“You don’t?” I look at him uncertainly. He was so intent on his list, so insistent about the ingredients. What changed his mind?

“No.” He shakes his head, then cocks an eyebrow at me. “I assume I’ll see you at the Sacrifice Ceremony tonight?”

“Of…of course,” I stutter, feeling stupid. My hand is still tingling from his touch—along with other parts of my body. What happened? Who is he really? Then I realize what he’s asking. “Not that…I mean, I won’t probably be around afterward,” I say quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. “For the uh, celebration. The after party, whatever you want to call it.”

“The orgy,” he says, and there is a spark of heat far back in his gray eyes that makes me tingle all over again. “You don’t intend to participate?”

“Uh, no. Not at all.” I shake my head firmly. “I don’t…I’m not…not like most witches. Besides, I have to be back here early tomorrow.” I pat the counter, indicating my place behind it.

James looks at me speculatively. “I see.”

“So I might see you there but I won’t…I can’t…”

“I understand.” He nods, cutting me off.

Suddenly I feel stupid. It’s not like he was propositioning me. Someone who looks like him? Please—he can have anyone he wants and I’m sure once he catches sight of my lovely cousins I’ll be the last witch on his mind.

I clear my throat and try to get back to business. “Uh, so anyway. Are you sure you don’t need the herbs?”

“Quite sure.” He gives me one last long look from those cool gray eyes and nods. “Good day, Emma. I’ll see you soon.”

I seriously doubt it, I think as he heads out the door, empty-handed. As I put back the herbs, I wonder again who he really is and what happened when we touched. But it seems my questions are destined to go unanswered. I’m sure if I see him at all after the Sacrifice celebration, he’ll be partying with some slender fairy chick or chatting up some other pretty witch or were. As for the girl he was searching for, he won’t have to look hard to find one to suit him.

I sigh softly and look at my watch. Almost time to close up anyway. I put the shop in order and try to get him out of my mind. But somehow he lingers there, Mr. Aiden James with his sharp teeth and even sharper eyes. Why can’t I stop thinking of him?

Chapter Two

“Stop fussing with your outfit—you look gorgeous.” Lexy looks at me approvingly.