Bloodmagic (Blood Destiny 2) Read Online Free PDF

in real life but, clearly, I had been mistaken.  
    She smiled brightly at me. “There now.  That’s all the foraging done for the time being.”  Her gaze fell on the few remaining books that lay scattered around the floor, including the Fae one that I’d thrown to the other side of the shop.  Her smile dimmed slightly.  “Goodness, have we had a visitation of pixies then?”
    I eyed her warily.  There was definitely more to this old lady than met the eye.  Could she sense that Solus had been here?  I wondered whether to broach the subject outright with her, but before I could think of what to actually say, she’d bustled her way to the back with her trolley squeaking on its ancient wheels behind her.  I picked up the books, ignoring the thrum of the Fae one which I thrust out of sight under several others but where I knew I’d be able to find it later, and tidied up the pile.  I could hear her humming away to herself from the kitchen with the same tuneless notes that she’d used before, and then the click of the kettle being switched on. 
    Wandering into the kitchen after her, I aimed for small talk instead.  “So did you pick up anything interesting then?”
    “Oh, yes, dear.  I’ve got some nettles and some St John’s Wort.  Makes wonderful tea, you know, and it’s great for the nerves.”  She peered at me curiously.  “Looks like you could do with some.”
    “Err…I’m good, thanks.”  The memory of her last brew was still lingering on my taste-buds and I was in no rush to try anything else.  I paused and searched for an opening.  “So, you are a bit of a herbalist, then?”
    “Oh, I dabble, dear, but I’m no expert.”  She smiled again and I wondered just how far her dabbling took her.  Into witchcraft as well, perhaps?  Mrs Alcoon continued.  “Although I was wondering if there was something that maybe you could help me with this afternoon.”
    “Of course,” I murmured, curious to see what she would actually ask for.
    “I promised an old friend who’s feeling sick that I’d make her up a little something to ease her troubles.  The trouble is that I really need some blisterwort if I’m going to follow my recipe correctly.  With my creaking bones it’s difficult to get hold of.  It really only grows on the outskirts of town and it’s a bit of a hike.  If I showed you what it looked like, and where to go to fetch it, do you think you’d manage to pick some for me?  You need to walk up towards Clava Cairns to fetch it.”  She suddenly looked a bit worried.  “You did say that you wanted to see them, didn’t you?  I don’t want to impose on you, Jane dear.”
    I swallowed hard.  That was the third time that she’d called me dear in the last five minutes.  But it was no biggie.  Honest.  I wasn’t getting worked up over something so petty.  No sirree, not me. 
    “I do want to see the Cairns,” I reassured her.  “And it’s no imposition.  I’d be more than happy to, especially as it’s for a sick friend.”  I watched her carefully as I said the last, but her expression didn’t flicker. 
    She reached over and briefly touched my shoulder.  “Thank you so much.  The fever she has isn’t life threatening or anything like that, although it can be dangerous to animals, but she is suffering terribly with hot flushes.”
    “Actually I could do with the exercise.”  I realised as soon as I said it that it was true.  The unsociable hours I’d been keeping whilst I worked at the pub hadn’t been particularly conducive to maintaining a health regime and I wanted to make sure that I was in shape for the next time Solus decided to pay a visit.  And in case this little old lady wasn’t quite the harmless old woman she portrayed herself to be.  Appearances could be deceiving and I wasn’t going to let my guard down.  There were just a few too many coincidences that hinted that the otherworld had at least its fingertips on her, if not