Page 6 of Hex Appeal

No.

No no no.

Her eyes followed the watch chain up to an impeccably tailored suit.Up past a perfectly straight tie.Up to a face she'd last seen smiling at her across a pillow while arguing about the proper age to teach shield charms.

Mal.

Except he wasn't Mal anymore.He was standing at the front of the hall, every inch the distinguished educator she'd teased him about being.His name definitely wasn't just "Mal" because Trustee Thorncraft was saying—

"And of course, welcome back Principal Starcatcher from the International Conference on Magical Safety Standards, where he successfully secured funding for enhanced protection wards."

The words faded into a buzzing white noise as Ceries's soul attempted to leave her body.Principal.Principal Starcatcher.She'd spent last night telling the principal of her new school that his educational theories were outdated.She'd kissed the principal of her new school while calling him a stuffy traditionalist.

She'd done much, much more with the principal of her new school, involving creative applications of shield charms that definitely weren't in any educational manual.

Her hair cycled rapidly through every shade of oh-no in existence, finally settling on a color that could only be described as "apocalyptic embarrassment."

Their eyes met across the hall.His perfect composure cracked for just a moment, a widening of those green eyes she'd stared into while debating protective enchantments.Then his professional mask slammed back into place, though she noticed his hand tightening on his watch chain.

His watch chain.With her charm bracelet tangled around it like a silver promise neither of them had intended to make.

"And finally," Thorncraft's voice cut through her panic like a chainsaw through butter, "I'm thrilled to introduce our innovative new Hexes and Curses instructor, Ms.Ceries Frostwind."

Somehow Ceries found herself standing as scattered applause filled the hall.She managed a weak smile before sinking back into her seat, praying for a conveniently timed sinkhole to open beneath her.Or perhaps a sudden outbreak of amnesia.Or possibly just spontaneous combustion.

It figured.The one time she let her hair down and got freaky with a sexy wizard at a bar, he had to turn out to be her boss.Not just any boss—the notoriously strict, rule-following, safety-obsessed principal who was now staring at her with an expression that suggested he was experiencing the same internal meltdown but with better hair control.

Principal Starcatcher—Mal—Principal Oh-gods-what-had-she-done Starcatcher was now addressing the students about safety protocols.His voice was exactly as she remembered from last night, that precise tone that had made her want to ruffle his perfect control.Had made her want to...

Her hair turned the exact color of last night's cherry bombs, broadcasting her thoughts to anyone with functioning eyeballs.

She forced herself to look at her notes.Her quill, sensing her distraction, had taken creative liberties.Instead of the prepared introduction she'd written, it had composed what appeared to be a love sonnet comparing someone's organizational skills to a perfectly cataloged spellbook, with increasingly suggestive metaphors about "proper shelving techniques."She crumpled the parchment before anyone could see it.

"And now," Mal—Principal Starcatcher—she had to think of him as Principal Starcatcher or she was going to get fired before she even started teaching—was saying, "let's review the updated safety protocols for practical magic classes."

Ceries tried to focus.She really did.But every time she looked at him, another memory ambushed her:

"I bet you've never cast a spell without filing it in triplicate first."

"My socks are none of your business."

"That's different.Swimming won't accidentally turn someone into a toad."

"What's wrong with a little recreational amphibian transformation between consenting adults?"

No.Professional thoughts only.She was a serious educator who absolutely had not spent last night thoroughly debating magical theory with her new boss.Among other things.Very thorough other things that she was not thinking about at all.

"Ms.Frostwind?"

She jumped, nearly hexing Diana in surprise.The assembly had apparently ended while she'd been having her crisis.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said, are you ready for the new teacher orientation?Principal Starcatcher usually conducts it personally."Diana's expression was innocent, but her eyes twinkled with something that suggested she hadn't missed the electric tension between Ceries and the principal.

Of course he did.Because the universe hadn't finished laughing at her yet.

Her charm bracelet was definitely intertwining with his watch chain now, sending up tiny silver sparkles that drew several curious looks from nearby faculty.Principal Starcatcher absently covered the display with one hand, a gesture that made her remember exactly how those hands had felt elsewhere.

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