Page 88 of Wishing for a Werewolf

“Better than okay,” I say. “I may have just found a way for you to have your soap shop.”

Her hair’s up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing work clothes of jeans and a plain shirt, yet she’s never looked more beautiful than she does now as her face breaks into a glorious smile.

I bring her over to the shadow fae and say, “This is Autumn, my partner. She’s the one who made the soap.”

“I am Gwenfrie. I would speak to you of business.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Gwenfrie.” Autumn gestures toward Grounds for Celebration. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Autumn tells Gwenfrie to choose a table, then drags me toward the counter and orders three pumpkin spice lattes from Devina. As soon as the barista starts grinding the beans, Autumn uses the covering sound to whisper, “What’s this about a soap shop?”

“She wants to sell your soap in her shop. She said something about using it to hide what her wares really are. We didn’t get into it. I said no and that we had to talk to you.”

“You said no?”

“No, toherselling your soap.” I squeeze her arm. “I wantyouto sell it.”

“Operation Wish Swap.” Autumn’s lips twist into a wry grin.

“Yes.” Yet I do not speak the whole truth. This is no longer about the wish swap.

I love this woman. Her hard work, her determination, her willingness to help others. She deserves to have someone help her as well, and I want to be that person.

Everything I’m doing here today is about giving Autumn her dreams.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Autumn

Excitement skitters through me. My own shop! I know Rune’s doing this to satisfy one of the wishes of the wish swap, but I’m still amazingly grateful.

When Devina starts frothing the milk for our drinks, he leans over and murmurs, “Shadow fae are arrogant. She’ll try to force you to accept the first thing she offers. Don’t take it and don’t back down. You’re just as good as she is.”

I nod, determination filling me. I can play hardball if I need to.

Devina hands our drinks to us with a warm smile, and we head to the table by the window where Gwenfrie waits.

“Rune tells me you’re opening a shop here in Ferndale Falls?” I slide into a chair.

The other woman pulls out a silencing candle and lights it, and the sounds of the rest of the coffee shop fade fromhearing.

“King Severin has offered a permanent home on Earth to any shadow fae who can open a viable business.” Gwenfrie sips her coffee and makes a surprised face. “This is quite good.”

Rune grunts in agreement, and I fight down a grin. Everyone loves a great PSL.

“And you want to open a soap shop,” I say.

“Not exactly. I’m a spellcaster who can encase spells in candles and crystals so that other people can use them.”

“You mean like this silencing candle!” I smile and point to the flickering taper standing in the middle of the table. “I use those all the time at Slice of Life, so I can talk about witchy stuff with my friends without the non-magical humans overhearing.”

“Exactly.” Gwenfrie nods. “I make candles spelled for silence and other purposes. I embed longer-lasting spells in crystals. I’ve been making a lot of translation crystals lately to help fae read human languages.”

Rune grunts. He must have one of those.

“So what do you want with my soap?” I ask.

“I need the shop to sell something non-magical humans will accept as normal. Then I can sell my enchanted candles and crystals from behind the counter. I like the quality and craftsmanship of Rune’s soaps and think they’d offer credible cover. I’m willing to buy several batches to get the store started, and I’ll restock as necessary.”