Chapter Nine #3
“Aestas is the largest coven in the country that isn’t run by either a member of the Khatri extended family or a person who’s directly in their pocket. Do you think Nina and Vikrant are okay with that? Because I don’t.”
Katherine bit the inside of her cheek, working at the same spot until she tasted the tang of blood against her tongue. “So we strengthen the wards,” she said. “And we make everything prim and proper and perfect, so he gets the hell out of our hair.”
Sylvia nodded, but her teeth still worried her lower lip.
Katherine shifted in her seat. “You can’t sell spells with Silas here.” Although Katherine couldn’t name the specific subsection, she knew that taking life force from ordinaries was strictly against the rules. “It’s too dangerous. If you get caught, Noctis’ll take away your magic forever.”
“I won’t do it here. I’ll drive Lily down to Oak Grove for training tonight and sell to a few locals there.”
It was still a risk, one Katherine didn’t want Sylvia to take. “I can drive her. I’ll practice meditation on the way there and back, and then I can try with the wards. I know I’m not the best at intricate magic, but I can—”
“No, Katherine,” Sylvia said, her voice rough with exhaustion. “I don’t need anything making it worse. I will handle it.”
Katherine nodded, not letting the hurt show. Sylvia sighed, taking Katherine’s hands in hers, a silent apology.
“We’re not going to let him take our coven away,” Sylvia said. “Let’s show him how strong unsettled witches can be.”
Katherine stopped short in the doorway to the dining room as she took in the interloper joking with her friends, acting like this was his territory.
Silas Khatri did not belong here.
“Hi,” Katherine said.
“Did you know that Noctis has a spa in their coven headquarters?” Fiona said without preamble, turning her head from side to side and cracking her neck. “I could so go for a totally free magical massage right now.”
“Well, you’re welcome anytime.” Silas’ eyes actually glittered as he stared at Fiona. She flushed red.
Katherine walked over to the group, crossing her arms tightly over her chest so she wouldn’t grab Silas and pull him away from her friends. “I’m sure you must be tired,” she said.
“Wide awake, actually.” Silas grabbed a cup of red liquid off the bar and took a sip. Katherine pointedly ignored how large his hand looked on the glass. “Tess was able to make me an exact imitation of a Cranberry Red Bull.”
Silas looked back at Tess, who winked at him from behind the bar. “Happy to,” she said.
“Seriously, I have been craving that flavor since it was discontinued years ago. You’re going to have to give me that spell.”
“She doesn’t have to give you anything,” Katherine snapped.
“That’s not what I—”
“You’ll need to be getting back to your hotel soon,” Katherine said, cutting him off. “Check-in usually ends at midnight.”
Silas’ eyes crinkled with amusement. “I’ve still got time. The hotel’s only fifteen minutes away.”
“I know you struggle with directions. Wouldn’t want you to get lost and arrive late again.”
Silas took another sip of his drink, then rested the glass on the bar and slipped those too-large hands into his pockets.
“It’s very sweet that you’re so concerned with where I’ll sleep tonight, Katherine,” he said with a slow, lopsided smile, “but I assure you, that’s never something I’ve had a problem with. ”
Katherine wondered if twenty-nine was too young for a rage-induced heart attack. “Well, I suppose money can buy you anything.”
“Except decorum.”
Katherine’s jaw clenched. Silas’ face stayed open, that damn dimple on full display. She opened her mouth—to apologize or to tell him to fuck off and die, she couldn’t say—but this time, he was the one who cut her off.
“And I must apologize for my lack of it,” he said. Katherine’s eyes narrowed in surprise. “I let myself get distracted by your wonderful coworkers, and now I’ve kept you all late. I was just hoping you and I could have a quick chat, Executor to Executor.”
Katherine stared at him, unblinking. She would rather chew nails than have a “quick chat” with him. She would rather attempt a Class 5 spell with a rusty butter knife than meet with him Executor to Executor. She would rather—
“Unfortunately, Katherine and I have big plans tonight,” Fiona chimed in. Katherine shot her friend a thankful look. “It being Halloween and all. Lots of fun to be had.”
Silas raised an eyebrow, bemused. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to begrudge Katherine any fun.” Emphasis on fun, as if he knew she didn’t have it.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a crisp white business card and passing it to Katherine.
“Here’s my cell,” he said. “We’ll chat tomorrow.” He waved at the gathered crew. Katherine was pretty sure Fiona actually swooned. “It was nice meeting you all.”
The weight that had slammed down on Katherine’s chest at Silas’ arrival started to lift as he headed toward the door.
He stopped at the table in the corner where Lily sat, picking at a slice of Tess’ chocolate cake.
He cocked his head at her as she gave him a shy wave.
Katherine’s anxiety surged, but he just waved back before heading out the door.
Three deep breaths later and Katherine’s mind had cleared enough for her to make her way across the room. She sat across from Lily and picked up a spare fork, gesturing to the cake. “May I?”
Lily nodded. Katherine took a bite, the lingering stress turning the cake tasteless on her tongue.
“Sylvia will be ready to drive you down to Oak Grove in a few minutes,” Katherine said. Lily nodded, but she didn’t look up from her plate.
“You had a call with George earlier, right?” George was the head teacher at Oak Grove, a friendly older witch who made sure every one of his charges left the camp knowing how to knit a sweater that was far too warm to ever wear in Los Angeles.
Lily nodded again. “He’s nice. He’s going to take good care of you. ”
“Yeah.” The cake had been reduced to crumbs, which Lily pushed across the plate with her fork. Katherine reached over to Lily, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. Lily looked up at her. There were tears in the corners of her eyes.
“This isn’t the end, Lily. It’s just the beginning.”
Lily surged toward her, pulling Katherine into a tight hug. Katherine held her close until she was ready to let go.
Once she was freed, Katherine reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, then AirDropped her contact information to the new cell phone that Fiona had picked up for Lily that afternoon. “There,” she said. “Now you have my number. Call or text anytime, okay?”
Lily nodded and smiled as Sylvia walked out of her office. “Ready to go?”
Lily took a shaky breath as she stood, picking up the backpack of clothes and toiletries Katherine had put together and throwing it over her shoulder. She waved at Fiona and Tess, then turned back to Katherine again.
“A beginning,” she said, before following Sylvia out the door.