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Shock and disbelief course through me. Can I leave it up to fate? What if she merges with someone from Quietus? I can’t take the chance.
The Oracle rises from her spot and makes her way to the door. “One last piece of advice,” she says as she opens the heavy wooden door. “Don’t lie to her. You will regret it later.”
And then she is gone, leaving me with all my warring thoughts.
****
Cassandra
Standing inside Once Upon a Book, I take in the smells. I love this store with all my heart and have worked tirelessly for years to get it the way I want it. My mother has never approved of me doing something as mundane as owning and operating my own bookstore and café, but this has always been my dream.
A comfortable safe haven for all the Bantry Bay bookworms and coffee addicts. It isn’t a big store by any means, but it is mine. A counter, six mismatched tables, two ruby-red suede couches, and several bookshelves take up most of the available space. And even though everyone kept telling me the café would be an abject failure, we remain relatively busy every day.
“Try this,” Tayla demands before pushing a teaspoon between my lips.
My eyes close as the taste assaults me. This is why my best friend stays hidden in the kitchen. Her affinity for food is amazing. The buttercream is chocolate, velvety, and smooth with just a hint of almond.
“Damn, woman,” I gush when I finally open my eyes. “That is so good.”
“Thought so,” Tayla replies smugly. “I wanted to jazz up some of the cupcakes.”
“You can jazz up anything you want with that.” I laugh as she heads back into the kitchen.
The bell above the door rings and a man I’ve never seen before enters. It may seem strange to some, but everyone knows everyone in a community of fewer than six hundred people. I have lived in Bantry Bay my entire life, never been more than a hundred miles away. I would have seen this man before.
As he makes his way to the counter, I track his every move. Long, muscular jean-clad legs. Broad shoulders. Dark hair in some kind of man bun, with dark, neatly trimmed facial hair.
“Damn,” I hear Tayla whisper behind me as he reaches the counter.
“Welcome to Once Upon a Book,” I say in a voice that doesn’t sound quite like my own. “How can I help you today?”
The man smiles and my pulse skips a beat. That smile could make every woman in here drop to their knees. Casting a glance around I see that everyone is staring in our direction. Subtly I shake my head at my nosy patrons before bringing my attention back to him.
“What would you recommend?” The deep timbre of his voice has a shiver running down my spine.
This man is affecting me in ways no other ever has. I need to snap out of this. Fawning over a man I just met is embarrassing. Clearing my throat, I answer his question.
“We do an amazing death-by-chocolate cake. And we have the best pumpkin-spiced latte for miles.”
“I will take that,” he replies, never losing his smile.
Turning to fix his order, I can’t help but wonder about the man behind me. Is he passing through? Where is he headed? Will I ever see him again? But I quickly squash those thoughts. A man like this is not for me. The coven would never approve of me merging with a normal man. I need to find someone who will strengthen the coven.
Turning back, I place his order on the counter.
“My name is Niko,” he says. “I just moved to Bantry Bay.”
He extends his hand for me to shake. The moment our skin makes contact I feel an electric current flow through my body. I have never felt a connection like this to another human being.
“Cassandra,” I whisper my name in reply.
A rush of power flows through me where our hands are connected. My entire body feels light, and an immense calmness settles over me. Arousal and awareness thrum through my veins at the prolonged touch of our hands. What the hell is going on here?
Chapter Three
Niko
Leaving the café is one of the hardest things I have had to do in my five hundred years. The witch, Cassandra, pulls me toward her even when I try to resist. The rush I felt when I touched her hand has me hyped up and looking for my next fix like some human drug addict.
