8. Rook

Chapter eight

Rook

" H ey boss." Blaze waves as he walks through the front door of the apothecary.

I place a bookmark between the pages of my romance and close the spellbook Autumn gave me. This little spellbook is the coolest little thing I've ever seen. I'll have to have Autumn show me how he used his magic to hide my romance books.

"Hey, Blaze. Do you have a minute to chat?"

"Sure, what's up?"

Blaze walks over to the front counter and leans his big frame against it. I study the brother of the man I'm falling for. Blaze's build is similar to mine. Thick and muscular arms, broad shoulders, and a wide chest. If it weren't for his eyes and similar-colored hair, I'd have no idea he was related to my pretty witch.

"I wanted to chat with you before anyone else got here. First of all, how are you liking it at the shop?"

"Are you kidding?" He grins. "I love it here. I've always had a passion for magical plants, so cultivating them, searching for them in the forest, gardening, all of it is like a dream come true."

"Good. I'm glad. You've been a huge asset to the shop, and I love your enthusiasm."

Blaze smiles at me, almost looking like a little kid. The smile breaks my heart, knowing what Blaze has been through. He doesn't know that I know, thank the gods, but I can't imagine the torture he endured just to be here smiling at me today.

"There's something I have to tell you, and I don't know where to start," I say.

Blaze's smile drops. "Are you letting me go?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. How are things going in your personal life? Have you reached out to anyone you know here in town?"

Blaze bites his lip and looks down. "No, I haven't. I want to, but I'm scared."

"Scared of what? You don't have to answer, but I'm asking for a reason."

He blows out a deep breath. "I'm not the person I used to be. I was…different the last time I saw my family. I was outgoing, charming, and brave. Now, I'm kind of a shell of myself. Broken, if you will."

I lean forward, looking Blaze in the eyes. "I might not know exactly how you feel, but I can understand. Several years ago, I was an important member of my pack. I come from a powerful line of pureblood shifters."

Blaze nods, so I continue.

"I don't know if Lyla told you, but our father wanted to force her to marry the pack leader. Lyla was devastated. She's only attracted to women, and our father didn't care. We went out for a run to help clear her mind. During our run, we were attacked by wild werewolves. I saved her in time, but wasn't able to save myself."

I walk over to the other side of the counter and lean against it so we are now side by side. My father and Lyla were the only ones who saw my new appearance. I was too ashamed to show myself in front of my pack. As soon as I was healed enough to walk, my father kicked me out of the pack for being a monster. He couldn't afford a human stumbling across my ‘grotesque' appearance. His words.

Blaze scowls, shaking his head in disgust. "I'm so sorry, Rook. I had no idea. I thought you were a born shifter hybrid."

I nod. "So did your brother."

Blaze jerks back as if struck. "My brother?"

"Autumn."

His eyes widen as he comprehends what I'm saying. "The auburn-haired witch under the gazebo. The one you've been seeing."

"Did you know Autumn grew the wisteria for you?"

He lets out a shaky breath and glances out the window at the park across the street.

"Every day for a year I've been harbouring a crush on the man who stops by that gazebo to tend to the wisteria. I've wondered why he spent so much time pouring his magic into the beautiful plant. Every day for a year he's been doing it for you."

Tears are streaming down Blaze's cheeks. He swipes at them with a deep sigh.

I grasp Blaze's shoulder. "He loves you, Blaze. And I think Autumn is more understanding than you realize."

Blaze nods. "Thank you, Rook. I needed to hear that. I promise I'll reach out to him soon."

"Good." I nod. "I know I promised you more time, so if you really need it, I plan on keeping my promise. But it puts me in a really hard place."

Blaze looks at me. "You're in love with him."

This time, I let out a shaky breath. "I am."

"Then why do you sound so sad?"

"Your Nana can't contain the core magic anymore. He needs to marry in order to inherit the magic. I'm not sure how it works, but I'm guessing he will have to marry another witch."

"Oh, gods." Blaze gasps, his hand flying to mouth. "But what about the grimoire? He was meant to guard it. Autumn has a passion for the spells and history inside."

I pat him on the back, not knowing the answer.

