The Witch Is Back Read Free

like it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. “The fruit and yogurt is really good though, Dad. Totally what I wanted,” I said, trying to wipe the disappointment off his face. It seemed to work and he smiled slightly.
    As I went for another scoop, there was a knock at the back door and I heard the familiar turn of the metal knob. The sound brought me back to the dream I’d had and I couldn’t help but shiver despite the warmth of the kitchen. Even months later, I was constantly on edge, waiting for the Parrishables to come back. But running on fear was no way to live, so I forced myself to stay glued to my seat and fought through the thought that something bad was about to happen. The only way to get over fear was to walk through it. My mom had taught me that.
    â€œHey, Had,” Asher said, breaking the silence and kissing me on the cheek as he came up behind me. I relaxed as he took a seat at the table. “Wow, Mr. Bishop, are you feeding an army?”
    â€œApparently not,” Dad said, frowning as he placed a few eggs and fruit onto his own plate.
    â€œNeed some help getting rid of it?” Asher asked, eyeing the food hungrily, but not yet moving to take a plate.
    I could see the instant relief in my Dad’s face, and my heart swelled with gratitude for my boyfriend. Since we’d arrived home from the cabin after defeating the Parrishables, he’d been the model guy: taking me out on dates, going to games to watch me cheer, and hanging around the house to get to know my dad better. All things I would’ve never thought possible when we’d first met. In fact, given that our whole relationship had started off as a lie, I thought we were doing pretty well.
    It was hard to believe that less than a year ago Asher had been secretly batting for Team Parrishable. Back then, he was just this amazingly hot guy with jet-black hair, styled in a metro-looking faux-hawk and eyes that seemed like they could pierce my soul. And his lips?
    Very kissable.
    After some flirting, a few major fights with other witches, and an innocent—but awesome—sleepover, I’d found out he’d been working with the enemy. Well, kind of. Turned out, my nemesis, Samuel Parris, had been holding Asher’s sister hostage and was threatening to hurt her unless he did as he was told, which included infiltrating the Cleri and relaying our secrets.
    I was pretty pissed at first, but could hardly blame him for trying to save his sister. And by this time, I’d already fallen in love with him, which made everything more complicated. In the end, Asher had stepped up and helped us take down Samuel. Literally. He even jumped in front of a speeding spell to save me, risking his life in the process.
    Now, back in the nonmagicking world, with Samuel gone and Asher’s sister back home safe and sound, we could finally be a normal couple. Well, as normal as a couple of twitches could be, anyway.
    And it was amazing.
    â€œHelp yourself,” Dad said, gesturing to the food in front of us and popping a blueberry into his mouth.
    Asher didn’t wait for him to offer again and immediately dug in.

    After our run, I freshened up and headed over to Asher’s. Slipping in through the side gate, I found my boyfriend—man, I loved the sound of that—my boyfriend —the words were totally delicious—standing in the backyard a few feet away from a man in an oversize trench coat and striped fedora. The stranger had his back turned to us, so I couldn’t make out who he was, but I was instantly suspicious.
    Furrowing my brows, I took in the scene before me. Who wears a trench coat in the middle of the summer? People who are up to no good, that’s who. I began to fall back into a fighting stance, but before I could do anything, Asher let loose a spell of his own.
    â€œFlameeble ignitus!” he yelled at the ominous figure.
    Almost instantly, a puff of smoke exploded at the