Page 7 of Air Of Mystery (Witches On The Hill #4)

“Come on back, Cousin.” She gestured for me to follow her.

Her sister Luna’s work, I knew. The stained-glass sunflower at the center of the window seemed to glow in the evening light.

I placed the pizza box on her butcher block counters and nudged it back so Manny couldn’t get it.

“Manny, sit!” Sunny said, and the dog dropped his rump instantly to the hardwood floor.

The beagle gazed up at me expectantly with adoring eyes.

“The last time I gave you pizza, your mom yelled at me,” I reminded the dog.

“Yeah, I did yell,” Sunny said, giving me a hard look. “Because he threw the pizza up all over my new area rug in the bedroom.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, trying to sound contrite.

Beside me Manny let out a pitiful sounding whine.

“No pizza for you, sir,” Sunny informed the dog.

I smiled down at the beagle. “Sorry, buddy.”

With a chuckle, my cousin reached in the fridge and pulled out a bottle of red wine. “Go ahead and take that pizza to the table. I’ll grab some glasses and then you can tell me what’s troubling you.”

“Who says anything is bothering me?” I asked.

Sunny followed me to the table where she already had celestial-themed plates and napkins waiting. She set the bottle down and the glasses followed. “I saw Kenna at her bakery yesterday,” she said, changing the conversation. “She seems crazy in love with Tyler and was incandescent with happiness.”

I took a seat at the table. “Kenna deserves to be happy.”

“Mm hmm.” Sunny nodded and poured the wine. “Grandma Althea says that Tim and

Cordelia are buying a house in Ames Crossing.”

“They had an appointment for another walk-through this week,” I said, lifting the lid on the pizza box. “I bet they’re putting a bid on it today.” I placed a slice on each of our plates.

“I ran into Brynn,” Sunny said as she moved to sit across from me. “She told me that Robbie is asking for a puppy.”

“Oh man,” I sighed. “I can’t see that happening. A dog would tear up Brynn’s gardens and probably chase the chickens.”

Sunny nodded. “I agree. Which is why I referred her to a feline rescue program that I work with. She said she would take Robbie next week and go look at possibly adopting a cat.”

We chatted casually over our dinner and the topic remained firmly on family. I discovered that my cousin Astrid had still not contacted her mother or any of her siblings since she moved out of Blackthorn Manor a few months ago.

“Mom is devastated,” Sunny confided. “I get that Astrid wants to go and live her own life, but she cut us all off because of a guy.”

“Jace?” I asked. “He’s in real estate, isn’t he?”

“Jace Edwards,” Sunny said with a frown. “He’s some big shot developer. Successful, loaded, and he’s also a condescending asshole.”

Her comment had me choking on my wine in surprise. It was rare to hear Sunny say anything that wasn’t kind.

“What’s worse,” Sunny continued, “Astrid has completely changed. Her personality, her looks, her clothes…everything.”

I set my wine glass down before I could drop it. “Astrid? The girl voted most likely to be Morticia Addams?”

“Have you seen her social media page lately?”

“No,” I admitted. “Things have been kind of crazy.”

Sunny pulled her phone out and with a few taps on the screen pulled up her sister’s social media account. “Look,” she said, passing me her phone.

My jaw dropped. My boho, free-wheeling cousin had cut her hair and completely changed her look.

Gone were the long dark tresses and braids that used to swing down her back.

Now her hair was cut in blunt bangs and into a sleek, almost sharp, straight bob.

Her makeup and clothes were different too.

The cosmetics were subtle and understated, and her clothing in the photo was completely unlike what she’d worn in the past. She’d typically worn edgy styles and deep colors.

In her current pictures she was wearing pastels and subdued florals.

“By the goddess,” I muttered. “All she needs is a beige twinset and some pearls.”

“I know, right?” Sunny tossed back some wine. “It’s enough to make you think he’s cast some sort of spell on her.”

I narrowed my eyes at that. “Is he a practitioner?”

“Not that I am aware of. But he is charismatic, in a mildly creepy, nouveau riche sort of way.” Sunny sighed. “We all tried to warn her, told her to slow down, but she moved in with him so fast, and now she’s living in some fancy condo in downtown St. Louis, partying with the rich and famous.”

I considered Astrid’s posts again. Most of the recent photos were of her and Jace at various charity events. I spotted news anchors and local sports personalities in the photos. Clearly, her boyfriend had connections and influence.

After one final assessment of Astrid’s social media account, I passed my cousin back her phone. “I’ll reach out to her,” I promised. “Maybe she’ll respond.”

