Page 20 of With This Witch
Francesca lets loose a shrill laugh, the sound piercing his ear drums. She reaches over, placing her hand on Lachlan’s bicep. “Wow. You must be so strong,” she says stepping close enough that he can see her mascara goop at the corner of her eyes. “It’s merely a letter of character.”
“A letter of character?”
“Yes, for Sloan. I was asked to pass it on to you, with you being a council member and all. We know the Premier Witch space is in consideration, and we hope we can count on your support.”
Lachlan stands silent for a moment. He stares at Francesca’s hand, which still rests on his bicep. She laughs sheepishly and removes her hand, but not before giving his arm a playful squeeze. The audacity of this witch to touch him so openly and to try to bribe him on behalf of the Wilkses. He looks across the room and spots Petra in conversation with the owners of Taster’s Delight. Francesca is not the witch he wants touching him. Bringing his attention back to her, he looks down at the paper in his hand and moves to hand it back to her, but Francesca raises her hands. “No, no. Please, keep it.”
Placing the book back on the shelf, Lachlan pulls himself up to his full height, allowing his eyes to flare gold and his shadows to circle their feet as his demon rises. “I want to be very clear here, Miss Wardwell. I appreciate the Wilkses’ hospitality, but I will not be bribed and will not base my decision on character references from a candidate’s friend. I thank you for the drink, but I think it’s time I speak to some of the others here tonight.”
Francesca squeaks and jumps away from him, noticing the shadows beginning to wrap around her legs. His eyes follow her as she finds Sloan.
Drink in hand, he mingles around the room, chatting to various business owners he has helped get started and whom he has personally advocated for at council. As he chats with the owners of Taster’s Delight, his eyes find Petra again. Sloan and Francesca are with her and the look on her face nearly breaks him apart. He excuses himself from the conversation and goes to her.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Petra
Petra winds her way through the various community members present tonight, shaking hands with some and awkwardly waving at others as she moves to the bar. She’s never been one for the schmoozing. It’s always felt so fake, and after years of seeing Gammy having to place a fake smile on her face at these events as she promised one thing or the other while Petra sat by hoping for a shred of that attention, doing this herself now feels dirty. Like she’s compromising a part of herself.
She makes a quick lap of the room saying hello to the other council members – narrowly avoiding Grog – and conversing with some of the business owners she knows. She’s only been here a short while, and already her chest feels tight. Beads of sweat begin to form on her brow as she realizes the number of eyes that have found and tracked her movements through the room. Of course, two sets of those eyes belong to Sloan and her minion Francesca. Petra noted Francesca chatting to Lachlan and the contact and closeness between them. Francesca looks completely enamored, using every opportunity to caress him in the same way Petra has imagined doing.
She orders a glass of champagne and a whiskey neat, intending to bring the latter to Lachlan. She was so glad she was here with him tonight, within his realm of protection. Before she can step away from the bar with their drinks, she is greeted by Francesca’s high-pitched, nails-on-chalkboard voice. “Well, look what the broomstick dragged in.”
“Good evening, Francesca. Hello again, Sloan,” Petra says, attempting pleasantry. “This looks like a lovely gathering you and your family have put on. I am honored to be included.”
Sloan smirks, picking up a glass of champagne from the bartender. “The pleasure is all ours.”
“It’s also an easy way to scope out the competition,” Francesca says, gazing at her manicure, already bored with the conversation.
“Now, Franny. Play nice,” Sloan admonishes.
“What? It’s true. Little Miss Thing here might as well know what she’s in for.”
Petra, choosing to channel poise, ignores the bait fromFranny. “The invite is still appreciated. It is so nice to see a part of Leeside history.” As the second-oldest family in Leeside, next only to the Roses, the Wilkses are well-known throughout the community, and their estate has been a major landmark in Leeside for well over a century.
Francesca, choosing to ignore Petra now, turns to Sloan, loudly sharing for everyone around them to hear, “It’s not like she really has a chance anyway. Everyone knows they just included her in the running so that they didn’t piss off her grandmother.”
The jab is like a spark to her insides, twisting and burning her stomach, hitting at her insecurities. Francesca turns back to Petra, popping a candy in her mouth nonchalantly. “Oh, sorry! Was that out loud?”
Petra’s eyes start to well.No! Not here.Forcing the tears back causes her fingertips to spark, the hurt manifesting as anger instead. As much as setting Francesca’s dress on fire sounds like a good idea, she fights the urge to let a spark slip from her fingers. She looks across the room, spotting Lachlan talking to some man who looks like the stereotype of a university professor.
“I’ve heard about the, uh”—Sloan pauses, searching for the right word—“challengethe council put upon you. Do you think you will satisfy the requirements?”
“I will do my level best to prove my worth,” Petra responds, her voice tight.
Sloan snorts, slowly rotating the champagne flute in her hand. “But that doesn’t mean youcan. I mean, you haven’t had a serious partner for how long? According to the coven gossip channels, your last relationship—I mean, if you want to call three dates a relationship—was months ago and ended when Caleb ghosted you. It seems like finding someone you like enough and getting married in the next few weeks is insurmountable. I’d bow out now if I were you.” Behind her, Francesca bounces almost giddily as she puts her hand out and mimics dropping a microphone.
“And I would find some better company to keep if I were you,” Petra snaps back. The response takes them both by surprise.Damn it.Sloan’s knowing smile shows that she knows she got under Petra’s skin.
Hearing heavy footsteps approaching, Sloan turns, noticing someone coming up behind them. “Looks like someone else wants to speak with you,” she says, grabbing Francesca’s hand and steering her away.
“Good evening, Councilor Grog. What a pleasure to see you,” Petra says, failing to hide the hint of annoyance in her tone. She feels Lachlan’s hand settle on her back reassuringly as he slides in beside her.
“It is so very nice to see you too, Miss Rose. And you, Councilor Grace,” he says in a saccharine tone. “Checking out the competition, are we? How is that search for a marriage prospect coming anyway?”
Petra does her best to maintain her composure and plasters on the fakest of fake smiles. She straightens her posture, summoning confidence and power, before saying, “I thank you for your concern, Councilor. I assure you I am taking this whole archaic agreement seriously and will do what I can to ensure that the honor of Premier Witch is passed on to the most deserving candidate.” She feels a flare of anger again as her magic responds to her emotions. She pushes it down, keeping the spark at bay for now.
Councilor Grog narrows his eyes at Petra. “Archaic? Is that really what you think about our time-honored traditions?”
