Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Of course,” Delia assures her. “I’ll call if it gets too busy.”
“Thanks.” With a grateful smile, Lucy walks through the doorway to the kitchen, and I follow behind her, ready to relocate to the kitchen table, under which Nera snores loudly.
He’s slept all day, likely still recovering from all the activities of late.
Lucy turns quickly, bumps into my chest, and then takes a deep breath.
“Okay. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“And I think it’s really, really sweet that you’re watching over me because you feel that you need to protect me.”
“I do need to protect you.”
“Jonas, you’re hovering.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”
“You’re hovering. I need you to take a breath for a bit. You’ve been glued to me for almost a week. I’m not complaining. I appreciate you so, so much—”
“I know.” I brush a strand of her bright red hair off her cheek.
“But it’s just…I’m safe. I have Delia and a whole store full of people. Nera’s here. I promise not to leave the building to go to my garden or anywhere else. Please, go take a break. You really need to go into Hallows End, Jonas. You haven’t been back in almost a week.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Jonas.” She takes my hand and presses my palm to her cheek. “Those people still need you. After things changed with the baby being born, you need to check on them more than ever. Just in case.”
I take a deep breath and feel frustration bubble within me. I know she’s right, but I hate the idea of being too far away from her.
What if I can’t reach you like this again?
I’m here. We’re stronger than ever, Jonas.
I nod, kiss her forehead, and then her lips. “I know that I need to go back to check in with them. I’m going to make the rounds, make sure that everything is as it should be, and then I’m coming right back.”
“I think that sounds like a good idea.” She kisses my lips with a loud, happy smack. “Have a good walk.”
Nera wakes as I open the back door to the garden. I point at him and then at his mistress.
“Keep watch.”
He sits up, coming to attention, and I nod in approval.
“Good boy. I’ll see you both soon.”
The walk into the woods and over the bridge is one I could do with my eyes closed. As usual, my clothes change as I cross the small bridge, along with the weather.
I step from late autumn sunshine into a cold drizzle.
I shouldn’t have stayed away from Hallows End for as long as I did. I do have responsibilities here that I can’t ignore, even if Lucy is the priority.
Did you get there okay? I hear her ask in my mind, and I’m relieved to know that the tether hasn’t been blocked.
Yes, just entering my cabin now. I’ll make sure everything is good here before I walk through the village.
I walk inside, and everything is as I left it after the baby’s birth last week.
Good. All is well here, too.
I gather some things from my desk and shelves to take back to Lucy’s with me when I go, set everything on the chair by the front door to pick up on my way by later, and then set off through town.
At first, everything seems normal. It’s halfway through the month, and it looks like it always does at this time during the cycle.
But when I get to Louisa’s cottage, I frown. She’s not out front tending to her garden as she always is, even when there’s rain. In fact, it doesn’t look like anything has been tended in a few days.
That’s not normal, so I walk to the front door and knock.
Louisa’s husband, John, answers the door, looking exhausted and worried.
“Jonas, thank the goddess.”
“Is something wrong with Louisa?” I step inside and look through the doorway to the bedroom where Louisa lies in bed.
“She is ill,” John says and swallows hard. “Fever, chills. She will not eat or drink any water. She seems to see things that are not there at all.”
“May I?”
“Yes, please.”
I hurry to Louisa’s side and take her hand as I press my other hand to her head.
“Her fever is high,” I mutter. “Louisa, ‘tis Jonas.”
She doesn’t stir at my words, and I look back at John, who only frowns and looks helpless.
“How long has she been like this?”
“Three days,” he replies. “And it is not just my Louisa. Several other members of the coven are in the same condition.”
“How many others?”
“I do not know for sure. I have stayed here to tend to her. Jonas, what kind of illness is making its way through Hallows End?”
“I do not know for sure.” I press my lips together, trying to think. I know there are herbs I can use to help with the fever, but modern medicine would be so much better.