“Out of an abundance of caution,” Nat says, flipping through the martini menu on the heated patio at Sea and Sky Bar after our successful shoe store raid, “I think I need to get the peach martini as well as the chocolate.”
“Good call,” Isla says. “Out of an abundance of caution, of course. These days, you can never be too sure when a drink might be your last.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “Have you two ever heard the saying, beating a dead horse? Until it’s dead? Like, really really really dead from all the beating you gave it before it died? And now it’s completely dead?”
“Hmm.” Isla taps her lips. “Out of an abundance of—”
“No. I hereby declare a moratorium on that phrase for at least one semester.”
“Stevie,” Nat says, passing me the menu, “you need to calm down before you cause unnecessary panic.”
“Is self-defense against two severely annoying witches an acceptable plea for murder of said witches by cocktail straw?” I flash a psychotic grin. “Asking for a friend.”
“Speaking of friends,” Isla says. “Where’s Jessa? She should be here for this. By video chat at least.”
“I know.” I smile, thinking of my best friend. So much has happened in the last couple of weeks, but Jessa’s never far from my thoughts, no matter how crazy things get on campus. “She’s off-grid for the next few weeks. She’s in the middle of moving back to Mexico.”
“Well, as soon as she’s settled in, we need to figure out a way to turn her into a witch so she can come to the Academy,” Isla says.
Nat nods. “Way better than video chats anyway.”
“I’m totally on board with that plan,” I say. “Once we figure out who’s trying to steal our magick and possibly kill us, of course.”
“Of course,” Nat says. “Out of an—”
“Moratorium on the phrase, or moratorium on your face,” I shoot her another faux-murderous glare. “However, I totally agree about the last drink stuff, and am therefore on team one-of-everything. I’ll start with the appletini.”
We put in our drink order, then I excuse myself from the table. “I need to run a quick errand across the way. I’ll be back in just a sec.”
“Wait, where are you going?” Isla asks.
“It’s a secret,” I tease. “Be right back.”
“Pharmacy?” She wriggles her brows. “Out of condoms already? I told you, you should’ve gotten the jumbo pack.”
“Or just talked to Professor Broome about the birth control potion,” Nat says.
“There’s a birth control potion?” I stop in my tracks. “How did I not know this?”
Nat shrugs. “Maybe because you grew up in a mundane house and never got the magick sex talk?”
“Birth control potion, huh? What will they think of next?” Grinning, I make a mental note to check in with Professor Broome. But for now, I’m on another sort of mission. “Don’t drink my drink!”
I scoot outside, leaving the girls to their wild speculations about my sex life. They’re not wrong—Iamalmost out of condoms. But the pharmacy is not the store on my list today.
* * *
“Stevie!” Kelly’s face lights up as I step into Time Out of Mind. “I’m so glad you stopped by. Just a social visit, or can I help you find something?”
“Partly social, partly shopping.” I point the glass jewelry case at the end of the room. “I’m actually looking for some protective jewelry—hematite, specifically. It’s for Isla and Nat.”
“I’m so glad you’re taking this seriously.” She shakes her head, her mouth pulling into a frown. “Kate—Professor Broome—we still can’t believe our esteemed headmistress hasn’t taken more action on this. The attacks this weekend were absolutely appalling, and those poor students still haven’t regained their magick. Pardon me for saying so, but on this point, she’s got her head shoved way up her ass, and I told her just that.”
“I take it your talk with her didn’t go as planned?”
“It’s like Agent Appleton said. She believes keeping the information under wraps is the best way to keep everyone safe.” Her energy pulses with anger and frustration, but then she takes a deep breath and lets it go. Turning back to me with a smile, she says, “Come with me. I’ve got just the thing.”
She leads me to the case and opens it up, taking out a few different trays of necklaces, bracelets, and rings.
