Elorie paused, trying to wrap her mind around the idea that Gran had ever done magic wearing only moonlight. Sophie shrugged and peeled off her bikini. Nell’s playing gatekeeper in the kitchen. “In deference to the climate here, I don’t work skyclad like I did as a girl, but trust me, it’s the very best way to experience a hot spring. Elorie felt her eyes fall out of her head. She set her cup of tea down on a convenient flat stone and unbelted her robe. “Good morning, my lovelies! Come to have a soak in my pool, have you?” Moira walked out her back door, wearing a light robe. Not everyone was a morning witch-she’d have to remember it was a good time to wander over for a dip. Some of their travelers had headed home, but there were plenty who remained, guests in nearby homes. Mists were still rising off the pool, and it was miraculously still unoccupied. She picked up her cup of tea and followed Sophie out of the studio and down the path to Gran’s garden. It looked like she was going to get a morning soak after all. “Breakfast will be delivered to Aunt Moira’s pool.”Įxcellent. She laughed and motioned to her other chair. If you throw me out, he’ll send down breakfast for one.”Įlorie’s stomach let out an audible growl. Don’t worry-if I’m not back up there in a few minutes, Aervyn will port us some breakfast. “Is it okay to interrupt? Aaron thought you might be ready for a little breakfast.”Įlorie looked longingly at her jars of glass. “Good morning,” Sophie said, two cups of tea in her hands. She had just done up the clasp when a sound at the door had her turning around. This one would be hers it always had been. It wasn’t often she claimed a piece of her own artwork. A flat rim of silver wrapped around it now, and attached to a chain of delicate handmade links. She held the small glass heart in her hand and felt, as she always did, like it beat for her. Obviously hand-blown, it had streaks of red and blue running through the depths of the glass, making it look almost alive, and somehow, its eons in the ocean hadn’t marred the perfect heart shape. The violet glass was a color she’d never seen before or since finding this particular bit of loveliness. She’d dipped into her most special jar of treasures for this one. The pool would wait her need to create wouldn’t. The temptation to crawl in again herself had been high, but her glass had beckoned. With the number of witches waiting a turn last night, she’d been mildly surprised not to find anyone asleep in the warm water. She’d walked past Gran’s new soaking pool on the way to her studio.

Her fingers and her heart had needed to create again, even if it was 5:30 a.m.

Paperwork, magic, and visitors had all conspired to keep her away from her studio far too long. With delicate moves and sure fingers, Elorie finished attaching the clasp to her first creation since she’d returned from California.

A hidden witch debora geary