Hail to the Queen (Witch For Hire 2)

“Don’t try to pull that misdirection bull crap on us,” Sacha scoffs.

“Guys, I enjoy spending time with him. He’s funny, polite, and incredibly knowledgeable. It’s not a hardship to be around him. It doesn’t mean we’re making a love connection. This isn’t reality television.”

“Uh huh,” I say.

Fel shoves me playfully. “I’m only doing this because of you,” she grumbles.

“Yeah, I said befriend him, not bewitch him I Dream of Jeannie.”

She flips me off, and I laugh.

“What am I missing?” Sacha asks.

“We’re trying to get an inside view of the Purge period.”

“Jesus, why would you want to bring that up? It’s like asking a Vet about ’Nam?” Sachs frowns.

I give her a cliff note version of the past few weeks. “I’ve been having dreams and visits from ancestors pushing me toward learning about the past.”

“Wow. What do you think they want you to do?” Sacha says.

“No way of knowing until I can get the full picture. It could be exactly what we’re doing, bringing our two groups closer together. That period was a time of huge strides forward when it comes to relationship building between all of us.”

“You know I’m here whatever you need,” Sacha says.

“I do, and I can’t begin to tell

you how much I appreciate that.” I move across the couch in the office to give her a side hug. A year ago, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel this closeness with her again. My mass exodus from Cypress nearly bankrupted our friendship. It wasn’t the leaving. It was the way I failed to share my plans before I uprooted my entire life. Looking back, I can understand her point of view, but hindsight is always twenty-twenty.

“We need a plan.” Fel grabs a notebook and pen. “I know we want to research, but where do we even start?”

“All we have to go on is the sigil itself. When I showed it to Cristobal, he suggested a Middle East B.C. It’s still broad, but it’s better than nothing. He’s looking for someone who might be able to help us, but it could take a while. There’s no telling where they might be, or what they’ll ask for in return for a favor. Everything is done with self-interest with them.” I roll my eyes.

“You’re telling me if vampires had a house it’d be Slytherin,” Fel says, lightening the mood.

“Hey! That’s my house, too,” I protest.

Sacha grins. “It explains so much, doesn’t it? Houses tend to stick together.”

“And suddenly it’s pick on Lou time?”

“No, we’re just comparing notes, in front of you,” Sacha says playfully.

“Oh, well that’s so much better than being made fun of, thank you.”

“You know we’re your real friends because we care enough to say it to your face instead of behind your back,” Fel deadpans.

“Evil witches.” I snicker.

“Speaking of. What’s up with you and Hal?” Fel asks.

“I don’t want to give up on her because she chooses an alternate route.”

“Eventually you’re going to have to. You know what happens to witches who let the darkness in,” Sacha declares. Things are still black and white with her when it comes to the intention of magic.

“Actually, I don’t. I’ve seen the extreme side of it. Who knows what stages there are in-between.”

“A snake can’t help what it is, Louella,” Fel whispers.