"I'm sure I don't need to say this-"

"Then don't," Willow said.

She leaned in from the back and propped her elbows on the front seats. Limpid eyes scoured the scene through my windshield, and I wondered what was going through her mind. Most witch families mingled with humans from time to time. Some considered it a necessary evil. Others, enjoyed the sense of power it gave them. A few, their numbers slowly rising, actually embraced life among the humans, believing themselves to be no better or worse.

I studied my companions, wondering which camp they were in. The Goodwins fell firmly into the second group. Humans were playthings, but Ash had yet to express any thoughts or behaviors that might lead me to think he agreed. Willow- well, it was hard to say. Her mother, Antonina, was a Goodwin, but she shared her husband's love and respect for all living things. But they rarely left Black Brier.

"Well, I'm saying it anyways. No magic. For tonight, you're human."

When I said those words, my eyes darted to Ash. I wanted to see how he would feel about pretending to be human, but he nodded in agreement, his eyes solemn. Willow exhaled loudly, but she nodded as well.

"Y'all, this is a terrible idea."

"Come on, Rose. What's the worst that can happen?" Ash asked, his generous mouth sloping into a sly smile.

Willow poked him and shook her head. "Don't answer that Rose."

Caressing the locket resting between my breasts, the heat from it soothing the riotous nerves in my gut, I fought off the urge to turn the car towards home. There were so many things that could go wrong. Letting a young witch and warlock loose in the party was like handing drunken teenagers loaded guns. Willow could barely text. Her idea of social media was a seance, and she wasn't known for playing anything cool. Ash was a wildcard, and I was supposed to shadow him for the entire evening. Something that both thrilled and distressed me.

"Just, try to act like y'all fit in."

"Aye, aye." Willow said with salute before bounding out of the car.

"Guess she didn't want to give me a chance to come up with other excuses," I said wryly.

"Why are you so worried? It's not like witches and humans never mix."

I considered his words. Why was I so worked up? The memory of smoke slipping through his closed fist invaded my thoughts. Magic was linked to emotion, and what were teenagers but bundles of emotions? But Willow and Ash both knew the rules. They didn't need me reminding them of what was at stake if they lost control. The Council would be furious.

"This is my life," I finally answered, understanding coming to me as I watched Willow swaying with a tall girl next to the bonfire. "And for y'all, this is just something fun to do because things are boring back home, but I'll be here next week. And the week after. Eventually, this will be my home."

Ash recoiled. "You're going to move to St. Augustine? A human town?"

"Not necessarily St. Augustine but yes to the human town. I'm not magic, Ash."

"It's not possible for you to not be magic. You belong to one of the oldest witch lines in the country. You're a solstice born witch. Just because you don't have powers, it doesn't mean you're not magic."

"Magic makes me physically ill."

"Rose," he started to say but was cut off by the sharp rap of knuckles on my window.

"Get your asses out of the car," Flannery shouted, cupping her hands over her eyes as she stared into the dark interior of the vehicle.

"Impatient much," I groused. My feet sank into the rain softened earth as I stepped out of the car, and I was thankful for the light jacket I'd grabbed.

"What happened to him being a weirdo?" Flannery whispered, linking her arm through mine as she dragged me over to the fire. Ash trailed behind, his hands shoved into his pockets, completely unaware of the female attention he was receiving.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I just figured you weren't interested when you said he was weird. I need to know now if there's something between you two. Cause if there isn't, I'm gonna make a move. Weird is my favorite type."

"I thought hot was your favorite type."

Flannery bumped me with her hip and winked. "I'm thinking Ash is my favorite type. I've never seen someone so good looking. So, yes or no?"

Ash was standing far enough away he shouldn't have been able to hear what we were saying, but his were not human senses. There was something suspicious about the way his head was cocked in our direction.

"Ash and I can't happen," I said. It wasn't a lie.

Flannery hesitated as if mulling over my words, but she must've decided she heard what she needed. A grin spread across her face, and she waltzed to the tall warlock's side. He returned her smile with equal force. I watched, fighting back the waves of jealousy as she linked her fingers through his, drawing him into a slow dance in front of the flames.

They were beautiful together, even I could admit it. The fire's glow drew out the russet tones of Ash's skin. I couldn't stop myself from watching his strong, lean fingers dance down her back, settling on the silky, strip of exposed skin above her jeans. Bronze and twilight twining together beneath the stars.

So much for worrying about my friends at the party. They'd managed just fine. I was the only one sticking out like a sore thumb, somehow alone even in the place I was supposed to belong.

