Page 95 of Traitor Witch

"I'm ready!" Elsie's voice precedes her out of the tower.

For all that time she's spent packing, she still only has one bag draped over her shoulder. Her eyes are dry, but red-rimmed, and her posture is timid.

"Can we... can we stop to see someone before I leave?" she asks.

I roll my eyes but nod. "If it's quick."

"He lives right on the sea wall!" she promises, already halfway across the street.

"Slow down," I say, "I'm supposed to be protecting you, remember? And pull up your hood, you never know who might recognise you after yesterday."

She blushes. "Oh, right. Sorry."

I roll my eyes and fall into step beside her. "Let's get a few things straight. You've already outed me to one person, but as far as anyone else we meet knows, I'm a Solar. Got it?"

"Yup."

"No talking of harems. No mentioning my... job." I toss a glance over my shoulder at Kier, who cocks a brow. "Nothing. In fact, a vow of silence might work best."

"Well, what if you give yourself away?"

"I won't."

"But you walk wrong. Your magic is the wrong colour and surely, with the new moon tomorrow, you'll have to come up with an excuse for why you have no magic."

Now she's definitely gotten Kier's interest.

"How about we just stop giving out Lunar witch weaknesses in the middle of the street?" I hiss, grinding my teeth together as I keep walking. "Who is this person we're going to see?"

"His name is Cooper."

“A male?" That seems strange... for a Solar. "Does your Mother Solar know about this?"

Elsie's aghast expression tells me I've got completely the wrong idea. "Cooper's a friend of the coven! He's not— Ewww gross! I can't believe you thought I'd copulate with him."

I cringe. "Please don't ever use that word again."

"Copulate? What's wrong with it?"

I make a face at her. "Nothing, just... never say it again in my presence."

"What about fornicate?"

Ugh, this is why I don't want kids. Was I this annoying as a teenager? "No."

"Coitus?"

"No."

"Intercourse?"

I glower at her. "It's fucking. Making love if you're into that wishy-washy bullshit, and sex if it's meaningless. No other terms."

"Not even boinking?"

I glare at her, only to find the Solar is grinning like she's won the lottery.

"Remember what I can do before you decide to piss me off," I caution in a low voice that still makes Kier's pointed ears twitch.