Witch's Heart

by Valia Lind

  Thankfully, I don't run into any gorgeous strangers as I grab my cup of coffee and a muffin, and head to the shop. Harper is helping Connor and his pack today, so she'll be gone for most of the day. I don't mind it though. Sometimes I really enjoy the quiet of the work, sorting herbs and crystals, talking humans into buying gems. It's interesting to see how normals react to the small insights into our world.

  It isn't long until the first customers are in the store. Two ladies on a mini vacation, they come in giggling about something or someone and stay that way while browsing.

  "Is there anything I can help you with?" I ask, a pleasant smile on my face.

  "Maybe tell me where you get all your gorgeous men from," one of the women says, as the other laughs. Their mixture of emotion suddenly makes sense. Human women do have a heightened response to the males in our town and read a little more intense. I smile in response and shrug.

  "There must be something in the water. The guys can't help but bathe in it," I reply.

  "I think that goes both ways," a deep male voice says from behind me and my body instantly freezes. Turning slowly, I look up and then up some more, to meet the striking light eyes of the man from the parking lot. The women behind me giggle, as he watches me with a crooked smile on his face. The fact that I didn't sense him instantly sets my nerves on the edge. Then, I realize what he said.

  "We have a very healthy ecosystem," I reply, turning back to the customers. "I'd look at some of the rhodonite. It's been known to boost certain...attractions." I wink at that, sending the two women into another giggle spree, but they shuffle over to the display, with only a few more looks at the stranger.

  It's now my turn be face him, and I find it more difficult than before. He's still watching me with that steady gaze of his and even as I concentrate, I can't read anything.

  "Is there anything I can help you with?" I ask, cringing at the way it comes out more hostile than I intended.

  "That depends. Are you going to yell at me again?" At that, I bristle.

  "Excuse me? I do not yell! I was merely pointing out your poor parking lot etiquette."

  "You mean the part where I parked in the appropriately marked spot?"

  I open my mouth with a snappy retort when that smile blossoms and stops me in my tracks. He's more gorgeous than I remember, or could conjure up in my mind. His whole essence opens up with the flash of his teeth and suddenly, I'm on fire. Not literally, thank the magic. But it sure feels like it.

  Pushing past him, I step behind the counter, putting that protective divider between us. He chuckles at my moves, not missing what I'm doing.

  "I realized we were never properly introduced yesterday. I'm Nolan," he extends his hand like a gentleman and for some reason, I am suddenly terrified. What if I touch him and feel his Ancient evil magic? Touch is not necessary for my gift, but it does open up channels in a new way. I don't want him to be bad. More than anything, for some reason, I just don't want him to be bad. "And you are?"

  I must've been quiet longer than I thought. Shaking off the worry, I reach for his hand.

  "I'm Krista."

  The moment our skin touches I feel all kinds of things. None of them are evil. I still can't quite read him, but I do sense interest on his part. About what, I'm not sure. I also feel my whole body respond to this one small touch, and I almost jerk my hand away. Instead, I take a calming breath and pull back.

  "Krista, it's nice to meet you."

  My insides turn to mush at the sound of my name on his lips and if there wasn't a counter to hold onto, I'm sure I'd be a pile of a mess on the floor by now. Never in all my years have I had such an intense response to a man. Not sure how to handle that, I focus on the glimpse of information I did get from him. He's not immune to emotion, he is very guarded. His walls are bigger and stronger than anything I've ever encountered and my own fascination goes up a notch.

  "Is there anything I can help you with...Nolan?" I ask, this time a lot more pleasantly. He flashes a grin my way at the use of his name and I grip the counter tighter. If he doesn't stop throwing these smiles my way, I will become a puddle of drool on the floor.

  "Actually, I was hoping for some direction. I'm new in town, and I don't really know much about anything that goes on here. I could use a tour guide."

  That freezes my insides from melting. Suspicion clouds my thoughts, as I study him a little closer.

  "I'm not sure how much of a guide you need. The town is pretty self-explanatory. Unless...you're searching for something specific."

  I let the non-question dangle between us, as we continue to stare at each other. There's something he wants, and without my reading him, I can't even begin to guess what it is. At that moment, the two customers come up to the counter, breaking up our staring contest. He smiles at them, as he takes a step back, so I can check them out. With a quick smile, he melts into the shadows of the store, nonchalantly walking through the stacks, as if he's actually looking for something to purchase.

  "He's gorgeous!" One of the women breathes out and I make a small noise at the back of my throat, not agreeing or disagreeing. They gush over their finds, and the man still walking around behind them, before they thank me and leave. The moment they step out the door, I feel like the air in the building gets heavier.

  Nolan makes his way back over to the counter, leaning over just a bit.

  "You don't think I'm gorgeous?" He asks, his voice low. I jerk back instantly, battle magic at the ready. There's no way he could've heard that from where he was. Not with any regular human hearing.

  "Who are you?"

  He stand a bit taller, placing his hands on the counter between us.

  "I'm here to help."

  "How so?" I still don't break my stance, or relax my magic. If he tries anything, I'll be ready.

  "Maddie sent me. She thinks I have something you all need."

