Page 117 of How to Flirt with a Witch

“Because earth magic controls earth, not people,” Natalie says.

Her answer is simple, but that meaningful look wasn’t. I scowl at the too-bright ceiling, biting the inside of my cheek.

By the time Doctor Sharma peels off her gloves and gets me antibiotics and painkillers, I’m swallowing down the urge to vomit.

“Take your time sitting up,” she says. “No rush.”

“Thanks.” I rub my clammy forehead, still lying flat. “Do I need a rabies shot?”

She shakes her head. “Your bite isn’t the first we’ve had from dear Wyatt, and we can confirm the Madsens keep their dog up-to-date with his vaccines.”

“How responsible of them,” I mumble, sarcasm dripping.

When she leaves us, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and sit up, swaying.

Natalie reaches out as if to stop me from falling.

“I’m fine,” I snap.

She sits back.

There’s a pause while I frown at the mess that was once my ankle.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she murmurs.

I scan the sterile room. Doctor Sharma has vanished beyond the curtain on the other side.

“When were you going to tell me that CSAMM puts curses on objects in the first place?” I ask, my heart pounding as I dive head-first into confrontation.

Natalie stiffens.

I stare cooly back, waiting.

She glances past me at the shut curtain, then stands. She opens her hand, and a crutch soars into her palm with athwap.“We should get you back to your room.”

I accept the crutch and hobble toward the doors. It’s too tall, but before I can say so, Natalie twirls her fingers, and I jolt as it shrinks to my height and positions itself comfortably under my armpit.

Show-off.

The crutch makes a rhythmicclunkas I move down the hallway. It’s a relief to leave the infirmary behind, the warm brick walls and hanging plants feeling more like home.

“What else did Freddie tell you?” Natalie asks, catching up easily. She hovers close as if ready to catch me if I stumble.

I set my gaze ahead and suppress a wince with each step. “That magic is stored in cursed objects. That you’re all hoarding magic and controlling who can and can’t access it.”

She groans, which enrages me even more.Yeah, Natalie, I’ve found out about the dirty secrets you’ve been keeping from me.

I try to move faster, but it just makes me wobble, so we’re forced to plod along to my room.

Natalie glances around and drops her voice. “Okay, look. Magic has a time limit within the body. A witch has to replenish every few years in order to continue wielding it. So, most of us store more magic in objects to make sure we don’t run out when the time comes.”

I squint at her. “Like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter?”

A grimace flickers across her face. “I guess so.”

“Is this why there are random magical objects everywhere? They’re caches that people have lost or forgotten about?”

Natalie stuffs her hands deep into her jacket pockets. “Or the person who created it passed away.”