Page 101 of How to Flirt with a Witch

With a deep, steadying breath, I smooth my face into an approximation of sleepiness and open the door.

My stomach drops when I see Fiona, her eyes immediately raking over my disheveled state—hair, pajama shirt, bare legs. Her scrutiny is agonizing.

Of all people, why her?

“Katie, I’m sorry to bother you at this hour,” she says, her sharp gaze returning to my face.

“No worries,” I respond automatically, then suppress a wince. Was that too casual for addressing a Director?

“I was trying to reach you.” Fiona waves her phone. “I need you on your first assignment at four in the morning. I know it’s early, but there are signs of a curse at Waterfront Station, and it’s going to pose a danger to commuters. I’ll want you to help Natalie pinpoint it.”

“Y-yeah, sure,” I stammer, caught off guard.Right, I have the responsibilities of a part-time job now.“Four o’clock, Waterfront with Natalie. Got it.”

She nods curtly. “Do you know where she is, by the way? I can’t reach her.”

“No,” I say quickly, then clear my throat. “I haven’t seen her since I left the ceremony.”

I cross my arms, the ravaged lines of ash and pollen hidden against my shirt. My mouth is dry as I avert my gaze to the door on the opposite side of the hall.

Fiona huffs. “She’d better pick up soon, or I’ll send you pounding on her door at four in the morning whether she’s ready or—”

“Excuse me?” A shrill voice cuts through our conversation, coming from the end of the corridor. “Fiona, are you talking to Katie?”

Fiona dips her chin. “Yes. Is that hers?”

My chest constricts at the sound of Agnes’s voice. Just when I thought this couldn’t get worse.

She stops beside Fiona with Ethel squirming in her arms. “Katie, you can’t let your cat roam around without being registered. We need to be able to trace all familiars.”

She holds out Ethel, who reaches for me like a child reaching for her mom, desperate to get away from Agnes’s grip. I take her gently, her body light and soft, and she purrs and nuzzles into my neck.

“Right,” I mumble.

“I called the number on her tag and got Katie’s voicemail,” Agnes tells Fiona as if this was some impressive detective work.

“I see,” Fiona says flatly.

Agnes scans me up and down, sucking back so her chin disappears into her neck. “Good God, were you already asleep? Well, early to bed, early to rise, I guess.”

“It’s been an eventful day,” I say, focused on petting Ethel. I resist the urge to tug my shirt lower. All it would take is a simple lift of my arms to give everyone a show.

I can feel Agnes scrutinizing me, and when she not-so-subtly leans over to peer into my room, I put a hand on the door to close it. “Thanks for returning Ethel. I’ll register her tomorrow after I get back from my assignment.”

Ethel snaps her gaze around, staring intently at the closed bathroom door beside me.

Shit.

“Have a good night.” I offer a strained smile as I shut the door.

The moment it’s locked, I set Ethel down and cover my mouth, letting out a mortified noise comparable to dying bagpipes.

That was a dangerous near-miss. They’re probably suspicious. Could they tell I just finished having the best sex of my life on the bed behind me?

Ugh, end my suffering.

I swing the bathroom door open, and my heart somersaults at the sight of Natalie standing there naked. But all the earlier heat is gone—her face is ashen, her eyes wide with fear.

“I guess you should go—”