Page 10 of Wicked Witch

Wynter passes me for the bathroom, but I know she doesn’t notice me. I have a dark hoodie on, and the hood is pulled up and over my head, hiding my vibrant blue hair.

Humming, she continues on toward the ladies room and when I know the coast is clear, I watch her, making sure no one jumps out of the shadows.

After she’s back in her car, snug as a bug in a rug on her makeshift bed, which is genius by the way, I finish my snack and continue my patrol while she sleeps.

Wish I could cuddle up with her and catch some shut eye myself. Fae don’t need much shut eye but the more time I’ve spent in this realm, I’ve become accustomed to their culture.

Pulling out my phone, I scroll WitchTok for a little while, getting lost in the mindless dribble and potions.

Soon the sun is shining, and Wynter is pulling out of the parking lot. I’ll follow her soon, but first I need to use the facilities and get another delicious bag of chips.

Leaving my truck, I head over to the vending machines once again and caress the buttons.

“Hello, good friend, may I please have E8,” I coo to the lonely machine and wait.

Lost in my thoughts of imagining this bag of cheddar popcorn being a greasy bacon sandwich, I miss my brother sneaking up behind me and him muttering a spell to incapacitate me.

“You almost made this too easy, brother. Mother will be so disappointed,” he scolds, snapping his finger and creating a portal.

His face is wrinkled with stress lines, and his hair is no longer a vibrant pink. I give him a glare and sigh.

“It wouldn’t be the first time and probably won’t be the last, Grule.”

He frowns and shakes his head. “I don’t get you, Cirrus. I would give anything to have your life. To be the born ruler of Kasgalda. Why run away from such a destiny? You will be a king!”

I can’t fight the laughter from escaping my lips. “Oh, brother, I will never be a king. I will be a prisoner chained to the throne.” Shaking my head with how miserable the thought of being royalty makes me, he sighs, grabs my arm and drags me through the portal.

When we reach the front steps of our home, I groan. “I have plans, Gru. I can’t be stuck here right now. Can’t you tell Mother that you never found me?”

Gru looks at the door and back to me. “You really don’t want to be king?”

My eyes widen, and my mouth purses.

“Geeze, what gave it away,” I snark, watching as his nostrils flare with annoyance. Sighing, I nod. “I don’t want to be trapped here in Kasgalda. I want to stay in the mortal realm.”

He’s quiet for a minute, and I’m about to just give in to my fate when he surprises me.

Pulling my arm, he makes another portal. This one leading to a cave we used to play in as kids.

“If you want off the throne then you must marry someone. I heard once that if you are wedded outside of Kasgalda then you can never live here for eternity.”

My heart begins to race, and I know my face resembles one podperson. Or maybe a Golden Retriever would be a better example.

“Why are you helping me, Gru? You have always been Mother’s spy. Hunting me like I’m a prized ham at the county fair.”

“If you don’t take the throne then maybe Mother will ask me. I have no qualms with staying. I love it here. It’s my home.”

Muttering a spell, I’m finally released from the invisible shackles and I groan, moving my limbs about.

“Take it, Gru. Now send me back to my truck. I have a prickly possum to track down.”

WYNTER

Pulling up to the motel, I yawn. My eyes burn and I’m regretting not stopping at a hotel for just a few hours.

I shut the engine off, and my car thanks me. I got a notification a little while ago about the engine being on for five hours straight.

I usually only make it three, but I was determined this last leg to just get here.

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