The cabinet also housed the most dangerous potions and tonics I had brewed—like the mixture that induced a long, deepsleep. The memory blurring tea blend. And the outlawed love potion.
A broad, arched window covered the side wall, letting in as much light as possible. The sill was crowded with potted plants that reached for the light with curling tendrils and vining leaves. I kept the curtains open as much as possible.
Sometimes, on my darker days, I hoped the bright light would sink under my skin and brighten my insides too.
Everything that I needed was here in my shop. Well, except for Fiella. I needed her too. It was always us against the realms, and since she had become mated, I didn’t have unrestricted access to her friendship like I used to.
It ate away at my insides like a mild acid.
I was thrilled for her, truly. She deserved happiness more than anyone else I knew, and Redd treated her well. I just missed her. I missed our spontaneous trips, and our daily dinners together. I missed our random middle-of-the-night gossip sessions.
I sighed, trying to shake off the grasp of melancholy.
I wasn’t necessarily lonely—I had only ever really had Fiella and the witches in my life and I never needed anyone else. I just felt… a bit gray on the inside. Sort of hollow.
I focused harder on my book, hoping to distract myself. I was so absorbed in the story I could almost pretend I didn’t catch glimpses of sprites flitting in my peripheral vision. The tiny, fairy-like creatures were almost impossible to spot, but if you weren’t looking directly at them, you could occasionally see the glimmer of their wings, the sparkle of their streaming hair, or the sheen of their glowing skin. Sprites were everywhere—in the forest, in the depths of the river, even distributed throughout towns, but there was an ungodly amount of them infesting my shop.
Fucking sprites.
The book distraction worked, because a few chapters later, after a particularly fascinating spicy scene and a battle between rival wolf shifter clans, Fiella pounded on my shop’s front door.
“Let’s go, Kiz! I’m starving!”
I dog-eared the corner of the page (certain Fiella would curse me out for that later), pulled myself out of bed, and smoothed my hair, hoping my tunic wouldn’t be too noticeably wrinkly.
“I’m coming, I’m coming, hold your unicorns,” I grumbled.
I tossed my satchel over my shoulder and tugged my boots onto my feet, all the while listening to Fiella complain outside my door about how hungry she was and how she would drop dead if she didn’t get a cider in her stomach in the next five seconds. Dramatic vampire.
The walk to Ginger’s Pub was especially lovely in the evening. The mild season air was the perfect temperature, chill enough to benefit from long sleeves but not frigid enough for a cloak. It smelled of crisp, green leaves, a hint of warm stew, and something that reminded me of nutmeg.
The scents of small-town living were everywhere—of folk working and creating and eating.
Our boots clacked along the stones in sync. Fiella’s legs were much longer than mine, but she was mindful to shorten her stride.
Critters scurried across the cobbled streets without a care in the world, not even bothering to shy away from any roaming folk. Two squirrels chased each other in a circle beside my feet, chirping happily. I stepped away from them.
“So,” Fiella said, nudging me with her elbow. “How was your day? Same as usual, or did something juicy and exciting happen?”
“Pretty much the same, I’d say. I made some standard deliveries. Medical, the pub, Mayor Tommins, Ani, the clothing shop.”
Fiella hummed in contemplation. “And did you dispose of that ghastly cauldron concoction? I don’t even know how you’re going to do that. You’ll have to take it to the Barren Lands and hope the scorching suns dry it out or something.”
I sighed. “No. I did not have the energy to deal with that today. That’s a problem for tomorrow. Oh! There was someone sick at Moonvale Medical today. Any idea who it could be?”
“I can’t believe a folk with a stomach bug is the most exciting thing happening in town today.”
“It is pretty pathetic. Nothing wonderful happened over at Fiella’s Finds? Any rich strangers with mysterious backstories wander in to buy your most expensive items with suspiciously obtained silvers?”
“Ugh, no. I wish. Just the usual travelers and locals. You know I’d immediately send any suspicious but rich strangers in your direction.”
“We’re boring today. Maybe we need more curses to spice things up.”
Fiella jabbed me in the ribs with her finger. “Don’t even say that out loud. The fates might be listening.”
I snorted, shaking my head as we neared the pub.
Raucous laughter drifted out of the propped-open doors, the smell of bread and crisp fermented fruit, and a mild twinge of magic wafting out to meet us. Music thrummed quietly somewhere inside—a musician earning a few extra coins. Tables were set up outside for folk to enjoy the evening air with their dinner and ales, crowding into the street and even turning the corner around to the side of the building.
