While I spoke, I mixed the wolfsbane and blood samples together in the cauldron, stirring them with a disposable wooden coffee stirrer. I filched them regularly from a Starbucks near my house. They came in handy for all sorts of things, in addition to stirring coffee.

Paul came closer, careful to avoid the drifting smoke. “How’s this going to work?” He paused and then added, “Or should I not distract you?”

I shook my head. “I can both talk and work up until the point of actually casting the circle. This is a pretty easy spell. Right now I’m mixing wolfsbane and the blood samples together. I’ll place those at the cardinal points of the circle. That will form the basis of the protective spell. If I cast it right, they won’t be able to cross the barrier to get a...

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