Chapter 17

I opened the door slowly so not to spook anyone, just in time to see a customer making her way out of the store.

The doorbell jingled over her head, and she was gone. I found myself breathing out a sigh of relief that I hadn’t realised I’d been holding onto.

“No need to look so scared, sweetheart.” Grandma Joan smiled as she noticed me hovering in the doorway. “You’re safe here.”

She gestured me forward, and my feet moved almost automatically. Her sweet grandma voice instantly made me feel a little more relaxed.

“I see you covered your mark.” Joan gestured at my forehead and my breath caught in my throat.

“Oh, umm...you noticed that.” I blushed. I’d kind of been hoping that my hair had been doing a better job of hiding how much a freak I was.

“It was kinda hard to miss,” Mathew said, making me jump as he appeared from an alcove behind the serving counter.

There go my cheeks burning all over again.