Chapter 2

It wasn't easy to attract attention in New York City. Not when there was a plethora of pedestrians who clogged the streets with styles that went beyond flamboyant. Skye had seen a man stroll stark naked through Times Square without getting a second glance.

But not even the jaded citizens of the Big Apple could hide their interest as Skye and Maya limped their way into Penn Station. They certainly had a zombie vibe going on. It might have been their torn clothing, tangled hair and layers of dust and plaster that clung to them. Or the blood that dripped from Skye's arm. Or Maya's swollen eye where she'd slammed through the plywood and hit the pavement two stories below. Or perhaps it was the grim expressions on their faces that warned the world they weren't in the mood to... Well, anything really. Unless it included a hot bath and a bot tle of aspirin.

Whatever the cause, they were given plenty of space as they settled in the train that whisked them to New Jersey. Neither spoke during the thirty-minute ride. Skye was too relieved that they'd escaped alive, while Maya no doubt brooded on the reason the Benefactor had sent them to the stupid theater in t he first place.

Hobbling off the train in Linden, they crossed the parking lot and zigzagged their way through the narrow streets, backtracking more than once. Skye assumed that Maya was making sure they weren't being followed. No doubt a wise precaution, but Skye wasn't in the mood to be wis e. Or cautious.

She was cold, exhausted, and her arm hurt like a bitch. Ti me to get home.

At last they turned onto the block where they could see the neon sign stuck over the sidewalk with a coffee cup in the center of a witch's hat.

The Witch's Brew. Thank goodness.

Concentrating on placing one foot in front of the other, Skye jumped in surprise as a man abruptly appeared from seemingly nowhere. Instinctively she touched a charm on her bracelet, absorbing the magic. Tired or not, she was ready to fight off an attack.

It wasn't until he stepped closer that she breathed a sigh of relief.

Joe was a regular fixture in the area. She didn't know if he had a home nearby or stayed in the local shelter, but he was always hanging around, usually dressed in a velour tracksuit with a fishing hat stuck on his head. His age was indeterminant behind his bushy beard, but she suspected that he was older than she'd first assumed.

"Hey, Joe, " she murmured.

The man leaned toward them, his eyes nearly hidden beneath his hat. "You look like you rolled in the sewers. You sme ll even worse."

Skye managed a weary smile. Joe enjoyed calling out insults whenever they passed. She honestly preferred it to the creepy whistles and catcalls that some men thought w ere flattering.

Without warning, Maya glared at the harmless man. "Not now."

Joe snorted. "You know what? The smell of you would be an insult to th e sewers. You—"

Maya pointed a finger in the man's fa ce. "Not. Now."

"Maya," Skye protested as they limped past Joe. "He's just teasing."

"I do n't trust him."

Skye frowned. Since last summer, Maya had grown increasingly sus picious of Joe.

"You keep saying that, but I don't understand why not. He's been hanging around here forever."

Maya's features pinched into a sour expressio n. "He's more."

"More what?"

"I don't know," the older woman muttered. "But I inten d to find out."

Skye didn't argue. She was too tired. Besides, arguing with Maya was like smacking her head into a brick wall. And her head had already been smacked into enough walls for one day, thank you very much.

Reaching the coffee shop squashed between a tanning salon and a falafel restaurant, Skye placed her hand against the door to unravel the protective wards and they stepped inside.

It wasn't a large establishment but to her it was filled with charm. There were small round tables spread around the white-tiled floor and walls that were painted a bright lavender. Skye had recently decorated the large front windows with fall leaves, pumpkins, and black cats in celebration of the Halloween season. And even though they were closed, the air was scented with the rich aroma of freshly pressed coffee and baked pastries that lured customers from miles around to stand in a line down the block. Somet imes for hours.

For those customers who weren't in the mood for coffee and muffins—or just preferred a bit of peace—there was an attached bookstore where you could sink into one of the cushy armchairs and read withou t distractions.

Of course, there were parts of the Witch's Brew that weren 't so charming.

From a small, barren office at the back of the building, the three mages offered their magical expertise. For the right price, a demon could purchase a love potion, a glamour spell, an illusion charm that would last for weeks, and a tonic that could stiffen up a demon's sagging performance in the bedroom.

And if you had deep enough pockets, they could create agonizing curses to p unish an enemy.

Coffee, muffins, potions, charms, and curses. A full-se rvice business.

At the point of crossing toward the door behind the counter that hid a staircase to the upper floors, Maya came to a sudden halt.

