Page 6 of Hexed, Vexed, & Undersexed

Normally, I would preen under Preston’s words, but I can’t do anything but stare in horror.

“P-P-Putnam?” I stammer.

As if being cursed isn’t enough.

“Porter?” Bellamy purrs with menace, his eyes sparking dangerously.

“Do you two know one another?” Preston wonders, clearly baffled.

Bellamy glares at me like I’m an insect smeared under his shoe. The tension around us grows exponentially until it’s practically thick enough to cut with an athame.

“No,” he answers Preston icily.

“We knowofeach other,” I clarify in a mutter.

Preston furrows his brow, trying to figure out our obvious antagonism.

“Well,” he finally says, “genuine conflicts are always good for the show; it’s hard to fake true disgust sometimes.”

Bellamy smiles thinly.

“I won’t have to fake anything,” he says politely while staring at me. “How unfortunate that Ms. Porter can’t show her real colors for the contest. Then again, I doubt ‘raging bitch’ gets high ratings.”

“And douche of the century does?” I retort.

“At least I can get a real date,” Bellamy states. His meaning is lost on Preston but I know exactly what he’s referring too.

Douche of the century might be a too nice of a phrase for this bastard.

Preston looks uneasily between the two of us.

“The network has a different image in mind for Evanora—but not because the one she currently presents is not good enough,” he corrects, and I beam.

“Yeah,” I mutter childishly. “Besides, the show already has its raging bitch, or didn’t you hear?It’s you!”

With that parting remark, I grab Preston’s arm and march off to the register to buy my dress robes. I was determined before to win this competition, but now. . .

Now, there’s no way on this green earth I’m losing—not to a Putnam.

Watch out, Bellamy.

I’ll get you, my pretty, and my family’s grimoire, too.

“So,” Preston starts as soon as we’re out in the parking lot of the shop. “Want to let me know what that was all about?”

“Not particularly,” I mumble under my breath, trying to not pout like a child.

But come on, how can I not? The one witch I could possibly go up against that could beat me—

Is.

A.

Contestant!

No, witch, you got this contest in the cauldron.

“Is it going to be an issue?” he wonders.