Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

FRANKIE

"Shit. I like the purple too."

Esther giggled. "Come out, let me see."

I opened the fitting room door and spotted Esther standing in front of the trifold mirrors at the end of the bank of fitting rooms. She stood barefoot on the raised dais, and when she spotted me, she spun around to face me and struck a pose, then her gray eyes widened with excitement and her jaw dropped. "Frankie."

"Let's forget me for a second." I gestured to her dress. "Oh my God. Esther, that dress is incredible on you."

She wore a cocktail dress with a high neck, long sleeves, and a cut tight to her body. But the entire thing was made entirely of embroidered flowers. The bottom layer was a nude-colored mesh but there were so many flowers attached that the mesh wasn't visible. The flowers were a combination of colors that were giving wildflower vibes. They looked gorgeous with her wild mane of black curls.

"Yeah?" She twirled in front of the trifold mirrors. "I think this might be the one."

"Absolutely."

She cheered and clapped her hands while doing a little penguin happy dance. "Okay, now we just need to narrow one down for you."

I grimaced and stepped up to the mirrors as she jumped down. This was my tenth dress I'd tried on, and so far only the third one I liked. It was a soft lilac material that hugged my body like a glove all the way down past my knees except for the slit on the left. Little white and pink flowers were printed all over the material with white lace running along the neckline and hem. The dress was basically strapless except for the thin ribbon-like straps that tied on each shoulder. It was hands down the sexiest thing I'd ever worn.

"This one is just so . . ."

"Hot." She stood behind me and wagged her eyebrows. Then she licked the tip of her finger and touched the air while making a sizzle sound. "As in hawt. "

"Yeah, that's the problem. Who am I wearing this for?" I shrugged, then to demonstrate my point, I stuck my leg out to showcase the slit that went almost all the way to my hip. "I'm not interested in any guy I've seen at school. This dress is asking for unwanted attention."

"It's not unwanted with Everest."

I rolled my eyes. "He doesn't go to our school."

"You can bring a date that's high school aged. It's allowed."

"I'm too young for him, Esther."

She scowled. "You're eighteen."

"Yes, but I'm only a sophomore in high school. It's weird for a full-grown adult to be talking to a high school student."

She shook her head. "He's eighteen. I thought you heard that whole conversation with him Friday night."

My eyes widened. "WHAT?"

Esther giggled. "I knew you liked him!"

"Wait, wait." I shook my head and held my hands up. "Is he really only eighteen? How did I miss that?"

"Yep. He graduated in December, which means you're the same age. Which means, if you hadn't been held back from starting school on time, you two would've been in the same grade."

My jaw dropped.

Esther grinned. " Which means he's literally your age and not a full-grown adult and actually the most appropriately aged person for you to date. Because you dating Tomás might've actually been illegal."

I gasped and smacked her arm.

"I think you should ask Everest to be your date to the dance."

I bit my bottom lip as butterflies danced in my stomach. All three mirrors showed just how pink my face turned as I blushed. "If I had known that, I might've been a little more bold last night at the restaurant. Dammit. I haven't seen him since, and trust me, I've been looking."

"Didn't he give you his phone number so you could text him if you had any problems?"

I arched one eyebrow at her. "My infatuation is not a problem for him to solve."

"Isn't it though?" She shimmied and stuck her tongue out. "Don't make that face. Just text him and ask."

"That's abusing the trust with my healer."

She sighed and threw her hands up. "Fine. I guess you just have to go the infirmary and ask him."

"You can't just walk into the infirmary without needing medical attention." I scrubbed my face with my hands. "I'd need a legit reason to go in there. I haven't had a new vision since everything he gave me, and he basically scolded me last night for even joking that I'd let myself get injured just to see him."

"So I'll give you a fake rash that he can fix," she whispered in my ear.

I gasped and dropped my hands. She was right behind me, but I looked at her through the mirror. "That would work . . ."

"Yes, it would." She chuckled and jumped back. "Okay, get your clothes on. Let's head there."

"I didn't pick a dress yet." I pointed to my dressing room where a white dress, a red dress, and a pink dress hung on hangers. "I need to narrow it down."

"You need to find out if you're gonna have a date with a certain gorgeous healer." She walked into her dressing room and closed the door. "We have pics of each. Once we know if he's going, we'll be able to pick the dress for you."

"Right. Okay." I hurried into the fitting room and slipped out of the lilac dress. "I can't believe I'm going to do this."

Esther was giggling from her dressing room. Then I heard the door open and close. "All right, hand me all four dresses. I'm gonna ask the lady to hold all of these for us. Then we can swing back by once we get your answer."

