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She approached the counter and placed a wrapped parcel beside the contract.

“A grand-opening gift,” she said.

Carolina hesitated before unwrapping it. Inside was an antique brass cash box etched with protection runes.

“It belonged to my grandmother,” Jacqueline said. “Before she became High Priestess, she sold healing tinctures from a cart. She would claim the venture was beneath our lineage.” Her mouth tightened. “She was frequently wrong.”

Carolina traced the runes. “Thank you.”

“The north window requires a stronger ward.”

“Mother.”

“I am attempting encouragement.”

“It sounded like criticism.”

“They use similar muscles.”

Audrey coughed into her hand. Mack became deeply interested in Muffin’s ears. I bit the inside of my cheek until the urge to laugh passed.

Jacqueline looked around the shop. Pride softened her face before she locked it away.

“You built something useful,” she said.

“I built something mine,” Carolina replied.

Once, those words would have started a war. Now Jacqueline nodded.

“Yes,” she said. “You did.”

By noon, the shop was packed. Delia managed the tea counter, Dean delivered a keg labeled GRAND OPENING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, and Mrs. Chen complained loudly that Carolina’s prosperity charms were making customers too cheerful to comparison-shop.

I watched Carolina move through it all: answering questions, repairing a child’s broken protection bracelet, laughing when Audrey hung a tiny EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH plaque beneath Muffin’s paw print.

She had lost power measured in generations.

She had gained a life measured in choices.

When she caught me staring, she crooked one finger.

“Come here, vampire.”

“There’s my demanding little witch.”

“You like it.”

“Occasionally.”

I kissed her behind the counter while our friends pretended not to watch and Jacqueline pretended not to approve.

Second Chances wasn’t a fantasy anymore.

Neither were we.

Six months after the curse broke, I still woke expecting to stumble.

Old habits, I supposed. While I was cursed, every morning had begun with the same calculation. Where was the floor? Where was my balance? What was about to go wrong?