Page 63 of How to Flirt with a Witch

“I’m sure,” Natalie says.

Up close, Agnes’s flustered air hits me like a gust of wind, making my shoulders tight. It’s not clear whether this mood is from Greg or the fact that no one’s thought to tell her about me—or maybe both, alongside a list of other stuff.

She crosses her arms, glaring at me through beady eyes. “You’d better be a witch, or else I’ll have to report Natalie for breaking—”

“We’ve gone through the proper channels,” Natalie says with an edge to her voice. She checks her phone. “Fiona’s expecting us. Shall we, Katie?”

Though she’s not done her food, she drops her cutlery and slides out of the booth in a hurry.

“Okay.” Nerves jumping, I gulp the rest of my coffee, needing all the mental alertness I can get. I rush after her.

Agnes follows. “Expecting you? Why?”

Natalie doesn’t answer, stepping closer to me until I can feel the heat of her body.

As she takes me down a corridor marked with a sign readingAlchemy, Agnes gasps. “Does this have to do with the items the Alchemists have collected?”

My gut twists. How many people are involved in setting up this test? Does the whole building know about it?

“Could be,” Natalie says vaguely, walking faster.

I speed-walk to keep up.

Agnes picks up a trot. “As a Director, I should’ve been informedabout this. I was the one to implement our new screening protocols last year to preventleaks.” She fishes into her pocket and pulls out a memo book and pen. “What are your qualifications, Katie? Your magical lineage?”

None, and none.My nerves twist tighter, threatening to eject everything I just ate.

“I’ll need your name, phone number, and medical records for the logbook,” Agnes continues. “Are you romantically involved with Natalie?”

“Um—” God help me.

“Later, Agnes,” Natalie snaps.

We pass iron wall sconces and planters overflowing with ferns. Arched wooden doors bear iron letters: Alchemy 4, Alchemy 5, Alchemy 6… In other circumstances, I’d be dying to peek at what’s behind every one of them. But I just want to get away from this woman and her prying questions. I need to focus on what’s about to happen, and she’s making me even more nervous.

Natalie stops outside Alchemy 8 and faces Agnes, a muscle in her jaw flexing. “This is a closed test.”

Agnes puffs up, her nostrils flaring. “As aDirector, I—”

“You’ll receive a debrief from Fiona.” Natalie opens the door and yanks me inside by the elbow. “Excuse us.”

I get a last glimpse of Agnes’s crumpled face before Natalie shuts the door on her and her memo pad.

We both let out a sharp breath.

Jesus Christ. Her busybody energy is prickling my skin like an itchy wool sweater. Do I seriously need to provide her with all that info, or was she just taking it upon herself to do an interrogation? And was that the sort of treatment I should expect to get here as an outsider?

I meet Natalie’s eye, who grimaces apologetically.

“Ah, you’re early,” Fiona says behind us, her voice filling the room.

Jitters roll through me. I draw a deep breath. ‘Frazzled’ isnotthe state of mind I wanted to be in before this test.

We turn around to find Fiona, Will, and a man I haven’t met standing at a long, wooden table. The latter must be in his twenties, with wild red hair and a beard that gives him a sort of mad-scientist look. Fiona is in an elegant blue suit, and the men are in dark green cloaks.

“Well, let’s get started, then,” Fiona says brusquely.

I twist my fingers together.Breathe. Forget Agnes. You can do this.