Page 93

“I think she’s a superficial bitch.” I shrugged. “But I didn’t attack her. And if I did, I’d at least make it look like an accident.” I winked at Colton, who wasn’t smiling. “Is she okay?”

I wasn’t sure if I entirely cared about the answer. My conscience dictated that I should, since theoretically, I’d devoted my life to protecting the human race. But if you wanted to get technical, I had dedicated my life to revenge; saving people was an unintended side effect.

“She’s in the hospital.” Colton’s eyes darted to Dante every two seconds—Dante, who had sauntered over to my side of the island to not only plop himself down on a bar stool but steal my mug and take a large swig of the remaining coffee.

I shot him a death glare.

“She’ll be scarred for life,” Colton spat out the words as if it were my fault, brackets for me around his eyes as they fixated on Dante and his intimate gesture.

“I doubt it.” I snatched back my mug, skeptical of Sarah’s injuries even though I knew absolutely nothing about them. “I bet she’s already got a plastic surgeon lined up.”

I was curious about who was mad enough at Sarah to attack her, but I didn’t need another mystery to add to the pile. Sarah was a bitch. She probably pissed off some mom at the PTA who’d been hopped up on Adderall.

Though I couldn’t rule out a supernatural influence, which I’d have to investigate eventually. When this little interaction was nothing but an unpleasant memory I’d drink away later.

Colton drained his coffee with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. I could feel how weary he was. He probably had a raging headache from the curse.

Colton was looking between Dante and me, obviously confused and hurt. It was a little too ironic that we were sitting together on one side of the island with Colton on the other. A little on-the-nose metaphor for where he’d always be, where he deserved to be—on the outside. Not entirely because I wanted him to feel isolated, but because I wanted him to be safe, to live a normal life.

“I’ve got to go to work.” He took his mug to the sink, rinsing it before putting it in the dishwasher. He was raised with manners, after all, even the morning after he was cursed.

“Have a good day, Officer.” Dante wiggled his fingers in goodbye.

Colton ignored him, though his jaw looked like it was about to shatter.

He peered at me as if he expected me to banish Dante, as if not doing so was some kind of failure on my part. I did not want Dante there, but unfortunately, we had things to talk about.

“I’ll walk you out.” I hopped off my stool, rounding Dante to join Colton as he trudged out.

He was silent until I opened the front door. “What is going on with the two of you, Haddie?”

“Hadley,” I corrected him, strangling the doorknob instead of him. “And it’s none of your business. But nothing. We’re just … unfortunate acquaintances.”

Colton’s eyes bounced between mine, as if searching for tells. “You’re lying to me.”

“About what?” I asked innocently.

“Everything.” He released a loud exhale through his nose.

I thrust both hands through my hair, ready for this conversation to be over. “No, Colton, I just learned that telling you the truth would put me in danger of being committed.”

Then I slammed the door in his face. Not entirely kind, but fuck. He was a dog with a bone.

I stomped back into the kitchen, where Dante had already helped himself to something from the fridge and was eating it.

“I didn’t take you for a chia seed pudding girl,” he commented with his mouth full.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” I scowled at him before opening the freezer to snatch an Uncrustable out of it.

He pointed to the bowl of sludge he was eating with his spoon. “Chia seed pudding. High in omega-3, great for you.”

“Yeah, if it looks like that, it has to be.” I pretended to gag. “And I didn’t stock anything in that fridge beyond the soda and the booze. Everything else was Colton’s mom.”

Dante raised a brow. “You’re letting Colton’s mom stock your fridge?”

“No one lets Sharon Hughes do anything,” I countered, ripping open the package to take a bite. “And I’ve got enough to contend with without adding her to my list of foes. She might just top a demon-blessed witch.”

“Could she be the witch?” Dante set down his spoon.