Page 114 of Hexed & Hazy

Try as I might, I’m not ready to trust Farrah Poole just yet.

She dots Seth’s forehead with the tincture, and magic rises around them.

The shadows that have been around Seth wrap around him harder for a moment, and he gasps. But Aspen, the only one with a history of such spells, is unflinching.

And the magic drains from him. Finally. Sinking into the dark stones until it disappears.

“That”—he clutches his throat—“was surprisingly easy.”

“I told Rowan from the start.” Aspen lights a rosemary bundle and begins cleansing the crystals. “The easiest way to break the hex is to find the one who cast it. And Farrah wrote that spell herself.”

Despite all the pain Farrah has caused, Aspen still sounds proud of her. I bite my tongue.

Finding the witch was the hard part, and I still don’t know whether to be more frustrated with Seth or Farrah. But perhaps Farrah is right. Let the past be the past.

“How are you feeling?” I ask Farrah, turning to her. “Are you truly ready to move on? We’re still neighbors, and I’d like to be friendly.”

“Oh, but I was never angry with you!”

I tilt my head and lift my eyebrows, letting my look of disbelief speak for itself.

Farrah deflates and nods, her shoulders slumping. “I’m ready to move on. I have a lot to figure out now that my goddess has left me, so… my love life is the least of my worries.”

“She’ll be back.” Aspen rests a hand on Farrah’s shoulder.

“She will,” I say. “And it’s all right to take a break from your magic. It can be refreshing.”

“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I definitely feel refreshed.” Seth cracks his neck and groans. “What do you guys think? Ice cream? I think the shop just opened for the season.”

“Yes,” Aspen squeals, scrambling away and grabbing her purse. “Let’s hurry before they close for the day.”

Farrah looks down at her feet as we leave the shop, and she shuffles in the other direction. I exchange a look with Seth.

“Hey,” he calls out. “Where are you going?”

Farrah turns to look at us, smiling sheepishly. “My apartment is that way⁠—”

“What?” I lift an eyebrow. “You don’t like ice cream?”

“I do. I mean, of course, I do. Who doesn’t?”

“Then come on.” I tilt my head and walk forward, expecting Farrah to follow.

She does. And for the first time in a while, Seth and I can hold hands without the worry of a curse. Farrah’s smile? It doesn’t even flicker.

All is well.

Epilogue

ROWAN—ONE MONTH LATER

5:01 p.m.

I end my last call of the day and close my laptop, inhaling deeply. One minute late is better than the hour late that I used to work, I suppose. Baby steps.

Just when I’m about to rise from my desk, someone knocks lightly on the door. I can practically smell Aspen’s too-sweet perfume.

“Come in,” I say, rolling back in my chair.