Page 15 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Fifteen

KENNEDY

W e're back in the apartment, with Bennett, who is sitting on the couch, while I try to get my heart rate back to normal. My mind keeps tumbling over every terrible outcome this could have, just like my aunt has taught me, and it's taking everything for me to stay calm.

"This is our best lead. He can help," Parker says.

"I can't believe you just spewed our secret at him without a second's hesitation." I turn on her, forfeiting any kind of regular heart rate.

"I couldn't help it. He asked and the answer was on my lips before I could think about it!"

"Maybe you should learn to control your tongue!"

"Maybe you should stop being such a stick in the mud!"

"Girls," Lily's voice is quiet, but somehow it does the trick as I spin to look at her. "Maybe we shouldn't be having this conversation here?"

She makes her eyes bigger as she motions at Bennett and Parker and I turn to look at him. He raises his hand in a little wave and I groan out loud. Grabbing Parker's hand I drag her into my room with Lily close behind us.

"We'll be right back," Lily says before shutting the door behind her.

"Do you really think it's okay for him to know about us?"

"Why do you say 'him' like a curse?" Lily asks just as Parker points at me with a?—

"Technically, it's you who outed us."

I glare at the two girls, my dismay rising, as they exchange a look and then grin at me. I throw my hands up in exasperation. They're so frustrating; they're going to drive me and my magic to do something else outrageous.

"What happened to sisterhood?" I ask. "I thought it's us against the world and all that."

"Oh, this is sisterhood. This is us not standing in the way of true?—"

Lily slaps her hand over Parker's mouth, cutting off whatever she was going to say. "What Parker is trying to get at," Lily begins in her soothing voice, "is that we have a lot of questions and he's the best person we know who might have answers."

"What about Olivia?" I ask.

"Olivia can teach us the practical but she can't tell us our history. It's why I wanted his help in the first place. He knows his Scottish history," Parker says after another glance at Lily.

"What are you scheming?"

I glance between the two girls and Parker immediately raises her hands up in surrender.

"I'm innocent of any scheming."

"This is never true." I roll my eyes as pressure builds between my eyebrows. It feels like the last few weeks have been adding pressure daily and I'm close to exploding—or maybe that's exactly what happened tonight. "Okay, fine," I finally say, because it feels like I'm outvoted anyway, "we just need basic information right? This doesn't change much."

Except for the part where no normal person is allowed to know about magic or fire will rain down from the sky. Okay, maybe my aunt didn't exactly say it in those words, but according to her, people knowing about magic only causes problems for witches. Then again, it's not just me in this situation. I have to keep reminding myself of that. Maybe if Lily and Parker believe we can trust Bennett, then this won't be a complete disaster. I already decided to give him a chance; I can't keep changing my mind because I'm scared. I have to stick to my convictions or I'm no better off than my aunt.

The girls nod and I turn to the door, pulling it open. Bennett stands immediately from where he's been sitting on the couch. "I have so many questions. Can you fly? On broomsticks? Wait, is that offensive to ask? I'm sorry!" His face is eager and he doesn't even pause. "Do you need to twitch your nose or wiggle a finger? Wait, wait. Is that offensive? Oh oh, can you talk to animals? And potions? Can you make potions?" He grins, finally running out of breath as he looks at the three of us in my bedroom's doorway.

"I spoke too soon," I say as Bennett meets my gaze, his grin blinding.

BENNETT

Magic is real. It will take a while for that to sink in, but it also feels appropriate somehow. Growing up in the Borders, I always thought there was something magical about the country. Now, after all the years I've spent studying Scottish lore, was there another outcome? Maybe, maybe not. I can freak out about this later though, because right now, staying calm and rational is the only way to keep Kennedy from simply kicking me out of the apartment. Without so many words, I can tell this is difficult for her, especially since I overheard them saying that keeping magic a secret is a rule. Whose rule, I'm not sure, but maybe if I prove myself trustworthy enough, she'll tell me one day.

I'm on the sofa while Kennedy paces near the windows with Lily and Parker occupying the two chairs opposite each other. Well, I know they're there, but I can't seem to take my eyes off Kennedy.

"If I may say something—" I begin, but Kennedy doesn't let me finish.

"You may not," she replies immediately.

"I'm going to say something anyway."

"Of course, because you do what you want."

"Kennedy." I stand, catching her before she can make another circle around the room. I don't touch her but simply step into her path. She glances up at me, her breath catching and I hope it's because we're back in each other's orbit. Being this close to her is getting to me and I hope she feels it too. She doesn't move away, so I take that as a positive sign and stay put. "I want to help. Can you please let me?"

