How to Stone a Crow (Witch Like a Boss Book 2) by Willow Mason (great novels txt) 📕

Paisley sniffed and held her tail high. <Violet would never lose ingredients like this.>

Annalisa gave her a sullen stare. <Violet won’t be doing anything until she’s found again.>

The two felines locked eyes and I frowned, glancing to Aunt Florentine for help. She shrugged. “Cats either love each other or hate each other. What’re you gonna do?”

They stalked off in different directions, Wendy happily catching Paisley to introduce her to another spur-of-the-moment game. Annalisa settled on the windowsill, although the night air made it chillier than the rest of the house.

“Has there been any word?” I whispered to my aunt who shook her head.

“Nothing so far. Though the police won’t issue a statement until they’re sure about something, so it could be a long wait.”

“Do you think your poltergeist is the same one who drew all over the walls back at my house?” Wendy asked Pru, startling her out of a reverie.

“I don’t think so,” she said, giving the question due consideration. “My poltergeist has been with me for so long now, I don’t think he’s capable of doing something so frightening.”

Wendy puffed out her chest. “Huh. I wasn’t frightened.”

Much to her father’s despair.

“Besides, Andrew couldn’t stand jam. He had a run-in with a wasp once, after his mum made him jam sandwiches for a picnic.”

Everyone in the room shuddered, reliving their own graphic experiences. “That’s practically child abuse,” Aunt Florentine said.

“It was sauce,” Wendy corrected. “What were his feelings on that?”

“Much the same.” Pru moved closer to the girl. “I also don’t think Andrew knew either of your families. Violet was only have been a teenager when he died. She was in one of my classes at Briarton High. That hardly gave him a chance to form a lasting resentment.”

Gareth poured out the dregs of a cup into the sink and rinsed it, using a quick spell to clean it and return it to the cupboard, dry.

Show off.

“Do you think she did something recently that disturbed him? Maybe it’s a mistake to think of their only interactions occurring before he died.”

Paisley arched her back, baring her teeth, and setting off a chain reaction in Jared. <Don’t you dare blame Violet for what happened. She was a good witch.>

“Not according to the writing on our downstairs wall.”

Gareth gulped and took a step back when the black cat caught him in her furious gaze.

“Don’t be so mean, Dad. You’re always going on about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. Why don’t you try that yourself?”

I thought of how the supreme had insisted it would be an advantage to have access to all the people surrounding Violet’s case and smiled. A pity Genevieve was the only person in town who hadn’t ended up at my house.

“What are you smiling about?” Jared asked, his big puppy-dog eyes gleaming. “Have you worked out where all the missing ingredients have gone?”

“No.” Hardly top of my mind. “I was just… It’s nice to have a full house sometimes.”

“Glad to hear you think so because I was about to ask if you minded me staying a few more nights. The guys are getting on my nerves.” He shuffled a step closer, whispering into my ear, “It’ll be like old times.”

Hm. The bit where we used to have fun together or the part where he turned into a monster and refused to let me help?

“You.” I grabbed Jared’s arm and escorted him to the front door. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“Why am I the only person in town who’s not allowed to stay here? You let every other man, child, and cat into the place.”

“They’re in need of accommodation. You’re not.”

“Have you seen the pack house? The whole place could fit in your front office.”

“Just because I’m the only Millennial you know who owns a house, doesn’t make you welcome here.”

“Obviously.”

Pru cleared her throat and I turned to her, my cheeks flushed. “It would be nice to have somebody here to protect us.”

<What am I? Chopped liver?> Annalisa reared up on her hind legs, exposing the full glory of her impressive frame. <This house doesn’t need a dog guarding it. Especially one who hasn’t been trained in battle.>

Aunt Florentine gave a sharp laugh, closer to a bark. “Nobody here has been trained in battle. Living out the back of your mistress’s house for years, waiting for her to come back doesn’t count.”

<Why not? It was the wild.>

<In that case, I’m also a warrior,> Paisley said, strolling into the middle of the conversation.

<Another reason we don’t need to keep a dog around.>

“But he helped me put my house back in order.” Pru blushed when we all turned to look at her, clasping her hands and sending her gaze demurely to the floor. “If you want my opinion, that is. I know I’m just an unwanted guest.”

A passive-aggressive unwanted guest to boot. Perhaps that was why Andrew had suddenly turned hostile.

“Your opinion would be welcome on anything else, but this isn’t happening.” I pointed to Jared’s thickening beard and then to the door. “Out.”

<Good on you. Sticking to your guns. Don’t let anyone ever manipulate you into acceding to their demands when it’s not what’s best for you.>

I cocked an eyebrow. <And this has nothing to do with it suiting your needs?>

<Sometimes a decision is great for everybody. That dog would give me an ulcer if he’s always around, getting under my… I mean, your feet.>

An ulcer. I rubbed my stomach as it gave a twinge. What did that remind me of?

I snapped my fingers and pointed to Pru. “You didn’t need an early night, did you?”

“No.” Her back straightened and her eyes widened with anticipation. “What do you need?”

“Andrew’s car. Or rather, I need the medication Patrick found in the glove box.” I was out the door before she could wave goodbye. “I have an idea about what might’ve happened to your fiancé.”

“What?” When I didn’t answer, Pru pulled at my arm, forcing me to stop. “Tell me.”

“Let’s just see