“If you hear from her, let me know.” Sunny reached for her wine glass. “How is your paranormal show going?”

“It’s doing well,” I said. “Passed the two hundred thousand subscribers mark last month.”

“Good for you!” Sunny smiled at the news. “And how are things going with the blonde, buff, and yummy guy who works security at the Marquette Mansion?”

To stall my answer, I took a big bite of pizza and made a non-committal sort of sound.

“Skye.” Sunny frowned at me. “Grandma Althea told me that you were on a date with him when you rushed over to help Kenna.”

“Mm hmm,” I said around a mouthful.

Sunny reached across the table and dropped her hand over one of mine. Quick as a flash, I felt her fingers heat up as she tightened her grip over my wrist.

“Hey!” I complained and tried to pull away. But it was pointless. Sunny had latched on and was taking a look—psychically—at my recent memories.

In a few seconds she released me and sat back. “I don’t suppose it never occurred to you that throwing a glamour and making it appear as if you had disappeared into thin air might send a potential lover into a tailspin?”

I rubbed at my wrist. “Don’t you lecture me on ethics! You just helped yourself to my memories—without permission I might add.”

She shrugged. “Sometimes, it’s faster to look for myself than to wait for someone to work up the nerve to acknowledge what’s troubling them.”

“Even for a Seer, that’s skating pretty close to the ethical line, Sunny,” I warned her.

“I only want to help you,” she argued.

“Yeah, right.”

“Give him some time, Skye,” she suggested. “He’s got a lot to process.”

I jerked a shoulder. “Whatever.”

Sunny flipped her hair over one shoulder. “Okay, let’s skip the part where I am gently supportive, and instead go right to where I call it like it is. The truth is that you frightened him, and that won’t be an easy thing for a man like Charlie Smythe to admit.”

“I hate it that you’re right.” I sighed. “Probably.”

She simply smiled at me. “Meanwhile, while he works this out for himself, you need to do another cleansing.”

“I already have.”

“Well do another because your aura is murky and filled with gray clouds.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m connected to the element of air. Of course you’re gonna pick up on clouds.”

Sunny’s eyes sharpened. “You don’t see auras, Skye.

I do. Typically, yours is bright yellow with patches of blue.

The yellow symbolizes intellect, and the blue shows an independent spirit.

Today your personal energy field is muted, and to me those gray clouds read like you’ve been ill, or that you’re depressed.

The color gray also means that you are energetically blocked, feeling uncertain, or are dealing with inner turmoil. ”

“Damn Solar Witches.” I frowned over her accuracy. “That reading my aura and diagnosing thing that you do…is super annoying, you know that?”

“Annoying?” She lifted her eyebrows. “Maybe. But you know I’m right, and that just burns your ass.”

I blew out a long breath.

“Wanna argue about it some more?” she asked, sounding way too cheerful.

“No.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I don’t.”

Sunny pointed at me. “Tell the truth. You’ve been very unhappy, and you haven’t moved past what could have been.”

“Yeah,” I grumbled, trying not to pout. “You’re right.”

“Ha!” Sunny swiped a finger on an imaginary chalkboard as if she were keeping score. “What you need is a fresh haunted house to investigate, or an urban legend to debunk. That’ll put you right back on track.”

Despite myself I had to laugh. “You’re one of the few people who really gets me.”

“Amazing insight,” Sunny said, reaching for her slice of pizza. “It’s my curse.”

“Smart ass.”

She grinned at me from across the table. “Go get your gang together and go on an investigation. Put all those smarts you have to work.”

“Besides for the house on Henry Street, things have been quiet lately,” I complained. “There’s nothing new brewing around here.”

“I’ve never liked that house,” Sunny said. “I avoid that street when I take Manny on long walks around the neighborhood.”

“Probably best to stay clear of there,” I warned her.

“Planned on it.” She nodded. “Oh, that reminds me! A client of mine has a friend who bought a restaurant down in the historic district of old St. Charles. Apparently, the staff are convinced that it’s haunted.

The new owner is having a hard time keeping employees.

Everyone gets scared off and then quits. ”

“That’s interesting,” I said, picking back up my wine. “How long has this been going on?”

“Months. My client talked to me about it yesterday, because she knew that we are related. One of her teenage kids is a fan of your show, and they thought maybe you could help their friend.”

“Do you have their contact information?”

“Of course,” she said. “I’ll give it to you after we finish eating.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Thanks for the tip, Sunny.”

“You go have fun and bust some heads…in a spiritual sense of course.”