Page 3 of Destiny of the Witch

‘What they do with the cloaks is none of my business. If we didn’t sell them, another seer would.’

Things had started rocky, gotten smoother and now were back to rocky again. I was glaring at her with all my might, but before I could say something truly bitchy Liyana spoke again. ‘If that is all, I have another appointment waiting.’

Apparently she didn’t want to leave her next appointment cooling their heels. Not that I was bitter.

‘And Amber?’ she added.

‘Yes?’

‘I apologise if our working relationship has started on the wrong foot. Melva meant a great deal to me.’

I nodded and stood up. At the door I paused. ‘I cared about her, too.’

I wasn’t even surprised when the words felt true.

Chapter 2

Nell had recovered her aplomb. ‘It is incredibly rude to kick in a door. I know you won’t understand that because clearly you have no manners. Quite honestly, as the Crone, you are setting incredibly low standards, and yet—’ she said primly ‘—somehow you’re still failing to achieve them.’

That zing made me smile a little. ‘Whereas you have delusions of adequacy,’ I shot back.

She snorted. ‘Bastion follows you everywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity.’

I grinned at Bastion. ‘Is that it?’

‘No,’ he responded smoothly. ‘It’s the hypnotic swish of your skirts.’

I laughed aloud.

Benji frowned at Nell. ‘You are being very rude to the Crone.’

‘It’s okay, Benji,’Bastion said. ‘They are rude to each other because they like each other.’

Benji looked at us both aghast. ‘What?’

‘Nell and Amber are both uncomfortable showing affection,’ Bastion explained. ‘So they do it by exchanging thinly veiled insults that they both enjoy.’

Benji sighed. ‘I fear I will never understand the human condition.’

‘That’s okay,’ Bastion reassured him. ‘Neither do they.’

Nell sniggered. I gave her a finger wave and a smile as we ducked out of the building to where Oscar was waiting.

We slid into the car. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.

‘We have a winner!’ I said triumphantly.

‘It took a while.’

‘Liyana was playing silly buggers.’

‘I hope you put her in her place.’

‘Bastion kicked the door down.’ Benji was almost bouncing on his seat. ‘It was brilliant. I can’t wait to kick a door down.’

‘You’ve pulled a ceiling down,’ I pointed out. ‘That’s even better.’

‘It wasn’t as dramatic, though. They do lots of door kicking in the movies. One day I’d like to do it, too.’

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