Page 11 of Spirit Storm

I haven’t stopped since we opened at seven, and my feet are letting me know what they think about that.

But there’s something about the chaotic rhythm of a busy shift, the chime of the brass bell above the door, and the constant murmur of conversation layered over the scrape of cutlery, that keeps the thoughts I don't want to think quiet enough to ignore.

I carry the empty pot back behind the counter and give it a quick rinse.

Marty is at the coffee station, a fresh pot already waiting. He pours himself a cup without a word. His mug today reading, I survive on caffeine and spite, which feels accurate for both of us.

I set down the empty pot and grab the full one. "Table four wants to know if they can get Tanner’s Eggs Benedict, but without the hollandaise?”

Marty's expression suggests he finds this personally offensive.

“Yeah, sacrilege. That’s what I thought, too.” I’m about to turn back to the dining room when my phone starts buzzing in my apron pocket. I pull it out, and glance at the screen.

Arcana Academy.

My thumb hovers over it for half a second.

"Marty." I turn the screen so he can see the name. "Is it all right if I step away and take this?”

He’s already waving me off before I finish the sentence, one large hand flapping like he’s shooing a pigeon.

"Go, go. It could be about your sisters." He picks up the coffee pot. "I've got you covered."

I’m already moving, weaving past the end of the counter and through the door into the private party room. The noise of the diner falls away behind me as I shut the door, and I hit the answer button just before it goes to voicemail.

"Hello?"

"Miss Hallowind-Forrester." The voice on the other end is unmistakable, a tempered blade wrapped in silk, even through a phone speaker. "This is Headmistress Briar."

I drop onto one of the plastic chairs stacked along the wall, and my feet thank me immediately. I press my back against the seat and let my eyes close for exactly one second. "Is everything okay with Lily and Violet?"

"Your sisters are fine,” she assures me with no hesitation. "I'm not calling about them specifically. There's been a development with the recovered witches as a group, and I felt you should be informed."

The tightness across my chest loosens a fraction, but not entirely. “Oh? What’s going on?”

"The first affinity has surfaced among the recovered witches. To respect their privacy, I won't say who, but it was one of the adult witches long overdue to receive their affinity.”

As relieved as I am that the victims of Laurel’s power play and craziness are doing better, I still have no idea what this has to do with me.

“And while we anticipated the awakening of the affinity, the nature of how it has presented has us a little flummoxed.”

I straighten in my seat. "What do you mean?"

"We’ve been closely observing both the affinity and the witch in question since the moment it emerged, and well… I need a favor.”

I’m now as lost as I’ve ever been. “How on earth can I help you with an awakening of an affinity? Most days I don’t have a handle on my own.”

“Yes, well, it’s not a favor of you, it’s more a favor from you.”

I blink, my head starting to hurt. “That’s a fine distinction. All right, what is the favor you need from me?”

“The witch we’re trying to help, and her affinity seem to be in a state of discordance, the two not aligning as they should. It’s as if the affinity arrived and the witch’s connection to it didn’t take hold properly.”

"Do you think they'll sync up?"

"We're testing everything available to us. As of right now, we don't know."

“And the favor?” I ask, but I think I have an idea.