Page 43 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

I turned. I’d get rid of Fiona and then I’d go have a little chat with these pests. “Don’t you have school or something?” I asked.

She looked away and gave a small shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t tell me you’re skipping school to come to my cottage.”

I didn’t particularly care if Fiona skipped school, but I did care that she was doing it to bother me. I had no desire to be marked as the reason children weren’t receiving their education. I could just imagine High Prince Cillian summoning me and telling me I was officially exiled because I was luring the Fairwitch kids away from their education.

“Hi, Vine!” Fiona perked up as Vine slithered into the room and right up to her, rubbing against her legs like a damn cat.

She started petting it, and it purred. It actually purred.

“Fiona.” I used my sternest voice. “You can’t just burst in here whenever you want. Remember I can turn you into a cactus.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t believe you. Also, why can’t I?”

I closed my eyes, not sure how to explain privacy to a six-year-old who seemed to have no concept of it. “Because this is my home. I don’t burst into your home, do I?”

She gasped. “You should. You could use more friends. Aunt Harriet and Aunt Maya are really nice. They’d probably feed you.”

Friends were not something I’d ever had. Not the human variety, anyway.

“I know!” Fiona’s brown eyes lit with excitement. “I’m going to throw you a party.”

“What?” I straightened. “No, absolutely not⁠—”

She cut me off, talking faster and faster. “We’ll have cake and tea, and I’ll invite everyone to come be your friend.”

“Don’t do that,” I said, panic seizing me.

“It’s going to be so fun!” Fiona clapped her hands.

“Are you listening to me?” I asked. “I don’t want a party⁠—”

“I’ll tell Ceri to get you a new dress, and I’ll ask Niamh to help with the invitations because I don’t exactly know how to write yet. I know some words⁠—”

“Fiona, no party.”

Vine nodded from its place by her legs, and I shot it a glare. “Do not encourage her,” I whispered.

She was already skipping toward the door. “It’s going to be so much fun. A friend party! That’s what we’ll call it.”

“That’s not a thing.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.

At least I didn’t think it was. I wasn’t exactly up to date on cultural norms.

“See you later!” she said in a singsong voice as she opened the door.

I wanted to continue arguing with the little girl as she slipped out and closed the door behind her, but right then, a blue swirl of magic appeared in my living room, dissipating to reveal another visitor.

* * *

I stared at the faery in shock. “Ambrose, what are you doing here?”

Ambrose raised a thick brow, his golden skin glowing and otherworldly as usual. “Why do you look so surprised to see me?”

“I wasn’t expecting you,” I said.

“I come the same day every month. What do you mean you weren’t expecting me?”