Page 263 of Flirting with Darkness

“Yes, Madam.” She hoped once the ninety days were over, they’d put her on retainer, but Nova was just glad to have a mission already.

“Well, good luck.” The head witch smiled, but it sent a shiver down Nova’s spine instead of reassuring her like she was sure it was supposed to. “The portal to Seattle is ready for you.”

Graduating at the top of her class had benefits, as did coming from a very long line of hunters. Nova was one of the few who received her license and her first job offer in the same day.

The Council watched them while they attended the university, eyeing the ones that did the best like the humans did with their sports. When the time came for graduation and all the hunters to take their final tests – there were already contracts written up and waiting for the favored.

Nova bowed before the head witch, keeping her eyes down so the shifters didn’t see her as a threat. None of the other witches seemed to care, but one day she knew they would – the day when they’d need her.

One day…she’d be the number one hunter.

Dismissed and ready to go, she turned and walked toward the double doors of the Council chambers, shoulders tensing as she turned her back on some of the most dangerous people in the world.

Outside was a line of hunters waiting to get their licenses. Some of them would receive job offers from the Council, some would get missions, and others would have to wait until they could prove themselves more – relegated to guard duty or patrols.

Nova strode toward her parents with a wide grin on her face, her bags already packed and waiting at their feet. Her mother grinned back and held her arms open.

She slammed into her mom and hugged her tight.

“You got a mission, didn’t you?”

“I did.” Nova kissed her cheek and then hugged her dad.

He was the quiet one, the one who’d trained her most of her life, the one who understood her better than anyone. “I’m proud of you,” he murmured, holding her close.

Despite how much he’d tried to convince her not to do this – he was still proud.

He pulled back and studied her face, gaze lingering on the scar that had nearly taken her eye when she was only five. She’d gotten lucky, but it had marked her for the rest of her life.

Not even a healer had been able to get rid of the scar.

“Your sister would be proud of you too, Novalie.” Her dad kissed her forehead, and they both dutifully ignored the sheen of tears in each other’s eyes.

“Come here, baby girl,” her mother said, holding out her arms again. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“I’m gonna miss you too, Mom.” Nova held her mother tight and then kissed both her cheeks. “I’ll text and email when I can.”

“Don’t forget this.” Her mom handed her a necklace full of charms. “I’ll send you more with your care package.”

She ducked down and let her mom place the titanium necklace over her head. The blessed silver charms tinkled against each other. From a witch, protective magic was a symbol of love Nova would never turn down.

If a witch cared enough to spend the time making magic for you, for nothing in return…you better fucking appreciate it.

“Be careful,” her mother chastised. “You’re not invincible no matter what you think.”

“I will, Mom. Don’t worry.”

Her mother stared up into her face with a worried look anyway. As always, her gaze lingered longest on the scarred eye, but not for the same reason her father’s did. Her mom tapped the scar under Nova’s purple eye – the unnatural one.

“This is because your mother is a witch,” she stated.

It was an order, not a statement – one Nova had heard since she was a small child.

“It’s because my mother is a witch,” Nova dutifully repeated – as if there was ever a possibility she’d forget.

She’d been lucky the demon hadn’t taken her eye completely, but even luckier that the small bit of magic she possessed was purple as well. It eased suspicions.

Her mother murmured a small protection prayer anyway, kissing the lid of the scarred purple eye first, then the blue one that matched her father’s.

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