I grabbed all four hangers, cracked the door open, then stuck them out for her. By the time I got my jean shorts and tank top back on and started to walk out, Esther rushed inside the room with me. She had a wild, mischievous look in her eyes as she locked the door and then pulled her wand out. My eyes widened.

She held one finger up over her lips to tell me to be quiet. I barely had time to blink before she did a swish and flick with her wand. Gold and navy-blue glitter slammed into my face. I coughed and swatted my hands through it. Every inch of my exposed skin tingled and turned warm.

"Yeah, that'll do it."

I coughed a few more times, then looked up into the mirror and gagged. My entire body was covered in a rash. My skin was red and blotchy like I lived in a house made of poison ivy. A whimper left my lips. " Esther. My FACE? "

"Yeah?"

I held my arms out to inspect her work, then bent over to see the rash even reached to my toes. I stood upright and spun to face her. " My whole body? What the hell? Why?"

She shrugged with a glint in her gray eyes. "So he has to touch you . . . all of you."

I opened my mouth, then shut it. Heat radiated out of my face.

"You're welcome." She winked and shoved her wand back into her purse. "Now, let's hurry to the car because while you and I can see this, my spell has a two-minute buffer before it'll be visible to the human eye?—"

" Esther! " I hissed and grabbed my crossbody, then sprinted out of the fitting room and out the store doors. Esther's car was parked on the curb right out front, so I was at the passenger door and yanking on the handle in seconds. " Come on!"

Esther strolled out of the store laughing. She clicked the button on her key fob so I could climb in. When she finally slid inside the driver's seat and locked the car, she looked up to me and grinned. "Just kidding. Humans will never be able to see what I just did."

I gasped. "ESTHER."

She cackled and turned the car on. "I was afraid you'd chicken out once you saw my handiwork. I'm the ultimate wingman, Franks."

"I hate you." I exhaled and pressed my hands to my chest. My pulse pounded against my ribs. "The panic attack you just gave me. I look diseased, like someone needs to alert the CDC."

"Thank you!" We were already driving to the infirmary, so she didn't look at me, but she did a happy dance and grinned. "Having full strength magic is unreal , Frankie. I finally get it."

I frowned. "Get what?"

"Why everyone is so obsessed with the founding families. My mom and I are the only ones from one of those lines I'd ever met who weren't also in The Coven, so I just never realized the difference between us and other civilians. And then I meet you, a civilian Proctor with this insane aura and magic that is not normal. I was really alarmed by that before, but I get it now."

I sat up straight and looked to her. "What do you mean my magic is not normal? What do you mean you were really alarmed?"

"Well, I wasn't gonna tell you I was alarmed by it. You were too new to this world. It would've been cruel to tell you without having any new information." She flicked on her left turn signal and checked her mirrors. Her energy was pulsing with electricity. "I mean, now that I feel the full strength of my actual magic, I'm not so alarmed by yours. Because you're a Proctor, and that's so much more important than me being an Irit. Edward Proctor fought Lilith herself with Archangel Michael's sword in the war, so your line is far from normal."

"There's that word again, Esther." I shook my head. "Why is my magic not normal?"

She looked at me, then did a double take. Then she frowned. "Really? Frankie, have you not noticed no one else has magic that comes out of their hands?"

I just stared at her profile.

"Civilian witches don't have neon-blue flames that pop out of their hands. Witches only have magic when it comes from a wand or an amulet, or a chalice if they're Cups, or if they perform spells a higher-powered witch created?—"

"What are you saying, Esther? Why can I?"

She shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea. Now, I may not have known Tennessee was a Proctor when he lived here because he didn't know—that's a whole story for another day—but the only Proctor I knew of that was still alive was Kenneth Proctor and he was a Coven-member. Proctors are like the Bishops, they're always in The Coven."

"I'm not in The Coven?—"

"Yet." She glanced over at me and had the grace to grimace. "Look, I don't mean to freak you out, but those rune stones being fated for you can't be a coincidence. Coven-members are in life-threatening danger on a daily basis now, so while I hope no one else dies, I wouldn't be surprised if they did . . . and I have a guess of who might get Marked to replace them."

My stomach turned. I gripped the edge of my seat and exhaled.

"Okay. We're here."

I jumped and looked up to find we were parked out front of the infirmary. My face fell. "Oh my God, I forgot. Why would you drop that bomb on me right now?"

"So that you look distressed and Gin will panic into getting Everest to tend to you." She giggled. "The whole plan is ruined if you don't make it to Everest."

