Hush (Witches & Warlocks Book 2) by R. M. Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

kind of a target.
    But that’s ok.
    That’s what kids do, right? Form cliques and leave people out? But I outgrew all of that years ago. It’s a relief to be outside it all.
    The dining hall is emptying and Noah and I are still talking and laughing, but I can’t help but start to wonder about Luke. I was so sure that Daya would grant me permission to leave Windsor that I told him I’d meet him tonight. What will he think when I tell him that I can’t? Will he think I’m blowing him off? Wouldn’t that be kind of a good thing if he thought I was blowing him off? I mean, the guy used me, right?
    Right?
    Except he also, in those small ways that seem somewhat insignificant but important enough not to forget, he tried to help me, too. Maybe he knows more about who wanted me hidden and why they wanted me hidden. Maybe he knows more about dark magic and how to control it.
    Ugh.
    This shouldn’t be this hard. Noah’s so good. I really should just let myself fall in love with him, trust him to guide me in the right direction and be done with it. That’s the thing, though. I trusted Becca and look where that got me. I thought she had my best interests at heart, I thought she was my seeing-eye dog and I let her guide me through each and every aspect of my life and that turned out to be such a terrible mistake. I just don’t know if I can trust myself to someone else like that again. Not when I have so many questions.
    “You all done?” Noah leans in and smiles, arching an eyebrow as he waits for me to focus on him.
    “Ya, sorry. Got lost in my thoughts again.”
    We scoop up our trays and utensils and deposit them near the trash bins. Noah’s just chatting away as we head out of the dining hall, his hand firm on my lower back, radiating that golden warmth that is his magic greeting my magic. I try to keep up with what he’s saying, adding the appropriate mmhmm’s and uh-huh’s when he pauses, but I’m just really super distracted.
    We get to my door and Noah pauses and drops his hand. “Here we are.”
    “Yep. Here we are,” I say, distracted, wondering what Daya meant with all her veiled threats and what Lucy meant with all her … Lucy-ness.
    “You take care, Zoe.” Noah leans in and gives me a hug, his scent enveloping me, the stubble of his beard scratching the skin on my throat ever so slightly.
    “Ya. Have a good morning.”
    Wait. What?
    Noah pulls back, his brow all scrunched up and confused.
    “Damnit,” I say, trying not to laugh. “I mean, good night. Have a good night.”
    “You’re something, Zoe Tate.” Noah brushes a finger against the tip of my nose. “Absolutely something.”
    “And by something, you mean awesome, I’m sure.” I gather my hair and drag it over my shoulder.
    “Of course.”
    “Of course.”
    Noah wanders down the few steps down the hallway to his door, chuckling to himself and I let myself into my darkened room. The notification light on my phone is blinking away, a little beacon on my bedside table. My stomach is an instant roiling boiling mess of excitement and my hands tremble a little when I pick up the phone and read the text from Luke waiting for me.
    Meet me? Chapel Hill Cemetery. You say when.
    A cemetery? Is he for real? I’m almost grateful Daya denied my request to go out this evening. What’s he thinking? Trying to get me to meet him in a cemetery?
    But then, maybe he needed to pick a place that was sure to be secluded so we wouldn’t be interrupted. Maybe he has information for me. Maybe, I’m missing out on a chance to have so many of my questions answered.
    You know what? I’m here voluntarily. Or at least I think I’m here voluntarily. Daya can’t dictate when I can and cannot leave. I type out a text in reply:
    Gimme half an hour.
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    So, it looks like I’m gonna sneak out. In all my life I can count all the rules I’ve ever broken on a closed fist. I don’t even know what to make of the fact that