Page 7 of How Not to Hex a Gentleman (Witches of Edinburgh)

Chapter Seven

KENNEDY

" W here have you been?" Parker asks the moment I step back into the apartment. The girls are in the common room, sitting opposite each other with a deck of cards between them. They put all the furniture back and are looking as if nothing happened. Yet, I can still feel that strange buzz of awareness just under my skin, and it's so much more evident being near the girls. I try hard to ignore it.

"Clearing my head," I reply before taking a closer look at the table. "Are you doing a tarot reading?"

"Oracle actually."

I glance at Parker, still so off-center about the casual way she mentions anything magical.

"Tarot has more rules," Lily takes my silence as confusion. "And oracle is more free-flowing."

"Did Parker teach you or did you already know that?" I ask, because while Parker says Lily is a witch, I have no idea how much information the other girl actually has regarding this.

"I knew about it. I have done both before."

"So, did the clearing of the head help you come to terms with your awesome power?" Parker asks, and I collapse next to Lily on the couch, all dramatic-like.

"You really won't let this go, will you?" I sigh and Lily chuckles.

I catch Parker rolling her eyes. "Please keep up with the dramatics even when you do come to terms with it. I think it'll add to the aesthetic."

I laugh. And then Lily joins in and then Parker. Soon the three of us are laughing, nearly hysterical. The feeling that washes over me is unusual—because I've spent the majority of my life afraid of being myself around people, but here there are three of us sharing this discovery. For the first time in my life, I don't feel so alone.

"We need a plan," I say, once the giggling has settled.

"And there she is," Parker smirks, picking up the cards and beginning to shuffle. I raise an eyebrow at her, but she's grinning. "I've known you for a day and a half and I can already tell you can't survive without a plan. I dig it," she hurries on to add before I can defend myself. "Please continue."

I hold her stare for a moment, trying to decide how truthful she is, but then move on because it doesn't actually matter right now. "We need to research more about this sudden tattoo." I raise my wrist and show off the thistle that now resides there.

Even though Parker mentioned the whole symbol of power thing from her books, I'm going to need much more. And why a thistle? There has to be meaning behind it. I have so many questions.

"I've always wanted a tattoo," Lily says and Parker and I glance at her in surprise. She glances up and shrugs, "What? Tattoos are cool."

"Okay, we need house rules," I say, "And rule number one, don't assume anything." Lily grins at that, looking kind of pleased with herself.

"Shouldn't rule number one be don't steal each other's boyfriends ?"

Lily and I twist to stare at Parker as she lays out the cards she's picked. Neither of us needs to be a mind reader to know that there's more to it than just a simple statement.

"Usually, that's a given," Lily says slowly, "but if it makes you feel better, we can absolutely write it down."

Parker meets our eyes for a moment, but there's definitely a sense of gratitude there and I file that away for later, because first things first.

"As you pointed out, Parker, Scotland is a land filled with lore on magic. There might be something here that could help us understand what's happening. I'll go to the library and see what I can dig up."

"Can't you just use the internet like a normal person?" Parker asks.

"I could, but where's the fun in that?" I stand, straightening my clothes. "Also, I did. And let me tell you, there are things I've seen that I now want to unsee, but since you seem much more…comfortable with all this, I think you should surf the internet while I check the library. As you might have noticed, I'm not very open about anything relating to magic?—"

"It might've come up."

I glare at Parker as she grins and continues, "But we're in this together now so I need to do my part, and research is what I'm good at."

"So you're admitting you're a witch?" Parker asks.

I take a deep breath, open my mouth, and nothing comes out. Maybe I'm not so ready to say the forbidden words out loud. "I'm admitting I have some research to do," I say. The girls chuckle, but it's not unpleasant, more like friends would.

"If this is what helps you deal with all of this, then do what you need to," Lily says, her voice soft. "It seems—I don't mean to be rude about it—but you carry some fear when it comes to magic."

I swallow the immediate worry, feeling incredibly exposed, but there's only kindness in Lily's face.

"We're here for you. Do what you need to do," Lily says and Parker nods.

I glance between the two of them and grin. It's almost like they already understand me; as if we've known each other for years. Maybe it's the shared trauma of the magical tattoo situation or maybe it's something else, but it feels right. To be doing this and to be doing this together.

I grab my bag from my room, along with a notebook and my phone, before I step back out.

"I actually might know someone who can help. Kind of," Parker says.

I stop in my tracks. "You know someone in Edinburgh?"

"Well, we've talked over video calls. He was assigned as my advisor for my last project when the other dude bailed." Parker rolls her eyes. "But anyway, he's kind of a magic lore guru since it's his area of study. He might know some things."

"Okay, no offense, but we're not telling some stranger about this. Do they still witch hunt around here?"

