Page 16 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

“Why did the Council summon you?” Talula popped a pistachio in her mouth, then chopped up the rest. “Did they say we couldn’t have the bounce house again this year for Samhain? That one wizard gets so uppity about liability.”

“They actually approved three bounce houses this year. But no, this meeting was about something else.” Sara sat down at the kitchen table wearily. “A group of hunters is targeting magical creatures.”

“What?” Talula had grown up hearing terrible tales of people rounding up and slaying magical beings en masse, but it hadn’t happened in her lifetime. Sure, small angry mobs showed up every few years to target one specific magical individual, but the Council squashed that sort of thing before torches and pitchforks got involved. Of course, the Council proudly attributed the infrequency of these events to the Blue Moon’s operations and its commitment to secrecy.

Talula pressed on. “Do these people want to kill all magical beings because they think magic is evil?”

“These hunters are less ideologically motivated.” Sara scowled. “They’re rich, overgrown children looking for something rare to kill and hang on their mantel.”

“That’s awful.”

“It is.” Sara sighed. “But people like that have existed as long as there was ‘mine’ and ‘yours.’ ”

Talula searched her mother’s face. “Then why do you still look worried?”

“Because…” Sara took off her silvery veil and ran an anxious hand through her hair. “Instead of hunting the creatures down by themselves, these entitled fools are paying a company to seek out their prey.”

Anger flared in Talula’s chest. “Like, how rich jerks pay to shoot and kill drugged lions and then take pictures with them?”

“Exactly like that. A professional trophy-hunting company.”

“Has anyone been hurt?” Talula asked, arms hugging across her chest.

“A goldhorn buck was separated from its herd and never seen again.” Sara gripped the countertop, knuckles white. “And one of the Council’s wildlife sanctuaries is missing a griffin. Our investigators found animal tranquilizer darts at both locations.”

Talula’s breath caught, horror and shock snatching her air. Goldhorns, the elusive magical antelopes, were famous for being impossible to spot, let alone catch. And a missing griffin? That particular being was the bite-first-ask-questions-never type. On a good day. “How is the hunting company doing this?”

“I don’t know. But these hunters will be stopped.”

“What about Samhain?” Talula asked. “Will the festival be safe for everyone?”

“Absolutely. Our protective wards around Pine Hollow are strong, and the festival’s cover is just too good,” Sara said confidently. “After all, would you believe that hundreds of magical beings would gather together for a small-town carnival?”

“Yes, but only because it’s a really good carnival,” Talula pointed out.

“It is, isn’t it?” Sara’s serene smile scrunched up her obsidian eyes. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep Samhain safe for everyone.”

“I know you will.” Talula delicately pressed slivers of pistachio and dark chocolate chips into the cooling cookies.

“Which is why I’m leaving.”

Talula jerked to attention, pistachios in hand. “What?”

“My dear, until we learn more about these hunters, all our people are at risk.” Sara walked over to place her hands on Talula’s shoulders. “I can travel more easily than other Council members. I can follow leads faster and find out more information so we can put this whole nightmare to rest.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“According to my most recent vision quest”—Sara gestured at the cauldron—“a few weeks. But I’ll be back in time to help out at the festival.”

Talula knew her mother was an all-powerful and (so far) immortal being who’d mastered the secrets of magic and could bend the elements to her will. But it was hard to keep that in mind when magical trophy hunters were out on the loose. “That sounds dangerous.”

“Sweetheart,” Sara replied patiently. “Who milked the mad hydra for its venom long before Heracles picked up his sword?”

Talula rolled her eyes. “You.”

“Who outsmarted the queen kitsune in a game of chess, winning one of her prized tails?”

“You.”