“I like watching the process.”
I peeked through my fingers. “What process?”
“The part where you think you’re stealthy.”
I laughed then—quietly, breathlessly, because there was something about the way he said it that made it sound… fond.
And when he glanced away to hide his smirk, I realized maybe he wasn’t the only one who liked watching the process.
By the time I was able to drag myself downstairs the next morning, the hallway smelled like coffee, toast and judgment. There was a note under my door, saying that I was summoned to Zara’s apartment. With a sigh, I made my way there.
The entire coven was gathered around Zara’s massive oak kitchen table—a piece she claimed was ‘enchanted for honesty,’ but I strongly suspected was just enchanted to make people overshare. I wasalsocertain that it was one of Savla’s pieces and I was deeply, illogically jealous that I didn’t have anything he’d made in my apartment.
Zara, our fearless leader, sat at the head like a queen in her robe, hair wrapped in a silk scarf, spoon clinking rhythmically against her tea cup. Floria was already halfway through a croissant, looking far too innocent, and Tasia was trying to keep Gabbi from feeding toast crusts to Ribbon. Ribbon who’d followed me to my apartment for a snuggle and stayed with me when I went to Zara’s.Tabitha, the elder witch and designated arbiter of everyone’s business, gave me a look over her glassesthat could have stripped paint.
“Good morning,” I said brightly, pretending I didn’t feel like a criminal walking into a tribunal.
Zara arched an eyebrow. “Oh, is it?”
I froze halfway to the coffee pot. “...Why?”
Floria bit her lip, trying not to smile. “No reason.”
Gabbi popped up on her knees in her chair, beaming. “Aunty Hanna went to theroof!”
“Gabbi!” Tasia hissed. “We talked about secrets!”
“She told me not to tell anyone except the coven,” Gabbi said proudly.
I groaned. “Little traitor.”
That was the last time I’d be telling her anything. Although it was nearly impossible to lie to someone that cute. She was as powerful as the damn table was for oversharing.
Zara smirked. “So. Youdidgo to the roof,” she confirmed, her voice triumphant.
I poured coffee like it was armor, clutching my cup to me. “Technically, I ascended an exterior maintenance stairwell for an air circulation evaluation,” I explained with a sniff.
Tabitha snorted. “You mean you snuck up there again.”
“Itwasn’tsneaking,” I argued. “It was… proactive diplomacy between the clan and coven!”
Zara rolled her eyes, not bothering to state theveryvalid argument she’d already made about being mated to Rudgar,thank the Goddess, butFloria just giggled.
“Is that what we’re calling flirting with the grumpy orc now?”
“I wasn’t flirting!” I gasped, glaring at her. Even though when it came to Savla, there wasalwayssome light flirting involved. I just wasn’t very good at it.
Zara stirred her tea with deadly grace, a sharp smile playing on her lips.
“You brought him bread,” she said in a sing-songy voice thatgrated on my nerves.
“That wascommunity outreach,” I argued, willing to go down with my lie.
Tasia raised her eyebrows. “You baked atmidnight,” she said, shrugging as she confiscated another piece of toast from where Gabbi was holding it out to Ribbon.
“For stress!”
“Then climbed three flightsbarefoot.”