"Kennedy, all that planning is going to your head. We're not in the 1700s?—"

"1500s," I interrupt. I at least know that much about Wiccan history.

"Whatever!" Parker throws her hands in the air. "We're living in the twenty-first century. People are much more accepting."

"They're hardly that accepting and we all know that," Lily says, a bit of sadness in her voice.

It hits me right then and there that these girls have their own ghosts to vanquish. My overcautious aunt and her paranoia may have made me into who I am, but Lily and Parker also have stories. It would probably help if I wasn't constantly so difficult, but my stance on telling strangers stands.

"I think we should divide and conquer," I say, taking a deep breath. "Lily, how do you feel about handling the magical tattoo situation by looking things up online? There has to be something about it, right? We can't be the first people alive to have experienced it, and there has to be a way to find out…"

Even though I'm not sure about this as I say it, it seems like a plausible option considering we live in the era of information. Lily doesn't even blink, already reaching for her laptop. "I'll check the regular forums first before doing a deep dive behind the curtain," she says, her voice all business.

Parker and I stare at her in surprise, unsure where this is coming from. Lily isn't even fazed, grinning down at the computer. "I may be shy, but I've got skills," she says and then she does look at us, throwing a wink our way, before she gets back to typing.

"Okay then." I turn to Parker next. "How about you?—"

"Go talk to my friend? Great idea!" She's turning away before I can argue.

"Parker!"

"Kennedy!" she mimics over her shoulder as she walks to her room.

"Come on, shouldn't we at least vote on this?" I ask from the doorway.

Even though she's only been here for a day, the room already feels like her. I can't tell how much of it came from her and how much of it came from the place itself, but it fits. There is a stack of art prints against one wall waiting to be hung and a tapestry of the moon phases above the bed. Her bedding is light pink, taking me by surprise. There's also a bunch of pillows, stacks of books, and a tan knitted blanket at the foot of the bed.

"Did you pack any clothes?" I ask, studying all the books and art pieces.

Parker looks up at me with a grin. "Just the essentials. I can buy more clothes, but these"—she points to the books and the art—"are one-of-a-kind essentials that can't be replaced."

Okay, fine, Parker is growing on me, because I understand this on a personal level. Books are essentials. Maybe we do have some things in common after all.

"Kennedy, don't worry, okay?" Parker comes toward me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I'm not spilling our secrets. Just asking some general questions for research purposes."

"Okay, I guess if you put it like that."

It's a good idea. If she has an in with all the magical stuff, we can use the help. My aunt would be a resource if I was allowed to talk to her about these things. I nod and Parker pats my shoulder before pushing past me.

"Is there anyone back home you can ask?" I address both Parker and Lily and both of them look at me in surprise, like they haven't thought of it.

"My grandma was the one with all the info, but she's been gone a few years now," Parker says with a shrug. I have the urge to hug her, but I squish it. While I’ve come to accept their hugs, reaching out first still feels foreign.

"My mom never had any active magic," Lily says, "And I—I don't really feel comfortable asking her coven."

"It's okay." I give her an encouraging nod because I don't want to pry, but I understand that family is difficult. "We'll figure it out."

"How about we meet at The Black Cat in a few hours?" I ask, checking through my bag quickly. Not that I don't already love this apartment, as weird as it is, but a part of me needs to be away from it if only to feel a little less like I'm surrounded by the magical. Also, it just feels right somehow to meet at the coffee shop.

"What's that?" Lily asks.

"Oh, right." I chuckle. "It's an adorable coffee shop off the Royal Mile. It's very cozy and cute and you'll love it." I have no idea why I feel so strongly about this, but the girls don't even question it.

"The Black Cat, three hours," Parker says before she inputs something into her phone and then she's out the front door with a wave.

I pull out my own phone and do a quick search for the library. There are two opposite each other; The National Library of Scotland and The Central Library on George IV Street. I think I'll start at the latter, but when I look at the opening hours I realize it's Sunday and the libraries are closed.

Think, Kennedy. What are your other options?

The next best bet is bookstores and I know there are plenty in Edinburgh. Do I try a more modern place like Toppings and Company or a used bookstore like Armchair Books? I suppose I can always go to Blackwells. I have three hours to come up with something.

"I'm off," I say, and Lily doesn't even look up, simply waving in my direction.

I have to admit that even though these girls are strangers, I'm beginning to like them.

I pull on my coat and step out of the apartment, turning so I can lock it behind me. With my phone in my hand, I turn back around only to slam into a hard body. My phone goes flying as air whooshes out of my lungs. I react automatically, stepping past whoever ran into me and trying to grab the phone out of thin air. When I do, a hand wraps around my waist, yanking me back and spinning me around at the same time. My back lands against the wall, as my front is pressed into the body in front of me.