I know that I should be asking all three of them, but my heart just wants to know if Kennedy approves. So far, I only know a few things about this girl. She's fearless, kind—to everyone but me—and she pushes all my buttons. How can I not be attracted to that? But now I want to know more, and the need to help, to see if I can make this better for her somehow is difficult to ignore.

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why do you want to help?" Her words are barely a whisper and I wonder what's hidden under all that armor. She asks the question like she can't believe someone would ever actually want to do such a thing. It sends all of my protective instincts on high alert.

"Because something incredible is happening here. Parker has only given me basic information, but now a lot of it makes sense. This is new to the three of you. I don't want you to be scared or worried. If there is something I can do to help, then that's what I'd like to do." I'm trying so hard not to scare her. I have no idea what will convince her that this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with her. "I think you can use a friend. And I can be that, if you let me."

The word 'friend' burns on the way out and her eyes snap up to mine, searching for something I can't even fathom putting a name to. She stands there for a moment, contemplating.

"I still don't trust you. I hope you don't expect me to," she finally says, and I think I may have been holding my breath.

"I would never expect you to trust me. Trust is earned, but will you let me help?"

She stares at me for a moment longer before turning to glance at the girls. I don't take my eyes off her, and I see the moment she makes her decision. She turns back to me, giving me a tentative nod.

"Okay, good, then where do we start?"

She motions me back to the sofa and I obey immediately because I don't want anything to jeopardize this truce we're creating. I glance at the other girls and they're watching me with a look I can't quite read. Kennedy starts to pace again, and just as usual, my attention is drawn to her immediately. Her long hair is in disarray from dancing earlier, but also because she keeps tugging on it. She's shed her tall boots, but the jumper and skirt combo she's wearing make her look capable and comforting at the same time. I'm not sure why those two descriptions are what keep coming to mind, but it's as if she can take on a whole storm by herself but then also give the best hugs.

My mind immediately latches on to that image. Her arms wrapped around me, fitting perfectly against my chest. I blink and then my mind is back on us dancing, my hands on her waist, as I pull her closer…

"Hello?" I jerk as Kennedy claps her hands in front of my face and I realize I haven't heard a word she's said. "If you're not going to pay attention, class dismissed." She nods toward the door.

I shake my head quickly, sitting up. "I'm paying attention. I promise."

Parker chuckles and I glance at her, just to watch her smirk. "Yes, you are," she says with a twinkle in her eye.

I frown in confusion, but she only continues to smirk.

"Anyway, as I was saying, this is new to us and we need to figure out what caused it."

"Caused what?" I turn my attention back to Kennedy in time to see her roll her eyes.

"This." She raises her arm, pulling the sweater down to expose her wrist. I'm on my feet instantly, moving around the table toward her once more. My fingers wrap around her wrist gently and I cannot tell which one of us inhales sharply because suddenly I'm not breathing at all, my entire being focused on the feel of her skin under my fingertips. The moment lasts a heartbeat, then two, and then I'm breathing again.

"It appeared the first night we were together." Kennedy's voice is barely above a whisper and I look away from the tattoo to meet her gaze. Our eyes clash and all the air in the room seems to disappear as my head swims from the lack of oxygen.

We're standing close—much closer than I initially anticipated and it would take almost no movement on my part to tug her completely against me. The tension vibrates my body with anticipation as I breathe her in. Kennedy's scent is something keen to a morning air fresh from the dew and sunshine. It makes me think of spring and renewed possibilities and hope. She sways toward me, almost like she can feel the pull as well, and then, just as she gets closer, she pulls back, taking her wrist back and severing the connection.

The oxygen rushes back to my brain and I remember we're not alone. I tear my gaze from Kennedy, only to find Parker and Lily's amused eyes on us.

"You said—" I clear my throat, trying to get back to even footing. "It just appeared?"

"Yes." Now it's Kennedy's turn to clear her throat. "We were at the fountain, we touched the water, and these appeared."

Her hair has fallen forward over her shoulders and I fight the urge to push it back. It's taking every ounce of my self-control not to move toward her now.

"The fountain has long been believed to hold many secrets." I try to pull on my years of study for some semblance of professionalism. "Each of the women displayed holds a meaning, as well as the animals—really, every part of it. Maybe there's something there, a hidden meaning between the obvious. Not everything is always visible at the surface. There are also a lot of relics around the city that could hold historical information that might help you track down what's happening."

Kennedy looks at me then and our gazes hold as something passes between us—something that's only for the two of us. Her eyes are soft and hopeful yet determined, and I realize I am in so much trouble.