Page 15 of The Tea Witch's Promise

"Brew..."

A shriek cut through my sentence and Oliver appeared from around the bend, running with his hands covering his head. Howie was chasing him in what was either a game or a fight, it was hard to tell.

"That doesn't look good," Brew remarked dryly.

"You might have to treat Oliver again," I replied.

"It seems that way." He let out a breath of white air. "I should go and get to the infirmary so I'll be ready for when your brother comes in."

For some reason, that felt like an excuse to get away from me although I saw no reason for why. If he was truly interested like he said that night, why was he avoiding me? The Brew I knew wasn't someone who would give up so easily on something he wanted, which could only mean that it had just been more of his typical empty advances.

I knew it.

A tightness gripped my chest but I ignored it. I had no reason to be upset, I didn't even feel the same way. Brew was Brew, nothing more, nothing less.

I whistled to get Banjo's attention and patted my thigh. "Heel. Come on, Banjo-boy. We're leaving."

"Katie..." Brew's words died on his lips and he just raised his hand. "See you around."

"See you," I responded, a little too dazed to be able to say anything else. What had been on his mind? It was impossible to tell, and I didn't want to push him further than he was willing to go.

Even if that was leaving me disappointed.

Chapter9

Katie

The living quartersof my best friend's house were a lot smaller than the farmhouse I lived in, and despite having been here many times over the years, I was always surprised when I was reminded of it.

The room was simultaneously a dining space and tattoo parlour at the same time, which was remarkable since four people also lived here.

And all of them had familiars. Though as far as I knew, Carly's dad's horse didn't come inside.

My best friend leaned over a frame with a stretched-out pigskin, practising her tattoo skills by drawing a little piglet. I didn't know if that was cute or morbid, maybe a bit of both. Her cat watched on with disinterested attention, though I knew Zipper well enough to be sure that he wouldn't like it if Carly moved from her spot.

She set her tools down and let out a satisfied sigh. "Maybe you'll let me do your next ward tattoo if I keep practising," she said.

"You know I will," I promised, reaching out to touch the top of Banjo's head. I didn't really like thinking about thenextward tattoo because of what it would mean for my beloved dog. "I was ready to let you do my last one, but your dad said no."

"I remember. He said no when I wanted to do Gus' last year too. But how wrong could a goose really go? But apparently, I'm not allowed to practise on my brothers." She rolled her eyes. "It's not like I'd do anything outrageous, those two are walking advertisements, and with how often Hugo takes his shirt off, that's a lot of potential wards we could reach. Did you know he's been caught with the son of the Black Sheep tavern?"

"What? No." I tried not to laugh, but her older brother was always getting himself into trouble, normally over a guy. "Last I knew, he was with the heron ward. What's his name? Davy?"

"Who knows? I can't keep track." She shrugged and set aside the pigskin. The ward tattoo of Zipper stretched on her upper left arm, as if responding to the fact she was no longer using her tattoo equipment. "So, are there any updates on the ward ceremony? Dad's starting to fret about whether we're going to be able to get it done."

"We're still discussing it, and the tattoo artist apprenticeship," I said, glad that I could deliver such news in a casual setting because she was my friend. It would be so much worse if this was a formal report to someone I didn't know, especially because I wasn't really telling her anything.

"I didn't expect it to be an easy discussion. Improving the wards doesn't exactly benefit the tea witches, does it?" Carly shrugged.

"It does benefit them. If the wards are happier and more settled, they can contribute more. And if they get their ward tattoos in part thanks to Purple Oak, hopefully that will make them loyal to our settlement," I countered.

"Hmm."

"Besides, it isn'tjusttea witches who run things here," I reminded her. "I'm a ward, and I'm from one of the families. And the Millers are nymphs."

"I know," Carly responded. "I just hope you reach a conclusion soon. There are so many wards without tattoos and animals that aren't familiars. It's becoming chaotic down here."

I grimaced. She wasn't wrong about that, and if the familiars weren't officially familiars, then it could cause all kinds of problems, including messing with the laws that governed respecting the familiars bonded to other wards. "I'm aware. Don't worry, I'll keep pushing for this issue."