Page 56 of Hexes and Exes

“Are you okay?” Ava’s question is full of hesitation. Earlier today, she told me we could be something casual. Friends who also see each other naked. Like it was no big deal. I’m not actually sure I know how to do that. My friends are the same ones I’ve had since I was a kid. They’ve learned to accept my assholeishness. This friendship with Ava is unexpected. Shemakes me laugh and I care about her. I just can’t do anything more than that. Still, her question feels unexpectedly intimate. It’s both comforting and alarming.

“I just ran into my parents and fucking Anastasia.”

Ava hums in understanding.

“Why do you ask?

“Your aura’s all smokey. It seems to do that when you’re angry or upset.”

My aura. I pause. Obviously, I know Ava’s a witch, but I didn’t realize she had empath magic. How have I never asked before now? Stellan mentioned my aura earlier today. I didn’t put it together then, but it clicks for me now. She can read my emotions.

“You can see my aura?” The question snaps out, and Ava takes a step back, her hand falling from my chest.

“It’s my magic. It’s not like I’m trying to pry.”

“My children. My coven.” Lucida raises her hands in the air, her voice striking out over the clearing and interrupting Ava. Selene stands next to her behind the altar. She’s tall and spindly, while Lucida is all boobs and curves.

The crowd grows quiet, and the only sound is the rustling of dead leaves across the frozen ground. The area has been cleared of snow. Someone with elemental magic likely took care of that, but that hasn’t helped the temperature. It’s midnight with no moon in the sky, in the middle of January, which means it’s cold as hell.

“Tonight, we come together as one coven. To celebrate the beginning of another month. This is a time of renewal and rebirth. It’s also time for us to remember our responsibility to our coven. We must learn to accept one another. To form a cohesive group. Tonight, we begin the transformation for real.”

Selene takes over, pressing her hands to the top of the altar. “Maiden, Mother, we call on you to bless us and revitalize ourmagic. Fill us with power and sustain us for another cycle of the moon.”

“You guys don’t have to take off your shoes?” Ava whispers in the darkness.

“What are you talking about?” Selene is still speaking in the background, but I turn my attention to the woman bouncing on her toes beside me.

“Selene always made us take our shoes off so we could be linked to the ground or whatever.”

Someone shushes us from nearby, and I swear I feel Ava roll her eyes.

“I’m not complaining. It’s freezing out.”

The urge to wrap my arms around Ava sparks deep in my chest, surprising me. I don’t give in to the impulse. I clench my fists and keep my hands at my sides. That’s not what we are. We’re not a couple who hold hands in public. We’re just friends who are scratching an itch.

Possibly.

It’s not like we’ve scratched anything so far.

Selene is still calling on the Maiden and Mother, talking about our magic, but I’m not listening. A swell of warm power fills me, seeping up from the Earth and traveling up my legs and finally into the heart of me, where my magic resides. It glows bright, like a ball of warmth. Then the ceremony is over, and chatter begins in the crowd once more.

A good portion of the people leave immediately. I get it. It’s too cold to be fucking around outside. But others are catching up with friends or listening to the latest gossip. I’m ready to get out of here when a fucking annoying voice catches my attention.

“Do you have a second?”

My head snaps around, searching through the darkness. I can’t see his face, but I know that Ava’s ex is standing next to her.

Roman steps in front of me. “Ambrose said you ran into my mother and dad. They were saying something about Josephine?”

I’m ready to shove Roman away so I can see what the hell Jamie is doing. I can’t hear him over the chatter of so many people around us.

“Yeah. He was talking about some ritual her family did.” I crane my neck, squinting through the darkness to see the little slimeball. Is he touching her arm? I can’t fucking tell.

“They were trying to mess with her curse, but it didn’t work because her curse was already gone,” Roman’s saying, and I finally give him my attention.

“They were talking to Anastasia. You’d think if they cared about either of us, they wouldn’t give that woman the time of day.”

“It’s pretty obvious they don’t give a shit about anyone other than themselves,” Roman grunts, and then whispers a “hey” when Josephine slides up beside him.

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