"Is something wrong?" Skye demanded.

"Peri's here." Maya's brows tugged together as if she was attempting to pinpoint their friend's precise location. "She's in the office."

Skye instantly forgot her weariness, her aching head, and the wound that still seeped blood. There had to be something wrong. Since becoming Valen's mate last summer, the couple had made it a rule that Sunday was the one day a week that they were unavailable. Nothing and no one were allowed to intrude into their privacy.

Clearly as alarmed as Skye, Maya hurried through the attached bookstore and into the back office, where Peri was pacing the floor, her body tense and her hands clenched.

"What happened?" Maya demanded.

Peri jerked as if she hadn't sensed their approach, slowly turnin g to face them.

"Hello to you too..." Peri's words trailed away as she took in the sight of her bedraggled friends. For a long moment she merely stared at them, as if wondering if she was hallucinating. Then she shook her head in disbelief. "Holy crap. You're asking me what happened? Look at you guys." Her eyes widened with horror. "Skye. Yo u're bleeding."

"I'm fine."

Skye managed a weak smile as she edged around Peri and headed toward Maya's desk at the back of the room. Pulling open the bottom drawer, she pulled out one of the emergency healing potions. They were nothing if not prepared. Acutely aware she was being watched, Skye tugged off the stopper and poured the thick green liquid over her wound. It didn't instantly heal, but the bleeding stopped and the worst of the pain eased. Replacing the vial, she grabbed a disposable wipe and cleaned off the dried blood and dust.

Once she was finished, she returned her attention to her friend, who was watching her with a lift of her brows. Peri was wearing a casual pair of jeans and a Chicago Cubs sweatshirt, but she still managed to look elegant. The mage was just a couple years older than Skye with long dark curls and glorious blue eyes and a stark beauty that had softened with happiness since she'd ma ted with Valen.

"Are you going to explain why the two of you look like you spent the day with a horde of demons?" Peri demanded.

"Because we spent the day battling a horde of demons," Skye admitted.

Peri's mouth dropp ed open. "Why?"

"A request from the Benefactor that went sideways," Maya answered, moving to stand next to Peri. "We can discuss our spectacular failure when you come to work tomorrow. For now I want to know wh y you're here."

Peri grimaced, wrapping her arms around her waist. "It's nothing really. I'm sure I'm overreacting—"

"You're worried," Skye abruptly broke into Peri's attempt to act casual.

Peri sti ffened. "Skye."

Skye held up her hand. "I wasn't peeking into your mind," she assured her friend. "But I can se nse your fear."

"Is it Valen?" Maya snapped. The older woman was as protective as a mother hen when it came to Skye and Peri. Especially when vampires were involved. "Skye and I have sensed for weeks that something's bothering you. You might pretend to be happy, but you can't fool your family. You're worried and it's only getting worse."

"What are you talking about?" Peri tried to sound surprised, but she had to know her friends had noticed the darkening shado ws in her eyes.

"You can tell us," Maya insisted. "Has Valen done something to you? I warned you that leeches couldn 't be trusted—"

"Valen is perfect," Peri swiftly def ended her mate.

Maya narrowed her gaze, her silvery scars seeming to glow in the stark li ght. "Perfect?"

"Okay, maybe not perfect, but he m akes me happy."

"Are you sure?" Maya pressed. "If he's d one something—"

"Tell us what's bothering you," Skye interrupted before a squabble c ould break out.

The three of them were closer than sisters. Which meant they had a genius talent for annoying the crap out of each other. Peri hesitated before squaring her shoulders. She had come to the Witch's Brew with a purpose, and she wasn't happy about it.

" The Cabal showed up in New York last night," she abru ptly announced.

Maya and Skye released mutual sounds of shock. Only the most powerful vampires were invited to become members of the exclusive group who ruled over t he demon world.

"The whole Cabal?" Skye brea thed in horror.

Peri shook her head. "Four of them. Gabriel from Denver, Micha from New Orleans, Kane from St. Petersburg and Ambassador Azra. He's some sort of assistant to Sinjon, who's the current head honcho of the Cabal."

"Four of the most lethal leeches invaded Valen's territory?" Maya's magic tingled in the air, brushing over Skye's skin like an electric current. "Are they plottin g a rebellion?"

Peri g rimaced. "TBD."

Maya b linked. "What?"

"To be determined," Skye clarified for her friend.

Maya sent her a frustrated glare. "I know what it means. I want to know why it's yet to be determined."

Skye shrugged. "Then that's what you shou ld have asked."

