Page 62 of Bewitched & Bewildered
My eyes narrow. “Then this is revenge?”
“Maybe. It won’t take long.” He pulls his hands from his pockets, and… he’s holding something.
Ozan dangles a necklace in front of my face. It’s a lapis lazuli point on a silver chain. The magic radiates from it—an intense energy of focus. He sets it on the desk before me. The energy draws me in.
“What is this?” I ask.
“Payback,” he says, “for the drink you brought me.”
I press my fingers to my temples. “That was supposed to be me payingyou.”
My gift wasn’t an invitation to start another competition! I’m never going to get even with this man. Not to mention that the gift was…well, a failure. Wasn’t it?
“We agreed it was a gift,” he says. “It’s normal to return gifts.”
“You didn’t get to enjoy the potion.”
“Oh, I enjoyed it.”
My lips part, but no sound comes from them.
I force myself to break the spell, and to tear my mind from thoughts of himenjoyingthe potion… the same way I did.
“Seriously?” I stand up and fix him with a glare. “What will this crystal do?”
“I spelled it to enhance communication and concentration. I thought it could help with the shop.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“I don’t care.” He turns his back on me and makes his way to the door.
Without stopping to get the charm, I follow him out. A few customers are lingering around, but I ignore them.
“Don’t walk away from me!” I call.
“Too late,” he says. “I have a shop to run. See you later, Juni.”
Customers are staring. I don’t realize until he’s already gone.
Laurel’s gaze is on me, feeling heavier than the rest. Her eyes sparkle as she watches me from her spot at the register.
“He forgot to buy something,” I mutter.
“He is so into you,” she says.
“Be quiet.” My eyes dart to the customers.
“Oh, stop it.”
“Stopwhat?”
“I wouldn’t worry about someone overhearing us. He alreadyknowshe’s into you. Did he seriously bring you another gift?”
“It’s payback. He’s trying to torment me.”
“That was his excuse.” She crosses her arms. “What’s the deal with him, anyway?”
She would be too young to know. Maple understands our history well, but I can’t say the same about my other sisters. Aspen would get it, too, but… she’s not here.
