Page 9 of How to Charm a Coven (How to Flirt with a Witch #2)

Hazel must sense my anxiety because she puts her hands on my shoulders and guides me toward the bathroom. “Hot shower and cozy PJs. I’ve got stew in your slow cooker and will make buttermilk biscuits while you shower.”

My stomach clenches hungrily, and I moan. “You’re the best.”

“Figured you’d want comfort food. Now go.”

I do what she says, soothed by the sound of her in the kitchen—clattering baking sheets, a beeping timer, the occasional gasp or curse as something hits the floor. The aroma of fresh baking fills the apartment, making my mouth water.

“I owe you a new sweatsuit,” I say as I shuffle back out to the kitchen, running a brush through my wet hair. Steam follows me into the hallway. “We’ll add it to the tab of Things Katie Owes People—right below fifty-six chimeras.”

Hazel grimaces as she ladles steaming stew into ceramic bowls. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Come on, first thing we can do when I’m out of this mess is go shopping on Robson. It’ll be fun.”

A dimple appears in her cheek. “Well, I won’t say no to that.”

As we settle on the couch with our giant bowls and golden biscuits, Ethel purring between us, last night’s imprisonment feels like it happened to someone else. Like if I focus hard enough on this normal life with my best friend, the rest will fade like a bad dream.

I take a bite, sighing as the flaky, pillowy biscuit melts on my tongue. Through the windows, the bay sparkles, and the North Shore mountains are still dusted with snow from the long winter. But even as I try to stay in the moment, that dank prison cell remains burned into my retinas.

Natalie is right. The coven’s dark side must have been there all along .

I gaze at the flowers from her and let out a slow breath, trying to relax. My hands are trembling. I set my spoon into my bowl and settle deeper into the couch before Hazel notices. “Looks cute in here, by the way. How was your first day in Vancouver?”

She splutters mid-bite. “There wasn’t a lot of time for tourism.”

“What about getting ready for your new job? Downloading a dating app? Calling your parents?” My throat tightens, and I force a small smile. “Come on, I can’t think about my own life right now or I’ll completely lose it. Can we focus on you for a bit?”

She fumbles her spoon, then puts the bowl down on the coffee table to take a sip of water instead. “Dating app?” she repeats at last.

“Yeah. Can we set up your profile? I promise I’ll pick flattering pictures this time. I need to feel useful at something tonight.”

And I need to believe there’s still a normal future ahead.

Hazel studies me as if trying to gauge whether I’m teetering on the edge of a breakdown, then nods, going to get her phone. “I swear, if you include that picture of me mid-sneeze again…”

“You still got three matches with that one.”

We spend the meal choosing her nicest photos and writing a bio, until today feels like it was supposed to, the two of us in a new city at the start of summer term.

“Mention you work at a tech company,” I say as we sit down with cookies and tea for dessert. “It highlights how smart you are.”

“I haven’t even started working there yet.”

“But you will in a couple days.” Which means I’ll be starting classes in less than two weeks. An excited flutter comes to life in my belly at the prospect of a new term and old friends—before reality crashes back. Will I even get to finish my degree?

Hazel updates her bio, then stares at her phone for a long minute, chewing her lip .

“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Dreading the onslaught of bros holding dead fish?”

She stays quiet and starts organizing everything on the coffee table, which leads me to believe there’s something she’s not telling me.

I grab a cookie. “Everything okay?”

“Well…” She sits back with her tea, not meeting my eye. “I’m thinking about…changing my gender preference on my profile.”

I spew cookie crumbs on my lap and put the rest down before I can drop it in excitement. “Are you serious?”

Sitting between us on the couch, Ethel startles and stares at me with wide eyes.

Hazel lifts a shoulder, the color deepening in her cheeks.

“Dating men hasn’t exactly been great, and I see how happy you are with Natalie…

” She looks down at her mug, letting her hair fall across her face as if trying to hide how much she’s blushing.

“I’ve been noticing girls a lot more lately. Like…I’m curious, I guess.”

Holy crap, this is why she’s been weird when the topic of dating comes up? I wish she’d told me sooner!

“Hazel, that’s so exciting!” I scoot closer on the couch and throw an arm around her in a side-hug. “You should go on a few dates. See how you feel.”

“Is it fair to go on a date with a woman though if I’m just testing the waters?”

“As long as you make yourself clear up front.” I reach over and scroll back up on her profile. “Set your sexuality to curious or questioning, and let people know you’re looking for casual dating.”

She bites her lip, and I can see a spark of excitement in her eyes that’s usually reserved for conversations about environmental activism. I’m honored she’s opened up to me .

I nudge her, a real smile tugging at my cheeks for the first time in a while. “I’ll set you up with a sapphic starter kit. The L Word , Carol , some nail clippers…”

She laughs and covers her face. “Oh my God.”

We swipe through a few profiles, getting giggly as we analyze them. Ethel bats the phone screen and manages to like three women before we get the chance to read their bios, so I wrangle her into my arms. “Stop trying to get dates for yourself!”

She purrs and nuzzles me.

“She’s got better game than both of us combined,” Hazel says.

Talking about her love life feels so blissfully normal and makes the coven feel less important—like I can slip back into an ordinary existence and the problem will go away.

But at that thought, the smile fades. When my time runs out, will the Shadows come for me like they did at the airport, dragging me off to fulfill my prison sentence?

There’s no escaping this. I have to at least try to round up the chimeras I set loose. If I succeed, I get to keep this amazing life. And if not…

Well, I can’t think about that. I can only think about what needs to be done. If Fiona thinks this is going to break me, she doesn’t know how stubborn I can be.

I’ve got some chimeras to catch. And this time, I’m going to need a lot more than a laundry hamper.