Page 47 of The Most Wanted Witch

“It’s fine,” I said, putting my foot solidly on the ground. But something about him hovering over my leg… There was something there. If it weren’t for that damned pea soup.

He took a step away from me.

“Did you…”

He looked back at me, waiting. “Did I what?” He lifted his brows, having no idea what I wanted and sounding like he didn’t want to know, either.

So much for being able to have a civil conversation.

“Nothing. Forget it.”

20

The weekly meeting, the one that typically put me to sleep or had me hiding in a corner, trying to avoid eye contact, was tonight.

I was wide awake and filled with dread. There’d surely be questions directed my way, and I didn’t have a lot of answers to shoot back, which seemed to be the norm. I’d run short on answers the majority of my life. Why should these people get special treatment?

I made my way downstairs, figuring I’d get there early and find a good corner to hide in. The noise of everyone talking made it obvious I was already late. Seemed everyone else had decided to get there early.

The smell of Gillian’s cocoa wafted through the packed back room as she walked around, topping off mugs and smiling as if she were hosting this affair.

She spotted me at the door and smiled, holding up her pot of cocoa in a silent offering. I raised my hand and declined with a smile. Never thought I’d miss Belinda’s outright dislike of me. At least it had all been laid on the table. Gillian was all fluff and good graces. She might’ve hated my guts or thought of me as a sister, and I wouldn’t know either way.

Hawk was sitting on the edge of the table. He watched me as he sipped cocoa—that was, until Gillian stepped in his line of view, to top off his drink.

Bibbi waved me over, and Zab moved, making a spot in between them. Beyond them was Musso, who was typically hanging near the front of the room, and Oscar, who was always lingering in the back of the room. Bertha was in front of us.

The hand-chosen seat made me feel like I was encased in bubble wrap. Was there a problem I was unaware of? We were all on the same side, I thought. That had been my impression until I’d gotten bodyguards all around, the Xest version of bulletproof glass.

I’d sat by Bibbi because I usually sat by Bibbi. I hadn’t sat here for security reasons. This was not the look I was going for. Everyone probably knew I’d taken a beating recently, and now it looked like I was afraid of my own shadow. I glanced around, but there weren’t any other free seats to be had. It appeared that I’d ride this meeting out in my bubble.

Hawk stood, glancing my way before he walked to the board. This look I was very familiar with. It was hisguess you’re not stepping up againglare.

I looked to the board, indicating that was exactly what I was doing. There would be no debates, not even silent ones, because we still weren’t on speaking terms for the most part.

Hawk tilted his head toward the board with the lists of where everyone stood in this fight. “Any updates?”

There were a couple of murmurs but nothing else. Guess it had been a slow week for spying. Looking at the turnout this week, I’d expected a bit more.

Hawk called out a woman in the back of the room. “Charuesse, you said you were going to check in with Hendrick. You weren’t able to come up with anything?”

“I tried, but they weren’t talking,” Charuesse replied. “I’d keep them as neutral for now. Not sure how they feel, but they don’t seem to have the stomach for fighting unless they have to.”

“Any other updates?” Hawk asked, and then rattled off a few more names.

Seemed it was going to be the same story with most of them. People had either picked a side or decided not to pick at all. That was fine. If it wasn’t added to the head count of people wanting me dead, I could live with neutral, literally.

I noticed a motion in the corner and glanced over. It was one of Zab’s friends leaning against the wall, waving in my direction. His name was Ab and he’d seemed interested in maybe dating, like I had time for that in my life. I hadn’t seen him in what felt like ages.

Had he been at the meetings before? This place got so packed, and so much larger, on meeting nights that it was hard to notice everyone, especially as I tried not to notice anyone.

I gave him a nod.

“Ab,” Hawk called out.

Ab immediately looked to the front of the room.

“Do you have something you care to discuss?” Hawk asked. “Anything beneficial to bring to the table? I don’t believe you’ve contributed info at all yet, or am I wrong?”

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