It was Peri's turn to head off a squabble. "The rumors of my wild magic have made their way through the demon world. The Cabal is here to determine if I'm a danger to the demons."

Skye felt a sudden stab of unease. Unlike regular witches who could manipulate magical items and create spells with the proper ingredients, mages were born with wild magic flowing in their veins. Usually that manifested in a nuclear blast of power that ignited their magic when they reached adulthood—like gas being poured on kindling—before the magic retreated to a low simmer. Except for Peri. Her magic had always been amazing, but during a battle a few months ago with an ancient evil, the raw magic had once again blasted through her and stayed, giving her a power that was off the charts.

The sort of power that didn't go unnoticed by t hose in charge.

"I don't believe that's why they're here," Maya growled in dangerous tones. "They aren't worried about demons, they're worried your power might be great enough to pose a threat to their supreme rule."

Skye blinked. "Seriously? You think they're a t hreat to Peri?"

"Absolutely. Leeches consider themselves superior to the rest of us. If Peri threatens their dominance, they'll do whatever is necessary t o destroy her."

"I don't threaten anything ," Peri argued.

"Of course you do," Maya insisted. "Just having the power in your hand s is a threat."

Skye studied Peri, absorbing the pulses of apprehension that she co uldn't control.

"You're worried," Skye murmured.

Peri offered a grudging nod. "I don't know exactly what they want from me. It's not like there are specific reassurances I can offer to prove I'm not going to hurt anyone. At least, I would never hurt anyone on purpose." She grimaced. "Plus, having four of the most powerful vampires in the world staying at our lair is a lot. Even Va len is uneasy."

"You should stay here until they leave," Maya announced, sounding as if the decision had been made.

Peri shook her head. "Tempting, but I refuse to be driven from my home. Even if they are the Cabal."

Skye moved to grasp her friend's hand. "What can we do to help?"

Peri offered her a grateful smile. "Valen and I are hosting a formal dinner party tomorrow night to welcome the Cabal to our Gyre. Not that we're in the mood to entertain, but we don't want anyone to think we have anything to hide." She looked like she'd rather have her teeth pulled than to roll out the red carpet for her unwanted guests. "We've invited a few demons, along with the servants who've traveled with the vampires. And I want you bot h to be there."

"Of course we'll be there," Maya sai d. "What time—"

"No," Sk ye interrupted.

Maya narrowed her gaze. "No?"

Skye gave Peri's fingers a squeeze. "We love you, Peri, you know that. And we would do anything to help you. But Maya can't be trusted ar ound vampires."

The older woman sucked in a harsh breath. "Th at's not true."

Peri was clearly blindsided by Skye's stark refusal. "It's just fo r one evening."

Skye kept her gaze focused on Peri. "Do you remember when Maya and I traveled to Paris to take pastry lessons at the L e Cordon Bleu?"

"Yeah, I stayed here to keep the shop open."

"We were there less than a week before we were on the verge of being thrown into the local dungeon."

Peri arched her brows. "I didn't hear this story. What happened?"

"The vampire in charge of the local Gyre discovered we were staying in Paris and requested that we join him for dinner at his chateau," Skye said. "Most people would have been honored."

Peri's lips twisted. "But not Maya?"

"She told his messenger to shove his invitation up his ass and threatened to shrink his balls to the size of grapes if he returned to our hotel." Skye leaned toward Peri to whisper in her ear. "Spoiler alert. He didn't return."

Maya clicked her tongue. "It wasn't an invitation. It was a royal decree with enough of a threat t o piss me off."

Skye ignored Maya's protest. The invitation might have been worded in a way that sounded like a command, but it hadn't been that obnoxious.

"We were told to leave Paris and not return. And then last year we went to China to taste a selection of teas we wanted for the shop and—"

"That's enough, Skye." It was Maya's turn to interrupt, obviously not anxious to have Skye share the story of the spectacular fire she'd caused when a vampire at the airport insisted on searching their luggage in search of ancient artifacts he implied they'd come there to steal.

Peri grimaced. "I could really use someone there wh o has my back."

Maya heaved an audible sigh. "Skye should go, but she's right. I'm not sure I would be an asset. I'm not very good at hiding my opinion of vampire s. Although..."

Both Skye and Peri glanced at Maya in confusion as h er words faded.

"What are you doing?" Skye demanded.

Maya tapped her temple. "Waiting for interference."

"Ah. The Benefactor." Skye belatedly realized why her friend hesitat ed. "Anything?"

Maya shook he r head. "Nope."