  3

  “How do you know Maddie?"

  His words don't offer me any comfort, but raise my suspicion up a notch. Harper's youngest sister has been away at the magic academy the whole year. She's been as protected as we can get her, keeping her away from all of this. But with their dad missing, everyone is on high alert with every mention of the young girl or her school.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," Nolan speaks up instantly, hearing the suspicion in my voice. "Maddie is friends with one of my brothers at the Academy. They've been doing research on their own, trying to figure out what can be done against the Ancients. Maddie is a brilliant girl."

  I smile at that, feeling my chest blossom with pride. She may not be my blood sister, but I have always thought of all the Hawthorne girls as such. Hearing how well she's doing in her studies makes me proud. But I sober up immediately.

  "Okay, but that still doesn't explain why you're here. What is it that you have that we may not?"

  I've relaxed my battle magic, but I still don't trust him completely. Truth be told, I don't trust anyone completely. Outside of the sisters. Time and my own magic has taught me that.

  "A book of history on the Ancients."

  That shuts me up for a moment. We've been searching our archives for months, trying to find something that gives us a glimpse into the ancient race. But we've been coming up with very little. The Ancients knew how to cover their tracks when they went to sleep. It's like they erased most of the knowledge, to keep themselves safe while they slumbered. Now that they're waking up, we need information yesterday, and we have very little outside of fairytale lore.

  "How is that possible? There is not written record of them."

  "There is," Nolan argues, standing up straight and putting his hands in his pockets, as he shrugs. "Certain...families were entrusted with the knowledge as a safety measure."

  "A safety measure for whom?" I don't miss the way Nolan's eyes shift at the question and I press. "If the Ancients kept parts of their history available, wouldn't that information go to, let's say, families with not the greatest intentions?"

>   Because why would the Ancient give that kind of an arsenal to those who could destroy them? They wouldn't. Nolan looks a little uncomfortable at my question and I expect him not to answer. But he surprises me.

  "You're right. The worst of the worst were allowed to keep their memories and the records of the Ancients powers. But generations have passed and some of that information slipped through the cracks. It's how my family has come in possession of such a book."

  It's a plausible explanation, but even though I can't read him, I can tell he's hiding something. Mulling over the information, I turn away, and begin rearranging some of the inventory I pulled out earlier in the day.

  If what Nolan says is true, even a little bit of information about the Ancients will be more than we have been able to find in the months since they've awakened. They're growing stronger, which they proved by sending their minions of darkness to attack our town mere weeks ago. The creatures made of shadows syphoned our magic, until Bri managed to banish them with her newly discovered witch's fire. We've tried to fortify our wards even more, but we can't predict what kind of magic the Ancients will use next. We need all the help we can get.

  "So where is this book?" I ask, turning back to Nolan. He's stayed by the counter the whole time, giving me the time I need to process his words and I'm thankful for the consideration on his part.

  "It's with Meredith Hawthorne." I glance up at him with surprise. "I handed it over the moment I got into town."

  "Oh."

  That basically confirms all of his words to me, because he wouldn't lie about something like that. Meredith Hawthorne would not stand by and allow him to be in this town if he lied. That kind of an emotion I would've felt even if I was nowhere near her.

  "Does that mean we're good now?" Nolan asks, after another moment of silence. I study him carefully, my magic pushing against his walls, but I'm still reading nothing. I do think he isn't evil anymore, but there's still a question I haven't asked. It's not a very polite one, but I won't be comfortable until I know.

  "We will be. If you answer one more question."

  "Which is?" He leans on the counter with his elbows, his face closer to mine. His light eyes make my head spin, but I won't be deterred.

  "What are you?"

  The moment the question leaves my lips, I want to take it back. It's not exactly the proper way to ask. And I've never had to before, since I could read everyone else. For a second, I think he'll be offended and there is something in his eyes as he straightens, moving his hands flat against the surface of the counter and leaning even closer to me.

  "Do you always go around asking supernaturals what they are?"

  There's no venom in his voice, just amused curiosity. I can feel his breath on my skin now, because I'm apparently incapable of moving away from the counter. His eyes seem to dance as I stare into them, and I can't seem to find my voice. I can't tell him I can't read him. Even though I don't think he has bad intentions, that's still something way too personal to share with a stranger. Which makes me realize just how terrible I am by asking him to share his secrets as well.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect. There's just something about you..." I trail off, once again lost in his proximity. I think if the counter wasn't between us, I would take a step forward. But as it is, I'm glad it's there, keeping me from doing something foolish.

  "There's something about you too, Krista," he whispers, and even though I can't read his emotions, I can hear them in his voice. He's mesmerizing in a way I don't expect, his very presence catching me off guard. For a second I wonder how he would feel under my fingertips and I fight the urge to reach out.

  Time seems to stop as we study each other, as if meeting the other for the first time. That heaviness I felt earlier has turned to electricity and I wonder if I look away from Nolan, I'll see sparks twirling around us. He shifts just a tiny step closer to me and that move snaps me back to reality. Taking a small step back, I clear my throat, running my hands over my hips to wipe off the perspiration that collected there.

  "You don't have to tell me," I hurry to say, clearing my throat once more.

