Aiden grinned at Sky’s tone and the invitation to open himself up, to demonstrate his abilities in the small, close-knit family of the Silver Circle Coven that he was now a part of.
“Be careful what you wish for,” he said with a playful tilt of his head. “You just might get it.”
Aiden spread his hands toward the sky. Leaves swirled around Sky and Aiden in a hurricane of gold, crimson, and orange. The rain whisked off of Sky’s skin, her hair tousled by the wind. The fire guttered out and darkness closed over the clearing—a darkness so complete that Sky couldn’t see Aiden in front of her.
Then light filtered down from above.
Sky craned her neck back to see the clouds sliding away and the moon coming into view, like a gleaming white smile against the blue-black of the night. Stars winked themselves awake, glittering and shining.
Aiden brought one hand up in front of Sky. He snapped his fingers and a small star sputtered to life above his fingertips. It floated there, a ball of gold that resembled the same magical stars at the Mabon celebration’s entrance.
“For you,” he said.
Slowly, Sky reached out. She touched the light and it rippled up her skin with ticklish warmth until a laugh bubbled up in her throat.
Sky’s gaze flicked back to Aiden’s face. Her laughter died in her throat. Looking into the dark brown of his eyes. Seeing that line of his mouth so kissably close.
Oh no, she thought.
Sky sighed.
She still loved him, just a little bit. If only she could stop her heart from wanting what she couldn’t have.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A tentative truce settled over Wildemoor between Aiden and Sky. Aiden remained close to Spellbound while Sky remained close to Boiled and Brewed. They didn’t cross paths very often with each other but when they did, it was civil and polite.
They weren’t at odds anymore. But they had lost that familiar easiness Sky had craved in Aiden’s company during the Mabon celebration. Aiden always seemed as if he was about to say something more, only to change his mind and walk away instead.
And every time it happened, Sky wanted to call after him. To ask what he was about to say, no matter how bad it might be.
But Sky always remained rooted to the spot, her mouth shut, watching Aiden leave. She wasn’t in a position to ask what he wouldn’t say. That was reserved for close friends, family…lovers. Those who knew him on a much more intimate level than she did now.
Besides, maybe it was better that she didn’t know what he was going to say. She might not like to hear it.
Over the following weeks, Samhain grew steadily closer, turning Wildemoor into a whirlwind of preparation for the holiday.
Samhain marked the darker half of the year, when the days were short, the nights were long, and the earth was at rest from the blossoming harvests of spring and summer. The celebration touched every corner of Wildemoor with sweet treats on doorsteps and candles in windows to ward off the darkness. At the end of Samhain, a massive bonfire would be built at Pagan Posies. The witches and warlocks would gather around it and say their farewell to the year as winter crept in with long, cold fingers.
Sky couldn’t help but feel like she was waiting for something. Waiting for Aiden to show his true colors once again, despite the truth she had seen in his eyes at the coven meeting.
I want so badly to make it right, Sky. You deserve that much. And it’s got me all tangled up in knots. I can’t think of anything else. Just you.
But as the days passed without incident, Aiden remained firmly rooted in the Silver Circle Coven and all she heard were good things about him.
Just last week, Hazel took her class to Spellbound for a visit, to teach them about the healing power of crystals and how to choose which stone for a specific ailment. Hazel had been impressed with how Aiden handled the children, answering their boundless questions, sticky fingers clasping at stones and waving errant wands about.
Two days after the meeting, Mother Hestia praised Aiden to the high heavens for paying her a visit, bearing a brand new scrying bowl, carved from one giant rainbow opal.
“To keep an eye on Wildemoor while I’m enjoying the company of my grandchildren,” Mother Hestia had said, her face beaming with delight. “Isn’t that so thoughtful of him? I knew I chose the right warlock to join the Silver Circle. We’re incredibly lucky to have him.”
