AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“For justice,” Joy input, twisting her wand in her fingers. “And it means Paulina isn’t going to lock me up again. Andanyway,” she added quickly to cover up that vulnerability, “do wereallywant to live in the same town as a murderer?”
Maisie made a throaty sound.
“Hell no,” Gus translated.
“Are they eveninAgedale anymore?” Victoriya asked around another mouthful of squirty cream. “How do we know they haven’t run off? There’s no way they’re local with the power we sensed. No witch in Agedale feels that old. Not even elves orfaedo. And I don’t mean OAP old. I meanagelessold.”
“Old as balls,” Gus agreed sagely.
Joy frowned. Elves may live to a hundred and twenty, and fae might reach double that number, but the way her coven spoke about this witch, she wasmucholder.
Older than two hundred and fifty years? Who the hellwasthis killer?
Gus rapidly tapped the speckled countertop, chewing his bottom lip. “Why did they comehere?Why not one of the bigger towns? Not to be critical of a psycho, but wouldn’t it make more sense to go for a big city like Manchester where ordinary cops wouldn’t notice the witchcraft? I know there’s a supernatural police department in every major city but, seriously, murders in small townsnevergo unnoticed. In bigger places? Happens way more often.”
“Maybe theywantedto be noticed,” Victoriya said, narrowing her eyes. “It could be a notoriety thing.”
Joy didn’t like this direction of conversationat all.She didn’t want to think about a killer being so close to her home, leaving a girl on the beach that was essentially Joy’s back garden. But she was part of Gabi’s investigation, and she’d begged to help, so she couldn’t get spooked now. She had to put her big girl pants on.
“Gus has a point,” she said, gripping her wand in a white-knuckled hand. “It doesn’t make sense that someone this old and powerful came here. Is there anything we can do to find out why?”
Victoriya let out an abrasive laugh, fear mingled with the sharpness. “You really wanna get inside the head of that bitch?”
“No, thank you,” Joy replied quickly, her whole body flashing cold.
“Then no. There’s no way we can find out why she came hereorkilled Freya. That’s Pride’s job.”
“Which we’re helping with,” Gus pointed out.
Victoriya lifted a shoulder, conceding the point.
Joy looked at Victoriya from the corner of her eye. Tonight, despite everything, she’d been less … snarly. “Did something happen?” she asked. “With your mysterious suitor?”
Victoriya made a sound in the back of her throat. For months now, she’d had a crush on an older man she saw around the community centre where she taught dance classes. She wouldn’t tell the coven anything about him except he was too attractive for his own good—and for hers—and he wascompletelyoblivious to her advances. Joy, Gus, and Eilidh had been desperate to find out who he was forages,but they’d had no luck.
“Just kiss him, V,” Gus suggested seriously. Victoriya swung towards him—it was averytouchy subject—but Joy caught her by the lapel of her leather jacket before she could smack Gus upside the head.
“Pleasedon’t trash my kitchen with your world-ending anger,” she begged.
Victoriya huffed, wrenched her jacket free, and said, “I’ll consider sparing you.”
Joy smiled, pleased.
Somehow being with her friends and teasing Victoriya had lessened her hurt. And when Victoriya crossed her arms over her chest, looking scowly but pleased, Joy found herself distracted as she asked, “Sodidanything happen?”
Victoriya glared, but she also blushed. “I might have given him my number after work yesterday. Hemighthave texted me.”
Joy grinned. She worked hard to suppress the urge to yank her friend into a celebratory hug.
Gus got there first; he pushed off the counter and slung his arm around Victoriya’s neck. “Look at you, getting the D. I’m proud of you.”
“I got hisnumber,” Victoriya hissed, ripping his arm from her shoulder, blushing fiercely now, all the way to her ears. “That’s it. Just a number.”
But Joy could tell she was delighted, no matter how surly she was. “I’m happy for you, Victoriya.”
Victoriya scowled instead of glaring and throwing a harsh word, which was evidence enough of her good mood.
“Oh joy,” she drawled, turning towards the hall, “your girlfriend’s here.” She paused, and added, “Pun intended.”