"Okay. I guess I'll be flying solo," Skye said, not unhappy that the Benefactor had kept his opin ion to himself.

She was still aching from head to toe from their disastrous trip to the theater.

Peri cleared the lump from her throat. "Drinks start at seven o'clock, but if you don't mind coming a little early I could use your help to get ready. I'm not sure my hands will be steady enough to put on makeup. Or manipulate a zipper. O r open a door."

Skye wrapped her friend in her arms. "I'll be there. I'll al ways be there."

"I know." Peri leaned into the hug before she was pulling away to grab the satchel she'd left on one of the wooden chairs. It was no doubt brimming with various potions. Better safe than sorry. A mage's motto. "I love you guys."

With a wave, Peri disappeared from the office. Maya watched her leave, with her han ds on her hips.

"If those vampires try to hurt her I'll burn Valen's lair to the ground."

"I'll light the match ," Skye agreed.

* * * *

The next morning most of Skye's injuries had healed. She still ached from head to toe and she had to use an illusion spell to hide the bruises on the side of her face, but she counted herself lucky that nothing had been broken. Thankfully, Maya seemed equally recovered, although her expression was grim as they served the crush of customers who were stretched down the block despite the icy drizzle that escaped from the sullen clouds.

Skye assumed the grim expression was caused by the knowledge that several members of the Cabal were currently gathered in New York City. Having vampires hanging around was not only dangerous for Peri, but any demon or mage who refused to accept t heir authority.

Of course, it was also possible that her pissy mood was a direct result of the Benefactor sending them to the theater for no rational reason. Skye assumed the mystical patron had been bored and decided to brighten his Sunday by tossing them into a nasty demon nest to battle for their lives. It was the only thing t hat made sense.

Whatever the cause, Maya wasn't ready to discuss the epic failure at the theater or the arrival of the Cabal. Which was fine with Skye. If being a seer had taught her nothing else, it was to live in the moment. There was no point in brooding on the past or fretting ab out the future.

It was the now that mattered.

Besides, she had enough on her plate without fretting over Maya's bad temper, she wryl y acknowledged.

Before tonight's dinner she still had to replenish her charm bracelet with magic, dig through her closet for something halfway presentable to wear to a formal dinner, and hopefully sneak in a nap.

But first she had an important duty that demanded her attention.

Removing the apron she'd slid on before her marathon morning of grinding and brewing coffee, Skye replaced it with a bright yellow rain slicker before she opened the walk-in cooler and grabbed a wicker basket.

"Where are you going?" Maya demanded as she completed the cleansing spell that not only sanitized the shop from any germs and bacteria but purged it of any hexes that might have been cast when they w eren't looking.

Their side business of bewitching, beguiling, and occasionally cursing demons meant they made a lot of enemies.

"It's Monday," she reminded her friend. "I'm going to take Clarissa some goodies."

Maya glanced toward the large windows with a frown. "It's raining. If you'll give me a minute, I 'll drive you."

Skye had never bothered to learn to drive. Her visions hit without warning, momentarily blinding her. It wouldn't be safe to be behind the wheel when that happened.

"It's only a couple of blocks away," Sky said, heading toward the front door. "Besides, I like walkin g in the rain."

Maya clicked her tongue. "I hope that woman realizes how lucky she is to have a fr iend like you."

Skye shrugged. She'd befriended the local fortune teller not long after she'd settled in New Jersey. Both Maya and Peri assumed it was because she felt sorry for the woman who struggled to make a living. And she did, but the truth was that she'd sought out the older woman because her own mother had been a fortune teller in a traveling carnival. At least until she'd died of cancer when Skye wa s just a child.

"She's an old woman on her own," Skye reminded her friend. "It's what neighbors do."

"Not all neighbors," Maya muttered, still glancing out the window.

Skye frowned as she noticed the man leaning against the light pole a few feet away from the shop. He was hunching forward, as if trying to keep the rain out of his face, but there was no mistaking the velour tracksuit and oversiz ed fishing hat.

"What is your problem with Joe?" Skye abruptly demanded. " He's harmless."

Maya's jaw tightened, emphasizing the silvery scar. "There's nothing harmless about him," she insisted. "I don't know who or what he is, but he's not another homeless man wandering the streets. In fact, I don't think he's human at all."

Skye considered the accusation. When she was very young she'd been like any other kid. She had no idea there were vampires or demons or even mages. And while she'd known her mother was clairvoyant, she hadn't known that she was a practicing witch. Not until her visions sta rted to appear.

