“Shh!” I said again, looking around the corner of Grandpa’s castle, praying our parents didn’t catch us. We weresupposedto be in the family room watching a movie, but the triplets were coming, and I wanted to surprise them. They might be dragon shifters with enhanced senses, but Dad said it’d be years before they actually developed them. Plus, I was the daughter of the strongest witch in both worlds. They wouldn’t findmyhiding spot. Not this time.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Finnick muttered, his face turning red.
“I’m older than you.”
He rolled his eyes. “By three minutes.”
Still counted. We were seven. Two years older than the triplets. No way I was going to be outsmarted by them. That would behumiliating.
Where was Helena when I needed her? Life was rough being surrounded by gross boys all the time.
The front door creaked open.
I slapped my hand over Finnick’s mouth and shoved him behind the piano in the ballroom. My heart raced with excitement when Aunt Joy walked in with the three little weasels behind her.
Instantly, all three cousins snapped their heads toward us.
I ducked down, heat rising in my cheeks.Howdid they do that? I thought they were basically human until they transitioned. When I peeked, Gerald was grinning and waving.
“How do they always find us?” I hissed.
“I don’t care. Let’s go play with them,” Finnick whined.
Ugh. I was going to float Gerald to the ceiling, andthenwe’d see who got the last laugh. I might not be stealthy, but I was a witch.
“What should I do?” I giggled, peeking under the piano again.
“Don’t do anything. Momalreadygrounded you last week for turning Tobey into a toad,” Finnick said. Tobey was our dog.
“It was an accident!”
Just then, Uncle Sebastian, Barron, and Payne faded into the ballroom. Aunt Joy greeted her mate with a smile. While the grownups were distracted, I let my sticky magic dance between my fingers.
“Chloe…” Finnick sounded nervous.
But I just grinned and flicked the bouncy web of magic toward the triplets.
Only…something went wrong.
The web split midair, transforming into three glowing yellow orbs that bounced around the ballroom like pinballs. They struck my uncle dead-on—andthat’swhen the chaos began.
“Uh-oh,” I whispered. “Time to run.”
“Go, go, go!” I shouted, tugging Finnick with me.
“What the—” Uncle Sebastian started.
“Oh,fuck,” Barron snapped. “This isn’t my body!”
“Why am IPayne?” Payne groaned.
I didn’t make it three steps before Aunt Joy’s voice rang out loud and sharp. “Chloe!”
I stopped mid-sneak. Turned. Smiled sweetly. “Hello, Aunt Joy.”
She folded her arms. The triplets giggled behind her.
???
