Cresent Prophecy Axelle Chandler (beach read .txt) 📖

“Why aren’t you outraged?”

“If she’s a witch, then I would hope she’s on our side?” he offered.

“I can’t believe it,” I said, seething. “She hid from us this whole time.”

“You can’t blame her for that. We live in troubled times. It’s been this way our whole lives when you think of it. For centuries even. Growin’ up and havin’ to keep what you are a secret? That would have to sew some seeds of mutual distrust, don’t you think?”

My shoulders sank, and I rolled my eyes. “Why do you have to be so wise?”

“Someone has to be calm and level headed.”

I slapped him on the arm, and he laughed, moving out of range.

“What happened? Did she say why she hid what she is?” he asked once I’d calmed down.

I shrugged. “I’m more worried why she took a job at Irish Moon in the first place.”

“Why did she?”

“Stuffed if I know. She spoke about me like I’m the messiah who has to do this all on my own or else!” I felt like stomping my foot on the ground. “Where does it say I have to fight Carman solo in the witchy handbook? Robert O’Keeffe—wherever he’s slunk off to—never mentioned there was fine print when he zapped me with that golden pen of his!”

“He’s a leprechaun—I think—so he’s only concerned with things that directly affect him.”

“Typical male.”

Boone laughed and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. This Lucy thing was rather alarming, and his reaction hadn’t soothed me at all. He was so calm and collected about life-threatening events it drove me up the wall. He was the same when the craglorn came looking for a snack.

“She said the witches are pissed that the Crescents didn’t die out with Aileen. Why would they say that?” I felt a wave of tears welling in my eyes. “It’s the prophecy. My blood can bring Carman back to Ireland.”

“But it can also stop her. Don’t forget that. It sounds like Lucy’s fear is talkin’.”

“I don’t trust her.”

“Then don’t trust her,” Boone shot back. “But don’t make her out to be a villain until you know for sure. Fear can do strange things to people.”

“I didn’t tell her about you.”

“Good, I suppose. But if she’s a witch, then she might already sense somethin’ off about me.”

“Really? Is that why I can feel your aura?” I lifted my hands into the air and felt the space around him. If anyone were watching us, they would be scratching their head right about now. “That’s not a sexual magnetism thing?”

“Nay,” he said with a chuckle. “More like animal magnetism.”

Phee barked, starting to get bored waiting for us, and sat at Boone’s feet.

“Play it safe,” he went on, scratching the border collie behind the ears. “Figure her out, but don’t get too close. She might be able to help you with your magic. You’ve been complainin’ about not knowin’ any other witches.”

“I’m still outraged.” I pouted.

“You wouldn’t be Skye if you weren’t.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, I have to make a break for it before you realize I’m pullin’ your leg.” He took off across the field at a run, Phee barking happily as she chased him.

“Hey!” I called out. “Don’t you run away from me!”

Chapter 13

The next day, Lucy didn’t come back.

Opening the shop, I sat behind the counter, mentally preparing myself for a day manning the trenches on my own. Taking out the tarot cards, I shuffled, staring out the window at the murky day beyond.

A misty rain was falling, the kind of rain that blew in all directions and was so fine it did nothing but annoy the shite out of everyone it touched.

The bell above the door rang merrily as Boone appeared. He stamped his feet on the mat inside the door and was an inch away from shaking himself off like he was in his fox form when I held up my finger.

“Don’t think about it!”

He smirked and crossed the shop, his coat all dewy with itty-bitty droplets of rain.

“She didn’t show up?” he asked, leaning on the counter.

“No, she’s over there with her invisibility cloak on.”

“Ah, the rain’s gettin’ to you too, huh?” He smiled and rubbed his hand over mine, then gestured to the tarot cards. “Have you drawn a card?”

“No. Not for a while,” I replied. “I’m not sure I can handle another ominous warning.”

“It might be good.”

Boone was trying to cheer me up, but I was so deep in the doldrums I couldn’t see a way out. Everything seemed so pointless. The fight, the whole destiny thing, even learning how to use my magic felt like a waste of time.

“The thing is, I know trouble is coming. It’s always looming, you know? I don’t even know how Aileen put up with it, not knowing when or where it might strike. Pretending to care about a world that didn’t care about her.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” he murmured. “It’s not about bein’ liked.”

“Then what is it about?”

“Sometimes, you need to be somethin’ people hate in order to save them,” he said.

“I’m not sure I can be that person,” I muttered. “I want people to like me, Boone. I want to belong.”

He smiled but didn’t give me the reply I knew was coming. Sometimes, we don’t get to belong, even though we long for it.

“Will you draw a card?” he asked.

I shuffled the deck once more, tempted to see what message was waiting for me, but I ended up setting the cards back into their box. If the Three of Swords showed up again, I might’ve spontaneously combusted.

“No,” I said, putting the box under the counter. “I’m not strong enough for that today. Maybe tomorrow.”

Outside, a white flash streaked past the window, signaling the arrival of the first bus for the day.

“If you need anythin’, I’ll be at Mary’s until early afternoon, then at Molly McCreedy’s.”

“Sure.”

Boone smiled and kissed me softly on the lips.

“Don’t worry too much about Lucy,” he added. “She’ll turn up, or