Such a Witch - Celia Kyle Page 0,1

delighted squeal.

“I’m serious! The gal has fashion sense out the wazoo, and clearly, the scratch to back it up. Maybe you could put in a word for me at the Judiciary. I could use a well-paying gig.”

“Most of it is thrifted, actually.” The words were out of her mouth in a flash, and she almost blushed at herself.

“You’re kidding,” Tiffany said as Aurora slid in beside her. “No way.”

Now that it was the focus of attention, Aurora had no choice but to soldier on and render her secrets. “It’s true. Careful thrifting and consignment shopping. I’ve got an eye for a bargain. Plus, I tailor things myself so it fits the way I want. It’s not that hard, really.”

“Damn.” Kelly’s jaw was slack. “Well, whatever you’re doing, keep it up!”

“I’ve always heard it said, ‘Dress for the job you want, not the job you’re getting paid for.’ So, why not?” She blew on her coffee again and took a sip. “You should hear the rest of the junior investigators complaining about having to dress business casual. If it weren’t for the dress code, they’d all be in jeans and tee shirts.”

“Maybe you should campaign for that.” Nathan had that unreadable, cryptic look on his face again. “You’d really stand out then, huh?”

“Uh huh.” Aurora turned her attention to her breakfast, doing her best to keep his snark from getting under her skin.

“I’d say you’re not only dressing for it, babe.” Kelly leaned forward from Ronun’s lap and rapped twice on the table. “You’re working for it too. In early and out late? Is anybody else even there to notice the hours you’re putting in?”

“I like to think they notice.” Her voice was quiet. With all the excitement in the house, how was it possible that Aurora now found herself the center of the conversation? It wasn’t exactly a position she was comfortable with. Thankfully, Kelly’s flighty heart was ready to move on.

“See if you can tear yourself away before midnight tonight. Would ya? Because our engagement party is going to be lit! It’ll be just what you need to loosen up a bit. Let your hair down and get your freak on.”

“Loosen up?” Nathan cracked out a dry, lethargic laugh. “This one? Not likely. She couldn’t let loose if she wanted to.” A laugh rippled over the table, and Aurora’s cheeks burned. Nathan let the chuckle drive him even further. “Shit, she’s wound so tight, springs are about to pop out of her ears.”

Now everybody laughed in earnest. As much as she hated being the center of attention, being the butt of the joke was even worse. Without meaning to, she found herself clenching her hands into tight little fists. A tiny prickle of energy shot up from the tight ball in her stomach, down her arms and lit out into the room. Nobody else felt it. They were too busy laughing at her expense.

Before she even realized it was happening, a half-decomposed mouse sprang onto the table, skittering for Nathan at full steam and leaving a wake of little tail bones with every step. It leapt on the leg of Nathan’s leather pants, darted up his bare chest and into his thick, wavy dark hair. He scrambled to his feet with a squawk, and suddenly the whole table was alight with new laughter.

Before he could brush it away, the skeletal little devil hunkered down and pooped right on top of his head. In its half-skeletal state, it was mostly dust, but still... Everyone went wild; well, everyone except Nathan and Aurora. Most times, he was chill to the point of being nearly comatose, but now the vamp was shaking with real anger.

For her part, Aurora kept her eyes fixed on the table. This was why she worked so hard to keep her emotions in check. Her necromantic powers were unpredictable, and she had a habit of unintentionally reanimating things when she was emotional. She hadn’t meant to revive the little rodent, but it had damn sure acted out her heart’s desire.

“Dammit, Aurora,” Nathan groused, doing what he could to flick the little pebbles of poop out of his hair. “You did that on purpose!”

“I’m sorry,” she said simply and sincerely. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Oh, ha-ha. Tell me another.”

“Really,” she said, standing up to face him. “I didn’t. It just...happens sometimes. I’m truly sorry.”

And she was. Mostly. Thank the goddess no one asked if she didn’t take just a little secret delight in zombie mouse vengeance, because she was a