Since then, she'd discovered there was a huge magical world surrounding her. Why wouldn't there be creatures she hadn't e ncountered yet?

"Neither are we," s he pointed out.

"True." Maya shook her head, visibly dismissing Joe from her thoughts before she glanced toward Skye. "Call if you wan t a ride back."

"I will."

Skye exited the building, not bothering to pull up her hood as the drizzle dampened her curls. She'd nearly reached the light pole when Joe lifted his head, his eyes briefly glowing with a deep green fire before he covered them with his hand, as if he were protecting them from a blinding light.

"Yikes. You look like a l emon exploded."

Skye glanced down at her slicker with a smile. "It's new. D o you like it?"

"Like it?" His voice was low, but it held a distant thunder. "It gives me a headache."

"Thank you." She smiled, reaching into the wicker basket to pull out a muffin. "Here you go."

Joe snatched it from her fingers, holding it to his nose to take a deep sniff. "Blueberry? Probably tastes like dog piss." He scowled over the top of the pastry. "Where's my cappuccino?"

"You'll have to ask Maya for one." Skye nodded toward the shop. "She's inside."

"Huh. I'd rather stick a f ork in my eye."

"She'd probably hand you the fork," Skye assured him, snapping shut the basket as a stiff breeze swept down the street. She didn't mind the rain but she hated the cold. "Have a lovely day."

Skye hurried up the street, skipping over the puddles and the bits of trash that swirled out of the gutter. The area went from charming to crumbling in the span of three blocks, but she wasn't worried. She could deal with any human threats and most demon ones when they weren 't in the Gyre.

At last reaching the narrow strip mall, she slowed to study the buildings that were nothing more than a smear of gray in the misty rain. An improvement really. The stark, industrial cement blocks wedged together to create a laundromat, an auto parts store, an Indian takeout, and an insurance agency would never win archit ectural awards.

At the very end of the strip mall was a store with a wooden sign hung over the doorway: The Lunar Pathway . A shop that catered to the local mystics as well as those who wanted Clarissa to rea d their future.

Prying open the glass door, Skye stepped inside and shook off the clinging raindrops. At the same time, she wrinkled her nose as she was hit by a cloud of smoke from the bronze burners hung next to the window.

The incense was used as a deterrent to evil spirits, as were the numerous satchels filled with dried spices that lined the walls. There were also crystals and charms that the local witches used to connect to their earth magic. And a table with candles that filled a home with calming scents.

At the very end of the store was a glass case filled with oils and trinkets that were supposed to improve a sa gging sex life.

Skye occasionally wondered if they would improve a nonexi stent sex life.

Not that it mattered. Even if she wanted a man in her bed—and she was currently just fine without one, thank you very much—the various cures would have no effect on her.

This shop catered to humans, not mages. Which made sense because the owner had no idea mages existed.

"Hang on, I'll be right out," a voice called out fr om a back room.

Skye grimaced at the hopeful note in the older woman's voice. No doubt Clarissa was scurrying to pull on the colorful shawl and silk scarf she used to cover her thinning gray hair. For years Madame Clarissa had traveled with carnivals to ply her trade as a fortune teller, but her advancing years and encroaching arthritis had made it painful to continue her life as a vagabond. She'd decided to open this shop in Linden, New Jersey, hoping that the locals would be anxious to have a glimpse int o their future.

Turns out, the locals were more interested in paying their electric bill.

Which was why Skye had started dropping by with a basket to ensure the woman had a couple of goo d meals a week.

"It's just me, Clarissa," Skye said i n a loud voice.

"Oh. Come on back, dear."

Skye ignored the hint of disappointment that was combined with pleasure at her visit. Times were tough for t he older woman.

Reaching the back of the narrow store, Skye pushed aside the thin sheet that covered the doorway and entered the cramped room that was technically an office, although Skye suspected Clarissa slept on the narrow couch more often than not.

In the center of the room was a round table covered with a blue silk cloth embroidered with silver stars. Clarissa was seated on a wooden chair wearing a flowing caftan that matched the tablecloth and heavy bracelets that rattled as she closed the book she'd been reading. Next to her was a crystal ball and stacks of tarot cards ready to do a reading if a customer happe ned to show up.

"What are you doing out in this weather?" C larissa chided.

Skye moved forward with a smile. Clarissa was in her mid-sixties although she looked older with a round face and gray hair that she pulled into a tight knot at the back of her head. Her blue eyes, however, still sparkled and her smile held a sweet sincerity that encouraged her customer s to trust her.

