Spell Booked (Retired Witches Mysteries Series Book 1) by Joyce Lavene Page B

do.”
    What was he saying? “Olivia is
dead
. Murdered. She died after the two of you left the shop together. Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”
    He glanced around the room. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry. She was a wonderful woman.”
    “You tossed me and my friends into the river. Why was that, if you weren’t trying to protect yourself from our accusations?”
    “Molly, I didn’t hurt Olivia. I don’t know what you’re talking about us being on a boat. I just got back from Charleston with Stephanie.” He nodded toward the bathroom.
    I let myself take a deep breath so I could feel his magic. He didn’t
feel
like the witch we’d faced on the boat, but if he was powerful enough, he could mask his strength too.
    “I think we should talk to the Grand Council about what happened.”
    His eyes darkened. “I don’t like what you’re saying. I’m not going before the council because you think I did something wrong. I didn’t hurt Olivia, and that’s that.”
    I studied him as I twisted Cassandra’s ring on my finger. Would she come? The council was used to dealing with problems like this—I wasn’t. I knew there wasn’t much proof against him. I just wanted them to handle the situation so I could get my family back on track and mourn my friend.
    “I think you should go, Molly.” He was drawing magic to him for protection.
    I put my hand on my cauldron I wore. Was there enough strength in it to help me?
    I could feel the physical walls of the room melting away. There was a windstorm in Brian’s eyes.
An air witch
. He could be as powerful as any water witch, definitely more powerful than me.
    “Molly?” Joe was standing beside the table. His frown was as dark as the river during a storm. “Is this a new friend of yours?”
    “Just an acquaintance,” I told him, stumbling to my feet. What had I been thinking coming over here? I took Joe’s hand and pulled him away.
    “Who was that?” He glanced back at Brian.
    “Someone I know from Smuggler’s Arcane,” I lied. “I was telling him about Olivia. That’s all.”
    I’d been so close to ruining years of effort to protect Joe and Mike from magic. I couldn’t let Brian draw me out into the open just to prove that he killed Olivia. I needed proof—hard proof. I couldn’t let my emotions get carried away.

    Mike was back too when we reached the table. “I thought you two had left without me.”
    “Your mother was explaining to a friend that Olivia was dead,” Joe said.
    Mike was horrified. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t know. What happened?”
    I gave him a cursory explanation.
    “I’m so sorry, Mom.” Mike reached out his hand to me. “I know they’ll find her killer.”
    “I’m sure you’re right.” I smiled at him. “Excuse me. I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
    I walked away on unsteady legs. The whole incident had scared me more than being dunked in the river. I hadn’t proven anything about Brian. I was going to have to be more careful in the future. I realized that I’d revealed my weakness to him—he knew about Joe and Mike.

    In the ladies’ room, I looked at my face in the big mirror. Fear fairly seeped from every pore. I was going to have to do a better job of disguising my feelings. I might not be able to match Brian’s magic, but I could certainly hold my own in keeping up a good poker face.
    I splashed a little water on my face and blotted it with a paper towel. My hands were shaky and cold. This wasn’t the Molly Addison Renard I wanted to show when I walked out of the bathroom.
    I glanced around and knew I was alone. I filled one of the sinks with water and plunged my hands into it, muttering a spell for courage as I did so. The water would enhance my magic. I closed my eyes and felt warm belief and steadiness flow into me.
    By the time I left a few minutes later, the spell had taken effect. My cheeks were slightly pink, and my gait was confident. I picked up my bag with a sure hand and smiled at my