Page 96 of These Witches Don't Burn

Morgan blushes. “I didn’t mind. I find them hilarious.”

“Which is whyyou’rethe girlfriend andI’mthe best friend.”Gemma freezes and shoots me a look. Her overly excited facade cracks, and I see the nerves she’s trying to hide. The uncertainty. She knew, in the way best friends do, how to handle my breakup, but we’re in uncharted territory now. “I mean... Hey! Look over there.” Gemma points to the back corner of the room.

I play along and turn to where she’s pointing, but there’s nothing. When I look back, the door is closing behind her. “You’ll thank me later!” she calls, her voice muffled.

Even though I should probably be offended at her lack of tact, the normalcy of her meddling soothes me. At leastsomethinghasn’t changed.

“I never told her we were official or anything,” Morgan says.

“I know.” A soft smile pulls at my lips, and I grip tight to the necklace Lauren gave me. “That’s Gem for you.”

Morgan nods. Silence settles between us, neither sure how to close the divide. Then Morgan reaches into my new closet and pulls out a white plastic bag. “I got you something else. The clothes and everything came from the Council, but this is from me.”

I let her pass me the bag. My hands tremble as I peer inside and find a sketchbook and a set of graphite pencils.

“It’s not much, but I thought you might want a creative outlet. When you’re ready.” Morgan fidgets, like she’s unsure what to do with her hands. “I wish there was more I could do.”

“Thank you. This is... It’s great.” Her concern punctures through the hard facade I’ve been building brick by brick. I set the bag on the bare bed. The tears spill over, my chest contracting around my broken heart until it’s hard to breathe.

“I’m sorry,” she says, resting a hand on my back. “About everything.”

Morgan’s there when I turn, and I crumple into her embrace.

We stay like that for a long time.

Until, finally, something inside starts to stitch itself back together.

•••

Dad’s funeral ended an hour ago, but I can’t move.

The service—despite my request for something small—was packed. Thanks to Dad’s boss, the district attorney, his death has been all over the news. I haven’t been able to look at the internet since the fire. It’s littered with Benton’s face. Occasionally, they show Dad’s formal ADA headshot. I hate that picture, though. It’s nothing like the goofy man I know.

That Iknew.

Instead of the small service I wanted, the graveyard was full of uniforms. The entire police force came. Every single witch from our coven was there, some flying in from as far away as Arizona. Gemma and her parents came, too, of course. Dad’s friends from law school. Mom’s friends from work. Lauren and Detective Archer. A lot of people cared about my dad.

But I still wish I could have been alone with him. One last time.

Which is why I’m here. Sitting on his freshly covered grave. It’s raining—ofcourseit’s raining—but it’s only the combined strength of the rain and the earth beneath me that keeps me from falling apart completely.

Dad...I reach my hands into the earth and look for any sign of my father’s presence. But there’s nothing there. No sparkof life. No hint of magic. I don’t understand this reality. I don’t understand how life can just soldier on without him. None of this makes sense.

I reach into the fresh earth, searching for life, andpull. Slowly, ever so slowly, a flower curls up from the dirt and unfurls its petals. I’m breathing hard from the effort. It shouldn’t be this difficult, but the lingering effects of Benton’s drugs make every bit of magic ache. At least the flower is there. Alive. Proof that I’m still an Elemental.

But the feeling of victory doesn’t last.

Every second that’s filled with anything other than grief leaves me unbearably guilty. Every smile an affront to Dad’s memory. Laughter an abomination. I know he wouldn’t want this for me, but I don’t know how else to be. Can’t imagine a time when this won’t hurt so much.

And then there’s Benton.

He’s proof that the Hunters are back. That they’re more determined than ever to wipe us out. I still don’t understand how the universe chose to spare me yet take my dad, but I’m going to find out. I’ll wring the answers out of Benton, by force if I have to. This time, I’ll have magic on my side.

Lightning streaks across the sky, bright and angry. I should get out of here, meet Mom back at our temporary home before she worries. I stand, brushing the dirt off my jeans.

I love you, Dad.Thunder rumbles in the distance.The Hunters won’t hurt anyone else. I promise.

Detective Archer was right. There’s a war brewing.

And I intend towin.