Page 83 of How to Flirt with a Witch

The Curse of the Pet Emporium

Hugging my laptop, Ishuffle into the lounge with the crowd, finding dozens of people gathered. Murmurs ripple, low and urgent. The high schoolers studying in the grass are now standing in a booth, craning their necks.

I take their lead and stand in another booth to see over everyone’s heads. The Shadows are unmistakable—six people wearing floor-length black traveling cloaks with hoods, utility belts around their waists. God, did they walk through downtown like this?

They’re tightly clustered, moving as a unit. One turns her face toward the crowd, and relief crashes over me upon seeing the familiar features of Natalie’s sister. Sky looks unharmed, but her shoulders sag and her steps are slow.

Questions roar through me. I assume they didn’t catch Freddie, or else he’d be with them, right? So where is he? Why is everyone so tense?

“Move, people,” a deep voice orders. “Don’t block the halls.”

At the front, onlookers shuffle out of the way, and the Shadows break apart. I suck in a breath. A ghostly pale man is being supported by twoothers, his arms over their shoulders, his head lolling. A blood-soaked bandage covers his neck, dirty and crimson, the sight churning my stomach. Their shouts spike my adrenaline as they order people to step aside, and they split off, rushing him down a corridor.

A tall Black girl with sharp cheekbones and a scar down the side of her face addresses someone at the front of the crowd. Natalie introduced her when I first arrived, along with Sky and Will.Hayley.

A wave of shushing noises ripples through the room.

“…seem to have acquired more…” Hayley murmurs. “…nasty security system… Trevor got the worst of it…”

A few gazes turn to me, burning hot. This is my fault. I’m the reason they had to go after Freddie Madsen. And based on the gawking audience, this sort of thing isn’t a regular occurrence.

“So the Madsens are still out there?” Agnes’s shrill voice cuts through the hum, dripping with accusation. She’s pushed her way to the front, too short to see but loud enough to be heard from the back.

Hayley narrows her eyes. “Feel free to head out there if you want to give it a shot. I’ll lend you my belt.”

“I’m just saying,” Agnes snaps, “you came back a little early.”

Hayley looks murderous, and I have to admire Agnes’s bravery in the face of a Shadow who could easily knock her unconscious.

Sky touches Hayley’s arm and holds her gaze, some kind of wordless conversation passing between them.

“That’s enough,” Fiona says, her tone casting a hush over everyone. “It was the right call to bring Trevor back and regroup before anything worse happened. And I have an update for you regarding Oaklyn’s whereabouts.”

Discomfort settles over me, and I shuffle my feet. The update is definitely about my being attacked by her an hour ago.

I grab my phone and text Natalie,my fingers trembling.

Katie

Your sister’s back. She’s fine. They didn’t catch Freddie though. Sounds like the Shadows need to come up with a new plan.

I stare at the screen until it goes black. She’s probably busy with damage control.

A tiny part of me, a part worthy of being scolded, is relieved they didn’t find Freddie yet. It means I have more time to prove to Fiona that I should stay.

As I slip my phone into my pocket, Sky scans the crowd with narrowed eyes. Probably looking for Natalie.

Her gaze locks onto me, and she jerks her chin, motioning for me to step aside with her.

My heart jumps.Me?

She taps Hayley’s back and says something I can’t hear before heading in the opposite direction of the other Shadows, toward the corridors. Hayley watches her go with a pinched brow, casting me a suspicious glance.

I force my legs to move, holding my laptop to my chest like some kind of shield or emotional support device.

A thousand questions and possibilities zip through my mind like cars on a highway. Did Natalie get a hold of her? Is this about Oaklyn?

I stop in front of her beneath the archway leading to the Library wing. “Welcome back,” I say, trying for casual.