“Newbie witches,” Nat says, a smile tugging at her lips despite the heaviness of our conversation. “So hard to train these days.”
“You guys, I love you. Seriously. But I can’t ask you to—”
“Do you hear something?” Isla asks Nat, her eyes glittering with mischief. “Like the annoying buzz of a witch trying to talk us out of getting involved?”
Nat downs her chocolate martini, then looks at us with a wide smile. “The only thingIhear is the sound of three witches getting ready to beat some serious Arcana ass.”
I crack up at that, even as the tears well in my eyes.
I’m afraid for them. I’m afraid for all of us. But I’m also glad they’re on my side. And they’re right—I need them. We need each other—all of us do. All these secrets and lies, hiding information, the abundance of caution Trello is so stuck on—that’s what’s going to be our downfall.
The only way we’re going to survive this thing—whateverthis thingturns out to be—is if we stick together.
“All right, Charmed Ones,” I tease. “Since you insist on throwing yourselves into the path of danger anyway…” I remove their gift boxes from the Time Out of Mind bag and hand them over.
“Ah, sothiswas the mysterious errand,” Isla says with a smile. She opens her box and pulls out the bracelet, her eyes going wide. “Stevie, this is gorgeous! Goddess, it’s perfect!”
“Wow, it’s so beautiful!” Nat says, opening hers. “Is this hematite?”
I nod. “Professor Broome wants everyone to start wearing protective amulets, and I noticed you guys don’t have any.”
“Thank you so much, Stevie,” Isla says. “I love it.”
“Me too,” Nat says.
The girls help each other fasten their new bracelets, then pull me in for a group hug, the three of us simultaneously laughing and crying in the way only true girlfriends can.
But our Hallmark moment is interrupted by a sound that sends icy shivers down my spine.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” a cool voice says, I glance up to see Carly’s pals Emory and Blue slink out of the shadows from the alley next to our patio.
They were eavesdropping. There’s no doubt about it.
“Did you enjoy drinks and gossip, girls? Because let me tell you, we certainly did.” Beaming at us with fake, menacing smiles, the girls turn on their heels and walk past the patio, heading into the French restaurant next door.
“Holy shit,” Isla says. “Do you think they heard us?”
Dread drops in my stomach like a boulder. “Every fucking word.”
I whip out my phone and send an S.O.S. text to Doc.Epic fuckup—you can yell at me later. I need your help NOW.
He responds immediately.Where are you? What happened?
Blue & Emory overhead me telling Nat & Isla about highly sensitive info, I reply,hoping it’s enough to make the point.
Are they with you now?
They just went into Café Marchande.
On my way,he replies.
Should I meet you?
No. You should go home, Stevie. Immediately. And try VERY HARD not to put anyone else’s life in danger on your way back.
My heart sinks, guilt heating up my insides.I’m really sorry, Doc. :-( I know I screwed up bigtime.
No response.
