Page 2 of Witchful Thinking

The moment the door closed, Diana rounded on Alarick."This is your doing, isn't it?"

"My doing?"He placed a hand over his heart in mock innocence."I just bid on a contract.The school accepted."

"After you spent two months installing those ridiculous cabinets that sing 'A Spoonful of Magic' every time I open them and then disappeared without a word."She hadn't meant to let that slip.It sounded too much like she'd noticed his absence, which she absolutely hadn't.Much.

"I was offered a job at Frog’s Hollow High," he said, expression softening."And you made it pretty clear my 'magical improvements' weren't welcome."

"You installed those enchanted cabinets that diagnose patients by announcing their symptoms to the entire room!"Diana couldn't keep the indignation from her voice.

She recalled the disastrous demonstration day when Alarick had proudly unveiled his enchanted cabinets.Headmistress Raven and the entire board had been present when the cabinet cheerfully announced Brin d’Amour’s embarrassing mermaid scale condition to everyone.The poor girl had transferred schools the following week, and Diana had spent months rebuilding trust with her teenage patients.No wonder she was wary of Alarick's "improvements," no matter how attractive he might be.

"It cut response time by thirty percent in my simulations," he pointed out, eyes lighting with enthusiasm."That could be the difference between—"

"Fine.We're stuck with each other."Diana took a deep breath."But I have conditions."

"I'm listening."He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, which was completely unfair to her concentration.

"One, patient care comes first.If I need to treat someone, your work stops immediately."

Alarick nodded."Reasonable."

"Two, nothing gets moved without my approval.Some of these healing arrangements took years to calibrate."

"That's why we're setting up the temporary station first," he said, already one step ahead as usual.

"And three," Diana continued, determined to maintain some control, "you follow my lead on anything related to healing magic.I don't care how innovative your warding techniques are."

"Agreed, as long as you follow my lead on structural elements."He held out his hand."Partners?"

Diana hesitated before shaking it briefly.His palm was warm and callused, sending an unwelcome tingle up her arm that she immediately filed under 'static electricity' and 'things we're never thinking about again.'"Professional colleagues," she corrected.

"Of course."His expression contained something that looked almost like...No.Ridiculous.He was ten years her junior and incapable of looking at anyone with genuine admiration.

Before she could respond, the infirmary door burst open and three giggling teenage girls tumbled in, all wearing distinctive blue robes.

"Nurse Maelstrom," The tallest one clutched her perfectly intact finger."I got a splinter.A terrible, painful splinter."

Diana examined the finger, which showed all the trauma of a gentle breeze."Really, Miss Abernathy?"

"It's very deep," the girl insisted, eyes fixed on Alarick like he was the last sweet treat at the magical bakery."I might need extensive treatment.Possibly surgery.Are you the new medical assistant?"

"Construction contractor," he told them, eyes twinkling with amusement."Alarick Blackthorn."

"I'm Malta," the shortest girl said, twirling her hair with the subtlety of a foghorn."That's Agatha and Polly.We're in the advanced shield and sword group."

"Ladies," Diana interrupted firmly, "unless you're actually injured, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Oh, we don't mind waiting," Malta said, perching on an examination table."We could even help with the planning.I'm very good at...planning things."

"I bet you are," Diana muttered.

"What was that, Nurse Maelstrom?"

"I said out.Now.All of you."Diana pointed to the door with her imperious finger usually reserved for faculty members who thought headache potions cured hangovers.

The girls reluctantly shuffled out, promising to return at the first sign of any imaginary injury.

"I should stock up on phantom splinter spells and nonexistent allergy anti-hexes," Diana sighed.

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