A few hours later, the front door of the shop opens and the bell chimes. Zero strides in with his amethyst wings tucked against his back.

"Hey," I call out with a smile. "You're back."

Zero halts mid-step and narrows his eyes.

I tense. "What's wrong?"

Zero holds up a hand and grins. "Wait, a damn minute. Is that a smile on your face?"

My cheeks heat, and I go back to stocking the spellbooks in the reading nook area.

"Oh, wow." He rushes forward and peers at my face. "The damn thing is still there. What the hell has happened since I last saw you? It's almost as if you—"

I shove a book into its spot on the shelf, purposely dropping my smile, only to have it return a few seconds later.

"You did it, didn't you?" Zero smirks. "You talked to that witch you've been half in love with. Please tell me you're dating him now."

My grin grows wider.

"Oh shit. You are!"

"We haven't put any labels on it or anything."

"Have you been out on the town with him? Took him to dinner? Wined and dined him at a local restaurant?"

I frown. "Not exactly."

Zero claps me on the back, causing a few customers to look up. "Well, what the hell are you waiting for?"

The front door swings open again and the bell chimes as two witches walk into the shop.

The tall man, with a name tag that reads ‘Todd,' walks right up to me. "Are you Rook? The owner of the Rook's Apothecary?"

"I am."

"What's this about?" Zero stands next to me.

"Hello sir, we are with on behalf of the Witch's Board in compliance with Heart's Hollow's Town rules. We'll be inspecting the cleanliness of the shop as well as the quality of the ingredients."

The female witch by the name of Willow claps her hands. "Excuse me, we are going to have to ask all customers to leave while we perform our assessment."

My face flames as my customers leave my shop.

Zero holds out his Elite Guard badge. Both witches widen their eyes when they read his name.

"Sir, it's an honor," Todd says.

"Please provide identification and explain the purpose of your investigation at this stand up shop," Zero demands in a take-no-shit tone.

My chest warms as my best friend takes control. I know Meyer is behind everything. This morning I found his truck with an advertisement for his spellwork parked in front of our shop, blocking the view of our front door. He claimed there wasn't any parking, and that this was a public street. Last week we had a broken window out back I had to report to the authorities, and my stock of lilacs was missing. I have a feeling that was also Meyer's doing.

A half an hour later, the witches finish their inspection, and it's clear it was a waste of time.

"We apologize for the inconvenience. There were several reports stating that your shop was providing subpar supplies and boasting that they were stronger."

"Nonsense," I snap. "Meyer, the shop owner down the street has been trying to sabotage my shop since he arrived here in Heart's Hollow. Purposely price gouging, coming into my store and talking shit about my products. He's even come in several times trying to poach my customers right in front of me."

Todd and Willow glance at each other.

"In fact, I've asked Zero here to call in a member of the Elite Guard after finding out that Meyer is trying to sell fake potions and making claims on things like love potions."

"Well now," Todd says. "This really isn't a matter for the Elite Guard to waste their time on. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Witch's Board."

Willow steps forward. "Do you have any proof about these love potions?"

I nod. "I have a witness. A Sinclair. He was in here shopping when Meyer started a scene. Autumn felt uncomfortable and didn't want my customers to leave over obvious lies. So he stepped out of the shop and followed Meyer back to his shop. Autumn told me he tested the fake love potion and wanted me to reach out to Zero for a statement."

"Well, I'm here now," Zero smirks. "I can easily take his statement now."

Willow shakes her head. "No, there's really no need to bother a Sinclair. Why don't we go over to the shop now and perform a mandatory inspection?"

"Mind if I tag along, then?" Zero offers them his infamously charming smile. He is clearly not going to take no for an answer.

"It'd be an honor, sir," Todd replies and Willow nods, looking a little starstruck. As they walk out of the shop, Zero winks at me.

A huge weight lifts off my shoulders. I get the feeling Meyer won't have a shop here in Heart's Hollow much longer.

Deciding to keep the shop closed, my thoughts stray back to Zero's words from earlier. What the hell am I waiting for? I send Lyla, Blaze, and Cass a text. With a new sense of determination, I lock up and make my way down to my favorite boutique. I need an outfit for the Sinclair Garden Party.