Page 34 of Seven Secret Spellcasters (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7)

M ia headed up to her potions lab after calling her grandmother and not getting any answer.

According to Trent, the autopsy had traces of a drug that would make someone compliant.

She didn’t know if the potion cookbooks she had would have a recipe for such a potion.

Kitchen witches were around to help people, not to help people hurt others.

She thought there might be a need for such a drug if it was carefully protected.

That kind of potion wouldn’t be in a beginner’s potion cookbook.

But she’d found random books in her lab before.

Books that had to have come from the library.

At first, she’d asked Grans and Abigail if they’d stocked the lab library for her, but they’d laughed.

“You’ll find what you need when you need it,” Grans had said, letting the cryptic message stand.

Mia realized she’d done that a lot recently. Or the library would throw the book at her.

She wasn’t surprised when she found an old textbook on her shelves.

Advanced Potion Making . The ancient book’s cover was about to come off, and there were notes all over on the pages.

It was hard to read the faded ink, but soon, she found the page she’d been looking for.

The Emerald Potion. She took a picture of it and sent it to Mark.

Then she texted. Did the lab find any of these ingredients in Howard’s blood sample?

She didn’t get an answer back right away, so she tucked her phone into her jeans pocket and started reading about the “class” of spells and potions that were restricted for use.

According to the textbook, students caught making any of these potions outside the official class lab times would face immediate suspension.

Now she grabbed the laptop she kept in the lab.

She pulled up the coven’s website, and then, using her visitor login, she looked up a list of restricted spells and potions.

There were a lot. She ran her finger down the list and finally found the potion from the book.

It had a star next to it. When she found the notation, it said that special permission to acquire the ingredients and make the potion had to go through the coven’s board.

Brandon Maxwell would know if anyone had made the potion here.

And, according to the potions book, the effect only lasted twelve hours from its creation.

If this was what had killed Howard, it had to have been made sometime Friday morning.

But the coven had already said this death wasn’t magical.

So it wasn’t the potion. Or maybe it was the ingredients and not an official potion?

Or, maybe, the coven had lied. She went to her herb supplies and checked off all the ingredients.

She had them all, except as she picked up the last bottle, it felt lighter than the others.

She opened it up and found it empty. There were bits of the herb at the bottom, so she could tell it had been full at some point.

She looked at the label: Foxglove . She’d run into this poison before; it was called “digitalis” in the modern world.

Had the killer gotten into her supply at the potions lab?

She looked at the clock. She’d wasted the day on a lead that might or might not be the cause of death. She closed up her laptop and the potions lab, making sure she locked the door as she left.

When she went upstairs to get ready for her date, she fed Mr. Darcy.

He’d been sitting at the apartment door waiting when she came inside.

Being alone for the first time in months, she hadn’t even thought about the need to feed her cat.

Before Dorian left, Mr. Darcy had been mostly self-sufficient, as the witch spirit inside him would levitate and open his food when he was hungry.

After that, either Abigail, Christina, or Trent had been in the apartment when it was time to feed him. Now Mr. Darcy had to rely on her.

And he let her know she was falling behind on her duties.

“Sorry, I’ll set an alarm on my phone for five,” she told him as she dished up the wet food. At least it would give her a good excuse for leaving work on time.

A book of herbs sat on her counter. Thanks, library.

Once she was ready for her date, she opened the book and started reading.

By the time Trent showed up to take her to dinner, she’d sent Mark several options of possible mixtures that might have caused Howard’s death.

She wasn’t even close to finding out who had killed him, but if she could help Mark figure out how it happened, that might lead them to the killer.

As they drove to the Lodge for dinner, she stared out the window. Winter would arrive soon. In her experience, one day it would be a beautiful fall day, then the next, it would turn ugly and stay that way until spring started.

“Should we have ordered pizza instead?” Trent asked as they arrived at the Lodge. “You seem a little lost in your thoughts.”

“Sorry, big events like last night’s party suck the life out of me.

I thought it was the work of them, but now I believe it’s being around the mass of people.

” She straightened her leather jacket as she slid out of the truck, then held out her phone.