"Esther."

"Also, you look ill and contagious, so Everest will put you in a private room instead of the open beds room in the back?—"

" How am I supposed to do this now?" I groaned. "You just told me you think I'm fated to join The Coven the next time one of them dies!"

"SO?" She leaned down to catch my gaze. "Frankie, I've seen you fight bullies. I've seen you hit demons with baseball bats. More importantly, I saw the way you weren't even the slightest bit phased by being attacked by demons when you've only known they exist for a few days. My friends have known about them their whole lives, and have seen demon attacks because of The Coven living here, yet they fucking panicked when shit hit the fan."

"What . . . what are you . . . what are you . . ." I shook my head.

"I'm saying your fate didn't bring you to Tampa to leave you here permanently. I'm saying when the war starts, you're going to be on the front lines and you're not actually that freaked out about this statement because somewhere deep down inside of you . . . you already knew this." She reached over and squeezed my shoulder. "Because now that I have this much magic, I have no intention of sitting on the bench, so the sooner I get you mentally prepared for our destiny, the better for both of us."

I stared at her for a moment then shook my head. "You're bat shit crazy."

"And yet I'm the one you gravitated toward other than Archie. Birds of a feather and all that jazz." She reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt. "Now, go in there and get you a date."

I froze with my hands on the door handle, the nasty rash covering the backs of my hands. "What? You're not coming in?"

She scowled. "To watch you ask a guy on a date? Def not."

I whined. "Why did I let you talk me into this?"

"Because Everest is gorgeous and," she paused to wag her eyebrows, "I believe your words were, I'd risk death to climb that mountain, so the name fits. "

My face burned. "Right. I said that out loud. Not my fault. He'd given me a potion."

"Go get your mountain, Frankie."

"Is it weird to ask him out?"

"Why? Guys do it, so why can't we?"

I cursed. "Fine. I can't waste the art that is this spell. Or sitting in here any longer with your truth bombs."

"That's the spirit." She shooed me with both hands, her gray eyes bright and sparkling. "Just remember, nutmeg's Nutella. That's the spell name I did."

"Right, that makes no sense at all." I exhaled and opened the door. "Wish me luck."

I didn't look back at Esther as I hurried up the brick pathway to the front door because I might've lost my nerve. Esther was right. I did like Everest. I'd never in my life had a crush on a boy like I did with Everest. Ever. Elizabeth would've been flabbergasted. Had it not been the middle of the night for her, I would've called her for support, but I wasn't going to wake her up for this. I'd tell her when she woke up because there was no way I was going to be able to sleep after this. Whether he said yes or no, I was going to lie awake thinking about what I was about to do.

Just do it, Frankie. Esther isn't going to reverse this spell unless you at least try.

What's the worst that could happen?

I held my chin high and walked inside. I'd only just met the guy Friday night, and it was only Tuesday now, but he'd been on my mind since. He was a song stuck in my head on repeat over and over and over without relief. Seeing him at the restaurant made it so much worse. I lay in bed all night reviewing every moment of that interaction.

"Frankie?"

I looked up and tried to smile at Gin, but the horrified expression on her face caught me off guard. "Hi, Gin."

She froze halfway down the stairs. "Um . . . what happened to you?"

I grimaced. "No idea. This just suddenly happened. Could it be a reaction to one of those potions Everest gave me?"

"I doubt it, but go into that room you were in this weekend, and I'll send him in there."

"Okay, thanks, Gin." I hurried into the room in the back before I could chicken out.

I slipped inside and shut the door behind me, then hopped onto the bed. I'd been here all weekend, so it felt fairly natural to recline against the back and wait. Except this time my legs were restless and bouncing and my fingers trembled. For the first time in my life, I was going to ask a guy out on a date. The only reason I wasn't totally freaking out was because of that interaction at the restaurant. The looks, the whispers, the growls. The way he tucked my hair behind my ear, then held my face in his palm. If he didn't feel something for me, he wouldn't have picked up on my hints about hurting myself just so I could see him. My gut told me I wasn't alone in this infatuation, so instead of obsessing over the what if scenarios, I was just going to find out and be done. I'd rather know if the feelings weren't mutual before I let them run even farther away from me.

The door opened. I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over me in hopes he'd actually have to make it closer to me before he bolted. My pulse quickened. I felt instantly frozen and overheated at the same time. My stomach turned. Here we go. It's okay. It's fine. Just do it.

Everest stepped inside the room, and I knew the moment he realized it was me on the bed because that professional smile turned into a deep scowl. It was the same face he made when I made my little joke last night. "I thought we had an understanding last night, Francelina—WHAT happened to your face? "

I smiled. "You tell me."

