Page 80 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

“Stop that!”

“Getting hungry?” I asked.

He eyed it for a moment, then let out a strangled groan. “Ugh, fine.”

That was far easier than I’d anticipated. Fiona and I shot each other smiles while Vine just shook its head and slumped to the bed.

Morton slithered forward, jaw hinging open as he approached the book. He tore into it, chomping and crunching loudly, his little body getting bigger and bigger, just like Vine’s did when it ate its prey.

“Whoa,” Fiona said. “Cool.”

Bits of paper and cardboard flew into the air, Morton inhaling every bit.

He finished, letting out a loud belch. We were all silent, waiting and watching to see what happened next. The bulge in his stomach traveled back up and came flying out, all the pieces floating and whirling in the air and putting themselves back together until it was like the book was brand new.

“That was so gross.” Fiona squealed, delighted by that fact.

“So?” I asked. “What happens?”

Morton sighed.

“I know you want to tell me.”

“Where did you leave off?” he asked, voice resigned.

I tapped my chin, trying to remember what had happened up to this point in the story. “Well, Merry—what a ridiculous name, by the way—arrived in this small village after being on the run because she secretly had magic. She gets to this village and accidentally ruins a huge feast by knocking over the cake. Everyone is upset with her, but one kind innkeeper takes her in because he needs a new scullery maid.”

Vine perked up as I was describing the events of the story. Of course it would like this book.

The story made no sense. If an innkeeper needed a trustworthy scullery maid, he wouldn’t hire some random woman with a mysterious past and let her live in his home. “She started work as a scullery maid, paranoid that her secret would be found out by these people.”

Vine leaned its head forward, listening intently.

“That’s when she discovered there was some threat against the village, and she realized she could secretly use her magic to save them. So she started putting up wards around the town limits. The only problem was she had to do this every single night, and the innkeeper got suspicious. He followed her, and then they had this whole bonding moment, and then he had her pressed up against a tree, and they⁠—”

I stopped abruptly and looked down at Fiona, who was staring at me with wide eyes.

“And they what?” she whispered.

Vine covered her ears, but she tugged it down.

“And they gave each other adult hugs,” I said.

“What’s an adult hug?” Fiona asked.

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Anyway, after that, Merry decided that if she could befriend the innkeeper, maybe others would accept her too. She started putting herself out there and making friends. But one night she was spending time with the innkeeper and forgot to put up the wards. The town was attacked, and that’s where I left off.”

Vine poked me in the arm, and I swatted it away. “Not now.” I met Morton’s gaze. “So what happens next?”

Morton sighed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m going to be an accomplice to your crimes.”

“Oh, please. It’s just a book. I’m not asking you to help me murder someone and get rid of the body.”

Morton’s black eyes shifted toward Fiona, but she just smiled. “Oh, I know all about murder,” she chirped.

I whipped my head in her direction. “What? You’re six years old.”

She scowled. “I’m seven.”