Free Halfway Hexed by Kimberly Frost Page A

operative.”
    “Congratulations.” The chill in his voice made her blush, and I shifted uncomfortably.
    “For heaven’s sake, you mustn’t take this personally,” she said.
    “Since you’re here officially, I should introduce you,” he said, calmly turning toward me. He waved, and I stepped out from around the corner.
    Gwen’s perfectly arched brows rose, and her hand fell away from his face. “Well, it seems it’s my turn to be surprised. The notorious Miss Trask, I presume. She ought not to be here, Bryn. Badly done,” she said, but she held out her hand to me.
    A part of me wanted to sock her, but good manners left me no choice but to shake her perfectly manicured hand.
    “You’ve got quite a good grip,” she said.
    “If you pushed power into her palm and are surprised that she didn’t pull back or flinch, it’s because she didn’t feel it,” Bryn said. He was right. Bryn’s was the only magic I ever felt. I was tempted to tell her all about our magical synergy, but I managed to hold my tongue.
    “Didn’t feel it,” Gwen echoed. “We had heard there was an impairment. I wasn’t sure how accurate the account was.” She gave me an appraising look. “The hair’s every bit as red as reported. So unlucky, that.”
    I fumed.
    “Depends on where one’s from. Red hair isn’t considered the thing in England, but in Ireland there’s nothing luckier.”
    I heard the trace of his Irish accent when he spoke, and I guessed she did, too, because she pursed her lips into a tight white line. The corners of my mouth turned up in a small smile.
    “Well, if she’s such a lucky charm, you won’t need any advice from me.” She turned on her heel and with crisp steps and military posture walked to a silver Jaguar that was parked in the drive.
    Bryn sighed and watched her drive to the gate before he closed the door.
    I folded my arms across my chest. “She’s an ex-girlfriend?”
    He nodded.
    “And now part of the Conclave,” I said.
    “She’s only the second woman ever inducted.”
    “So she’s a powerful witch?”
    He nodded.
    “More powerful than you?”
    “No.”
    “Does she know that?”
    “Yes, why do you ask?”
    “Because didn’t you say that John Barrett’s petitioned to have your wizard class raised above four? So they can prosecute you differently for any rules you break?”
    He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling. “Christ,” he mumbled.
    “Yeah,” I said softly. “When you’ve got secrets, the only thing more dangerous than a whole mess of tequila shots is pillow talk.”

Chapter 10

    I took the locket from around my neck with trembling fingers. I’d been its guardian for months, and I didn’t want to part with it—with Edie.
    Normally, Momma and Aunt Mel shared the locket, but when Momma left to find her lost love, she’d left it with Aunt Mel. And when Aunt Mel had gone to look for Momma, she’d left the locket with me. I wondered if ghosts couldn’t pass into the faery realm. Was that why they’d had to leave Edie behind? Whatever the reason, I’d liked having her to myself. Edie had irresistible charisma. Even when she made cutting remarks or made life difficult, I’d never wanted her to stop coming to see me.
    I bent my head and kissed the locket. “Be safe, and come home soon,” I whispered. I tied the ribbons carefully, then closed my hands around it. “Edie, the ties will keep you inside the locket. The ties will keep you at home in the locket.” I let my lids drift down and repeated the incantation over and over.
    When I opened my eyes, my cupped hands were resting on my lap with the locket warm and safe within them. I felt calm. She would get to Melanie okay.
    Feeling reassured, I went to the post office and mailed her to London. When I got home, I followed the smell of coffee and found Bryn sitting at the kitchen table, drinking freshly brewed French Roast. I poured myself a cup.
    “Are you hungry?” I asked, taking out a frying pan and