Witch Hearts by Liz Long Read Free Book Online Page B

got their things together to leave. Ruby realized this new information freaked everyone out; they’d come expecting to support Ruby and Cooper about Courtney's death and instead were leaving with a potential threat hanging over their heads.
    “Can I say one more thing?” she called to the group as they put their jackets on and gathered their bags. They all stopped to look at her. Ruby cleared her throat.
    “I hope…I don’t wish for anyone to be scared. We do need to be careful, though. Please lock your doors, stay with a partner, keep quiet about your talents, that sort of thing.”
    “And for the love of god, protect your Book of Shadows,” Cooper added darkly. “I can’t find Courtney's.”
    Ruby looked at him in shock; he hadn’t told her that part. Perhaps that explained his seriousness in his earlier comment about her safe space and book. He looked down at her and half-shrugged.  
    “Put protection spells on everything you own and make sure you’re immune to others’ spells. Whoever this person is, they’re powerful. Watch your surroundings and don’t be too predictable with your routines. If you feel like you’re being watched or followed, call someone that very second and get the hell away,” Ruby finished. “I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”
    Everyone nodded at her; some gave her hugs as they walked out. She received several weak smiles and “hope to see you soon” comments as everyone left. Ruby and Cooper loaded into the elevator with Lacy and a handful of other people after the first ride went down. Once they exited, they walked out of Michael’s building to their cars.
    Ruby and Cooper meandered to his bike with Lacy trailing behind them. Ruby couldn’t quite see her breath in the chilly night air yet, but fall grew colder by the minute.  
    “Thank you for coming tonight,” Lacy said to them. “I’m so terribly sorry about what’s happened. I can’t even imagine…I’m just plain sorry.”
    “Thanks,” Cooper said. “I appreciate it. Courtney loved the coven.”
    “We loved her. We hated that you both left,” she said, addressing Ruby. “We really miss you; it’s been a tough few months with everything and now it’s getting worse.”
    “What do you mean?” Ruby asked.
    “The witches being killed, for one. And I guess it’s not that big of a secret,” Lacy lowered her voice to a whisper, “but we don’t really care much for Rebecca.”
    Ruby couldn’t catch her laugh in time. “I’m sorry, really I am. I don’t mean to laugh; I agree that it doesn’t seem very well hidden. The contempt in that room for her was pretty palpable.”
    “She’s not a talented witch. Some of us are afraid she only participates because of Michael, that he only lets her stay because it’s his girlfriend. She doesn’t have any special talent and some of the comments she makes, it’s like she’s making fun of us. I’m always afraid one of our spells will backfire because she isn’t putting her all into it.”
    “That’s a damn shame. But Michael, for what it’s worth, is a great witch and coven leader. If he really thought she could damage the circle, I don’t think he’d allow it. I know my judgment was a bit off about him,” Ruby said as Cooper hid a snort, “but I don’t think he’d put the coven at risk.”
    “You always had such great focus. I wondered…” Lacy trailed off, looking at Ruby nervously. Ruby waited patiently for her question; Lacy had always been a little hesitant in her assertiveness. “Well, I wondered if maybe you’d like to get together to practice sometime? Without the coven, I mean?”
    Ruby hid her surprise. It had been months since she’d done witchcraft with anyone else other than Courtney; once she left the coven, she’d kept to herself, too full of self-pity to look for another group. Now that Courtney was gone, however, perhaps she should branch out to keep pushing herself.
    “Sure, Lace. You’ve got my number, right? Text