Page 51 of Hexed, Vexed, & Undersexed

“This is becoming a habit, little witch,” he sneers. “You must like bumping into me.”

“And you must like waiting for me because you seem to be around every corner I turn!” I snap right back.

Bellamy scoffs like it's the most ridiculous thing that he's ever heard, but the fire in his eyes tells another story. They scorch up and down my body, like he can't tell whether to ravage me or shove me away.

“Are you ready for the interviews?” he asks as cordially as possible—which isn’t very cordial at all.

In fact, it's downright douchey.

“As a matter of fact, I am, and I also can't wait for the third trial where I mop the floor up with your ass and get my family’s grimoire back!”

Bellamy's blue eyes turn to chips of frozen ice and hatred.

“Good luck,” he mocks. “You're going to need it. Porter magic is nothing compared to Putnam magic.” He pauses and taps his chin thoughtfully while a disdainful and condescending smirk tips his lips. “Then again, maybe I should be afraid. Rumor has it that you're sleeping your way up the ranks.”

The absolute certainty in his voice that I’m working my way to winning through sexual favors sets me into a new echelon of anger.

And that's why Bellamy gave his one-on-one interviews with a black eye.

* * *

Six hours, one massive migraine, and a sit-me-down on gross misconduct by the network later, I'mfinallyable to go home.

Looking back, it may not have been the wisest thing to sucker punch that fucker in the face, but it's the most satisfying thing I've ever done in my entire life.

Bar none.

I go back to my dressing room to get my shit ‘n git when an unwanted figure fills my door frame.

Bodaway.

His eyes rake over me like hot coals. His look is just as lascivious as Bellamy's was, but for some reason it sends a shiver of disgust instead of arousal down my spine. I have a passing attraction to Bellamy and I sucker punched the asshat right in the eye—what do you think I would do to somebody I hate through and through?

“Hey, Bodie, I was just on my way out. Is there anything I can help you with?”

But instead of answering me, he steps into my personal space and shuts the door behind him. I take a healthy step back, but I'm not overly worried. I mean, this place is rigged for sound, right? All I have to do is scream and somebody will come running.

“I came to congratulate you for proceeding to the final trial and for how you handled Porter.”

Alarm bells start going off in my head.

Wee-oo, wee-oo!

Pissed off alert, pissed off alert!

Somebody has sour grapes about losing.

I give Bodie a tight smile.

“I guess that's just the way the potion bubbled.”

Bodaway chuckles dryly. “I guess it is. Except—Ineed to be in the last trial becauseIneed to win.”

He says it with such intensity that I look up at him sharply.

“Why do you need to win so badly?” I wonder.

“The same reason you need to win, little witch.”