Risky Magic: A Trash Witch Novel
Page 16
“I’m doing my best.” I shrugged and scooped up the stray creamers, depositing them back into the bowl near the salt and pepper. To be honest, the revelation that I was a warlock made a lot of things click into place. Learning what had happened to my mother had been a huge blow—I think I cried more for her at Felix’s funeral than for him—but there was some small comfort in knowing the truth.
My aunt Cecily had sobbed horribly when I’d told her, but she agreed it was better to know. And anyhow, on some level, we’d both known my mother was long dead. There was no way she would have willingly left us both behind with no contact for all these years otherwise.
Our food arrived and we were able to fill the awkward silence by eating. As promised, the eggs Benedict was delectable. The salty ham contrasted with the silky and slightly tangy hollandaise sauce and the egg yolk.
Once we were done, Jaden insisted on paying and then walked me out to his car. We lingered on the sidewalk, neither of us seeming to know what came next.
After a second, he stepped closer to me and I took a step toward him to close the distance. He reached out and lightly touched my hand, his fingers dancing in the air as if they desperately wanted to hold something else. “I find myself in such awe of you, Avery.”
My name on his lips was a beautiful song. I leaned in and kissed him, heart thumping in my chest. He kissed me back, pulling me close. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders, feeling the smooth cotton of his shirt beneath my fingers, the heat of his muscles pulsing under the fabric.
We kissed for a while until a couple of women walked by and whistled suggestively. Reluctantly, we broke apart. My lips felt rough and I wanted to press them against Jaden’s again.
“I must admit, I had an ulterior motive for wanting to see you,” he said, his voice rough and raw.
“Besides wanting to make out?” I teased.
He smiled and it was gorgeous. “That was the main reason. The ulterior motive is that I hoped to ask for your help.”
Something twisted in my gut. “Didn’t I just finish helping you?” I asked.
“You did. I meant in a more recurring sense. The council has plenty of problems we need to deal with and your flare for magic will come in handy.”
I frowned. I didn’t understand. I wished I’d just kept kissing him instead.
“I’m asking to hire you,” he explained. “Well, actually, the council would hire you. You’d be something of an enforcer, helping me and others settle council and coven matters.”
“You want to give me a job?”
His smile widened. “As I said, the council wants to give you a job. And it pays quite well. I simply want the excuse to spend time with you.”
That made me smile. “You don’t need an excuse,” I said.
“More time, then.” He pulled open the passenger door of his car, gesturing for me to get in. “Think about it. It’d be a far easier way to earn money than trying to hock your wares at the market.”
I got into his car and buckled my seat belt. A moment later, he got into the driver’s seat.
“You know what I want?” I asked.
“What?”
“I want you to take me on a real date. Tomorrow night.”
He smirked his little quirky half-smile again. “I would be more than happy to oblige.”
“And I think maybe that sounds like a great job.”
He winked at me and started the car.
Working for the council would be an adjustment but Val was right. I couldn’t change their ways from the outside. If I was working for them, even if I wasn’t on the council, I could help advocate for better, more inclusive magical laws. Plus, I’d get to work with Jaden and use my warlock magic.
And that all sounded pretty wonderful to me.
About the Author
Tori Centanni is a nerd girl and recovering goth who lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest. When she’s not writing or reading through her never-ending book pile, she spends her time watching competition reality shows and wrangling cats.
toricentanni.com
Also by Tori Centanni
The Henri Dunn Series
Being mortal is a pain in the neck
The Immortality Cure (Book 1)
Bloodless (Book 2)
Sanguinity (Book 3)
The Reluctant Werewolf Chronicles
Moon Cursed (Book 1)
Wicked Moon (Book 2)
Moon Bound (Book 3)