Free The Cupcake Coven by Ashlyn Chase Page B

was sure I was goin’ to be asked to leave, but she just said I might need some classes. That’s why I’m here.”
    “Excellent!”
    Yvonne entered from the next room. “What’s excellent?”
    Myranda rubbed her hands together. “Another victim,” she said. “Mwuahahaha.”
    Dru must have looked surprised, because the woman burst out laughing.
    “Only kidding, Dru. We have a basic Wicca class starting Saturday morning. Yvonne teaches it.”
    “Is that a good time for you?” Yvonne asked.
    He sighed. “Actually, that’s about the worst time. I’m helpin’ Rebecca out with her bakery since she’s all alone over there, and she said weekends are her busiest times.”
    “Oh? Why is she alone?” Myranda asked.
    “Her assistant quit to work at a grocery store where she could get benefits.”
    “And you don’t need benefits?” Yvonne asked.
    “Like what, health insurance?”
    “Sure. That and maybe paid vacations?”
    “My health plan is simple. ‘Don’t get sick.’ And as for vacations, I’m on one now. The paid part ran out, so it’s called a ‘leave of absence.’ My only benefit is seein’ Rebecca every day.”
    “I guess you’re all set, then,” Myranda said.
    “Pretty much, but I have a couple of problems. Maybe you can help with advice, even if I can’t take the classes.”
    “Sure. We’ll try. What’s going on?”
    “Well, one is about Rebecca’s business. Did y’all know she’s goin’ under?”
    Yvonne raised her brows, but Myranda responded. “I’m not surprised. Did you hear that spell she cast?”
    “Yeah. Something about wantin’ customers one, two, three.”
    Myranda looked at him askance. “And how many paying customers did she have yesterday?”
    Dru had a sinking feeling. “Uh…three. And all they bought was coffee, but they paid in cash.”
    “How about today?”
    He didn’t have to think too hard. She’d told him how many and what they’d bought. “She had three customers and sold three cupcakes.”
    Yvonne groaned. “Why did she word it like that? She should know the Goddess is sometimes ridiculously literal.”
    Dru straightened, feeling the urge to defend Rebecca, even though he’d thought the same thing. “She was afraid she’d be overwhelmed if everyone came at once and she was all by herself. Is there anything that can be done about it now, or does she have to wait until the next full moon?”
    “Oh, no. She doesn’t have to wait. In fact, she should fix that right away.”
    “Does she know how to undo a spell?”
    “Well, yesterday I would have said so. I’m not so sure now.”
    “How long has she been a witch?” Dru asked.
    Yvonne and Myranda stared at each other as if figuring it out non-verbally.
    “She took classes here maybe six or seven years ago, I think,” Yvonne said.
    “Yeah. That sounds about right.” Myranda shook her head. “I thought I taught her better than that.”
    Dru’s jaw dropped. “Six or seven years? Does it take that long to know what you’re doin’?”
    “Not usually. It takes at least a year and a day of study before you can call yourself a priest or priestess.”
    “That sounds pretty advanced.”
    “Nope,” Yvonne said. “That’s basic. A witch should keep practicing and studying for a lifetime. There’s always more to learn.”
    “And magic comes to some more easily than it does to others,” Myranda added. “A lot of it depends on how motivated a person is.”
    “Hmmm…I thought I was motivated, but I had no idea it was so involved and would take so long.”
    Myranda gave him a sad smile. “We probably should have talked more about your experience and ambitions when you came in the first time. You seemed to know a lot already, so I may have assumed you were further advanced than you were.”
    “Yeah. I was motivated as you say, but most of what I learned was from the Internet and books, and a lot of them contradicted each other.”
    “Yes. That happens,” Myranda said. “That’s why I