Page 62 of Revenge is a Witch

Hank doesn’t miss a beat, leaning forward slightly. “Sam started messaging Kyla about four months ago. The whole plan was for Sam to stay close to you—be your ‘friend’—until you came up with the final assessment idea. Then, she was supposed to hand that idea, and your grimoire, over to Kyla.”

I blink, processing what Hank just said. Four months? That backstabbing little—No. Stay calm.

Derek, though, isn’t as composed. His fists clench on the table, and I can practically see the storm brewing in his eyes. “Are youtelling me she’s been playing Zaria this whole time, and I didn’t see it? Or worse, didn’t notice?”

Hank shrugs, still tapping away at his phone. “You weren’t supposed to. That’s how manipulation works.”

Derek curses under his breath, clearly rattled. But me? I’m oddly calm. Almost… detached. “I don’t even care about the grimoire or the final assessment anymore,” I mutter, mostly to myself.

Both of them look at me like I’ve lost my mind. Derek leans forward, his voice low and concerned. “What? Why?”

I take a breath, locking eyes with him. “Because right now, all I care about is ripping Sebastian out of Kyla’s grasp. The rest is just… noise.”

Derek studies my face for a moment, then nods, understanding what I mean. “Alright. So what’s the plan?”

Before I can answer, Kyla’s little crew saunters into the cafeteria like they own the place.Speak of the devil.Kyla’s there, along with Bethany, and of course, Sebastian. He’s still playing his part, looking just the right amount of distant, letting Kyla touch him without outright flinching. It’s a damn good act, but I can see how much he hates it.

But one thing’s missing—Eva’s not with them. I smirk to myself, knowing she’s probably still licking her wounds from the disaster last night.

I lean toward Derek. “You ready to do what we need to do?”

Derek looks at me, eyes dark but determined. “Yeah. No more waiting.”

I nod, my resolve hardening.No more second guessing.Tonight, Kyla’s reign ends.

Derek reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. “Let’s finish this.”

I glance over at Kyla’s table, watching her laugh too loudly, flaunting her so-called superiority. My eyes meet Sebastian’s for a brief moment, and he gives the smallest nod.

It’s time.

Derek and I get up from the table, but before we make our move, I spot Hank with his usual mound of food. Perfect.

"Hey, Hank," I say sweetly, already reaching for his tray.

He pulls it back, suspicious. “Zaria, what are you—?”

“I need to borrow this,” I say, grabbing it before he can protest. “I promise I’ll make it up to you with a sneaky bottle from my dad’s vineyard.”

He groans, but doesn’t fight me. “Fine. But it better be the good stuff.”

“You know it will be,” I wink before nodding to Derek, and we casually head toward Kyla’s table, blending in like we’re just two lovebirds with trays of mediocre cafeteria food.

As we approach, I mutter a quick clumsiness spell under my breath, flicking my fingers toward a random student walking by. The poor guy stumbles forward like a baby deer learning how to walk, barreling straight into Derek and me. It’s not exactly graceful, but it does the trick.

“Oh, whoops!” I say, feigning surprise as both Derek’s tray and Hank’s tray tip dramatically, dumping their contents all over Kyla.

Kyla lets out a high-pitched scream, jumping up from the table like she’s just been doused in acid. Spaghetti sauce and mashed potatoes cling to her once-perfect wig hair and outfit, and I can see Sebastian barely holding back a smirk.

“You idiots!” she screeches, standing, her face twisted in rage. The table of her minions—Bethany, Sam, and Miles—also stand, trying to look intimidating. But, honestly, they just look like a bunch of soggy extras in Kyla’s personal soap opera.

Before I can open my mouth, the student who bumped into us stammers out an apology. "I-I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!"

But Kyla’s not having any of it. She’s fuming, her hands shaking with rage as she wipes food off her jacket. "Oh, I’m sure it was an accident. Just likeeverythingthat happens to me when Zaria's around!"

I can feel Derek tense beside me, ready to jump in, but I raise a hand, signaling I’ve got this. "I’m sorry, Kyla. Not everyone can handle a little…spillwith the same level of grace as you do."

Her eyes practically blaze with fire as she steps toward me, her voice low and menacing. "You always seem to be in the way, don’t you, Zaria? You and your boyfriend-stealing, pathetic, wannabe witch ways."

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