Heshook his head. "No. That's what's so funny. I almost did. Could you imagine what thisplace would have been like?"
"You'resure that nobody else did?"
Helaughed. "I thought that, too. Ran my fingers over every inch of thisplace to make sure. There isn't one spell on this place other than your shields.I can't explain it and your guess is as good as mine."
Thatwasn't good enough for me. Considering the financial situation of the entireregion, something had to be dragging the townsfolkinto the store. Leaning against the wall and closing my eyes, I let my magicflow into the wall behind me and spread out through the building.
Theonly spell on the place was my barrier ward. The one that kept out ghosts andpeople intent on harming anyone or anything in the store. First Moon Books wasprobably the safest place in Upstate New York. I needed to up the defenses onmy house to match it. I whistled in appreciation at the fortress it had become,but there was nothing amiss. No spells that filled my pockets while emptyingthose of the customers. It didn't make any sense, but I guessed it wouldremain a mystery. Pulling my magic back into myself, I finally felt it.
Ihad searched every inch of the place, but not the store as a whole. Leaving mymagic where it was, I took in the big picture and smiled as I realized what itwas.
Thebookstore wasn't alive, but it was close. When objects were filled with enoughlove, hate, or any other emotion, they tended to take on the traits of thoseemotions. Humans did it every day with their cars. Call it a broken-down pieceof shit every day and scream at it, the odds of it starting every morning wereslim to none. Tell your car it is the bestest, most beautifulest car in thewhole world, and that puppy would gladly take a freight train for you. It was aconstant shock to me that humans didn't realize it.
Thebookstore was loved. I loved it. Jason loved it. Candace and Josie loved it.Everybody that worked there loved it. But most importantly, the people of CedarFalls loved it. They saw it as a change in the luck of the town. Five yearsago, a store like this would have gone out of business in a week. It had becomea bastion of hope. So, they lined up outside the doors to spend a little timein its warmth, grab a cup of coffee, read a few magazines or the paper and baskin that glow. It made them feel alive. Like the town had gotten a hearttransplant. It made me smile and it made me cry.
"Youokay?"
Inodded at Jason. "Hope."
"What?"
Itwas hard, but I managed to express everything that I had realized and when Ifinished, Jason's grin was bigger than mine.
"That'sfucking amazing," he answered.
"Don'tlook at me. Most of this was you, buddy."
Iwasn't the only one crying and he kept wiping at the corners of his eyes so Iwouldn't notice. I kissed his head and left the office to give him a moment ofprivacy. We'd all come a long way. Some of us more than others. But none of usas far as Jason.
Sippingmy coffee, I wandered around the bookstore just to breathe in the smell. A fewminutes later, Jason unlocked the front door and the crowd rushed inside. Halfof them went for coffee, the other half for the books. Smiling, I realized theywere more than likely going to switch places shortly.
Sheaand Dar waved as they walked through the door, smiling at each other as Sheaheaded for the register and Dar toward me. "Good morning, Master. For whatmomentous occasion do we owe such a smile this early in the morning?"
Grinninglike a fool, I held out my hand for him, just to feel the warmth of his handagainst mine and to recharge his battery a bit. Since he practically spentevery night at Shea's house, I'd noticed he touched me a lot more when I wasnear. He needed my energy as a familiar and being apart was rough on him. Itmade me happy he thought Shea was worth it. "Nothing. Just happy."
Hebrought my hand to his lips and gently caressed the back of it with them. Thenhe sniffed my skin. "You smell stronger…"
"Ishowered before I came here?"
"No.Not scent. Power. Cold and dark."
Pullingmy hand from his grip, I frowned. Damn him and his hellhoundy nose. "Longstory."
"Thevampires?"
Inodded.
"Somethingelse, too. Vaguely like Shea?"
Hewas way too fucking good at this game. "Dark elf. Elleslyn. He's stayingat the house."
"Inyour bed?" He grinned at me.
"No.On the couch."
"Oddplace for a lover to sleep."
"Notmy lover."
"Yet."
"Gah!What is with all of you and your obsession with me collecting guys likebaseball cards?"
"Isincerely doubt any of us wish to be stuffed in a plastic sleeve and stuck in abook."
"Youknow what I mean." I frowned at him.
Hepulled me to the side of the aisle to give the elderly lady behind me room topass. "Thank you." She grinned at him before turning to look up atme. "If the others look like this one, keep on collecting them!" Shecackled and ambled down the aisle.
"Oh,I will!" I smiled at her retreating back. "Okay, seriously. Why is itwhenever a guy shows up, you all keep badgering me about them?"
Darat least had the decency to blush. "Because."
"Why?"
"Wewant you to be happy."
"Andyou don't think I am with all of you?"
"Yes.But if another lover makes you that much happier, it makes us happier. Doesthat make sense?"
"Vaguely.But I don't think my vagina can take much more happy. I'm completely happy. Anyhappier and I'm going to get friction burns."
"MightI suggest lube?"
"Youknow what I mean. You guys give me so much love and loving, I don't need anymore."
"Andif that makes you happy–"
"Finishthat sentence and you're not going to be happy. All of you need to quitworrying about me so much and be happy yourselves!"
Ihadn't realized my voice had risen in volume out of frustration. The rest ofthe bookstore did. They were openly staring. Hopefully, it didn't sound like athreat and I wouldn't end up in the paper again.
Dargrabbed my arm and started pulling me toward
