Page 107 of How to Flirt with a Witch

She steps inside, takes two off the wall, and drops them into an inner pocket.

I watch closely, distracted by her fingers and the memory of what they can do.

“What’re you thinking about?” she murmurs, stepping close. Her cocked eyebrow tells me she’s correctly reading my expression.

I smile mischievously, leaning back against the door frame. “About what we’ll do when we get back later.”

“Oh?” She’s right in front of me, the heat of her body warming my cheeks as I incline my head. She touches my bottom lip, a gentle tease. “If I had it my way, I’d take you right here up against—uh, we should go.”

Her sudden change in tone from sexy-as-hell to blandly professional leads me to believe someone is approaching.

“Yep,” I say, turning around.

Will strides past with a cart of empty vials wheeling in front of him on its own. He shoots us a glare. “Playing a dangerous game, Zacharias,” he mumbles.

Natalie does a double-take. “Come again?”

Will jerks his chin toward the room. “Shut the door before you let all the cold air out.”

She frowns but lets it drop, closing the door.

Shit.Did Will see us in the door frame, or were we out of sight? Does it matter when he seems to have a strong suspicion about the two of us already?

Natalie casts me a guilty grimace, which I return. We rush back to the lounge, neither of us willing to discuss what just happened when there could be listening ears.

In the lounge, Sky, Hayley, and four other Shadows have assembled, their terse murmurs breaking up the charged silence. They’re ready for action in their black traveling cloaks and utility belts.

Sky pulls her hood up. “Listen up, everyone. We’re going to split up and close in on their location from six points. We’ll get an update from Jaques on their exact whereabouts before moving in. While Nat and Katie find the curse and neutralize it, the rest of us will focus on trapping those assholes.”

Natalie shifts infinitesimally closer to me, her arm brushing mine in a subtle but supportive gesture—a reminder that she and I are a team.

Sky waits for everyone to nod, then jabs a thumb toward the exit. “Let’s move.”

As we head to the steam clock, Natalie seizes the excuse to put an arm around me—I need a witch to bring me back out to the real world, after all. But the others don’t miss it, every gaze lingering a tad too long. Brows pinch and lips tighten in the few seconds Natalie’s arm is across my shoulders, and she removes it quickly, the discomfort palpable. She and Sky exchange a look I can’t interpret.

We might be worse than I thought at keeping our situation a secret. Does everyone see the familiar way we melt into each other’s bodies? Has someone even seen Natalie leaving my room or returning to hers in the midnight hours?

We have to be more cautious. I care too much about her to mess up everything she’s worked for.

As we drive to Fort Langley in the back of a dark cargo van, I clench my fists in my lap, wishing I could reach over and take her hand. The danger of working with curses hits harder now that I’ve experienced how deadly they can be—knowing all this could come to an end if we can’t neutralize one in time. Knowing the Madsens are willing to do anything to get their hands on one.

It’s scary how I feel about Natalie—how much is at risk. I’ve never spent so much time thinking about a girl, never been so giddy about one… and never been so afraid of losing someone.

Chapter 26

Shadows in the Graveyard

Iwonder if thepeople milling around Fort Langley realize there are a couple of killers in their midst.

In the back of the SUV, I press my nose against the window as Sky drives us past the village, which is a fusion of colorful heritage buildings and trendy shops and restaurants. In any other circumstance, I’d be racing through every door, geeking out over the history of the trading post, and taking pictures of the Fraser River. Instead, we turn down a quiet street and roll to a stop in an empty parking lot at the back of the cemetery.

We get out, breaths misting, a chill rippling through my body. I adjust the gauntlet before stuffing my hands in my pockets to keep warm. At our backs is a deserted playground. An icy wind makes the swings creak and bare branches scrape against each other. Ahead, past a tall row of hedges growing over a chain-link fence, the cemetery stretches across several acres.

“Why couldn’t the curse be hiding somewhere fun, like a donut shop?” I mumble.

Natalie scans the misty scene that awaits us, solemn. The gray clouds sit low, threatening snow or sleet.

Hayley studies our surroundings with a practiced eye. “We need to lure them somewhere they’ll be easy to trap. Let’s get Katie to walk—”