Hallowed Covenant by Mandi Konesni

Author:Mandi Konesni [Konesni, Mandi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liliom Press
Published: 2024-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Morning found Skye tackling the first remodel of the store. She’d started cleaning and clearing items when she woke up, moving sections and generally making a mess everywhere except the area she was working in. Realistically, she was shifting the mess from one spot to another, but Skye was still considering it progress for the moment. Sections were getting sorted. Advancements were being made. Until now.

Perched on a ladder that was precariously balanced over a built-in shelf, Skye glared down at the box of crystal geodes and bookends she’d neglected to drag up with her. Instead, she held a box of 4 inch chime candles that absolutely didn’t belong this high up. Served her right for being in a hurry and grabbing the wrong box.

Grumbling to herself, she debated whether it’d be worth it to get out the ladder for candle purchases before deciding no, it really wouldn’t be. Candles were a frequent purchase. The crystals were a more expensive item, which meant they weren’t bought as often. Better to leave them up higher, out of the way and safely stored on shelves while still being visible to anyone who was looking for something pretty.

Just as she’d started to scramble down, the tinkling of the shop bell alerted her to someone else’s presence in the building. It wasn’t even noon yet, usually customers didn’t start wandering in until after lunch, if at all. At least, that’s how it’d been when her parents had run the place and she was still here. She hadn’t even put up the signs saying she was reopening. No one should know she was back yet. Curious, Skye stashed the box of colorful candles against the ladder and went to investigate.

“Are you a Morelli?”

As she blinked in surprise, Skye perused the male in front of her. While Skye was short and politely referred to as ‘pleasantly plump’, he was lean and a good foot taller than her. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, he had an aura of something dangerous and wicked surrounding him.

If Skye had needed a visual demonstration of the differences in her parents’ store versus how she wanted to run it, this was it. He was the dark occult master and she was the dumpy, frumpy kitchen witch.

Moving behind the counter to put some space between them since she didn’t know what he wanted, she debated whether she should answer in the affirmative or not. Obviously, the inhabitants of this tiny town were aware her father had died. Surely they knew someone would be coming in to replace him. Most had known her growing up here, and he appeared around her age. Perhaps he’d simply forgotten the lost daughter, or they hadn’t run in the same circles.

“That depends who’s asking, and why.”

Dark eyes locked on her, and she swore she saw a hint of recognition in his gaze. It was there, just briefly, before his expression cleared and he reached out a hand.

“Pierre Landry, ma’am, of the Landry family. We had some business with Markos Morelli, which wasn’t fully completed before his untimely passing.

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