He sighed and shut the door, pausing only to lock it behind him before crossing the room to me. His blue and white gaze narrowed on my face, then lowered to my body under the blanket. "We agreed you wouldn't hurt yourself."

"I didn't do this." I hadn't.

He narrowed his eyes on my face for a long moment, then cursed. "Show me."

I threw the blanket off and stretched my legs out flat on the bed. "This is a genuine need for you."

He pursed his lips and nodded, his gaze sliding over every inch of my exposed skin. His attention on my body chased away every last chill. He reached over my right leg and gripped my left ankle, then spun me to face him without taking his hand off me. I gasped and looked up into his eyes, but he wasn't looking at my face. He slid his hand up the side of my calf until he got to my knee then dragged my body to the edge of the bed.

I inhaled a shaky breath. My body trembled. I watched his face, but I felt all five of his fingertips slide a burning path up my outer thigh. Heat radiated out of my skin. I had to hold on to the edge of the bed to stop myself from reaching for him. I licked my lips. "So, what's the prognosis?"

He sighed and shook his head. "I'll have to notify The Coven that this has spread again. We'll have to quarantine you until they can get here. So, no school. No spring dance on Friday night?—"

"What? No. Wait, why?" I shook my head to clear all the infatuated thoughts. "Wait, can't you just heal me? Fix this?"

"No, I cannot." He cocked his head to the side and arched one eyebrow. "Or you can just tell me what spell Esther used to do this."

My jaw dropped. "You knew. How?"

He let out a little chuckle that made me weak at the knees despite the fact I was sitting. His left hand slid a path back up my thigh and then under the hem of my denim shorts. I squirmed as his fingers pressed into the skin on my hip. "No rash under here . . . or here. " Without taking his hand out from under my shorts, he reached up and carefully pulled one strap of my tank top off my shoulder to reveal perfectly clear skin.

" Everest . . . "

"You either used a spell to create this or this is an infection The Coven eradicated from our societies a century ago." He traced one fingertip down the side of my arm. "So, which is it? The Coven or the spell?"

I licked my lips and swallowed roughly. " Spell, " I whispered.

He nodded and pulled his hands off me, which made me whine. "Why?"

"I had my reasons?—"

" Francelina, " he growled, and the sound unraveled me a little.

"Fine." I took a deep breath and let it out. Here's your chance, Franks. Just rip the Band-Aid off and ASK. " I'll tell you what spell I used if you agree to be my date for the spring dance on Friday night."

He cursed violently in another language. Before I could ask what he'd said, he took my face in his hands and dragged my mouth up to his. Our mouths crashed together in a frenzy of lips and tongues. I sighed and reached for his shirt, pulling him between my legs so he was closer. My pulse thundered in my veins, my body on fire. There was nothing sweet or tender about it. He kissed me like he was starved for it, like I was the oxygen he needed to live. His fingers dug into my jaw as he held me. I'd never known a kiss could feel like this. My ears started to ring, and my head got a little fuzzy. I knew I was in desperate need of breathing. I needed to pull away, but my hands dragged him even closer.

And then he was gone.

I gasped for air and reached for him. I wasn't done. "Everest?—"

"We can't—That's not what this is?—"

"Bullshit. You don't kiss someone like that if you don't mean it."

He ran his hand over his face. "Francelina?—"

"Be my date for the dance?"

His face fell. He closed his eyes and licked his lips . . . then nodded.

I squealed in my head, but on the outside, I kept it cool so I didn't spook him. "Nutmeg's Nutella."

His eyes flew open, his expression incredulous. But he let out a little smirk, then turned to a cabinet behind him. I couldn't see what he was doing, but when he turned back, he held three vials in his hands. "Esther's good. Drink these."

I took one at a time, tossing them back quickly and reaching for the next. Once I swallowed the last one, I licked my lips and held the empty vial out to him. A quick glance at my body proved my skin was clear again. No sign of a rash anywhere. "Thank you."

"Don't do that again, Francelina."

"Do what?" I batted my eyelashes at him.

He arched one eyebrow. "Do not harm yourself as an excuse to come here to me, even by spell. We went over this last night."

"I won't need to. We have a date." I hopped off the bed and closed the distance between us. I pushed up on my tiptoes and tugged him against me by his shirt. Then I pressed my lips to his. I kissed him just long enough to remind him that he wanted this too. Then I pulled back and whispered against his mouth, "The dance is at eight in the school's gym. Meet me out front. My aunt and uncle don't need to know about this."