At first, Mom doesn’t say anything. She still hasn’t gotten over the fact that Morgan is a Blood Witch, despite my ongoing #notallBloodWitches campaign at home. Mom hasn’t said anything weird to Morgan about it, and her rules are the same as they were when I was dating Veronica, but there’s still this shadow of fear and doubt whenever I bring her up.

: Sorry! Just got home from dance. MH: How was your meeting? HW: . . . Fine. Three dots appear and disappear several times, and Mom is pulling into the driveway before a response comes through. MH: I’ll be over soon.

“You two can stay in the living room,” Mom yells from the kitchen. “No closed doors!”

“What can I say?” I whisper, trying for nonchalance but failing miserably. “Seeing you does silly things to my heart.”

Morgan drags me over to the poster when the other tourists are done and makes me take a selfie with her and the sign.

press a kiss to her cheek and take another photo. I post the best few to Instagram, and my phone buzzes with at least a dozen likes by the time Sarah comes back from checking us in.

“I like her. She seems really cool.” “Yeah, she’s pretty great,” I concede, even if she sometimes treats me like a gayby, which I’m not. I’ve been out over a year. I’ve already been through a heartbreak and moved on. “She and her wife, Rachel, are expecting their first child in a couple months.” Morgan lights up. “That’s awesome! I’m definitely up for babysitting.” She bites her lower lip, still swollen from kissing. “Should I worry about the mini Elemental setting my hair on fire?”

“Ladies, gentlemen, and nonbinary patrons.”

Morgan sits beside me and is quiet for a long time. “I think we should,” she says at last, turning to face me. “Was all of that true? Even about your magic?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Morgan reaches for me, brushing my cheeks with her thumbs. “I’m a terrible girlfriend. I should have noticed something was wrong.” “It works better when you’re around.” The admission dries my eyes, and I wipe my face on my sleeve. “It’s best when you’re using your magic, but even when you’re not, being near you grounds me in a way that makes it easier to reach the elements. There was nothing for you to notice.” I don’t know what it is about her presence that makes it better, but somehow, it does. “You could have told me,” she insists. “I would have—” “What? Told my mom? Told Archer?” “Tried to help. We’re on the same team, Hannah, but I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong.” Morgan reaches for my hand and squeezes. Her magic flows through me and eases the lingering ache from Alice’s attack. “Are you okay?”

He flashes a predatory grin. “Not everything is about you, Hannah.” He turns his attention to Morgan, looking her up and down.

Mine was more the show-up-at-my-house-at-all-hours type. That’s what Morgan said about her ex-boyfriend the first time she mentioned him, and even before I knew he was a Witch Hunter, I could tell the guy was bad news.

“You really made it so easy, Hannah. All those adorable pictures you post with her. We tracked your phone to the city, but the photo in the hotel lobby was very helpful.”

“I hate him so much.” Her fierce whisper grazes the skin at my neck, and I squeeze her tight. “Let’s get out of here.” I pull away and brush the tears from her cheeks. Her skin is warm and flushed under my fingers, the blue of her eyes glittering with unshed pain. “I’ll take you home.”

“He grabbed my wrist and carved a blade across my palm.” “Fuck, Morgan.”

“That’s not even the worst of it. I’m stronger than him, I knew I was, but I was so scared I couldn’t move. He cut so deep and it hurt so much, I couldn’t stop my magic. The skin stitched back together right in front of him. He called me a Blood Witch and he . . .” She swallows hard, and the tears slip down her cheeks. “He tried to slit my throat. I barely got out of there alive. We fled the state as fast as we could, and now he’s back, and I—” “And you are going to be okay.”

“I’m a Blood Witch, Hannah. I’m a monster, just like Alice. The same power that hurt you today runs through my veins, too. You aren’t supposed to love me. You’re supposed to be afraid.”

“Don’t mention it.” Alice slides the sunglasses back down. “Besides, I think your girlfriend should be the only one allowed to make your heart race.” From behind her glasses, Alice waggles her eyebrows at me, and my entire face goes hot. “Is this where we hug and promise to be friends forever?” “Witch, please. That would be gross.” Alice shudders, but the elaborate show makes me laugh. “See you around.” “Don’t be a stranger!” Alice flips me off as she walks away, and somehow that’s more perfect than anything she could have said.

To my wife, Megan: there is no one in this world that I’d rather have on this journey. You always see the best in me, even when I’m grumpy about deadlines. I feel so lucky that I get to spend the rest of my life with you.

Finally, to my readers. Thank you for letting Hannah into your hearts. This one’s for you.