Page 72 of The Secret Life of a Witch

Please let me get out of here. Please, please, please …

My feet touch solid surface, and the wind rushing and pulling at my body suddenly stops. I don’t release Hunter’s hand right away, though, gripping it as I crack open an eyelid. Then I sigh in relief as I take in the four walls and the furniture that make up the living room of the house I’m renting.

“I’m home. Thank God.”

Hunter brushes his finger along the back of my hand. “You’re all right, right? No motion sickness or anything like that?”

“Not anymore.” I drape my free hand across my stomach. “While we were in there, though, I thought I was going to yack all over you.”

He chuckles, shaking his head as he stares at me in … well, shock.

“What?” I ask, feeling self-conscious. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” His lips twitch in amusement.

“Like I’ve surprised you. And that I’m amusing.”

“You’re always amusing,” he says, tugging on a strand of my hair. Then the humor in his eyes fizzles into seriousness. “It’s just nice to hear you sound like … well, you.”

“What else would I sound like? A crazy hybrid demon?” I ask, slightly offended.

He promptly shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant at all. I meant that you still sound like you even after I …” He pauses with confliction in his eyes.

“Admitted that you lied to me,” I finish for him.

Guilt flickers across his face, but he hastily erases it as Opal dives out of the portal and into the living room. She lands gracefully on her feet near the leather sofa, then dusts off her hands, folds up her wings, and shuts down the portal with a flick of her wrist.

“Mission accomplished.” She beams, but her smile falters as she glances at me. “Hey.” She offers me a tentative, unsure smile.

“Hey.” My tone conveys the buttload of hurt I’m feeling inside.

She must hear it, because she says, “Eva, I’m so sorry. There were so many times I wanted to tell you, but it went against protocol.”

“I understand.” Honestly, I don’t. Maybe I’m being crazy, but I’d like to think, if I were in their shoes, I’d have broken down a long time ago and confessed everything to them. Perhaps that’s because I care more about them.

“No, you don’t.” She reads straight through my lies. “But that’s okay. You have every right to be hurt. Just so you know, our friendship was never a lie. I’ve always thought of you as my real friend.”

“That’s what Hunter said, too.” My deflated tone causes them both to frown. “Sorry, but I can’t help it. You guys lied to me for years, and now I’m wondering if anything about our friendship is true. And it sort of makes sense. No one ever liked me, except you two, and I always wondered why that was.” I gesture at Hunter. “I mean, you were so popular, yet you acted like we were best friends.” His lips part, but I talk over him. “And Opal, you were so normal and sweet and powerful. It never made sense why you hung around me.”

“Eva …” Opal starts, tears pooling in her eyes.

“It’s fine,” I cut her off, backing away as I become emotionally overwhelmed. “I just need a minute, okay?”

Hunter winds around the sofa, following after me. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to wander off by yourself.”

Frustration crawls through me. “So, I’m never supposed to be alone now?”

Opal’s gaze flits to me then to Hunter. “Give her a minute, okay? The house has more charms and protection spells on it than the fey realm. Nothing’s getting in.”

“I’m not worried about something getting in.” Hunter stuffs his hands into his pockets, seeming fidgety. “I’m worried about her getting out.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promise. “I just need a breather. And I want to see Ryleigh … Is she in the basement?”

Hunter nods uneasily. “She is.”

“Okay, I’ll just go down there then.” I move to leave.

“Eva, wait,” Hunter calls out.

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