“Do you mind if I text your mom real quick? I’m probably overthinking something, but I can’t get it out of my mind. ”

“Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

Mia asked Abigail about the foxglove. Abigail responded back that the bottle had been full on the day she’d helped her and Grans stock the potions lab.

Mia sighed and texted Grans to ask her opinion. She didn’t expect an answer. Her grandmother was probably out with Robert, but she wanted it off her mind. “Okay, I’m ready. I’m glad it’s just the two of us tonight.”

“And everyone else in the dining room. Seriously, we can cancel and go back home.” Trent took her arm and pulled her close, tucking a swirl of hair back behind her ears. “I want to have some time with you.”

“Let’s have a quiet dinner here, then go home and see if we can find a movie. And we need to talk about our living arrangements. The apartment was way too quiet for me today.” She leaned on him, and they strolled to the main entrance.

“Are you saying you’re considering moving in with me?” Trent’s smile was way too large.

“Don’t be thinking you won. I’m thinking about Cerby and Buddy.

If he hadn’t brought home a dragon friend from camp, my place would still be a contender.

As it is, though, I’m not sure what to do with it.

The school doesn’t like being empty. And I can’t rent out the apartment to anyone.

” She paused as she thought about Mr. Darcy.

“Besides, I need help remembering to feed my cat.”

“I’m sure there’s someone around with a connection to the coven who needs a reasonably priced place to live.” Trent waved toward a couple in the lobby.

“That’s the problem.” Mia smiled and waved too. “I can’t have a coven spy in the school. There are too many secrets. And the library would have to agree with my choice.”

“So you want someone magical, but not in the coven.” Trent smiled. “Got it. So this discussion was just a way to make me feel like you’re considering moving in?”

“No, that’s not—” Mia didn’t get to finish her words before Blake descended on them.

“Mia, I’m so glad you’re here. I need to talk to you for a minute.” She grabbed Mia’s jacket sleeve and started to drag her to an alcove. As Blake did, she called out, “We’ll be right back, Trent.”

When they were alone, Mia turned to her boss. “What’s wrong? Did I forget about an event? Why are you sweating?”

Blake’s hair around her face was wet, and sweat was dripping off her. She looked like she’d run a marathon. She pulled out some tissues and started dabbing her face. “I’m a little worked up.”

“I can see that.” Mia pulled out a package of tissues she kept in her purse, just in case. “Here. So, what’s wrong?”

“The coven’s here.” Blake’s eyes widened.

“You mean, people from the coven are eating here? I suspect they are still dealing with the hangovers from last night. The party went long. I’m sure they didn’t want to cook tonight.” Mia was trying to explain, but inwardly, she wished she’d taken Trent up on the pizza night.

“No. Every member of the coven who’s in an active leadership role is here. The only ones missing are Abigail, Thomas, and Levi Majors.” Blake waved away Mia’s look. “Okay, so I have a list, and I keep track of their whereabouts. I have a tracking spell set on the Lodge just in case Morty shows up.”

“Your ex.” Mia let out the breath. “That’s understandable. I don’t think they’re here for you, Blake. I think this is an intervention for me. Thanks for warning us. I think I’m going home to have pizza. You can release our reservation.”

Blake was staring out at where Trent was now talking to Brandon Maxwell in the lobby. “Sorry, you’ve already been spotted. At least I tried to warn you. I’m heading to my apartment upstairs and locking the doors. Please don’t blow up my hotel. And no mention of my secret, okay?”

Before Mia could stop her, Blake had disappeared into the employees-only section of the hotel. There were several staff apartments there, and Blake had grabbed the largest one when she’d taken over for Frank. Alone, Mia took a breath, then headed out to join Trent.

“Good evening. I hope your boss didn’t ruin your night with a work assignment?” Brandon leaned in for a quick hug and cheek kisses. He prided himself on his European ancestry.

“No, she was filling me in on some changes for next week’s schedule.

My best friend is having her engagement party here on Wednesday.

We’re swamped this month with parties. You know, the holidays.

” Mia stepped into Trent’s arm as she spoke, appreciating the support she felt almost immediately.

“I take it you’re still recovering from last night? ”