Blaise was on my heels, still in his T-shirt and boxers, clutching a bag of his clothes to his chest.
“I can’t believe you would do this to me!” Rage propelled me down the stairs, the heels of my feet thudding hard, each step feeling like a kick aimed straight at Creep. I hoped it hurt.
By the time I reached the kitchen, Blaise breathless behind me, my anger had peaked. I flung the pantry door open and it was a miracle it stayed on its hinges.
“If you don’t want to be my house, thenfine.”
I flicked my wrist. Lilac sparks burst from my fingertips, and every cauldron, potion, salve, herb, and utensil they touched vanished with a sharppop, reappearing—hopefully—somewhere near my car. Knowing my luck, they’d probably end up in Timbuktu given how angry I was.
The moment the last ingredient disappeared, I spun on my heel and marched to the pile of camping gear still stacked in the hallway.
Another sharp flick of my wrist and it vanished too.
“Caitlyn—” Blaise started, then stopped when I cut him a sharp look. He lifted his hands in an I’m-on-your-side gesture.
“You know what, Creep?” I said. “I’m okay with a harmless prank here and there. Cutting my hair. Putting rotten rat tails in my food. Hells, I even find it kind of funny half the time.”
I glared up the stairs and caught sight of her porcelain face lurking in the shadows beyond the balustrade. At least she had the decency to show herself and take her dressing-down face to face.
“And I’m even fine with you having your stupid fucking fangirl crush on my sworn enemy,” I went on. “The girl who bullied me and my friends through school. The woman who’s now trying to steal everything I’ve worked so hard—”
My voice cracked, heat burning behind my eyes.
“—worked so hard on to build a better life for me and my mate. I don’t understand it, but who you choose to like is upto you.” I swallowed hard. “What I do draw the line at is youactivelytrying to sabotage my life’s work.”
I stomped down the hallway and yanked the front door open, jerking my chin for Blaise to go ahead of me. He did, eyes wide, hairless brows arched in stunned disbelief. I paused on the threshold and glared up at Creep.
She looked so small like that, half lost in shadow, and for a fleeting second a thread of pity wound through my anger.
But not enough to stop me.
“If you hate me so much,” I said, my voice tight, “then I’ll make this easy for you.I’m leaving.”
With that, I stepped out onto the porch and slammed the door shut behind me.
I stomped the entire way to my car, where—thankfully—the bundle of supplies I’d magicked out of the house had materialized. All the while, I fought the urge to rake my fingers through my hair and scream my frustration into the open air.
Blaise waited by my side, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and boots while my erratic breathing slowly steadied. When I finally let out a huff, releasing the last of my anger, he said, “I take it we’re camping, then?”
I nodded. “Sorry, Blaise.”
He shrugged easily. “No need to be. I’ve always wanted to try camping.”
“I mean about my outburst,” I said quickly. “I should have handled it better, but—”
Blaise lifted a finger to my lips, gently cutting me off. “We all have our limits, Caitlyn.”
My shoulders sagged in relief. “So... always wanted to go camping, huh?”
He nodded. “It’s been on my list for ages. I just never had enough time between jobs. Usually, I’d end up with a day or two off and spend it rewatching the same show over and over again.”
“That sounds a bit mundane,” I said, “though I suppose it depends on the show.”
The tips of his ears reddened. “Would you think it was lame if I said my favorite show wasHexes at Noon?”
“No way!” I squealed. “You’re a Nooner too?”
Blaise’s expression sobered. “If Kendra and Xaden don’tfinallyget together next season, I’m literally going to lose my shit.”
