Page 22 of Revenge is a Witch

Bad Hair Hex.

Perfect.

Just as I finish writing, I hear a low voice, far too close to my ear. “Bad Hair Hex?Really, Zaria, that’s the best you could come up with?”

I jump, snapping the book shut with a loudthwackand whipping around to find Sebastian standing way too close for comfort, a cocky grin on his face. “Jesus, Sebastian!” I snap, glaring at him. “Don’t you have something better to do than sneak up on people like some kind of creepy stalker?”

“Stalker?” he raises an eyebrow. “I preferpersistent admirer.But if you want to talk about creepy…”

I cut him off with a glare. “If I wanted to hear you talk, I’d ask. Now, what do you want? And why are you even in the library? Last I checked, reading wasn’t exactly your strong suit.”

He smirks, leaning casually against the table. “It’s a library, Z. I’m allowed to be here. Or do you need a reminder that students are allowed to read?”

“Please,” I scoff. “You’re not a student. You’re a nuisance.” He chuckles, undeterred, and we fall into our usual banter, slinging insults back and forth like we’re playing a game of verbal dodgeball.

“Oh, you wound me,” he says dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “But if you’re going to throw insults my way, at least aim for something below the belt. That’s where I like it best.”

I roll my eyes so hard I can practically see the back of my head. “You’ve got jokes now? What’s next, an inappropriate comment about my boots?”

“Wasn’t going to say anything about the boots.” He leans forward, eyes twinkling. “But I did just notice something.”

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms. “What?”

He studies me for a moment before saying, “You’ve got freckles. Didn’t notice before.”

I blink, caught completely off guard. “Freckles? Really? That’s what you’re noticing right now?”

“Yeah,” he says, still watching me closely. “You shouldn’t cover them up with makeup.”

The comment throws me off. Of all the things he could have said—about my hair, my clothes, my general demeanor—he notices my freckles? And he’s… complimenting me? I don’t know whether to be flattered or suspicious, so I settle for confusion. “Okay… thanks? I guess?”

He leans back, still smirking. “I’m not always trying to annoy you, you know. Sometimes, I’m just helpful. Like with that little note I left you the other day.”

I narrow my eyes, remembering the note he gave me—the one that led me to discover my spells were being passed around the school. “Okay, fine, that was helpful. But after hearing the principal talking about my spellbook being made into atomefor the whole school, it didn’t exactly work out the way I hoped.”

He tilts his head, his smirk fading just a little. “Wait… your spellbook? Made into a tome? What are you talking about?”

I wave a hand, brushing off the conversation. “Nothing. Don’t you have a guinea pig or Kyla to go feed on or something?”

He composes himself, his grin returning with full force. “I could always nibble on you instead. I mean, if you’re offering…”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning in just a little. “Ooo, sorry. Just had a whole garlic bread for lunch. Wouldn’t want to send you to the emergency room with an allergic reaction.”

He chuckles, stepping back with a mock bow. “Touche, Zaria. Touche.”

I give him a sweet, sarcastic smile, flipping my grimoire shut and standing up. “Well, this has been fun, as always, but some of us have actual work to do.”

He watches me for a beat longer, his eyes flickering with something I can’t quite place before he shrugs. “Until next time,Z.” I roll my eyes again as he turns and saunters off, leaving me standing there, feeling oddly… thrown off. Maybe it’s the compliment. Maybe it’s the way he always manages to get under my skin. Either way, I have more important things to focus on right now—like how Kyla’s hair is faring after lunch.

As I’m walking back to my dorm, I pull out my phone and shoot a quick text to Sam.

Hey, want to grab dinner later? My treat.

Sam responds almost immediately.

Dinner, yes! Can we do Chinese? I'm craving dumplings.??

Chinese it is.I’ll meet you at CHONGQING at 7?