Page 17 of Hungry As Her Python

That was my story, and yada yada, you know the drill.

The sky was still dark when I pulled my car into my designated space in The Tasty Tart’s parking lot.

Something was amiss. The hair on the back of my neck started to rise. Petyr growled in his seat.

Oh no.

Sniff.

Oh no no no.

Sniff sniff.

Crap on a cracker!

“That’s smoke, my Witchy,” Petyr murmured from beside me.

“Oh no. Not again.” My stomach dropped as I dialed 333—our own Castor’s Corner version of 911—while already sprinting toward the back entrance.

I grabbed the fire extinguisher, whispered a quick enhancement charm, and blasted the storefront where a display rack was engulfed in flames.

“Stand back!” a deep voice ordered.

Conrad.

And right beside him—Ryan, Donny’s mate, equally massive and equally heroic-looking in his firefighting regalia.

They took over without hesitation, but Petyr put himself between me and the fire like the stubborn little puffball he was.

As my familiar, his entire job was to keep me safe, and he was very, very good at it.

“Outside, Bella. Now,” Conrad commanded, stepping in front of me with his arms spread wide.

His face was grim, jaw tight, eyes locked on mine. Concern radiated from him in waves.

“He is right, come.”

Petyr tugged me toward the curb.

I let him.

The last thing this magical town needed was me adding to the drama by inhaling smoke.

“You okay, my Witchy?” Petyr asked.

“Not really,” I muttered, plopping down on the curb and pressing my hands to my face.

Normally, by now, the scent of fresh dough, sugar, and melted chocolate would be curling through my shop, drawing in customers like moths to a flame—bad analogy, given the current situation, but still true.

I lived for those early hours.

For kneading soft delicacies under my palms.

For working out my problems as I worked out the dough.

For filling trays with glossy pastries and wicked little donuts stuffed with everything from cream cheese and lemon curd to chocolate ganache and bourbon caramel.

That was my magic. That was me.