The Shoppe of Spells by Shanon Grey Read Free Book Online Page A

them.”
    The warm night and events of the day began to wear on her. By the time they entered the shop, she was exhausted. “I think I’ll go on to bed. Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
    “Wait and thank me tomorrow,” he said. He looked so serious. Then he smiled. “I’ll walk you out. Make sure you don’t need anything.” He stopped, as if pondering something. “Wait here,” he said and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
    “Okay,” she responded to his retreating back.
    Turning, she saw the cottage through the back door. Like a painting, the small Tudor building cast fingers of light over the gardens. She watched flickers of color, entranced, and remembered the crystals decorating the windowsills and mantel. She moved toward the back door.
    “This ought to do it.” Dorian came up behind her.
    She turned. He handed her an armload of clothing.
    “I don’t need all this.”
    “Well, I’m a guy. I wasn’t sure what you’d need. If you want something else, just ask.”
    “Thank you,” she said softly.
    Dorian walked her over and said goodnight, leaving her alone in the cottage. She set the clothes on the bench at the foot of the bed and picked up the nightshirt. It smelled of lavender. She put it to her face and inhaled, wondering about the woman who’d worn it.
    Her cell phone rang. Her mother’s voice sounded cautious. “Am I disturbing you?”
    “Of course not, Mom,” Morgan said and rushed on, “I’m sorry I didn’t call. It’s been so busy.” She sat on the side of the bed and set the nightshirt at the foot, feeling guilty. For what? Wondering about her biological mother? She pushed the thought and guilt aside and launched into a detailed description of her day, leaving out the hotness of her new “brother.”
    She wasn’t so lucky with Jenn, who called on the tail end of her conversation with her mom. Her mother had insisted Morgan take the call and promised to give hugs and kisses to her father for her. Ever the romantic, Jenn jumped on the idea of sparks flying between them, even when Morgan insisted he didn’t feel them, only she did. Jenn also reminded her that he most definitely was not her brother. All in all, the conversations with her mom and Jenn lightened her mood and she grabbed the nightshirt and headed into the bath.
    An antique claw-footed tub sat at an angle in the dusky beige bath. An oval mirror hung pristinely over a pedestal sink. Diamond panes set in a small window showcased the vine covered brick fence behind the cottage. She lifted the lid on a glass jar. An herbal infusion of lavender perfumed the small space. It was becoming apparent that Melissa was a fan of lavender. She looked at the tub and sighed. She was too tired. It was all she could do to climb beneath the cool sheets and turn off the light. Her last thought was how the pillow smelled of lavender.
    Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. Again. And again. Morgan pushed back the covers and padded into the front room. Meesha? She moved toward the front window.
    Moonlight streamed across the garden. Something scurried through the plants, rustling leaves. A cat? She couldn’t quite make it out. Meesha barked again—from inside the darkened shop. The hair on the back of her arms stood on end. It moved again, whatever it was. She leaned into the window and squinted into the darkness, trying to make out the outline of the small animal silhouetted by moonlight. It looked hairless. Her breath caught. It stopped, rose up on hind legs and faced her. Violet slits glared at her. She screamed.
    The hairless creature moved on all fours toward her, its body outlined in bluish violet. Morgan screamed again and stumbled further back into room. She saw the door of the shop fly open and Meesha and Dorian bound down the steps. Before she could turn, he burst through the door, pulled her away from the window, stopping just short of the bedroom, and pulled her into his arms. His initial contact with her