Page 3 of Nix and Tell

“Theydefinitelywould,” I said. “Your artwork is beautiful, Hazel.”

She blushed, tucking a long strand of pink hair behind her ear. “It’s all the river.” I don’t know that I could be so modest about my talents if I were Hazel; her art is stunning. Somehow the river feels truly alive in her work.

There was a pause, and then we all looked at Chlo.

“It’s a smart idea,” she said. “I’ll think of someway for Suited to get involved.”

“Excellent!” said Finn. “Let me know what you land on, Chlo, and I’ll start working on the social media graphics. Another meeting to finalise details this time next week? Whose turn is it to host?”

“Mine, though I can’t promise anything as delicious as this,” I say, waggling my eyebrows at Finn.

“Yeah, yeah,” she says. “I’ll bring food.”

After the lastcrumbs of baked deliciousness have been polished off, we all head out.

It’s a Friday evening and as much as I love my new home, Wyrten Bridge isn’t exactly buzzing with choices for an evening’s entertainment. But The Arun Arms does some really good food, and has a surprisingly good variety of drinks for a village pub. Besides, I figure that there’s no time like the present for persuading Kit to join our plans.

Chlo follows me as I head up and over the bridge, her eyes flickering to the stained-glass windows of the church and back as we pass it.

“I think Finn’s right, Kit’ll come around if we can persuade Marla.”

“Finn doesn’t know how much Kit hates magic.”

That makes me stop. “What?”

“Kit hates magic, and I can pretty much guarantee that if it’s got anything to do with a feast day or a ritual, she’ll be having none of it.”

“That’s foolish,” I argue, fighting to keep my tone light. “She does things for Christmas, and that’s just Yule dressed up in Christian clothing.”

Chlo doesn’t say anything else, but I’m uneasy now. I’ve liked going to the pub on occasion, and the idea that Kit hates magic has thrown me off-kilter. Spellbound is my home, and it felt like all the locals had embraced my weird pagan shop with gusto. Now I’m second guessing myself, wondering whether I should really be here at all. Whether I’m going to–

“Shit.” Chlo’s voice is far closer than I’d expected, lost in my own thoughts and I jump backwards and almost trip over. She reaches out and catches me before I can fall, pulling me upright.

If she’d tugged me just an inch closer, I’d be up against her right now.

Damn her spatial awareness.

“I didn’t mean to make you jump.”

“That’s okay–”

“And I definitely didn’t mean to make you nervous about Kit.” She looks down, and her fingers fiddle with her tie. “Kit’s not an arsehole, and she definitely doesn’t have a problem with Spellbound, it’s just that she’s been burnt by… well by some dodgy shit in the past, and it makes her wary of anything magic-adjacent.”

I blink.

“So you really shouldn’t worry, I promise.” She looks up from her tie then, and her eyes are a dark green, so dark they could almost be black.

I force my face into a smile, but she’s having none of it. Her thumb goes beneath my chin, and she makes me keep looking up, at her.

“It’s fine, Violet. Seriously.”

I nod and she steps back, and it feels like she’s taken all the oxygen in the evening air with her. Fingers dance by my sides and I don’t quite know what to do now, torn between wanting to go to the pub, and wanting to go home and hide under my covers forever.

A sudden sigh, and she’s taking my hand and marching us both towards the pub.

I guess we’re going to the pub after all.

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