Page 94 of How to Flirt with a Witch

My fondness for her grows. I catch her eye, hoping she can read my gratitude.

Hayley nods and drums her fingers on the table, looking thoughtful. “You raise a good point. She might be the advantage we’ve been waiting for.”

Will scoffs. He won’t look at me or Natalie, his lips puckered like he’s eaten something sour. Beside him, Sebastian’s eyes are bright as he studies me, fidgeting with his beard.

Fiona waits for any other arguments or objections. Everyone stares at me, making sweat prickle beneath my shirt—but nobody else speaks. Agnes’s face is so scrunched up that it looks like she’sbracing for a punch. One thing’s clear: several people still need convincing that I am who I say I am, and that I’m not about to sell CSAMM’s secrets.

My ability had better be up to snuff. Fiona made it plain that I can get fired, so I have to take my assignments seriously.

“The oath, then,” Fiona says, turning the book around and presenting it to me.

I place my hands under the worn leather book to bring it closer. I lick my lips, willing my mouth to cooperate and read the words without stumbling. “I, Katherine Medina Alexander, hereby swear upon my induction into the Coven of Shadows and Alchemists for Managing Magic to uphold and defend their mission of protecting the world from the dangers of magic. I vow to do everything in my power to keep magic classified, secure, monitored, and regulated. I understand that the consequences of breaching this oath are severe, and I accept that if I am found to have violated this oath, I will be subject to punishment as determined by a jury of my peers.”

Damn, Natalie and I are getting off easy. She must be thinking the same because I sense her shift in her seat. I’d also better put a lid on the details I’m sharing with Hazel, if I want to avoid a trial by jury.

I draw a breath and continue. “As a Guardian, I pledge to use my knowledge and skills to protect the public, to work in harmony with other members of the coven, and to never use magic for personal gain or to harm others. May my commitment to this oath be unyielding, and may my loyalty to the coven be unwavering, for as long as I shall live.”

I look up, my heart pounding. The parts about using magic don’t apply to me, but I’ve definitely just sworn to something I have to take seriously. No hinting at magic to Pearl in the hopes that she guesses it, and no chickening out when it comes time to grab hold of a curse. I have a responsibility—to CSAMM and to the world.

I hope this doesn’t make it difficult to be normal around family and friends. I’ll have to watch what I say and come up with a plausible story.

Anyway, no going back now.

Fiona shuts the book with a muffledthwap. “The ash ritual. Sebastian?”

The what? Hearing the wordritualfrom a literal witch isn’t exactly comforting.

“Coming right up, m’lady!” Sebastian stands, his chair scraping on the stone floor. He takes a tray off a small table in the darkest corner of the room and brings it to us with a pompous air, as if delivering a crown on a velvet cushion. “The elixir of ash, distilled from the essence of a thousand twilight blooms and infused with the tears of a unicorn.”

Fiona looks at the ceiling and sighs.

Sebastian sets the tray on the edge of the long table and offers an elaborate bow, trotting backward and sweeping out his arms. On it is a mortar and pestle filled with fine ash, a potted lily with beautiful pink-and-white petals, and a small metal watering can.

What will they have me do? Am I about to have some magical charm placed on me to make sure I don’t break my oath?

I glance to Natalie, who shifts, her chair creaking. “It’s just a tradition,” she says, the words blurting out. Everyone turns to look at her. She taps her fingers on the table and clears her throat. “It’s symbolic. It won’t do anything to you.”

Fiona shoots her a glare. “Yes. As Natalie boldly interjected, this is an age-old rite that signifies your rebirth as a member of the coven. Please nurture both ash and flower with life-giving water, then mark the inside of your left wrist with ash and your right with the flower’s pollen.”

“Okay.” I step up to the tray. My hand trembles as I pick up the watering can and splash its contents on the ash and soil. I mix the water into the ash, forming a paste, then dip two fingers in and smear parallel lines over the inside of my left wrist.

My skin tingles and burns. I know it’s in my head—I trust Natalie when she says it’s only symbolic—but it feels like something real is happening. I’m leaving my old life behind, reducing it to ash.

I lift my right arm and brush my wrist over the lily’s pollen, drawing an orange line. It, too, leaves a tingling sensation that spreads to my palm and fingers. I can’t help thinking of earth magic, and the way Natalie and Sky can manipulate their surroundings just by opening their palms.

A deep longing fills me—a wish that I could manipulate earth’s elements too. But I should be grateful I have any ability at all.

I drop my arms to my sides and look up, ready for whatever comes next.

Fiona nods, and I get a glimpse of something rarer than a cursed doll at a flea market. It’s a small smile. “Welcome to the coven, Katie.”

The words wrap around me like a warm embrace.

Sky whoops and claps, and to my relief, Sebastian and Hayley join the applause. A genuine smile dimples Natalie’s cheeks, crinkling her eyes. I grin back, joy filling me to the brim. The others don’t clap, but screw them. I’ll prove them wrong.

I’m officially a member of CSAMM. This is the first day of living my calling—to use my unique ability to protect the world from dangerous magic. What’ll my first assignment be? Where will this new path take me? An excited flutter builds inside me, making me want to skip.

What’s more, this means I get to stay with Natalie. And I’m desperate to act on this, fighting the urge to ask if we’re done here so she and I can race back to my room. It’s nearly eight, and my whole body is tight with anticipation.