  "You mean you don't care to know?" The amusement is back in his voice and I glance up to find him smiling at me. The tension is still there, but it dissipated just a bit and I can breathe easier.

  "Of course I'd like to know. But you can tell me on your own time."

  With that, I grab one of the stacks of t-shirts I folded earlier, and step around the counter. Getting back to work is probably the safest move I can make right now. But before I can take two steps, Nolan's arm comes out in front of me. At first, I'm afraid he'll touch me. But this is not fear for my life. I'm afraid of what I will feel for him when he does. But he doesn't touch me, just blocks my path so I'm forced to look up at him.

  "I'm a shifter, Krista. A fox shifter.”

  Before either of can say another word, the bell dings and three customers walk in. It's been unusually busy today and while on a typical day I'd love that, right now I'm a little frustrated by it. I have so many questions.

  I've never met a fox shifter before. I've heard that whey they shift, they can sometimes be larger than a wolf shifter. And those can be huge. They also have some magic powers, but I'm not sure which ones, because each pack is different.

  "Do you sell any teas here?" One of the women come up to the counter and I plaster a smile on my face as I turn to her.

  "We do. Here, let me show you our selection." I glance over at Nolan, who thankfully hasn't moved. "I'll be right back."

  "Actually, I really should get going," he replies and my heart instantly drops. "But if you're up for that tour later?"

  "Yes!" I answer a little too quickly and a little too enthusiastically. Nolan doesn't miss a thing. His grin grows broader, setting my cheeks on fire.

  "I'll come by after close," he says, before throwing a quick smile at the customer and walking away.

  "He's handsome," the older lady comments as we both look after him.

  "I'm pretty sure he knows it too," I mumble, before turning back to the customer. "Now, let's see about those teas."

  It doesn't take them long to pick out some teas, and a few crystals for the road. People are always fascinated by the mystical. I don't even have to do much. They ask questions, and I make sure to add just a bit of otherworldly to my answer, and they're sold.

  Sometimes I think it would be amazing to live in a world where humans knew about the supernatural. But at the same time, I've seen what that knowledge can do. People often fear what they don't understand. And movies and TV haven't exactly painted our species in the brightest colors.

  Before long, I'm alone in the shop once more. I'm honestly surprised by the steady flow of traffic today, and I know Bri will be happy when she returns. I'm not sure how long they're going to be gone and a part of me is scared. It's crazy to think that she's out there with Mark, looking for her dad. Never have we ever thought that we would be in this situation. That we would be fighting for lives, every day.

  What I asked Harper earlier still sits heavy on my mind. Will we ever be able to get back to the way things were? Or are we destined to be soldier in this war for the rest of our lives?

  The day flies by and before I know it, it's closing time. I would be lying if I said I didn't spend most of the day thinking about Nolan. I texted Harper earlier to ask about the book and she replied with a lot of explanation marks. Her mother told her about it that morning, and after finishing with the pack, Harper headed straight to the coven's library to take a look.

  When the knock on the door sounds, I'm just finishing up with the till. After I place everything in the safe, I grab my bag and head for the front. My heart speeds up in anticipation, and I tell it to control itself. Shifters might not be Readers like I am, but they can hear things I can't. Like how fast a heart is beating. I don't need to give Nolan any ideas. I decided to keep things strictly professional. Not that I need to tell him that. I'm sure he had no other ideas. It
's my foolish heart that's getting out of control, so the decision is really for me.

  After a quick pep talk, I open the door. Nolan is leaning against the doorway, arms in his pockets, and he looks up as I step through. Those eyes pierce right through all of my defenses and I fight to stay focused.

  "Hi."

  "Hi. How was the rest of the day?" He asks, as I lock up. I still myself once more, before I turn to him.

  "It went by quick. There were quite a few customers."

  "You sound surprised."

  "Well, we're not exactly advertising our town for visits at the moment." I pause, trying to decide if I'm going to tell him everything. But he makes that decision for me.

  "Meredith mentioned the wards, and the erase spell." So he knows. I don't have to keep it a secret.

  "Yes. We tried closing off from the rest of the world, but the Ancient magic keeps breaking through. It was crazy to think that we could erase ourselves and no one would notice anyway."

  "It was worth a shot. When you reappeared, they wouldn't have known any different."

  We start toward the center of town, as the sun begins to set. Our pace seems to match automatically, as we pass tourists on the street.

  "You seem to know a lot about our ways," I comment, not really asking the question but hope he answers it anyway.

  "I was raised around witches," he says, smiling down at me. "Our community isn't as large as yours, and we tend to work with other species more often than not."

  "Where is home then?" If I wasn't looking at him, I would've missed the light twitch at his mouth. I really shouldn't be staring at his mouth, but now I'm kind of glad I am. Without my reader powers, it's difficult to gauge his responses.

  It's not that I typically use my powers on those around me, but there's a part I can't completely turn off. I've learned how not to read my closest friends and family, and mother has shown me quite a few tricks on protecting myself. I didn't always have the skills and those memories still sit heavy with me. But with strangers my powers are on high alert. And even now, they're trying to break through his walls. If only a little.