"Hey kid."

"Charlie," I cried, throwing my arms around his waist.

The greeting was a bit overzealous, at least for me, but he didn't seem to mind. He returned the hug with enthusiasm and held on longer than expected. When he removed his long arms from around my shoulders, he stepped back and looked me over.

"I guess I shouldn't be calling you kid anymore."

Thankful the dark hid my blush, I nudged him with my shoulder. "Haven't been a kid for awhile, Charlie. Should've been able to look at Flannery and know that."

He ran his hand over his buzzed head. "Well, she's my sister so she'll always be a kid to me."

"You told me I was like a sister once," I said, shocking myself. Who was this brazen girl?

Charlie smiled and winked. "I may have to reevaluate."

I sneaked a peek at the fire. Ash and Flannery hadn't stopped dancing, but before, firelight had flickered in the gaps between their bodies. Now, they were pressed together so tightly, nothing made it through.

I gritted my teeth together. Blaming Flannery was pointless. I'd practically given her my blessing, though a part of me had hoped she would've been a little more perceptive. Ash, on the other hand, had no excuse, but I guess he was the type of guy who viewed girls as interchangeable.

"So how's school?" I asked, dragging my attention back to the boy beside me. No, correct that. Man. Charlie had long ago left childhood behind.

"It's school," he said.

"That doesn't sound like the Charlie I remember." Flannery had expressed concern about her brother earlier in the day, but I'd brushed it off. Now, I wondered if she was right.

"Well, I guess I got to college and realized there's more to life than studying my life away."

I threw my hand over my mouth in mock horror. "Who are you and what have you done with Charlie?"

"God, I was pretty bad in high school, huh," he said, kicking at the ground. He reached out and took my hand. "Maybe if I'd taken my nose out of the books once in awhile, I would've noticed how gorgeous you are a whole lot sooner."

He tugged me against his chest and maneuvered us closer to the fire. The heat washing over me had little to do with the flames, and I was aware of every hard line of his body against mine. Three days ago, my inner self would've been squealing like a two year old right now. Hell, she would've started screaming just because Charlie smiled in my direction.

Damn Ash Goodwin. Damn Clemmy. Damn Harmony. Damn them all. This world was mine, and they were stealing the happiness from it.

"You okay with this?"

Charlie's quiet question drew my attention to the tension in my body. Trying to relax, I smiled up into the worried, kind eyes looking down at me. They were so much like Flannery's, soft and dark. I don't think I'd ever seen him without his glasses before.

"This is perfect," I replied, moving the hand on his shoulder upwards until I cupped the back of his neck.

He dropped both of his hands to my waist. His grip tightened, and he ground his hips against mine as the music turned to something slow and sultry. Unsure of myself, I twisted so that my backside was against his front, and I let him guide my movements with his hands. The position was far more intimate, but it was easier, not having to make eye contact while our bodies moved together.

Flannery was no longer dancing with Ash, and her eyebrow arched when she spied me with her brother. There was no malice in the look, only calm calculation. I should've been relieved. Most girls wouldn't have been so cool with finding their best friend plastered against their brother. But I was too worried by the fact Ash was nowhere to be seen.

I waited until the song ended, not wanting to appear rude. At least, that's what I told myself. It had nothing to do with the frissons of desire moving through me. When heavy bass beats bounced out of the speaker, the new song speeding the crowd's movements, I stepped out of Charlie's embrace.

"Thank you for the dance," I said, my voice low and shy.

"I've got time for another."

"Thanks, maybe later. I need to find where my friends went off to. I'm kind of their babysitter this evening."

"The dude who was dancing with my sister?"

"He's one of them, yeah."

"He's an idiot," Charlie said, the comment drawing my head up in shock. "He couldn't take his eyes off you the entire time we were dancing."

"You're crazy," I protested. Ash's attention had been on Flannery every single time I looked over. Charlie was being kind, because I was clearly obvious in my stalking.

"Nope. I know when a guy wants a girl." The bonfire reflected in the darkness of his eyes, making them smolder in the night. "But tell him not lead my sister on, and if you decide he's as big of an idiot as I think he is, you just let me know."

He winked and walked away, not making it far before someone stopped him with a high five. The clinking of Flannery's many bracelets alerted me to her presence, and when I looked at her, she waggled her brows and puckered her lips.

"If he wasn't my brother, I'd say watching y'all was hot."

"Please," I complained, scanning the crowd for Willow and Ash, "I had no idea what I was doing. Sexy isn't something that comes natural to me."

