Prelude to a Witch by Amanda Lee (free novel reading sites TXT) 📕

“Why are you so distracted?” Landon asked.

I turned back to him. “I’m just ... thinking.”

“About the profiler? Don’t worry about that. I’m sure we’ll be able to figure it out.”

I smiled because I knew he needed it. “I’m sure we will. Are you heading back to work?”

“That’s the plan. What are you going to do?”

“I’m heading to Hypnotic to hang out with Clove and Thistle.”

“Are you going to mention my glowing baby concern?”

“No, and neither are you.” I extended a warning finger. “Keep that to yourself. Let my mom and aunts deal with it.”

Landon kissed me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He looked legitimately concerned.

“I’m fine,” I promised. “I just need to think. There has to be a way for us to figure out what’s going on.”

“Well, I have faith.” He graced me with another kiss and then pulled away. “Call me if you figure something out. Otherwise, I’ll see you for dinner.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“That’s just the way I like you.” He winked and started down the sidewalk, leaving me to stare at the empty window.

CLOVE AND THISTLE WERE IN THEIR usual spots when I entered their store, the wind chimes above the door alerting them to my presence. From her spot on the couch at the center of the store, Clove shot me a happy smile. Thistle glared at me from behind the counter.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Clove.” That’s all Thistle said.

“What did you do?” I asked my pregnant cousin, my eyebrows hopping when I realized she was halfway through a box of chocolate-covered cherries. “Where did you get those?”

“Dad gave them to me.” Clove popped another one in her mouth. “I mentioned that I’d been craving them and he dug up this box. They’re from last Christmas but still surprisingly good.”

“Well, bully for you.” I glanced between them, debating, and then decided to tell them. “I saw something in the window of the diner a few minutes ago.”

“Was it Aunt Tillie?” Thistle scowled. “I told her to go home, but she’s probably stalking Mrs. Little.”

“It wasn’t Aunt Tillie.” In halting terms, I told them what I’d seen. When I was finished, Clove whined.

“Oh, I don’t want another crisis,” she moaned. “Can’t we be crisis-free until after the baby is born?”

“I’m planning a wedding, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“She can’t see beyond the chocolate,” Thistle said. “She doesn’t care about anyone but herself.”

“That’s not true,” Clove protested. “It’s just ... I’m going to have a baby. I need to focus on that.”

“In other words, she has no time for our issues,” Thistle muttered.

I pinned Thistle with a suspicious look, debating whether or not I should chase that topic before deciding against it. Something other than Clove’s eating habits was bothering Thistle. If I wanted to drag it out of her, I would need privacy.

“I just wanted you guys to know so you’re careful,” I said. “I’m not sure what I saw. I’m not even sure it was real.”

“Oh, it was real.” Clove wrinkled her ski-slope nose. “We don’t have good luck, so there’s no way you’re suffering from a brain tumor and seeing things that aren’t there.”

My mouth dropped open. “Did you just wish a brain tumor on me?”

She shrugged. “Not a life-threatening one. I just would prefer you have one of those little ones that’s easy to take out, not cancer or anything. You have to admit that’s preferable to fighting window monsters. I mean ... has anybody even heard of those?”

“No, and that’s why I stopped by to warn you guys. I’m not sure what they are.” I turned to Thistle. “Be careful. If you stumble across anything in one of your books that explains window monsters, I’d appreciate a heads-up.”

“I can do some reading,” Thistle offered, her earlier annoyance apparently forgotten. “I’m not sure what I’ll find. I’ve never heard of window monsters. Mirror monsters are a thing, though. I guess I can start there.”

I bobbed my head. “Good idea. I need to go to the office and then I’m going home. I have a stack of books there I can go through.”

“There’s also the library at the inn. You might find something there.”

“But then I’ll have to bring Aunt Tillie in on the research. That’s always hit or miss.”

“Given what happened with Paisley Gilmore and those runes, it might be the wise choice. She’s a crazy old bat, but she’s smart when it comes to dark magic.”

She had a point. “I’ll consider it. For now, I have to focus on work. If you find anything, let me know.”

Thistle offered up a mock salute. “No problem. I’ll work it in between feeding rounds for Clove. That seems to be my main purpose in life these days.”

I shot her another look. She was definitely upset about something.

“We’ll talk later,” I promised. “I need to get some stuff done at The Whistler first.”

I SPENT HOURS WORKING ON THE NEXT edition of The Whistler. My neck and back hurt when it was time to go home.

I pulled into the driveway that led to the guesthouse where Landon and I lived, briefly wondering if I had time for a bath before dinner. All thoughts of relaxation fled when I realized who was standing on my front porch.

I gripped my keys as I moved in Aunt Willa’s direction. “This is a surprise.”

“Yes, I’m a delightful houseguest,” Aunt Willa agreed.

“I didn’t say it was a good surprise.”

The smile that she’d pasted on her face disappeared almost instantaneously. “Listen, Bay, I know you don’t like me.”

“That’s an understatement.”

She pretended I hadn’t spoken. “I’m still your family.”

I gestured toward the inn, the roof visible in the distance. “That’s my family. Landon is my family. Chief Terry is my family.”

“We share blood.”

“Blood doesn’t make family.” I tried to edge around her to put my key in the lock, but she refused to move. “What is it you want?” I demanded. I was exhausted and she was the last person I wanted to deal with.

“To