Every Spell You Break (The Witches of Holiday Hills Cozy Mystery Series Book 18) by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Author:Carolyn Ridder Aspenson [Aspenson, Carolyn Ridder]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum Grace Publishing
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

12

“Are you coming?” I hollered to Cooper as I began closing my apartment door.

“I’ll be there in a few. I’m taking care of some personal business. Remind me not to eat three cans of tuna in one sitting next time.”

As if he would listen if I did.

“Catch up when you’re done,” I said and shut the door behind me. Cooper’s tummy must really hurt. He never—okay, rarely—let me go anywhere without him. I wasn’t too worried. As a magical, he could get out of most anything, so a closed apartment door wasn’t a worry.

It was around seven when I left my apartment, with no progress on the investigation and no idea where to go next. The evening air was tinged with a chill so strong, I felt it through the walls of my building. But I’d gotten a request for assistance from Bessie.

The call had been odd. Bessie needing help with moving boxes seemed a bit out of character for a witch who could easily do such a task with a flick of her hand. Nevertheless, I made my way down my building’s stairs, curiosity piqued even as a slight unease coiled through my stomach.

The back door of the Enchanted creaked as I entered, the familiar scent of old books and brewed coffee greeting me like an old friend. I would breathe in that smell forever if I could. The bookstore was quiet, the usual hum of conversation from the café area now just a distant echo. On the phone, Bessie had told me she had closed early, saying she had things to do. Apparently, some of those things needed my help. I was fine with that, but it did feel strange.

I should have known better than to go without Cooper.

As I walked through the book stacks, my footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet Bessie and Waylon had purchased to place on top of the flooring. My back appreciated the cushioning.

If the café had closed an hour before, Bessie had cleaned up the café area quickly. Chairs were upturned on the tables, and the counter was bare, void of the usual display of pastries and cakes.

Still, a shiver ran down my spine—something was off.

“Cooper,” I whispered internally. “Are you coming? I need you.”

He could read my thoughts as I thought them. It had often come in handy. “I’m almost done,” he said, then he grunted.

Ick.

“Bessie?” I called out, my voice sounding too loud in the empty space. No answer came, just the soft hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen. I headed toward it, the sense of unease growing with each step. Things didn’t just feel wrong, they’d begun to smell wrong. Earthy. Woodsy, even. The Enchanted always smelled like coffee, books, and food, not dirt or the woods. I didn’t feel good about any of this.

When I pushed open the kitchen door, the stark white light momentarily blinded me. As my eyes adjusted, I jumped back. Bessie was nowhere to be seen, but a large gorilla stood in the center of the kitchen, its massive form towering over me.

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