Even Bryony spoke highly of him, although a bit reluctantly. She was seated on Sky’s counter as Sky mixed loose herbs into her tea tin for the day—a pinch of calendula, a generous helping of chamomile, a sprinkle of milk thistle, and a fat tablespoon of dried apple, just for a little autumn flavor.
“So,” Bryony said slowly, drawing the one word out. “I suppose you’ve heard the news going around town.”
Sky didn’t look up as she measured out the tea she had mixed and poured it into the strainer.
“About Aiden?” she said. “Yes, I have. And you don’t have to beat about the bush. You can say his name.”
Bryony swung her feet back and forth, her heels drumming against Sky’s cabinet in a steady rhythm.
“Didn’t want to open up any old pesky wounds,” she said.
Sky cast a grateful glance at Bryony. “I appreciate the concern but I’m fine.”
“Yes,” Bryony said with a suspicious squint. “You’ve been strangely fine ever since the coven meeting. I thought you would be mad as hellfire about Aiden joining the Circle.”
Sky shrugged. “I was, at first. And it’s not like we’re even friends now. We’ve just…agreed to stay out of each other’s way.”
Bryony made a noise in the back of her throat that sounded as if she was unconvinced.
“Well, he came by to talk to Seline and Basil the other day,” she said.
“About what?”
“He made a business offer to them.”
Sky frowned. “Seline is seven and Basil is nine. Aren’t they a little young for that?”
Bryony plucked a dried rose from the pile of herbs next to Sky’s elbow. She twirled it in her fingers, sending faint perfume whirling into the air, filling the kitchen with the faded scent of summer memories.
“I’m not complaining,” Bryony said. “It’s about time they pulled their weight around Pagan Posies.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But it couldn’t hurt that they earned some money on the side to help pay for school. Have you seen the price for a standard book of spells lately? It’s doubled since you and I were in class.”
Sky winced in sympathy.
“So what was the offer for?” she said. “Are Seline and Basil working at Spellbound now?”
“I guess you could call it that. Seline grows and harvests moss. Basil grows kitchen herbs. At every new moon, they bring in what they have and Aiden sells it at Spellbound. They keep ninety percent of the profits.”
Sky paused mid-reach for the teacup cabinet.
“That’s…very generous of him,” she said.
Bryony nodded once slowly, her gaze never leaving Sky’s face.
“That’s what I thought, too,” she said. “Mom is ecstatic. She won’t stop gushing about him.”
Sky pulled the teacups out of the cabinet and set them on the counter.
For weeks, ever since the Silver Circle Coven meeting, she had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. She wanted to believe Aiden was good but she had fallen for him blindly once before, in love with the idea of being in love.
Now, she was more cautious.
But it seemed Aiden wasn’t trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Wildemoor. In fact, he seemed to be making a good impression that was solid, honest, and true.
“Anyway,” Bryony said as she inspected the dried, crinkly petals of the rose in her hand. “I thought you should know.”
Sky cast a sideways look at her.
“It sounds like you’re thinking really hard,” she said. “What do you make of all this? I haven’t h
eard a single complaint about him. Do you think he’s put a spell on the town?”
Bryony wrinkled her nose. “No. There would be signs. Little things that didn’t add up. And I don’t sense any pull of magic. I guess Aiden is just genuinely putting forth an effort to make Wildemoor his home.”
Sky hummed in thought. At least she was grateful that her spell—or lack of one—hadn’t caused any permanent damage. Maybe one day she would forgive herself for the mistake. It seemed she had botched what could have been a perfectly decent relationship if she had faced it head on instead of letting her doubts get in the way.
“Well,” she said. “You were always the better judge of character than I ever was.”
Bryony barked a laugh. “I don’t believe that for a second, Sangrey. You’re merely optimistic to a fault, that’s all. On the other end of the spectrum is me, wary of everyone and trusting of no one.”
Sky raised her eyebrows. Bryony placed a hand on Sky’s arm.
“Except for you,” she said. “But that’s because we’ve been together since our first year at school. If you want the opinion of someone who really understands people, you have to talk to Hazel. She’s the one who can see right through everyone’s nonsense.”
