Hopefully it will be enough.
When my gaze lands on Carly, Isla, and Nat, a knot the size of a baseball lodges in my throat.
I take in the sight of my girls, trying to memorize every detail. Nat’s huge smile and her wild, multi-colored hair. The light in Isla’s expressive eyes and the teardrop pendent shining against her smooth brown skin. Carly’s feistiness and flawlessly coordinated outfit. Even going to battle, she’s a damn runway model.
Seeing them reminds me of Jessa, and a fresh pain lances my heart. I haven’t seen her since her Harvest Eve visit, and I miss her so, so much. A hundred times this morning I thought to call her, to send a text, anything. But I was too scared it would be the last, so I stayed silent.
All I can think about now is hugging her again. Hearing her laugh. Smelling the scents of her chocolate and cinnamon scones.
I can only hope I’ll have the chance again.
Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them show.
“You okay?” Isla asks.
I force a smile and nod. “Just… worried about my witches. That’s all.”
“I’m worried too, girl,” she says, tying her braids back beneath a dark head scarf. “But you know how it is. Sometimes you just have to go out there and do epic shit, right?”
A tear escapes. Brushing it away quickly before it unleashes a torrent, I say, “I just wish you all didn’t have to be quite so epic today. The Dark Arcana are the responsibility of the Brotherhood. You shouldn’t have to fight these—”
“I’m gonna have to stop you right there, Twink.” Carly rolls her eyes as if I’m the most ridiculous person on the planet right now, then puts an arm around my shoulder. “I’ll let you in a little secret. Ihatewinter holidays—especially New Year’s Eve. It always leads to disappointment and loneliness and way too much self-medicating with my perpetual dates, Ben and Jerry. But this year is different. New Year’s is less than two weeks away, I’ve got the best friends a girl could ask for, my psycho mother is locked away and out of my life, and for the first time ever, I’m actually looking forward to celebrating. So if you think I’m letting that shrivel-dicked asshole Magician and his variety pack of Tarot nutter butter psychopaths ruin it for me, forget about it. I already have the perfect outfit planned and everything, so fuckthatguy.”
I can’t help but laugh. “So basically, you’re doing this because you don’t want to cancel your party plans?”
“Obviously! Doyouwant to cancel? Damn, girl. You’ve got fourseriouslyhot dates. You’re telling me you’d rather spend New Year’s Eve dead instead of making out with them?”
I glance over at Kirin and Baz, utterly inspiring in their tight black T-shirts. “It’s a trick question right?”
“Obviously. Anyway, enough about you. How do I look?” She steps back and props a hand on her hip, showing off her ensemble—combat boots, camo pants with multiple secret pockets for multiple secret weapons, all topped off with a lace cami that somehow manages to conceal the sheathed dagger strapped to her back while still looking cute.
“Carly, only you could make camo and lace work so well together.”
“Right?”
I take another look at each of them, relieved that Isla and Nat are wearing the protective hematite jewelry I got for them on one of our girls-night-out dates.
Carly and I weren’t on the best of terms back then, so she missed out on the date night as well as the gifts. But in the short time since, she’s become one of my closest friends. My sister-witch.
And she’s not wearing a single protective stone.
Without a second thought, I unclasp my Eye of Horus necklace and fasten it around her neck.
“Whoa, girl.” She touches her fingertips to the pendant and shakes her head. “If you like methatmuch, put a ring on it.”
“Maybe for your birthday.” I smile, then grab her hands, surprised when she squeezes back. “It’s a protective amulet—it’ll keep you grounded and safe. It was my mom’s. Professor Broome made it for her.”
Carly’s eyes widen, her energy turning serious and heavy. “But… but what if I don’t make it back, and—”
“Carly.” I shoot her a pointed glare. “Tomorrow is Witch-’N-Bitch. Don’t eventryto get out of it.” Looking up at the rest of the group, I say, “That goes for all of you ladies. Professors and Casey too. We’ve got a date tomorrow night, and I expect you all to be here with smiles, bubbles, and a champagne saber.”
Casey laughs. “My first official Witch-’N-Bitch invite? I thought you’d never ask.”
“So you’ll be here?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
With a smile, I turn my attention back to Carly. “I really want you to wear the amulet. Please. You’ll be doing me ahugefavor.”