At a glance, she looked like a cheerful grandmother who could offer wisdom and comfort to those in need. Skye, however, could sense the weary defeat just beneath the surface. This woman had struggled her entire life to survive. Now it was an effort to make it day to day.

"I brought you a goody basket," Skye said, placing the hamper on an empty chair nex t to the table.

Clarissa clicked her tongue. "You shouldn't have. Especially not today. Look at you. Y ou're all wet."

Skye shoved her fingers through her damp curls. "I like walkin g in the rain."

"You would tell me you enjoy crawling through a blizzard so I wouldn' t feel guilty."

"Why would you feel guilty?" Skye demanded, opening the basket to pull out the fresh salad and crusty loaf of bread. "I'm here because I wa nt to be here."

"Spending the afternoon with an old woman?" Clarissa protested. "You should be wit h a boyfriend."

"I'm happy." Skye concentrated on arranging the fresh fruit and warm muffins on the table. "Why spoil my li fe with a man?"

"Why do you assume a man w ould spoil it?"

"Why do you assume one wou ld improve it?"

The older woman grabbed the fork Skye had provided and dug into the salad. No doubt it was her first real meal in days. "I had a special one."

Skye arched her brows in surprise. They'd discussed Clarissa's colorful past a hundred times, but she didn't remember her mentioning a m an in her life.

"Really?"

Clarissa continued to work her way through the food spread in front of her. "It was a long time ago."

"Did he work in the carnival?" Skye was gen uinely curious.

The older woman shook her head. "We both worked at a small Renaissance fair. I told fortunes and he juggled fire. We were dirt poor and outra geously happy."

Skye paused, absorbing the echoes of joy that filled her friend at the memory.

"What happened?" she finally forced herself to ask.

Clarissa sighed. "We'd just celebrated our first-year anniversary when he died in a car accident."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too." Clarissa glanced up, her expression wistful. "But the time we had together was wonderful. I want that for you."

"Perhaps one day," Skye said, even as she silently dismissed the possibility. Her ability to sense emotions, along with her visions, made it difficult to maintain an intimate relationship. Nothing like knowing your date is lusting for the woman at the next table to put a damper on the evening. "Right now I want to make sure you eat a decent meal." Skye studied the circles beneath Clarissa's eyes. "Y ou look tired."

"I haven't been sleeping well," the woman admitted, nibbli ng on a muffin.

"Is so mething wrong?"

"I'm not sure. It feels like..."

Skye leaned forward as the woman hesitated. "Fe els like what?"

"A thunderstorm."

"In October?" Skye considered the possibility. There were some witches who were sensitive to the weather.

"I'm sure it's nothing." Clarissa broke into her thoughts, clearly embarrassed she'd shared her concern. Then, with an obvious effort to change the conversation, she gathered up the empty dishes and placed them back into the hamper except for the fruit and bread that would no doubt be her dinner. "Thank you for this, but you should get back home."

Skye nodded, grabbing the basket. Today she couldn't linger. "I'll be back in a few days."

Clarissa reached out to grasp Skye's hand. "You're a good gi rl, Skye. I..."

Without warning, the woman's eyes widened and her grip tightened until she was crushing Skye's fingers.

"Clarissa." Confused, Skye tried to pry her hand free. "Clarissa, you' re hurting me."

"Thunder," the woman rasped. "D o you hear it?"

"What thunder?" Skye demanded, her heart racing as a green fire briefly consumed the wom an's blue eyes.

"It's under our feet. Rumbl ing. Stirring."

"Clarissa!"

The woman blinked, and as abruptly as it'd appeared, the green fire was gone. "I'm sorry." Clarissa released her hold on Skye's hand, her expectant expression revealing she had no idea anything unusual had happened. "Did you say something?"

Skye licked her dry lips. "Are you okay?"

"Just tired." Clarissa managed a weary smile. "I think I should lie down for a little while. Will you lock the door on your way out?"

"Y es, of course."

Skye waited until Clarissa was stretched on the couch before she headed out of the shop, double-checking the lock and then placing a protective spell on the door. She didn't know what had happened to Clarissa, but she suspected that the older woman had been dabbling with a magic that went beyond her powers. Or perhaps she'd accidentally gotten ahold of a demon talisman that ha d infected her.

Tomorrow she'd return and do a thorough swee p of the store.

Just another job on her to-do list.

She heaved a sigh and plowed through the rain that had gone from a drizzle to a gully washer.

Perfect.