The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

I shook off his posturing. “How does she not know Narcy is dead?”

“You said they were foster sisters. She isn’t considered next of kin.”

Sharon appeared to think differently. The confrontation rattled me. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d rather go home for dinner.”

He paused a moment, considered. “Okay.”

I walked sideways beside Kyle. “Did you do the notification, when Narcy died?”

He shook his head. “No. Sergeant Cudahy handled it, although I’m not sure if there was anyone to notify. I can check into it.” We reached the car and he opened the door for me before he walked around, and slid behind the wheel.

Kyle drove across the mall parking lot and past the Hillendale arch on North Avenue toward home. When he dropped me off, he leaned across the seat.

“If she makes any more contact, I want to know about it immediately.”

I saluted. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m serious, Brynn.”

Yeah, I knew. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. “I’ll be careful, and if I hear from her again, I promise to let you know.”

He opened his mouth as if preparing to give me more instructions and I put a finger to his lips to stop him. “If I’m the least bit nervous, you’re my first call. I promise.”

He frowned, but seemed satisfied. “I’ll be over as soon as I’ve changed.”

“I’ll be here waiting.” I grabbed my bags from the back of the cruiser and carried them into the house.

After I’d taken off my coat, I took my new containers into the workroom. The hidden grimoire lay open on the worktable.

Chapter 22

Seeing Auras.

I hitched myself onto the stool at my worktable to study the book. The picture on the yellowed page showed a halo surrounding a roughly drawn body. The text began with an explanation, that auras surrounded every living being and indicated emotional wellbeing and physical state. I scanned the paragraph that detailed how to focus on a person’s aura and went straight to the meanings of the colors—a dozen or so of them.

“Like I’m going to remember all that?” I took out my cell phone and snapped a photo. Whose aura was I supposed to look for? As with everything related to my gifts, I expected I’d know when the time came. Circling back to the paragraph I’d browsed, I read through the steps required.

A footnote had been added to the bottom of the page.

Auras have both positive and negative attributes. For those born with gifts, be forewarned they may hide their true selves the way they can mask the shimmer of their eyes.

A chill raced down my spine. I was familiar with that shimmer. I’d seen it in Nora from the time I’d first met her, but I’d missed it in Narcy—at least until after I’d fully accepted my gifts the night of the summer solstice. I read the footnote a second time— Be forewarned they may hide their true selves. Like Nora said.

“Okay,” I told the book. “I’ll watch for auras.”

My cell phone startled me. Nora’s ring tone.

“I called Hannah,” she said when I answered.

“Hannah. The woman from the solstice?”

“Yes, and if you’re free tomorrow, she’s invited you to her retreat.”

Retreat? “Where does she live?”

“Her family owns a castle in Brown’s Landing. I’ll send you a link.”

“A castle? Wait. Did you say she invited me? You aren’t going?”

“You’ll learn more without me there. You have nothing to be concerned about. You’ve already met her. She’s a lovely woman. You’ll call me after you’ve spoken to her?”

“Yeah.”

As Kyle walked in, I disconnected the call. “What are you up to tomorrow?” I asked him.

“Working. You need something?”

“No, just checking. Nora suggested I take a drive to Brown’s Landing. You ever hear of a woman named Hannah Noonan? She owns a castle there.”

“Aerie Castle? No, I don’t know her, but she’s something of a big deal there. You want me to check her out?”

“Nah. She’s a friend of Nora’s, so I’m not worried. Just wondering.” I chuckled. “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Wisconsin style.”

“Not someone I’ll be rubbing elbows with. As a lowly police officer, I’m not likely to reach that stratosphere.”

I circled his waist with my arms. “I have everything I need right here.” I looked for the grimoire on my work table—gone, once again. I took a step back and studied Kyle, letting him go out of focus, the way the book had dictated, until the white aura around him became visible, then looked for the color behind it. Red.

“You’ve got that look in your eye,” Kyle said. “Should I be worried?”

I blinked to refocus, glanced at my phone to determine what his aura meant. Energy. Strength. Courage. And if I’d missed the color by a shade, sensuality. “Only if you’re hungry,” I said. “I was thinking about a little physical activity before dinner.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I think I can manage.”

AFTER MUCH FUSSING about my safety before he left for work, I promised Kyle I’d call both when I arrived at and when I left Brown’s Landing.

I checked the workroom, wondering if I should take anything with me. Ash sat in the window watching me, her paws curled under her. “What about you?” I asked her.

She tilted her head, but didn’t move. Her purr echoed, indicating she was content where she was. Considering the way she instinctively crawled into her basket every morning when I went to work, and again when it was time to come home, I trusted if she was meant to join me, she would. I scratched her ears, increasing the volume of her purr, and retreated to the dining table.

The web link Nora had sent opened to a website with pictures of a castle-like retreat made of brick, three stories tall, in an idyllic wooded setting—Aerie Castle. Curved paths wound through manicured beds of tulips and daffodils, a springtime photo. The text outlined how the property was open to corporate retreats and special events. A photo carousel showed outbuildings, meeting rooms, guest suites, and a cellar room with a