“There’s a reason she was named the new High Priestess.”
“To be honest, you know she’s going to be a pain in the neck from now on.”
Sky passed Bryony a cup of tea.
“Hazel is not the bragging type.” She patted Bryony’s knee. “That would be you.”
Bryony snorted. “It’s a miracle I got into the coven at all. I have every right to brag.”
“That’s what happens when your great-great-grandmother is head of the Silver Circle. She pulls a few strings for her favorite granddaughter.”
Bryony huffed a laugh as she sipped her tea.
“I just meant,” she said. “That Hazel has no tolerance for using magic on other witches and warlocks. So you can say good-bye to casting accidental love spells on drop dead gorgeous men.”
Sky growled good-naturedly.
“You won’t let me live that down, will you?” she said.
Bryony grinned. “Not anytime soon. You get this cute little rosy blush of frustration across your cheeks every time I bring it up. And then you look like you want to strangle me which is absolutely adorable.”
Sky swatted Bryony’s arm. Bryony cackled.
A knock at the front door signaled the arrival of a late customer for the day. Sky set aside her tea.
“That would be Mom,” she said. “We’re having dinner tonight at The Eye of Newt if you’d care to join us.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Bryony said. “I’d love to. Especially if it means that I don’t have half a dozen siblings begging for my food.”
Sky laughed as she hurried down the hallway to answer the door. Despite how annoyed Bryony pretended to be with her numerous siblings, Sky heard the soft affection in Bryony’s voice, saw the laughing gleam in Bryony’s eye at the mention of her brothers and sisters.
Even though such a large family must require a considerable amount of patience, Sky could tell that Bryony secretly loved the chaos of it, the constant activity and the boil of magic that sizzled in the air over Pagan Posies from so many witches and warlocks gathered under one roof.
Sky opened the door to admit Cassandra. A swirl of auburn leaves skittered over the floor, along with a pleasantly cool autumn wind. Cassandra nudged her witch’s hat a little further back on her head and smiled at Sky from beneath the wide dark brim.
“Do I smell freshly brewed tea?” she said.
“Always,” Sky said. “Bryony is in the kitchen. I’ve invited her to join us if that’s all right.”
“Of course,” Cassandra said, waving her off. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen Bryony. I don’t get to Pagan Posies as often as I should. It’ll be good to catch up and maybe discuss some decoration ideas for Samhain.”
“Are you two talking about me out there?” Bryony called.
“Yes,” Sky called back. “I told Mom about your tea leaves the other day. A dozen, fat, happy kids in no time.”
Bryony swore under her breath. Sky snickered.
Cassandra raised her eyebrows at Sky.
“Is that true?” she whispered.
Sky shrugged. “Let’s just say there was room for interpretation. More so than usual when it comes to reading tea leaves. But Bryony doesn’t need to know that.”
Cassandra nodded in understanding, unwinding her blue scarf, peppered with glittery silver stars.
“Help yourself to some tea in the kitchen,” Sky said. “There’s plenty to go around. I still have to feed Ceylon but that won’t take me long.”
“Do you mind if we walk to The Eye of Newt?” Cassandra said. “I know we typically use our brooms but it’s such a beautiful autumn day out there. And I’d like to squeeze in as much time with you two girls as I can.”
“A walk would be perfect,” Sky said. “I always like wandering the streets of Wildemoor at this time of year with all the Samhain decorations out.”
“Hazel has a bowl of sweets on her front porch,” Bryony called. “I say we raid it.”
“She’ll know it’s you,” Sky countered. “And you’re not dragging me into trouble with her.”
“I’ve raided that bowl for seven years. I’d like to see her try and stop me. Dibs on the chocolate covered caramels.”
Sky made a strangled, pleading noise.
“No fair,” she objected. “Those are my favorite. You can’t have them all.”
Cassandra laughed. “Bryony is the one with all the siblings. She knows how to fight dirty when candy is on the line. She’ll win, too.”
