Page 10 of When the Witch Met the Minotaur

I raise my wand and use a replacement spell to move Kaya’s shingles back into place on the roof of Two Cats Bakery. A few fellow townsfolk fetch brooms and other implements. Argos is soon sweeping the broken shingles into a pile. He takes a shovel from a fairy who lives nearby and they load the pile into a wheelbarrow.

“Do you know where the refuse pile is?” I ask. I don’t want him dumping that into the river.

“Yep.” He grabs the wheelbarrow’s handles and walks off.

He has a strange gait like he’s somehow so important. All relaxed confidence and easy grace. Like nobility. I snort. And his trousers are far too tight. What a show-off.

“If you stare a little harder,” a low voice says, “you might manage to get his clothes off. You are a witch after all.”

My heart jumps, and I wheel around to see Grumlin smirking.

“Shut it, wizard.”

He chuckles and picks up two of my protection charms. “I’ll take these, please, love.”

“Trouble with the shrub gryphons again?” I ask.

“Aye.” He loosens the bag at his wide, leather belt and draws out a large gold coin. “They can’t resist my shepherd’s pie in the winter.”

I take his offered payment. “I can cast a more powerful one if these don’t take. Just let me know.”

“Will you be visiting me tonight or are you hung up on that minotaur?” Grumlin asks.

“I am nothing of the kind. He’s an ass.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “It’s a nice ass.”

“Seriously, stop.”

Grumlin grins and nods. “I’m sorry, love. Well, you know my door is always unlatched for you.” He winks and heads off toward his tavern.

I give him a wave. I like Grumlin. It’s nice to have a friend with benefits. It’s not easy to be a magic worker. Sometimes, we have power we have to siphon off through connection. Sex helps us keep our bodies in a balanced state. Grumlin does have a technique he uses when I’m not in the mood. He casts a continuous type of spell that churns his extra energy out, but he says I’m a lot more fun than that method of maintenance.

There’s a lot about being magical that most folks don’t have a clue about.

And that’s another reason why this minotaur needs to be stripped of his ability to work the power. I doubt he has any ideawhat he’s getting into. I wonder what his background is. Has he been using those stones for very long?

Argos returns, eyebrows lifted and a smile on his ruggedly handsome face. “Hello again, pretty rival.”

“Say it again and you lose your tongue.” I’m not sure I can actually manage that, but I can try.

He grins. “I’m sorry. I should have said stunningly, frighteningly gorgeous. My fault.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. The nerve of this fool.

He strides over to where the scones and my little brooms went flying. He retrieves one of the brooms from the fountain in the middle of the square. I walk over to join him. I don’t want his nasty magic all over my cute little bespelled brooms.

“Eh! I will handle those. Drop it.”

He shrugs and lets the broom fall to the cobblestones.

“Tully!” Rom the gargoyle shouts from his spot up in the watchtower.

“Morning,” I call up to him.

“You all right?”

“I am, thanks, Rom.”