I glance up to meet the greenest eyes I have ever seen. The guy is that sort of handsome that leaves you a bit breathless. Strong jaw, long eyelashes, and a mop of brown hair that's just long enough to fall into his eyes. It looks like he ran a hand through it a time or two.

And the lips. Full and much too close. And that's when it hits me.

"You!"

BENNETT

I overslept. Granted, nine in the morning is early for some, but since I dedicated the rest of my Saturday to Lana, I had some catching up to do today. Typically Sundays are the days I give myself to wander around Edinburgh with no rhyme or reason, but the book is due back to my supervisor tomorrow, and I'm not finished. There are a few notes I still have to write up and copy some of the information down for my paper.

Forgoing breakfast, I down a glass of water and make a mental note to order something to eat when I meet Nicholas before I finally leave my flat behind. I'm racing down the stairs, which is becoming a pattern I need to break, when someone steps out of the abandoned flat. Well, I thought it was abandoned since I feel like no one has lived there the whole time I've been in the building. I'm so baffled by this that I step right into her when she turns, sending her phone flying. When she reaches for it, the stairs are right there, and I react automatically, pulling her into me.

The moment she's in my arms, my body is aflame. I glance down at her, pressed against the wall, and when she meets my eye, whatever air I had left in my lungs has disappeared.

She's beautiful.

Hazel eyes, wild long brown hair falling against her oversized black coat, and a glow to her skin that seems almost otherworldly.

"You!"

I snap out of my wonder at her sharp tone and focus on the fire blazing in her eyes. She pushes against my embrace and I step back immediately.

"My phone is probably ruined," she mutters and I try not to react to her voice. It's a little deeper, a little raspy, and it sends goosebumps up my arms, straight to my heart. I like it. Her accent is American, so is she a tourist? Or, hopefully, a student.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think the phone was worth your life," I comment.

She turns to glare at me again. "If you learn to watch where you're going we wouldn't have this problem," she snaps, completely throwing me for the loop. I'm missing something, but she's already ignoring me, reaching for the phone balancing precariously on the first step. She snatches it up, and I can tell the moment she notices how close she'd come to danger, but she looks too stubborn to admit it. Which makes me more curious.

"I'm sorry for not paying attention," I try again because now I'm determined to get this girl to look at me again.

"Okay, you apologized. Now be on your way."

She's not looking up from her phone, studying it as if it might yield some answers to the questions of the universe. From what I can see of it, it's not cracked by some wild luck. She exhales and then turns to go, and I have no idea what possesses me to do what I do next, but I reach over and pluck the phone from her grasp.

She gasps, reaching for it, and I put it behind my back, bringing her closer to me as she lunges forward. She pushes at the hair that's fallen into her face, leaving it unobscured for me to study, and I grin.

"Maybe you should say thank you for the rescue?" I ask, possessed by some imp of unknown origin. She's shooting daggers at me with her eyes, which makes me feel like I won something precious because she's looking at me again. She's also not backing down.

"I wouldn't need rescuing if you would walk down the stairs like a normal person. This is on you."

"I think it's perfectly acceptable to be surprised by someone coming out of a flat that I thought no one lived in and be distracted by that?"

"Oh yeah? Is it also acceptable to bulldoze over people hauling suitcases up the stairs and then not even stop to help when those said suitcases tumble to the bottom?"

I open my mouth but then close it, my brain trying to catch up with the information. She takes that moment to lunge for the phone again, but I recover just in time to keep it out of her reach. Maybe this is unbecoming of me, but she can't leave yet.

"I think we started on the wrong foot. I'm Bennett. Bennett MacKay. I live in the upstairs flat."

She stares at me for a moment before raising her eyebrow. "Good for you."

"And you are?" I ask.

She doesn't reply immediately, but takes a tiny step back, giving me a once-over. Her eyes start at the bottom and slowly make their way up and when her gaze meets mine, it holds. I feel her quiet perusal like a physical touch and I'm going to be the first to hand over my man-card because it makes me feel all kinds of giddy. Like a school kid figuring out girls for the first time. Not that it's possible to ever figure them out.

I want to though. This girl, specifically. I have never wanted something so badly in my life and she's standing in front of me with an air of cool indifference that strikes me right to the heart.

"Late," her voice breaks through my stare, and then she snags the phone out of my grasp and is down the stairs before I recover enough to speak.

I hear the door downstairs open and shut before I get the use of my limbs back. I have no idea what just happened. I'm pretty sure I'll be walking around with those eyes and that face in my mind for the rest of the day. Just then my own phone buzzes and I glance down at the event reminder.

Late. I'm also late.