by Kathryn Moon
“The circle worked,” June said.
Even the breeze was docile, teasing one of Imogen’s wispy curls against June’s nose. There were faint night songs around them, owls and crickets and the soft creak of a tree branch, but the whole world had gone drowsy. She’d worried when she first arrived at the preserve that the crowd would impede their work, but the locals had lent something to the magic that June hadn’t expected. Belief.
“Did we over-do it?” June asked.
Imogen huffed, and it might have been a laugh. “There’s no such thing as too much peace.”
June hummed and combed her fingers through Imogen’s hair, ignoring the way her sister stiffened. “You didn’t have to come with me. I know you don’t… I don’t mind coming alone.”
“Protection spell or not, the demons are still in Sweet Pea. You shouldn’t come out here by yourself,” Imogen said.
In her chest, June’s heart clenched painfully, somewhere between terrified of the future and touched that Imogen was thinking of her. Her throat squeezed, and her head went dizzy, and then Imogen’s arms tightened around her waist and the dizzy spell subsided, June taking a quick gasp of breath. Ninety-nine percent of the time, June’s thoughts were occupied by the worry of caring for her sister—their childhood was rancid, the years after worse, and Imogen barely bothered to aim for existence, let alone health most days—but every so often their roles reversed and Imogen grounded June. June suspected her sister was more adept at the role, because all it took was a touch or a look and her rising panic would settle under a wave of calm.
“Josie was stronger than usual tonight,” June mentioned as her heart slowed in her chest. Imogen said nothing, and June resisted the urge to fidget.
“She went through a trauma. That can change your magic.” Imogen said after a long pause.
It had changed theirs, more times than June cared to count. Imogen’s withering spirit, their parents death… Wesley and all the pain he’d served with him.
“I don’t come here because I miss them,” June whispered, holding tight to her sister as Imogen froze in place. “I think I come here… to remember what they made me. The good parts.” Few as those were.
“I would forget, if I could,” Imogen said. She pulled herself free of June’s arms and headed for the graveyard path. “Let the protection spell do its work, June. No more confronting demons.”
June thought of the enormous Ash, filling her shop doorway with the sun behind him, and then buried the image. “I could say the same to you.” June hadn’t been the one summoning a demon years ago, not that she would throw it in Imogen’s face now.
“Trust me, I plan on staying away from that trouble,” Imogen said.
With Imogen’s back to her, June brushed her fingers over the top of the wide headstone for her parents, cool dew gathering on her skin. What she hadn’t told Imogen was that she came to the graves for the superstitious reassurance that their parents were still there. Still…resting.
Sure enough, the grave was peaceful, just like all of Sweet Pea for the moment.
June turned and followed her sister out of the graveyard.
Also by Kathryn Moon
COMPLETE READS
The Librarian’s Coven Series
Written - Book 1
Warriors - Book 2
Scrivens - Book 3
Ancients - Book 4
Summerland Series
Welcome to Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 1
Secrets of Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 2
Leaving Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 3
Standalones
Good Deeds
Command The Moon
SERIES IN PROGRESS
Sol & Lune
Book 1
Sweet Pea Mysteries
The Baker’s Guide To Risky Rituals
The Rooksgrave Manor Series
Esther: A New Beginning - Book 1
Acknowledgments
Thank you to:
KellieArts, my incredible cover designer.
Meghan Leigh Daigle, my precise proofreader.
The BetaQueens: Rachel, Helen, Jami, Jess, Kristina, and Ash.
My amazing Moongazers who cheer on each and every step!
All my writing babes, near and far, who inspire and motivate me.
My Momma Moon for loving me and my stories, and for running away to the mountains with me to celebrate this book.
About the Author
Kathryn Moon is a country mouse who started dictating stories to her mother at an early age. The fascination with building new worlds and discovering the lives of the characters who grew in her head never faltered, and she graduated college with a fiction writing degree. She loves writing women were are strong in their vulnerability, romances that are as affectionate as they are challenging, and worlds that a reader sinks into and never wants to leave. When her hands aren't busy typing they're probably knitting sweaters or crimping pie crust in Ohio. She definitely believes in magic.
You can reach her on Facebook and at [email protected] or you can sign up for her newsletter!
