She let out a long sigh and passed the wine back to me. “You get mean when you’re drinking. I thought this might cheer you up.”
“Is that what this is? Pity wine for your sexually frustrated sister?”
“I’m looking out for my friend.”
“I’m not your friend,” I countered. “Not like Jordyn.”
Jordyn was Iris’s best friend, roommate, and co-worker at the Poison Apple Apothecary. They did practically everything together, and I’d always been jealous of how close they’d been growing up. I’d been the tagalong younger sister on all of their adventures. Eventually, I’d gotten the hint and stopped trying to be the third wheel.
Iris leaned a shoulder into me. “You’re more than my friend. You’re my sister.”
I frowned. Curse her. She was an undeniably good friend and big sister. The best, really. But still, I didn’t appreciate her meddlesome ways.
“I just need to get through the summer,” I said. “I can’t have some pretty little witch distracting me, and she’s moving back to the city after camp, so . . .”
“Well, how fortuitous that you’re also planning on moving to the city.”
“Not if I don’t graduate into the coven,” I countered. “Mom will want me to stay at home until I become a full member. There’s no way she’d let me move out without all my powers solidified.”
“Well then, just be Gwen’s friend for now,” Iris reasoned as if it were so easy. “Be cool. Keep your dick in your pants.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Keep my dick in my pants?”
She persisted with that knowing look. “Unless you can’t control yourself around her because she’s just so hot?”
“I . . .” Moon curse her, why did it have to be true? I already believed in insta-love—I was a lesbian, for crying out loud—but never had I had such a hard time keeping it under wraps than I did with Gwen. She was just so witty and gorgeous and cool without trying to be, and?—
I was saved from my swirling thoughts by a waft of cigarette smoke.
“Hey!” I turned to find a shadowy figure. “This camp has a no-smoking?—”
The furthest thing from a camper leaned against the tree, the end of her cigarette glowing gold and bloodred as a halo of smoke circled her before drifting skyward. She seemed like shadows incarnate with her long, slicked-back hair and eerie silver eyes.
I knew instantly what she was: a demon.
Iris practically leaped off the bench. “Ramona!” she squeaked, trying to tame a few wild locks of hair around her face. Even in the shadows, I knew my sister was blushing. “Hi.”
“Hello, little witch,” Ramona purred, flicking her cigarette into the air. It vanished before it had a chance to hit the ground.
“I still have several weeks until my time is up,” Iris said.
I spun on my sister so fast, it gave me whiplash. “You sold your soul to ademon?”
Ramona’s laugh was low and gravelly. “I wish.”
“I just agreed to a date in exchange for some information, that’s all.” Iris looked from me to Ramona as if she couldn’t take her eyes off her. “And I will make good on it before the year is out.”
“Good,” Ramona said, her stare so sharp that it could cut glass. “Because crossing me wouldn’t be wise.”
“Okay, I’m starting to see the appeal,” I murmured to Iris. “She’s giving real suit-mommy vibes.”
“Shut it,” Iris gritted out. “What are you doing here, Ramona?”
“Yeah.” I suddenly realized. “This camp is warded against non-witches. How did you get past our magic?”
Ramona’s smile was feral with sharp canines that glinted in the moonlight. “You think your little coven spells can keep me out?”
The full weight of her gaze made me shudder, and I knew then that Iris was totally fucked. Ramona’s seduction was like a heavy undertow, pulling, gripping, and Iris was practically levitating at the allure.
