Page 91 of Hexes and Exes

I never imagined Fitz praising me, but it’s been a strange night.

“Why are you even here? I thought you didn’t participate in coven events?” I frown at the old woman. While I agree with what she’s saying, I don’t appreciate the tone.

Fitz lifts one eyebrow. “I had a good feeling about tonight.”

The coven is in shambles. They didn’t finalize the ritual, thank the Crone, but it certainly revealed a small portion of the shit the council has been doing. I’m sure we’ll find out more, but tonight was enough to piss off a lot of people. As well as permanently shift the power dynamics of the town.

Morty walks into the ballroom as if he’s just joining the party. He’s wearing some kind of black feathered cape that forms a collar around his neck, like a dark bird god. Everything else on his body is leather. He’s not actually wearing a mask, but has black paint smeared across his eyes and rhinestones stuck to his temples.

“Just so everyone is aware, Lucida is in the supply closet. She was spelled and knocked out. I gave her a reviving potion and she should be up any minute now.” Morty picks up a glass of champagne and sniffs it before tossing the whole thing back.

Josephine has her arm linked with Piper as they walk in our direction. Roman is at their backs, his eyes scanning the room as if waiting for the next attack. There are only a handful of people left, so I don't know if he’s expecting a threat to burst up through the floor. At this point, anything could happen.

Fitz drags her cane through a mark on the floor. It’s one of the runes that was glowing when the coven tried to do the ritual. A snarl lifts the corner of her lip. “I can’t believe the fools tried to do this in front of the whole coven. And I can’t believe none of you idiots knew what these meant.”

“They’re ancient runes.” I frown.

“No education. The lot of you.” Fitz shakes her head.

“I suppose they thought the mass congregation of witches would boost the ritual. This time, it wouldn’t rebound onto all of them. They were wrong, but an interesting theory.” Morty picks up another glass that has lipstick smears on the rim and hands it to me, clinking his own drink against it. “Cheers to you, my love. I did mention how you weren’t using the elixir as frequently in the past month. I’m surprised you didn’t figure this out earlier.”

I set the dirty glass of champagne on a nearby table and frown at the shopkeeper. “Did you know?”

“Anyone with eyes could tell.” Fitz thumps her cane on the ground.

“Could tell what?” my brother asks as he joins the circle we formed in the middle of the ballroom.

“That these two idiots had a fated bond,” Fitz says nonchalantly, as if this isn’t one of the most incredible moments of my life. My arm is wrapped around Ava’s waist and she’s leaning into my side. It’s been a long, crazy night, but if this is the ending we get, it’s all worth it.

Roman, Piper, and Josephine all gasp and rush in. Josephine grabs Ava’s hand and stares down at the inky mark on her ring finger. I hold mine up to show my brother and he pulls me in for a hug, clapping me so hard in the back there will probably be a bruise tomorrow.

The girls are hugging each other. Ava finds me over the top of their heads, tears shining in her eyes. She mouths the wordsthis is nutsand grins at me.

39

AVA

Iwalk into the office where I’ve spent the last five years of my life working for a man who thinks I’m not worth a damn. The stink of stale farts reaches all the way to the front of the office.

“What’s that smell?” Bram’s nose crinkles as soon as we step inside.

“Sadness.” I press the cardboard box into his hands. “Will you put everything in that drawer in the box for me?”

Bram eyes the small drawer. “Just that one?”

I look over at the plant that is most definitely dead now and nod. There’s nothing left for me here. I never decorated my desk or made it my own. It was never really my space to begin with. “Just that one. I’ll be right back.”

I pause in the doorway of Barty’s office. My boss is leaning back in his chair, his golf shirt pulled tight over his belly. “I see you finally decided to show up. I haven’t read my emails in three days. I’m tempted to fire your ass. See if you can get another job after this.” A sly grin slides over Barty’s face. “Your father told me all about your curse.”

I should have known.

“About that.” I grin at my boss. “My curse is broken. And I quit.”

Barty stands up from his desk so quickly he nearly falls on his ass. The shock on his face brings a smile to mine. “You can’t quit. Who will I find to do everything you do for so little?”

I knew I was underpaid, but I didn’t have a leg to stand on. I was the perfect meek employee because I was afraid I’d never find another job. Now that I won’t be forgotten in less than two weeks, it feels like the world has opened up in front of me. My opportunities aren’t endless, but they’re a hell of a lot better than they were before.

“I don’t know, Barty. You might have to learn how to use a computer.” I turn and walk away, Barty calling after me, telling me all the reasons I owe him something. With each step, a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

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