Page 95 of How to Flirt with a Witch

Fiona has me sign some papers—a more detailed, documented oath and an employment agreement among them—but I’m in too much of a hurry to read them in detail. I skim and sign with a trembling hand, and then the witches around the table stand up to shake my hand and welcome me. Warmth floods my veins.

“Well, this should be interesting,” Agnes says loudly, doubt dripping from her tone.

Natalie steps close to me, clasping both my hands in hers. “Congrats,” she murmurs. “Welcome aboard.”

Her words are neutral, but her eyes are a fiery promise of what she’s going to do to me as soon as we can get out of here. Between that and her scent, my knees nearly buckle.

I’m ready to sprint out the door now, but everybody else has other ideas. Sky comes over to talk to me, telling me about the clubs I should join, while Natalie is swarmed by Sebastian, Will, and several others.

“Lucky that all worked out for you,” Will grumbles to Natalie.

“Oh, knock it off,” Sebastian says, cuffing him on the arm. “You know she’s going to be useful…”

“…there’s a great gym here,” Sky says, pulling my attention back. “It’s attached to a practice room, so you can watch the Shadows train if you want. It’s kind of cool.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

Natalie catches my eye, her expression betraying her frustration.

“Feel free to head back to your room,” Fiona tells me as she walks past with the leather-bound book in her arms.

“Oh. Okay.” I glance longingly at Natalie. “Thanks.”

Sky claps me on the shoulder and heads for the door. “Night. Hope we get to work together on something.”

“Yeah, same.”

She leaves, and I linger, pretending to admire the roses on the wall.

“I’ll be off,” Agnes says loudly. “I have some very high-priority matters to attend to before turning in tonight.”

Nobody’s listening.

“Natalie,” Fiona says, pulling out her phone. “We got a call in Surrey that I’d like you to address. Not urgent, but very strange…”

“Send over the details,” Natalie says.

Fiona shows her the phone. “Have a look at this…”

A knot of frustration tightens in my stomach. Dammit, she’s never going to make it to my room if people keep talking to her.

With nothing left to do but leave, I brush past her on my way out the door.

Please tell these people you’ve got to go, I think.

The air between us crackles with tension, heat spreading through me. I feel her posture shift, but she keeps talking to the others, nodding as if fully engrossed.

Silence closes around me as I walk back to my room, my heart pounding in anticipation. The magic in the hall thickens with each step, as tangible as when I’m near a curse—maybe more.

Do others feel this when they’re near magic, or is this my ability again? And what is it about the Library wing, exactly? I look over my shoulder, but all I see is the empty corridor.

In my room, with something more important on my mind, I race to get ready. Makeup, perfume, hair, the works. I turn off every light except for the soft reading lamp on the desk, casting just enough to see.

What if she’s pulled away to other priorities? What if she’s hours late—or can’t come at all because she has to head out to the curse Fiona showed her? I can’t handle waiting. I need her like I’ve never needed anyone.

I check my reflection—my hair in loose curls, my eye makeup dark and sultry, my blouse low-cut—and I can’t help smiling a little. No wonder she had that hungry look in her eyes.

I pop open a button, making the shirt more risqué than I’d ever wear in public. A tease of red lace makes an appearance.