Page 34 of The Black Witch

He languidly pushes himself up and holds his hand out to me. “I’m Lukas Grey.”

“I know,” I reply unsteadily, taking his hand. His handshake is firm and strong.

“Youknow?” he says, cocking an eyebrow.

“Fallon. When I saw her take your arm, I figured out who you were. She told me that you’re about to be fasted to her.”

“Oh,didshe now?” He’s grinning again.

“Aren’t you?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“She did corner me earlier to tell me all aboutyou,” he says, smiling.

“What did she say?”

“Well, the obvious. That you look exactly like your grandmother.” He leans in so close I can feel his breath on my ear. “I’ve seen portraits of your grandmother. You’re much more attractive than she ever was.”

I gulp, mesmerized by him.

He straightens back up as my face starts to betray my quickening pulse by coloring.

“What else did she tell you?” I ask.

“She said that you’re head over heels in love with Gareth Keeler.”

A nervous laugh comes sputtering out of me. “Oh, for goodness’ sake.”

“So it’s not true?”

“No!” I say, scrunching my face up in disbelief. “I mean...we used to takebathstogether!”

He grins wickedly.

“In awashbasin!” I splutter, making it worse.

“Lucky for him,” he says, raising his eyebrows in delight.

“No, no...it’s not at all what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking that I’m becoming more envious of Gareth Keeler by the minute.”

“We weresmall children,” I cry, desperately trying to exorcise the picture forming in his mind. “I’ve known him all my life. We grew up together. He’s like a brother to me.”

He just stands there, grinning, enjoying this way too much.

I sigh. “What else did Fallon tell you?” I ask, giving up.

“She told me that you’ve never been kissed.”

I roll my eyes at this, mortified. “I should never have told her that. I think she’s told everyone in the room.”

He fixes me with eyes full of suggestion. “Well, that’s easily remedied.”

“What?” I say stupidly.

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