“You are officially my favorite person, Mrs. Sangrey,” Bryony replied.
***
Within five minutes, Sky, Bryony, and Cassandra were walking down the streets of Wildemoor, arm in arm, huddled together against the chilly wind biting through their clothes. The scent of sugar and spices mingled in the air as they drew closer to The Eye of Newt.
“I heard,” Cassandra said. “There was a new coven member appointed to the Silver Circle.”
Sky responded before Bryony got a chance to tease her about it.
“That’s right,” she said. “Aiden Hall.”
“And he’s settled well?”
Cassandra wasn’t part of the coven and she didn’t want to be. She preferred her cozy little garden patch outside of her cottage and working at the modest library of magic, taking care of the dusty tomes of grimoires, spell books, and hex pamphlets.
But landing a position on the coven was a dream come true for Sky. She might not be able to conjure much magic very often but she still cared about Wildemoor and its inhabitants. With Boiled and Brewed, she got a glimpse into their most intimate, personal lives. She couldn’t help but get involved with them, to share in their pain, their joy, their triumphs and disappointments.
Sky considered for a moment. “It’s too early to tell for sure,” she said. “It’s around the six month mark that witches and warlocks really get comfortable in the coven.”
“But,” Bryony coaxed with a meaningful look and an elbow to Sky’s ribs.
“But,” Sky admitted. “Aiden seems to be taking an active stance with the town. He cares about people. He tries to help where he can.”
“That’s a good thing,” Cassandra said.
Sky nodded. It was. And she was happy for it. She just wished that the record between them could have been cleared away rather than tarnished by that misunderstanding. They might have reached a truce but they still danced around that accidental spell and the romance that had shattered so suddenly.
“What about you?” Cassandra said.
Sky turned to look at her mother, confused. “I’ve been with the coven for three years. I’ve settled—“
“Not the coven,” Cassandra said. “I was referring to the gossip that has been floating around.”
“A
bout what?” Sky said.
“You and Aiden were…involved. And he broke your heart.”
Sky sighed. “It was an accident, on both sides. Magic was cast when it shouldn’t have been. It complicated things and we made a mess of it.”
Cassandra nodded and didn’t reply at first. Bryony squeezed Sky’s arm in reassurance as they waited for Cassandra’s reply. Sky had wanted to sweep the whole thing under the rug. The only people she had confessed to were Hazel and Bryony—Hazel for her clear-headedness and Bryony for her unconventional, brash way of living. And she knew they wouldn’t spread the word around town like so many other witches and warlocks would.
But Sky hadn’t told Cassandra. Not because she didn’t trust her mother. It was because she didn’t want Cassandra to think she was using magic in such a manipulative way on a daily basis. She wasn’t that kind of witch.
“So the stories about my daughter casting a love spell are true then,” Cassandra said. “I must say I’m surprised. I thought you preferred fortune-telling to magical use.”
Sky moved to block her mother’s path and look Cassandra in the eye.
“Mom, I swear, it’s not what you think,” she said.
Cassandra cupped Sky’s face in her hands.
“Sky,” she said softly. “I did the exact same thing when I met your father.”
The myriad of protests Sky had scrambled to assemble suddenly sputtered and died on her lips.
“You did?” she said.
Cassandra smiled and nodded. “He was handsome and polite. Such a gentleman. I was awkward and nervous and I couldn’t get my racing heartbeat under control. The next thing I knew, magic flew right out from my fingertips and smacked your father in the chest.”
A laugh of incredulity bubbled up Sky’s throat.
“What happened after that?” she said.
“Well,” Cassandra said. “As you can imagine, I was mortified.”
Sky didn’t have to imagine it. She had felt the same way when she had realized that she’d accidentally cast that spell over Aiden.
“Your father was human though,” she said. “And the spell did quite a number on him. He was utterly besotted with me. So, I ran away.”
Jinxed (Coven Corner #1) Page 9
