“Having a good time?”
Ovie hands me a glass of punch. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” We’re silent for a minute as we watch the dancers. “I would’ve waited longer to restart the balls, youknow.”
“I know. But with Charlie gone, we figured…”
My voice trails off, and she stares down at her full cup of punch. “Y’all figured that I’d need something to keep me busy so that I wouldn’t think about him.”
“Something like that,” I mutter.
“He’s going to change,” she says quietly. “He promised. You know, gambling’s a hard thing to overcome.”
But he’s not going to overcome it if you keep giving him money.“I’m sure it’s very hard. I can’t imagine.”
She’s quiet for a moment before she inhales a sharp breath. “Your mother tells me that you’re doing amazing at the bookstore.”
“Thank you. I love it. I only wished I’d found my powers sooner.”
She squeezes my arm and smiles gently, her brown eyes shining bright. “My girl, better late than never.”
Somehow I wish my aunt would take her own advice and dump Charlie, because later is certainly better than never in his case. But all I say is, “Good point.”
The music stops. “I’m going to find Blair and see if any of these men seem like good candidates.” Her gaze washes up and down me. “Try to have some fun, Addie. If not for your sake, then for your sister’s.”
She nods to Blair, who’s shooting us worried looks. I grin widely, suggesting that I’m having the time of my life. Then I bring the cup of punch to my mouth and drain it dry. By the time I look at her again, she’s directed her attention to Ovie.
I turn to head over to the punch table and come to a staggering stop. Every muscle in my body tightens into little balls of steel. My breath gets caught in my throat, and when I do manage to pull in a lungful, it stutters.
“Edward,” I whisper.
He gives me a smarmy smile. “Addison, you look lovely.”
“Thank you.”
He strolls up as if he didn’t break my heart, and as if he didn’t humiliate me publicly at the very last witch ball.
When we’re a couple of feet apart, I take a good look at him and for the first time notice how small he is. He’s not much taller than me and thin, almost frail. He looks easy to break, which isn’t how I used to think of him.
He used to hold the moon, albeit a moon that was, in hindsight, out of reach.
“Addison,” he purrs, “I was sorry to hear about your engagement to that awful fae king. It’s probably for the best that it didn’t work out. Those fae can be so…arrogant, haughty. Don’t you think?”
Look who’s calling the kettle black. “They aren’t once you get to know them.”
He smiles, showing off that million-watt glint of his. “I’m sure. But our kind don’t mix, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time, it’s that witches belong with wizards.”
Where is this going?“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.” He sidles up and lightly brushes his fingers over the top of my shoulder. Once there would’ve been sparks igniting my skin. But now there’s nothing. His touch feels cold, dead.
Not like how it was when I touched Feylin.
Good grief. Stop thinking about him. You’re done with love, remember?
“I heard,” he continues, “that you’ve been busy learning how to use your magic.”
Oh, I see what’s going on. “Yes. I’ve learned it. Someone…” My throat shrivels as the wordssomeone taught menearly leaves my mouth. “I learned,” I add quickly. “It was within me all along.”
