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“You do?” Amalia asked. Her voice sounded too high pitched, too breathless.
Vee tucked the ringlet behind Amalia’s ear. Her fingers stayed on Amalia’s skin longer than necessary.
“Yeah, I do,” she said, moving forward a little more. Their noses were almost touching, and Amalia was too scared to breathe, too scared to move, in case it made Vee back away.
“I think it makes you look cute,” Vee said. Then she tilted her head to the side, leaned forward, and kissed her.
Amalia froze, eyes open. Vee was kissing her. Those were Vee’s lips pressed against hers. She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe it was actually happening. She had hoped, had dreamed, but…
The kiss was over almost as soon as it started, and Vee moved back, smiling.
“Goddess,” Vee laughed, seeing her face. “You are blushing so hard!”
“I…” Amalia brought her hand to her cheek, feeling how warm she was. “I’ve never… I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
“Seriously?” Vee asked, looking shocked.
Amalia nodded.
“Well.” Vee lowered her head and looked up at Amalia through her lashes, grinning. “Did you like it?”
“Oh yes,” Amalia squeaked, and Vee smiled.
“Would you like to do it again?”
Her voice was so inviting.Yes, Amalia thought—she did want to do it again. And again and again and again. Vee leaned closer, and this time Amalia let her eyes flutter closed, let herself lean forward, let herself?—
Someone at the door cleared their throat loudly.
Amalia jerked back immediately, mortified. But Vee didn’t move, not for several seconds. Then, when she shifted away, she did so slowly, leaning back from her as though unwilling to be startled away.
Linh was in the doorway, frowning at the two of them. She glowered as she took in the scene, the two of them seated close enough to be touching on Amalia’s bed, both flushed.
Amalia scrambled to her feet, barely able to contain her excitement. “Linh!” she squealed excitedly. “You’re here!”
But Linh wasn’t looking at her. Linh was looking past her at Vee. And she was scowling.
“Oh!” Amalia said. Goddess save her. She’d spent barely any time with Vee, and she’d already forgotten all her manners. “I’m sorry, please pardon me—Vivian, this is the High Priestess of the Air Coven, Linh. And Linh, this is my friend, Vivian.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Vee said, but the way she said it madeAmalia frown. Her voice didn’t sound like it was a pleasure. It sounded… venomous. Angry.
“I’m sure,” Linh sniffed. Her attitude, at least, was not unexpected. Though Amalia had enjoyed her visits and company after her mother’s death, she didn’t have any misconceptions about how… difficult Linh could be. She was a sour woman, with a sour disposition.
“I thought Leandra was going to find you some appropriate friends your own age,” Linh said to Amalia, ignoring Vee entirely. “SomeWitchfriends.”
A growl rose from Vee’s throat, and Amalia felt a rush of anger on her friend's behalf.
“Vivian is my age,” Amalia heard herself say to Linh, in a voice she barely recognized as her own. “And I think she is a very appropriate friend.”
Linh inclined her head, her eyes betraying just what she thought of howappropriatetheir friendship was. “As you wish, Your Grace. Is she responsible for this… new look of yours?” She said with an undeniable sneer, gesturing down at Amalia’s new clothes. Vee’s hands clenched at her side as Amalia looked down at her pants and sweater.
There was nothing wrong with the clothes she was wearing. Nothing at all.
But the way she’d said it made Amalia feel a little sick. During Linh’s absence, she’d found herself wishing every day that she could come and visit. And now that she finally had… Amalia didn’t want her here. She found herself wishing she would leave.
“I think you are being very rude, Linh. I think you should apologize to my friend,” Amalia said, surprised at the steel in her own voice. “And I think you should leave.”
A look of disgust passed over Linh’s face, but still, she mumbled something that sounded like an apology. And she left, casting a suspicious look at Vee as she did.
