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“What?”

He closes his eyes.

“Of course she'd pick now.”

The car stops. The door opens. An elegant older woman steps out. She takes one look at Damian.

Then she looks at me. And at my red skin. Then my tail.

Her eyes light up.

“Oh, well, I see you don’t need me after all.”

Damian mutters something vicious under his breath. The woman ignores him completely. She strides toward us with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed.

My mother watches her approach. Recognition slowly dawns on her face.

“Margot Leeds?”

Oh. Oh shit.

I turn to Damian.

“Your grandmother?”

“The one and fucking only.”

Margot reaches us and looks me over from head to toe.

Not critically. Not like my mother.

She seems to view me with eager fascination. Followed by satisfaction. Her gaze lands on the claiming mark at my neck. Then at Damian's. And her smile becomes positively wicked.

“Well, now. I see I am just in time. And you’ve landed yourself the Ramos Witch!”

Damian folds his arms.

“You couldn't answer your fucking phone?”

“I was busy. And that, my boy, is not how you greet me properly!”

“I called three times.”

I kick Damian in the shin.

“Ouch! Sorry. Hello, Grandmother. Allow me to introduce you to my promised, Belinda.”

“Yes! But I didn’t know she was THE Ramos Witch.”

“Excuse me,” Melida interrupts. “What are you talking about? I am the heir to the Ramos Coven.”

I swear, my sister pouts. But Damian and Grandmother Leeds ignore her.

“I specifically told you her magic changed.”

“Yes, Duck. That's why I'm here.”

Duck? I bite the inside of my cheek. Grandmother Leeds turns to me.