More on this book
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Nor wasn’t afraid of blood, but not being afraid of blood was one of the things she was afraid of.
She was, to use her words, the Guardian of Unwanted Things.
Even on the brightest of days, the dread of Fern’s return was a black smudge on the window, blocking out the light.
“Please tell me you two were secret lovers, and you had a special spot near the waterfall where you would meet every night,” Savvy whispered excitedly. “What? No! People don’t do that.” “People totally do that,” Savvy interjected. “I will do that.”
For Nor, feeling happy felt like being a glaring target. Feeling happy meant that she had something to lose.
“You notice me,” Nor grumbled. Savvy turned back and smiled, the silver hoop in her eyebrow glinting merrily in the glow of the candles and fairy lights at the bottom of the stairs. “Yeah, but I’m nosy. I notice everything.”
“I don’t know what it is. I found it over at the Society and thought it was weird and that you’d appreciate it.” “Because I’m weird?” Nor asked, horrified. “Only in the best way possible,” he reassured her.
“Why are you picking on her?” Savvy said, coming to Nor’s defense. “Go find a marine biologist and be an asshole to them, why don’t you?”
This was what it felt like to be around him — constantly pulled in two directions, wanting to be both seen and unseen, and not knowing which one she preferred.
“So you’re not just a witch, you’re a cursed witch.” Savvy considered this. “That’s totally fucked up.” “That’s not even the worst part.”
Through the opaque glass, Bliss looked like a colorful ghost.
Fern’s power was thick like sludge.
“Yes, Burn. He’s over a hundred years old, and you all seriously thought his name was Steve?”
If only Madge had figured out what Nor had: that a wish for a love like the kind found in fairy tales was a wish that should never be granted. Fairy tales were ugly and gruesome things. Like Rona had, Nor preferred the Greek myths. At least those were meant to be tragic.
As they passed under the fountain, Savvy stopped to stare at the statue’s impressive physique. “Her breasts are totally perfect,” she said in awe, moving from one side of the fountain to the other. “Look at her nipples. Oh my God, they follow me wherever I go.” “Jealous?” Grayson teased.
Savvy rolled her eyes. “Please. That statue should be jealous of me.” “Oh yeah? About what exactly?” Grayson mocked, luridly sizing her up. Savvy leaned in, as if she were about to share some great confidence with him. “My nipples are pierced,” she said. The expression on Grayson’s face was priceless.
With every step, Nor could feel the sheathed knife Charlie had insisting on sliding into the side of her boot. The saphenous vein in Nor’s ankle pulsed against it; the mere possibility of spilled blood had woken it up.
“Well, that’s not completely true. The spell will still work, just not as well. Plus, it’s more fun to kill people you know.”
“You know, at first I thought we’d die in a fiery blaze; instead we’ll drown. I find that comforting. I’ve never much liked fire.”
Or maybe it was something else entirely. Perhaps a death by drowning was eerily quiet because the water had stolen your voice. To scream, you had to be able to breathe. Under that serene facade was violence. Under that mask of apathy was terror.
But that was the thing: Nor had stopped being afraid of blood a long time ago.
and her scars, evidence of all the times she’d battled death before and won.
“Look, about when I kissed you —” Nor started. “You thought you were heading to your death,” Gage cut in. “It was a natural reaction. It could have been worse. If I hadn’t been there, you could have ended up tonguing Sena Crowe instead.” “I did not tongue you!” Nor insisted.
“What does he know about anything? What a dick.” She paused, giving Nor a guilty look. “I mean, putting aside the fact that I’m pretty sure he saved my life, numerous times in fact, and that if not for him, I wouldn’t be standing here. So, I mean, as long as you don’t consider that whole mess then, you know —” “He’s a dick,” Nor finished. “Such a dick.”
