I nod, hating that I have to give so much control over to others but I’m currently helpless to do more.
“You can’t run from your fate forever,” Rowyn repeats, more serious this time.
She doesn’t bother explaining what she means, and I don’t ask. Instead we have a long stare-off. Ultimately my stubbornness wins out.
She lets out a deep sigh and shakes her head in defeat. “I’ll ask my grandpa what books he’d be okay with me bringing here.”
I’m about to say thank her when she grabs her bowl and turns away from me. Rowyn doesn’t show disappointment often, but the few times she has, it’s always directed at me.
I refuse to budge on this.
So I take my teacup and leave the kitchen, returning to my bed and Petra’s journal.
Chapter 21
Renata
Mindlessly, I walk through the aisles of The Healing Cauldron.
It’s the first time I’ve been here since meeting Eden outside of Edmond’s house. I can hardly believe it’s almost been a month since I arrived in Briarhollow. So much has changed in that time. Despite all that’s still to come, I wouldn’t alter a minute of it.
According to Rowyn, it’s owned by a family of Green Witches who have lived in Briarhollow for generations as far back as her own family. The Hawthorne’s work closely with her family, but she admits they’ve always taken a liking to her specifically—as most of the town seems to.
Not aware I have my own history with Eden, she encouraged me to use her name when I got here. So far, I’ve kept to myself and looked around their inventory.
They have an impressive stock. Not only is it much more vast than I would’ve anticipated for the town of Briarhollow, but there are some elixirs and potions here that some of the most talented Green and Hearth Witches struggle to make.
Much of it would put my mother’s apothecary to shame, I happily think to myself.
As I come around the corner to a new aisle, I nearly stumble into a short, elderly woman restocking small glass vials.
“Oh gods,” she startles and clutches her chest a bit dramatically.
I bite back my grin, remembering that Rowyn said the current matriarch is a bit of an old bat “in the best way.”
“Sorry, Miss Eden,” I offer gently and step back.
“Ohyou,” she says when she looks up at me.
It comes out cold, and I worry that her initial impression of me has changed since I last saw Eden. She said she was friends with Cordelia…
“Hmmpf,” she mutters to herself and goes back to stocking the shelves. “I was wondering when you were going to come see me.”
It wasn’t ice in her greeting—it washurt. From me not coming to the apothecary sooner.
“Oh,” I breathe out in surprise. “I’ve been busy. And I wasn’t sure…”
She turns to me and crosses her arms, somehow making me feel small despite our height differences.
“You think I didn’t guess who you were immediately? When you were sniffing around Edmond’s, asking questions about him and his Chosen?” She raises an eyebrow like a scolding grandmother. “And Cordelia was my friend, dear. I’m here for you—just like I am for Sylvie Connor’s daughter and granddaughters.”
“Rowyn’s grandmother?” I ask. I’m not sure I have heard her first name before now.
“Yes, of course Rowyn.” She rolls her eyes. “Thank you for giving her a coven. She and her sister needed space from each other, and it would make Sylvie happy to see one of the Connors back at the Dreaming Willow Inn.”
“Oh, uh, of course,” I say awkwardly. “I couldn’t do any of this without her.”
She offers me a bright smile. “Glad to hear that. She’s a loyal one.”
