“Thank you.” I offer my hand, and she takes it in both of hers, pressing them together to form a sandwich. “Is your husband a shifter?”
“He’s the head of the werewolf pack,” shestatesproudly. “He told me he saw a red-headed ghost wandering through the forest the other night, and I knew it had to be you.”
The corner of my mouth quirks upward. “Wordspreadsfast.”
“It does indeed,” she agrees. “I hope youaren’tfeeling too overwhelmed. Everyone around here means well.”
“I know they do. And I appreciate it.”
She frees my hand and I tuck it into my lap. “Tell your husband I’m sorry for spying on him.”
Paloma hoots a laugh. “Oh,hedidn’tmind. He just wanted to make sure you werealrightout there on your own.”
“I’m okay,” I say. “I’m staying in the Vanderbilt House. With Theodore.”
Paloma’s eyelids drop and her voice wavers. “Now that’s a poor soul in need of a helping hand.”
I sit up straight. “Do you know ifthere’sa history between him and the coven here in Shadow Hills? He told me hedoesn’tleave the house because of something he did.He feels guilty, even after all these years.”
Iprobably shouldn’thave said that, but Paloma seems to know more than I do, and I really want toget to the bottom ofwhat’sholding Theo back.
She shakes her head with a stern expression. “That is not mystoryto tell. But you are right about his guilt. That boy let grief and remorse consume him so much it killed him.”
“Killed him?” I utter the words back to her, unsure ifI’veheard them correctly. “Did he…?”
“Oh no, dear. He died from influenza, I believe.” She looks at me earnestly. “But you know what they say about people dying of a broken heart?”
I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say, but I’m saved by Simone returning from the restroom.
“Hey, Paloma!” She greets the woman beside me with a warm hug.
“How are you sweetheart?” she asks against Simone’s shoulder.
They pull apart, and Simone grabs her bag that Casey left for her at the table. “I’mgreat! Lessons are hard, butI’mstarting to get the hang of it.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Paloma says. “Do you know which specialty you’re going to choose?”
She shrugs. “I’mnot sure yet. They all sound so interesting. There’s healing, botany, spiritualguidance. RightnowI’mfocusing on perfecting each skill.”
I’mimpressed by Simone’s commitment to her craft. If I had magic, I would hope my passion tolearnand practicewas just as strong.
“We’re going over to the house now, actually,” she tells Paloma. “Kennedy’s letting me do a reading for her.”
Paloma presses her lips togetherina polite smile. “I won’t keep you girls waiting then.”
We both wave goodbye and Simone drapes her bag over her shoulder. “You ready?”
I grab my coffee and get to my feet. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty
KENNEDY
The coven house looks quite similar to Theo’s home, only in a different font. Instead of appearing creepy and abandoned, this house is patched together with spare plywood and a lot of charm.It’spaintedan olive green and sits at the very end of Main Street, right before the road veers off into various neighborhoods.
Simone and I walk parallel to the side of the house, and as we pass, Ihearan argument coming from one of the downstairs windows. Muffled yells and high-pitched voicescarryonto the street, but Simone just shakes her head.
“What’s going on?” I ask, concerned something might be truly wrong.
