Double-Sided Witch (Covencraft Book 3) by Margarita Gakis Read Free Book Online

sense of his mother’s magic while out there. He’d thought himself rather attuned to her magic, his own being similar to hers. He didn’t like that he’d been unaware of her wards. It made him wonder what other magic she’d done of which he wasn’t aware.
    His first order of business should be to head out to the Preserve and see if he could determine if her wards were failing and if not, then perhaps gain some knowledge about the ‘bad’ feeling witches were getting from the area.
    But before that, Paris wanted to see Jade.
    #
    Jade configured her demon locks to let Paris in, but it didn’t mean he was completely immune to or ignorant of their presence. He paused at the foot of the stone pathway that led up to her cottage, feeling the press of them. As he stepped forward, they shifted and shirred, letting him by. They felt slower than he was used to, sluggish. He didn’t have long to consider it before the front door opened and Jade stood there, waiting for him. She was in casual clothes, although to be honest, he’d only once seen her in something other than jeans and a shirt and that had been at the Coven Ball where formal attire was required. He remembered that she’d seemed somewhat awkward and stilted in her shiny, silver dress, absently tugging on the thigh-length hem as if she could make it longer if only she gave it enough tugs. He hadn’t thought it was too short, but he did wonder how she managed to walk in her sky-high heels. Tonight she was barefoot as she stood in the doorway, her bright pink toenails and the faint scent of nail polish broadcasting what she’d been up to.
    “I felt the locks announce you,” she said by way of greeting, her toes wiggled slightly as she spoke.
    “They feel different,” he replied, coming up the final steps and standing in front of her, pausing in the doorway. 
    She frowned. “I thought it was just me. You feel it too? It’s like they’re… unsure?”
    “I don’t get that much of a sense of them. More like slow.”
    “Hmm.” Her toes curled under bit. “I’m not sure what that means. They’ve felt off lately and I don’t know if…”
    “What?” he prompted when she trailed off.
    Jade shook her head. “Nothing. Come on in.”
    The scent of her magic was thick in the house and he’d no doubt that while catching her at the end of her pedicure, he’d also caught her in the middle of some spell work. Jade’s magic had a scent of cloves and some kind of flower he couldn’t identify. Not lavender, nor roses - those he would recognize. This was something else - floral but sweet. Not cloying, only just… there.
    “Casting spells?” he asked as he doffed his shoes and hung his coat up on her coat rack.
    She looked a little sheepish and he wondered what exactly she’d been practicing. “Uh, yeah. But I don’t know if it will work.”
    “Would you like me to take a look at it?”
    Her fingertips twitched at her side and she glanced toward the coffee table where he could see some spell books laid out. “Maybe.”
    A set of thumping footsteps drew Paris’ attention to the stairs and Bruce came barreling down, his long body almost forcing him tail over head as he ran enthusiastically down the treads. He knocked into Paris’ legs, sending Paris stumbling back a few steps.
    “Bruce! Company!” Jade chastised, seeming embarrassed at his display.
    “That’s all right, I don’t mind,” Paris answered. He bent over and pet Bruce a few times on the head. “Hello, Bruce. It’s good to see you as well.”
    Bruce’s tongue flicked out, hitting Paris quickly on the hand, leaving a small, damp spot. Paris managed to wait until Bruce turned his face to look up at Jade before discretely wiping his hand on his pant leg. Though he was fond of the creature, he didn’t like the wet feeling Bruce’s tongue left behind.
    “So, what kind of spell are you working on?” Paris tried to keep his tone light, casual. Jade was prone to trying demon magic and