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

“And I don’t want you talking to her alone.”

I heaved a sigh. “I guess I can’t argue with that. Will Sergeant Cudahy tell us when she’s made the notification?”

“Yes.”

Well. This had certainly been an enlightening day. I nodded my approval to Kyle’s plan.

“Anything more I should know about your meeting today?” he asked.

Oh, nothing other than casting a few spells, reading the runes, typical witch stuff. He deserved an answer. “She shared her experience with me, gave me some ideas.”

Kyle met my gaze once more. “Whether what you do is magic or a keen sense of observation, I can be a sounding board—I’m here for you.”

Wow. He really could anticipate my thoughts. His skills seemed to have sharpened over the time we spent together, and especially since we’d gotten back together. The idea took my breath away, both because of the closeness we shared and because it made me feel vulnerable someone knew me so well.

Kyle leaned toward me, his forearms resting on his knees. “Brynn. You know you can trust me, right?”

I cocked an eyebrow. “You did lie to me that night you said you were out with Lucas.”

He cringed and bowed his head. “I did.”

I covered one of his hands with mine. “I trust you.”

He studied me a moment longer, giving me the opening to share—a police tactic? I’d already said enough, and as open as he might be to hearing about spells and magic potions, I was confident he got the gist.

“How about we walk into town and get dinner at Jose’s Cantina?” I suggested.

He took my face between his hands, leaned forward, and kissed me. “Sounds great.”

We spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing. I set aside my concerns for the workshop and the grimoires. We tossed around ideas for the wedding, without the pinches of doubt that had plagued me in the past.

Later, we fell asleep in each other’s arms, and I relished one of those rare moments when I was completely content.

I woke in the dark and sat up to check the clock. A little after midnight. With a glance around the room, I found what had woken me. Georgia’s wavering form stood in the corner. Ash kneaded the blanket at the foot of the bed, purring loudly, turned in a circle and lay down.

“Trouble sleeping?” I whispered.

She had her thumb stuck in her mouth, her sock monkey hanging from her other hand. “Mommy can’t play with me. Can I play with you?” she said around her thumb.

“Of course, you can.”

“Daddy says no.”

Well, there was that. I pulled my knees to my chest. “But you can talk to me anytime you need to, just like now.”

The thumb came out of her mouth and she smiled. She faded away and I drew a deep breath.

I had to talk to Jason.

Behind me, Kyle sniffled. I turned to see him leaning on an elbow and he swiped at his eyes. “Please tell me she isn’t dead,” he said.

“She isn’t dead.”

“Then how?” He motioned with his hand to the corner where Georgia had been standing.

He’d seen her? “I’m not sure, actually. I think it was astral projection.”

“Can you do that?”

Guide her dreams. “I don’t know. Maybe? I might have the one time.” The breath froze in my lungs. Was this one step too far for him?

He heaved a sigh. “I thought... she looked like a...” He leaned across and pulled me into his arms. “You’re sure nothing’s happened to her?”

“Yes.”

“Does Jason know she can do that?”

“I don’t think so.”

He rested his forehead against mine. “You need to talk to him. He needs to know.”

I nodded. “Tomorrow.”

Since we were both awake, Kyle took advantage of the opportunity to show me how much he loved me once more, confirmation enough for me that Georgia’s appearance hadn’t changed Kyle’s feelings.

We cuddled up to go to sleep, but my mind raced with the conversations I knew were forthcoming with both Jason and with Sharon.

Chapter 25

After Kyle left, I busied myself in the home workroom to catch up on anything I’d neglected the night before.

Humming, I was in an extraordinarily good mood as I checked a batch of soap and poured a couple of candles. I mixed special orders, but hesitated when the book opened to one that included castor oil.

On cue, Nora called.

“Luke, I sense a disturbance in the force,” she said in a character voice when I answered.

I laughed. “I suppose I’m having qualms about the special order.”

“The book opened to the potion? Not something you went looking for?”

“Right. I wasn’t sure I’d need anything today, but then the books appeared, and this recipe...”

“Castor oil.” As if she was standing by my shoulder.

“Yes.”

“You’re thinking about the mixture I gave Kyle’s mother to bring on labor.”

“Yes.”

Nora took a couple of breaths, false starts at speaking, before she continued. “I used to keep certain potions on hand. You remember Dr. Hodge telling me not to practice medicine?”

She’d taken me to Dr. Hodge after my accident, when I’d first arrived in Hillendale. “I do.”

“People often came to me for herbal teas or homeopathic remedies, as often as those people who are looking for special orders. The castor oil I gave to Molly Jakes wasn’t mixed especially for her, if that eases your mind. If the book called it out for you, someone will need it for arthritis.”

“I suppose I’m nervous knowing how poisonous the beans can be.”

“Only if someone is foolish enough to eat them, and even then, the poison is more a product than the plant itself, something you’d have to intentionally make. The recipe the book is showing you isn’t for ricin, is it?’

I scanned the page. “No.”

“Take a breath,” Nora said. “Be present in what you’re doing. And when your customer asks you for the potion, ask what they intend to use it for. That should allay your anxiety. How did your meeting with Hannah go?”

I switched my phone to speaker and filled her in while I mixed the special