Camp Cryptwood was for monsters and vampires. Generally, any kid from Maple Hollow could attend. Lycanthrope Wilderness Camp was specifically for the teenage werewolves in the community. Apparently, a half wolf, half vampire attended one year, but he left after only two days because of how insufferable the pack was.
I didn’t blame him.
Thank the goddess for the wards around SCUW or we’d have to deal with those howling miscreants all summer too.
“We will fight!” Dagmar shouted to the growing cheers of the camp. “We will claim victory! This is our year! For the coven!”
I rolled my eyes at the dramatics. The summer camp games were Dagmar’s Olympics. We’d lost the last three years in a row, and Dagmar was determined to put us back in the number-one slot.
When the group was sufficiently filled with sisterly camaraderie, we sang our witchy campfire songs and performed the usual cleansing and protection spells for the season.
I caught sight of Gwen across the campfire, the bright orange flames reflecting in her skeptically narrowed eyes, her winged eyeliner making her wariness even more evident.
If ever there was a black cat personified, it was her.
Good thing I was a witch and loved black cats. I decided to make it my summer mission to win her over to the witchy way of things. I still wanted to move to the city and start a new life, but I was a proud witch, and I wanted her to be one too. Then maybe she and I could move to New York together and open a crystal shop or something . . .
Whoa!I quickly shut down that daydream. I shouldn’t be thinking about Gwen like that.
As if summoned by the thought, Gwen’s eyes met mine, and I hastily looked away.
Oh, she is a witch all right.
There was something incredibly hypnotic about her—her eyes, her aura, her presence, her lips . . .
A shoulder leaned into me, and I shot Iris a look. “What?”
“No campers,” she scolded in a taunting singsong.
“I know,” I whispered from the corner of my mouth. “I was just looking at the fire.”
“Uh-huh, sure you were.”
I scoffed, and Dagmar gave a quick glance in our direction. I cleared my throat, trying to play off the sound as an ill-timed cough.
“I’m not you,” I whispered to my sister, careful to keep my voice low. “I can control myself.”
“How dare you.” Iris feigned offense even though she was grinning. “Besides, I never looked at any of my hookups the way you look at her.”
“I don’t look at her like anything,” I muttered. “I just met her.” Iris smiled wider. “Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything.” She kept smiling at me in that smug older sister way that made me want to erupt.
“I just want to make sure she doesn’t get chewed up and spit out by Astrid,” I gritted out.
“So caring all of a sudden,” Iris teased.
Dagmar said her final prayer and released us to say our own individual prayers beneath the full moon.
Everyone shot to their feet and extended their hands to the sky . . . except for Gwen. She looked completely lost and embarrassed, her brows pinched in confusion. It was too dark to see the blush on her cheeks, but I knew it would be there. Shenibbled the corner of her lip and panned her gaze around the fire.
I stood, wanting to rescue her from her nerves.
“Leave it alone, Iris.” I gave my sister one last warning look before making a beeline toward Gwen.
I made my way over within a few heartbeats, but watching her internally panic felt like a lifetime. Gwen’s eyes fixed on my extended hand, then pinged up to meet my gaze.
“Come on,” I said with an encouraging smile. “I’ll show you how to do it. It’s easy.”
