“For exercise!”
“Since when do youexercise!”
I hesitated. “...for magickal research?”
Tabitha sighed dramatically, reaching for her mug. “Back in my day, if a witch wanted to court someone, she sent them a letter, not carbs.”
Gabbi gasped. “What’s a carb?”
Floria grinned. “It’s what you eat when you’re inlove, sweetling.”
“I am not in love!” I protested, a little too loudly.
Everyone froze. Zara’s smirk widened into something truly dangerous. “Who said anything aboutyoubeing in love?” she asked.
My mouth snapped shut.
Tasia patted my hand sweetly. “It’s alright, Hanna. He’s handsome and broody. Plus, he smells like cedar and probably bad decisions. I get it.”
“He’s not—I mean, yes, maybe he smellsnice, but—”
“Uh-huh,” Floria said through a grin. “And how did yourairflow evaluationgo?”
I sank into my chair, because at least this was safe territory. “Terribly. He caught me within ten seconds,” I admitted, dejected.
Tabitha cackled. “At least he didn’t call the guards on you.”
Zara leaned forward, eyes sharp but amused. “You know, fora witch who claims not to care, you spend a suspicious amount of time breaking into that male’s personal space.”
I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. “Why does everyone in this building know my business?”
“Because you slam doors when you’re flustered,” Floria said helpfully.
“Because the protection wards we put on the building beep when you climb the stairs,” Tasia added, giving me a slow pat on my back as I blinked at her in disbelief.
Well, shit.
“And,” Zara said, sipping her tea, “because you glow every time you talk about him.”
“Ido notglow!” I gasped, heat filling my face.
“Yes, you do,” Gabbi chirped, swinging her legs. “Like a candle!”
Everyone around the table laughed. Even Ribbon gave a little croak that sounded suspiciously like agreement.
I sat up, cheeks burning, trying to glare them all into silence. “You’reallridiculous. There isnoromance here. None,” I argue, struggling to keep the‘because it’s purely one-sided’out of my sentence. It was bad enough that I was obsessed with the most handsome orc in the world, who wasincrediblytalented. I didn’t need to addunrequitedto the party or it would move into thepityvarietytoo soon for my liking.
Zara’s grin was pure witchly menace. “Then you won’t mind if I invite him to dinner next week,” she mused, strumming her fingers together. “For our coven dinner.”
My blood turned cold with dread. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I would,” she purred, sounding out the last word.
Floria clasped her hands dramatically. “This is going to beso much fun,” she cried, “I’ve beendyingto do some matchmaking!”
Tasia snorted, lifting Gabbi onto her lap. “At least let herbake the bread again first,” she laughed.
“Stop encouraging them!” I protested.
