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Tonight, the witch has put on makeup, and her wild hair looks more windblown than frizzy. All done up, Olga is stunning. One would hardly know that she’s unnervingly obsessed with people’s final words.

Olga finishes off her drink and breathes in the briny air. “Mmm…tonight smells like a night for reaping. I bet I’ll get another entry in my book.”

And there it is. Her witchiness making itself known.

I grimace at the glee in Olga’s voice and take a reluctant sip of my drink, which tastes like cranberries, cheap vodka, and spices meant to cover up said cheapness. But it lacks the bittersweet edge of witch’s brew, and I relax a little.

Sybil finds us then, slinging her arms around my neck and Olga’s. A bit of her drink sloshes onto Olga’s shirt.

“What’s up, witches?” she says, nuzzling my cheek, her lilac magic twining around my head before drifting up into the air above us.

Behind Sybil are Mai and another witch whose name I’m pretty sure is Cordelia. They move over to join our group.

Sybil glances at my cup. “How about you? You’ve hardly had any of your drink.”

“She’s worried if she drinks it, she’s going to screw her archnemesis again,” Olga adds helpfully.

I throw Olga an annoyed look, taking another deliberate swallow of my drink.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kane glance over sharply.

Fuck me. He must’ve heard that.

“Oh, archnemesis is it?” Sybil says, raising her eyebrows as she drops her arms and squeezes in between me and Olga. “Wedefinitelywouldn’t want you to make the same mistake twice,” she says, knowing full well that I’ve made that mistake more than twice now.

Hell’s spells, that reminds me—I still have to ask her about the birth control potion.

I feel the press of a broad chest behind me, then an arm snakes around my midsection.

“We need to talk.” Kane’s voice is soft against my ear.

My heart leaps at the touch even as my stomach twists. I don’t want to talk to Kane. Not really. It was fine when things with him were simple, but now they’re messy.We’remessy.

I take another long swallow of my drink.

“Ohhh, her fiancé is not going to like how handsy you’re being,” Sybil says.

Kane doesn’t let me go, and I stare down at his arm, unsure whether the embrace is bothering me or not.

“I don’t remember having to answer to him,” Kane says smoothly. “He can fuck himself for all I care.”

“I don’t think he needs to. Not when he’s got your girl here to fulfill all his dark,depravedneeds.”

“Fucking Furies, Sybil,” I say. This is her getting me back for the dad comments earlier.

Kane’s grip on me tightens, and I feel rather than hear a low, possessive growl vibrate in his chest.

My best friend looks delighted, and the witches around us watch this all avidly.

I turn in Kane’s arms and push him back, out of the group.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell them over my shoulder.

“Take your time!” Sybil says, waggling her eyebrows.

To Kane, I say, “Get your shit together. You and I are just friends, and she is just teasing.”

“About your sex life.”