Last night, she nearly killed me.
Today, she’s fluffing drapery.
Mayor Wren and the ride operator questioned her, but Candi performed a flawless rendition of Innocent Local Woman Traumatized by Freak Carnival Accident.
She gives me a slow once-over. “I’m surprised you have the nerve to show your face.”
I blink. “You literally stole the words right out of my brain. Don’t tell me you’ve developed a new magickal power.”
“That isn’t how magick works. But I suppose you wouldn’t know.”
The familiar barb lands differently today. Maybe almost falling to my death rearranged my priorities. Maybe Max spent the night making me feel beautiful and wanted in ways that had nothing to do with magick, crowns, or Candi’s opinion.
Whatever the reason, I don’t want to spend another moment sparring with a woman who decided we were enemies before either of us was old enough to understand what that meant.
“Look, Candi?—”
She reaches behind the curtain and retrieves a hot pink notebook.
Myhot pink notebook.
“Give it to me,” I snap.
“Touchy.”
“It contains private information.”
“I know. Your clients’ passwords were extremely easy to locate. You’re lucky I’m happy enough with my own identity and don’t want to steal anyone else’s.”
With a sweet smile, she offers me the notebook.
I hesitate, suspicious of the sudden surrender.
“Go ahead,” she says. “Take it. I already found what I needed.”
I snatch it from her and hold it against my chest. “What does that mean?”
“Operation: Butter Up the Fox made for fascinating reading.”
My stomach drops, and a cold sweat breaks out along my brow.
“You told Mayor Wren, and now I’m disqualified,” I whisper.
Candi laughs. “Better.”
I look toward Mrs. Abernathy, Mayor Wren, and Never who are getting settled behind the judges’ table.
“What did you do?”
“I may or may not have had a fascinating conversation with Max this morning.”
The pounding of my heart drowns out the festival chatter.
“He was leaving your house. Looking rather rumpled.” Candi’s expression hardens. “I have to admit, Lila, I’m surprised. Even for you, sleeping with a judge to get a vote reeks of desperation.”
“You almost killed me.”
She shrugs. “But I didn’t. You are very much alive.”
