purity. Without prompting, they joined hands around the table, allowing Ethel to pull from their energies as she peered into the glimmering water.

At first, it was cloudy as she whispered, “Tell us, spirits, true or false, false or true. Him we seek and him we find. Let none hinder this quest of mind. Hunter, the water reveals the truth of you.”

The liquid roiled inside the bowl, gentle bubbles that slowly clarified into the image of a large man, reclining in a vinyl chair. A leather jacket was slung over the back, and he was drinking a beer in a cheap motel room. As Titus had said, he was big, but more, he emanated intensity and determination. At his feet lay a battered leather satchel full of goddess knew what, maybe tools for killing witches. He wore battered boots and torn jeans. From head to toe, he radiated danger, and if that wasn’t enough, he was ruggedly appealing too. Strong jaw, dusted with dark stubble, a shock of hair so black it gleamed, and his eyes were an eerie silver gray. And though it was impossible, hestirredas they gazed on him, glancing around as if he felt the invisible weight of their attention.

Carefully, Ethel drew back, pulling out of the bond so deftly that Danica barely felt the disconnection. She rubbed her hands together nervously. “Well?”

The old witch stared into the now-quiescent tureen. “We’re in it now, my darlings. He’s the real deal.”

Her coven sisters sat quiet for a bit, each likely wrestling with their own fears. Then Clem squared her shoulders with the air of a maiden agreeing to be chained to some rocks as bait for a sea monster. “No worries. I’ll handle him.”

***

Titus went home in a hell of a good mood.

He greeted Doris with an enthusiastic belly rub. As he played on the floor with the dog, Maya came to greet him. It was rare for his sister to beat him home, but it was kind of nice not coming back to an empty house. After the way she’d bolted before, he feared she’d still be upset, but she looked better now.

Spatula in one hand, she pointed it at him like it was a microphone. “Inquiring minds want to know. Did your magical lady friend make our problems disappear? Will business proceed as usual tomorrow?”

“Yes and yes.”

“Damn. She really can fix anything. I wish I had that superpower.”

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