These Witches Don't Burn (These Witches Don't Burn, #1)

by Isabel Sterling

Veronica Matthews taught me about love, and I guess They were right. There really was a fine line to cross to hate. The same girl who dragged my ass out of the closet later tore my heart from my chest with her meticulously manicured nails.

“Dance until we can’t see straight?” “I never see straight,” I say, and Gem rolls her eyes at my pun.

Morgan steps closer, well within my personal bubble. The heat of her body so close to mine presses against my skin. “Are you dating anyone?” I can’t speak. Her fingers linger on my neck, her touch the only thing my mind seems to grasp. Finally, I shake my head. “No, but I—” She doesn’t wait for me to finish. Morgan leans forward and presses her lips to mine. Her hand cups my face, fingers weaving through my hair.

But the young man doesn’t budge. “Mr. Walsh . . . He’s . . . uh . . . He’s the assistant district attorney. He’s really insistent, sir. And since you haven’t entered any charges . . .” What? I stand and lean my bound hands against the cold metal table. “I’m not under arrest?” Detective Archer glares at the officer, but the way his face pales makes me think having an ADA for a father is handier than I knew. “Not yet, no. I just need you to answer a few more questions.” “Why? So you can trick me into admitting to something I didn’t do? Don’t think so.” I thrust my hands toward the detective. “Take these off. Now.”

“Is anyone?” Morgan brushes her hair behind one ear. “And it’s not like Disney ever showed us how to fall for another girl.”

Dad nods and turns his attention on me. “Where is your phone? You can’t call in a panic and then not answer.” I pat at my jeans and come up empty. “I must have left it in my car.” I lean against the wall, my arms still shaking and my head woozy. “Hannah? Tim?” Mom’s voice cuts off whatever Dad was going to say next. She’s beside us a second later. “Oh, thank god.” She kneels and wraps me in a hug. I pull away from her embrace and glance at my ex-girlfriend, dried blood on her face and tears in her eyes. “Now do you believe me?”

“Tell me you didn’t.” “Didn’t what?” But my chest constricts. She knows. I don’t know how, but she does. The heat in my cheeks grows into an inferno. “You slept with someone else, didn’t you?” Tears stream down her face, painting her cheeks with streaks of black. “How could you?” “How could I? Veronica, we’re not together. Who I have sex with is none of your business.” “So, you admit it. You did sleep with someone. Fucking perfect.” Veronica swipes the ruined mascara from her face. “I’m such an idiot. I knew I couldn’t trust you.” “Excuse me?” My magic tries to surge in my chest, but pain lances through me, and I shove it back down. “I’ve never done anything to betray your trust.” “Should we review who ended our relationship?” “God, enough! Can’t you see how unhealthy this is? Why would you want to be with me when all we do is fight?” I ask, and she doesn’t have an answer for that. “Exactly. For the record, I did not sleep with Morgan. But if I did, that would be none of your damn business.”

When humanity was young, Three Sister Goddesses gifted humans with magic, each creating one of the Clans. The Middle Sister covered the world with storms, and those who felt no fear and danced in the rain earned the power to control the elements. They became the Elementals.

“Excuse me? I’m looking for my best friend. Maybe you’ve seen her around somewhere?” Gemma says, and I turn around. “She’s about this tall and suffers from a chronic case of sarcasm. It’s very unsightly.” I roll my eyes. “Hey, Gem.”

How could she? After giving me so much shit about a simple first date. “Hannah, what’s wrong? Is Veronica hurt?” Mom asks the second I slide into the front seat. “Why are you crying?” I wipe the moisture from my cheeks. I didn’t realize I was.

“Am I the first person you’ve brought here?” I nod and grab one of the grapes. The skin is perfectly firm, and the inside explodes with flavor. “Most locals don’t even walk the trails, let alone wander through the trees without them, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen tourists out here. I wanted you to have a place that no one else knows about. I hoped it might make the town feel more like home.” I wipe my fingers on my jeans, and when I glance back at Morgan, she’s staring at me. “What?” She smiles and shakes her head at me. “Do you realize how incredibly sweet that is?”

Dr. Perez grips the file in front of her like a shield. “We did everything we could.” We did everything . . . The room quivers around me. Detective Archer grabs my arm, and I realize I’m the one who’s shaking. “No.” I squeeze my eyes shut. This isn’t happening. It’s not real. “No. He’s in recovery. He’s fine.” “I’m so sorry.” Dr. Perez approaches my mother and presses a small metal band into the palm of her hand. “I thought you might want this.” Mom uncurls her fingers and crumples when she sees what’s inside, a sob catching in her throat. I catch a flash of gold before she clutches it to her chest, and my universe shatters when I realize what it is. Dad’s wedding ring.

I love you, Dad. Thunder rumbles in the distance. The Hunters won’t hurt anyone else. I promise. Detective Archer was right. There’s a war brewing. And I intend to win.