Page 34 of Trick Me
“We should go,” Ash states, his hand warm on my lower back. “Before we miss her.”
“Her?” Sera’s eyebrows rise. “Is this a threesome situation? Because I need details. All the details. Preferably with diagrams.”
“It’s not—no,” I stammer. “Definitely not that.”
“Pity,” Rich says with a perfectly straight face. “Threesomes can be very educational.”
Sera smacks his arm. “When have you ever had a threesome?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I would, actually. When? With who? Why wasn’t I invited?”
As they bicker, Ash leans down to my ear. “Spotted her. Far wall, near the windows. Let’s go see the witch.”
I follow his gaze across the ballroom to where a small crowd has gathered near the tall windows that overlook the gardens. She’s there, mostly keeping to herself. She seems to glow slightly, or maybe it’s just the way the light hits her silver hair.
“Rain check on those drinks,” Ash tells Rich, already guiding me away.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Sera calls after us.
“That’s not very limiting,” I call back.
“Exactly why it’s perfect advice!”
Ash keeps his hand on my back as we navigate through the crowd. People are definitely staring at us now. I try to channel some of that confidence, keeping my head high even though I’m very aware that this jacket barely covers everything it needs to.
“You good?” Ash asks quietly.
“Yep. Ready to do this,” I say, only half sarcastic. But my pulse skips anyway.
Because this is it. The whole reason we came back.
I want to believe this is just a conversation. That she’ll nod and agree and wave her hand and unravel the curse like it’s nothing. But deep down, I know that’s not how these things work.
She is sitting on a chair, legs crossed, a sleek black cocktail glass dangling from her fingers as she watches the crowd like she’s selecting her next meal.
My skin prickles. Every fine hair on my arms lifts like static has rolled through me. My wolf goes still. Not in fear. In warning.
Ash doesn’t react. Of course he doesn’t. He can’t feel it. Not anymore.
But I can.
I do.
That heavy, low thrum in the air. Like gravity is bending just slightly wrong.
Not party tricks. Not sleight of hand.
This is power that presses behind your eyes and whispers to your blood.
The witch looks up before we even reach her.
Her gaze snaps to mine, violet and gleaming with interest. Her lips curve slowly, like she’s been waiting for something and we’re finally it.
“Well,” she says, voice smooth and amused. “You certainly took your time.”
Ash steps forward. “We need to talk to you.”
