“So, I would muddle through, confused, without another human to support me?” If she knew about Cosmo, surely this gave her the opening to mention him.
I crammed a cookie into my mouth and chewed, to hide my rising tension. Now I felt almost as hurt as my familiar.
“It sounds harsh, but she thought it best for you to learn to master witchcraft from the ground up. If you’d been aware that I could amplify whatever you were doing, would you have tried as hard?” She flashed me a sympathetic smile. “And you always had your crazy coven. We used to say, there’s nothing these girls can’t accomplish together.”
I had to admit the truth in this. “Then why tell me at all?” I asked her.
“Because you’ve shown yourself well equipped to handle your tasks.” She drank her tea in slow sips. “There’s also another reason. Your aunt’s death has been a stark reminder that I, too, need to pass on the baton. If anything happens to me before I train my replacement –” She let the sentence trail away.
“You want to retire?”
“I’ve done my share, my dear. It’s a heavy load to carry, although not as heavy as yours.”
“You seem to have made up your mind.”
“I have.”
“And once you’ve handed over your powers, you’ll be back to being a normal person again, just like that?” I snapped my fingers to illustrate my point.
“My dear, I’ll continue to be who I’ve been all my life. This thing has shaped my priorities but not changed my personality. If you need me, I’ll be there in the background, only now you’ll be aware of it.”
“And this person you’ve selected, who’s that?”
“You’ll discover soon enough, once I’ve established their willingness.” She allowed herself an enigmatic expression. “And now I’d like to hear all about your current investigation.”
Ms. Vine left half an hour later, up to speed on my side and with the firm promise to return tomorrow to pick up the books forSerenity Springs.
“Feeling better now, that she’s explained the situation?” I asked Cosmo.
“Hmm.” He pushed the soft ball around on the sofa. “She could’ve told me. I can keep my mouth shut.”
“Absolutely. I think she simply wanted to spare my feelings and also save you from having to lie to me.”
“That’s possible,” he admitted. “Of course it opens a new can of worms for us.”
“Like what?”
“Who is her chosen one? Someone with a connection to you is likely, but she didn’t specify what kind of connection, apart from the fact that it’s someone mundane.”
A horrible vision reared its ugly head. “Please don’t let it be her. Because I can’t think of anyone more mundane than Linda.”
Chapter 10
“Bex? Bex?”
I snapped out of my nightmare vision of Linda and me, having to work together. Cosmo met my gaze and unleashed the power of the purr on me, until the tension left my body and my head filled with warm, fuzzy thoughts.
The purr stopped. “Now breathe. Don’t forget, you can handle anything. You’re a strong, mature woman …”
“Independent and mistress of my own fate. Right. Thanks, Cosmo.”
“I didn’t say independent.” He drew himself up to his full height. “You and me, we’re a twofer, I think the peculiar expression goes.”
“That goes without saying.” I blew him a kiss. “Don’t wait up for me. I can’t say how long I’ll stay at theBlue Moon.” I hadn’t even finished my words when my phone buzzed.
One glance at the screen and I rolled my eyes. “It’s Rick again.”
What could he want now? I’d dropped everything to go see his lady love, I’d promised the damsel in distress that I’d be on the case and keep her posted, so what else was there left to ask from me?
