If I’m being honest.
Isis points to her head. “I’m psychic, remember? I saw a vision of you here with us as a fully-fledged member of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven.AndI saw you sticking it to your ex and your so-called friend.”
What?
“Isis!” Komal shoots her a violent look before I can question her, a dent appearing between her pretty green eyes. “Ignore her, Win. Isis never knows when to shut her pie hole.”
I glare at Isis. “You … know?”
Isis taps her head. “I told you. Psychic.”
Dora sinks down in her beanbag, pulling her cardigan tight around her. “What Isismeansto say is that she overheard youtalking to Lilac in the pub the first night you arrived, and she’s sorry for being a nosy so-and-so.”
I remember a group of ladies at a table in the corner.I bet that was the book club.
“Are you okay, Winnie?” Beth asks, offering her plate to Komal, who takes an anthill and tosses it to the raven when Beth’s not looking. “Do you need us to hex a bitch for you?”
“Let us not blame the woman for the man cheating.” Celeste arranges a plate of perfect red velvet cupcakes. “That’s not very feminist of us. Maybe if we cast a shrinking penis spell on him, like we did for Beth’s shitty ex-boyfriend?”
I bark out a laugh.
“As head of the Historical Society, I have the key to the witch hunt display case at the Argleton museum,” Komal says in a perfectly serious voice. “I bet putting his balls through a mangle will make him reassess his life choices.”
Tears are starting to form as I try to hold back my giggles. “No hexes or medieval torture necessary. Yes, my fiancé and best friend cheated on me, but I’m trying my best to put it behind me and move on.”
“I hope moving on means sucking face with a certain reclusive vampire?” Mina raises an eyebrow as she settles Oscar at her feet.
My cheeks flare with heat. “Alaric—er, Lord Valerian is my boss. That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
No, it would not.
Despite the whole Alaric rejecting me thing, I feel a stab of something like contentment hit me as I sink down into the same beanbag I sat on last week. It’s as if the girls saved that spot for me –myusual spot in their circle. I find myself wishing again that I could stay. But that would be crazy. Even if I split off from Faye (the idea of which makes me feel ill), where would I find enough clients in Argleton?
I shove my hand in my pocket, but my phone’s not there. That’s right. I threw it into the fountain at Black Crag sothat I didn’t have to read any more texts from Claire. I like the idea of her driving herself mad texting me and never receiving a reply, and if I kept the phone, eventually, I’d have been tempted.
She sounds so sincere, so concerned about me.
That’s exactly who Claire is though. Sheneedseveryone to like her. A dark, vindictive part of me enjoys leaving her hanging.
I’m grateful when Mina calls the meeting to order. First, she gives us an update on the girl we rescued from Baylor Godsven. Her name is Candi and she’s perfectly fine. The wound on her neck healed up and she doesn’t remember a thing about that night, so she must have been drunker than we thought. Maybe it was just a drunken hook-up gone wrong.
Next, we all pull out our copies of this week’s book,Lords of Painby Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue. It’s another dark romance, which is not normally my thing, but these writers are so compelling and the plot was so bonkers that I ate it up.
“I hate all the lords,” Celeste declares. “I hope Story cuts their dicks off and eats them in front of them.”
Arabella shrugs her elegant shoulders. “It’s a dark romance, so that’s possible.”
“I’m already in love with Rath.” Komal clasps her hands to her chest. “Such a tortured soul. I just want to hold him and tell him everything will be okay.”
“Can we not do a dark romance next week?” Maisie asks. “I can only deal with so much morally-grey in my life.”
“We can do whatever book you like, as long as it’s on audiobook,” Mina says. “With a sexy narrator. Maybe a hot paranormal with some growly werewolves?—”
“No werewolves,” Celeste shudders. “All that body hair. No, thank you.”
“Okay, a hot vampire, then.”
“Speaking of vampires,” Isis opens her huge tote bag and starts tossing out little velvet bags. “I made these anti-vampire charmsfor protection.”
