Page 1 of Hex Appeal

Chapter 1

Malachai Starcatcherwas celebrating his successful grant proposal the way any self-respecting magical educator should—by drowning his excitement in paperwork at The Crooked Wand.Nothing said "I just secured funding for enhanced protection wards" like sitting alone at a bar, making obsessive notes about safety protocols on cocktail napkins while his whiskey gave him judgy looks.“I’ll have you know,” he told it.“I’ve just secured another victory for proper magical protocols, much to the eye-rolling of some of the more experimental faculty members.”

"Sir," his fourth glass said disapprovingly, "even for a principal, this is sad."

He was about to argue with his drink—which probably proved its point—when a crash from the bar made him look up.A witch with hair defying the laws of physics was pulling magical theory books out of her purse like it was Mary Poppins' carpetbag on steroids.

"It's in here somewhere," she muttered, extracting half a magical library."I can prove shield charms should be taught alongside basic protection spells—aha!"She triumphantly slapped a massive tome onto the bar, nearly knocking over three drinks and one very startled wizard's toupee, which tried to escape.

"Miss," the bartender said wearily, dodging a flying copy ofAdvanced Magical Theory for Complete Idiots, "this is a pub, not a study hall."

"Exactly."She brightened."And after three cherry bomb cocktails, I can explain magical educational theory to anyone.Watch."She turned to the nearest patron—who happened to be Malachai—and pointed accusingly at his napkin notes."You look like someone who probably alphabetizes his spell books by subtitle and color-codes his lesson plans."

"I do not," Malachai said stiffly.His lesson plans were organized by topic, thank you very much.The color-coding was purely supplemental.

"Let me guess."She squinted at him."You're one of those traditional magical educators who thinks everything has to be done in proper order and probably irons his socks."

"My socks are none of your business," he said, then immediately wondered why he was defending his sock-related habits to a stranger."And there's nothing wrong with proper order."

"Of course not."She dropped onto the stool next to him."I bet you've never cast a spell without filing it in triplicate first."

"That's—" He caught himself reaching to straighten his already straight tie."That's a gross exaggeration.I only file in duplicate."

She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.The sound did something strange to his chest, like someone had cast a tickle spell directly on his heart.

"Was that a joke?"She leaned closer, eyes sparkling."From Mr.Responsible Watch Chain?Quick, someone check if Mercury is in retrograde."

"I'll have you know I can be quite funny," he said, trying to sound dignified and not at all distracted by how she smelled like midnight jasmine and trouble."I once made a joke in 1999.The semester still hasn't recovered."

She laughed again, and this time the feeling in his chest was definitely magical in nature.That, or he was having a very pleasant heart attack.

"I'm Ceries," she said, holding out a hand."And you're..."

"Mal," he offered, definitely not admitting he was a principal to someone who'd just accused him of alphabetizing his spell books.Even if she wasn't entirely wrong about that.

"Just Mal?"She raised an eyebrow."Like Madonna?Or is your last name classified information?Let me guess—you're secretly a magical spell safety inspector."

"Worse," he said solemnly."I'm a paperwork enthusiast."

"The horror."She clutched her chest dramatically, nearly knocking over his drink."Quick, let me buy you something completely irresponsible to counteract all that responsibility.Bartender, two cherry bombs, please."

"I don't think—"

"Exactly!"She beamed."Don't think.Just drink something that changes color and might explode."

The bartender delivered two violently red cocktails that were smoking slightly.Malachai eyed his with the same caution he usually reserved for freshmen practicing levitation spells.

"To breaking protocol," Ceries declared, raising her glass.Several of her bracelets chimed in agreement.

"That's not—" He started to say, but she was already clinking her glass against his.

"Bottoms up, Mr.Responsible."

The drink tasted like someone had liquefied a fireworks display and added cherries.It was completely irresponsible, possibly illegal, and definitely going to give him heartburn.

He ordered another one immediately.

"Now," Ceries said, pulling out another book that shouldn't have fit in her purse, "about those shield hexes.Traditional magical education says we should wait until students master basic wards, but that's like teaching someone to swim by making them memorize water safety regulations before letting them near a pool."

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