"Naw, girl. That's why it was sexy because you weren't trying."

"Where did Ash go?"

Flannery examined her manicure. "Said he was going to get us some drinks, but I think he got tired of watching you and my brother practically do the dirty in public."

"Please never use those words again. My ears," I pleaded.

"Your ears? My eyes!"

"Fair enough. We'll call ourselves even."

"Done." She pushed me in the direction of the coolers and hopefully in the direction of Ash. "Next time I ask if you like a guy, remind me to ask if the guy likes you too. Kind of important info."

"Ash is just a-"

"A what?" he asked, appearing at our side with three solo cups in hand. Flannery took one and drank deeply from the contents. I could smell the alcohol and fruity tang from here. 

Ash pressed, "go on. You were saying?"

"Ash is just a nice guy," I finished, sniffing the contents of my cup before taking a drink, pleased to discover it was Coke.

Amusement warred with an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "I'm sure that's what you were going to say. Where'd your boyfriend run off to?"

"That's not her boyfriend. He's my brother, Charlie."

"Hmm, so you have a thing for keeping it in the family?"

"Of course. Makes things easier if you know you like his relatives," I replied, prodding him further. If he wanted to argue, I was game.

Something wicked swooped across his face. His eyes glittering, his lips lifting in a way that made my gut twist.

"How do you feel about cousins?"

"Well, I-" I stuttered, trying to form a coherent thought. Teasing and light flirtation I could handle. Questionable looks. Subtle touches. Words you mulled over in bed at night and searched for deeper meaning. Not this obvious assault. Ash might as well have hit me over the head with a hammer.

"Hey, you two," Willow said, stumbling into our group. Someone else's lipstick smudged her cheek, and her eyes were glassy and unfocused. She tried to glare at Flannery. "And you."

Ash grabbed her by the chin and looked into her face. "What did you take?"

"Nothing," Willow said, prying herself free.

She lost her balance when Ash released her, and I caught her before she fell. A sickly, sweet stench burned my nostrils, and I could see tiny bits of glitter moving under her skin. Beside me, Flannery squinted at Willow.

"We should probably get her home," I said, shifting so we wouldn't topple over. She was petite, but she wasn't doing much to support herself.

"I don't wanna go. We just got here. Allyson went to get more drinks."

"You don't need anything else," Ash said. His expression was tight as he stared at his cousin.

"You're not the boss of me," Willow hissed, snapping her fingers. Overhead, thunder rumbled. Willow threw her head back, mouth agape as she stared into the sky. "Don't you feel it? The power?"

"I'm going to talk to Allyson. See what they gave her," Flannery said, putting her hand on my arm. "That girl is bad news. I didn't think she'd bring something to the party though. We've warned her about it."

"Thanks Flannery. Will you text me what you find out? We've got to get her out of here."

"Sure thing, babe. Things for coming." My friend drew Ash into a lingering hug, her plum painted lips pressing against his cheek for a less than chaste kiss. "You just let me know if you wanna do this again."

Ash shook his head as she sashayed away, but whatever humor he found in Flannery dissipated as soon as he turned his attention back to Willow. With his help, we made it to the car without incident, and she was nearly asleep when he put her in the back seat. He climbed in and settled her head on his lap, leaving me alone up front.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, trying to keep my eyes on the road before me. They kept drifting to the rear-view mirror, the passing lights giving me glimpses of Ash leaning over Willow. He was muttering something under his breath, moving his hand up and down her motionless form.

"She's sleeping now," he responded, catching my gaze in the mirror, "but Rose...I don't think she's drunk. Her pupils looked just like Harmony's."

"And your spell didn't reveal anything?"

"No. Nothing."

"Shit, what the hell could they both have gotten into that your spell doesn't pick up? One in Black Brier? One in a human town?"

"I don't know, but I don't like it. Sounds like a spell made drug, and if the humans have their hands on it, we could be in big trouble."

'Someone is causing trouble around this town, and that trouble is spilling over to the human world.'

Clemmy's words came back to me. Was this the trouble she was talking about? Was someone dealing magical drugs? Ash had made the understatement of the year when he said this was big trouble. Keeping our existence secret was rule number one of the supernatural community. Something like this wasn't just dangerous to the health of those taking it but to the community at large.

'I don't think it's any kind of coincidence Ash Goodwin showed back up when he did...'

I felt sick. Surely, Ash wouldn't do that to his cousin? To his family? But first Harmony, now Willow. He was the one who suggested going to St. Augustine to escape, and he was the one who convinced me to go to the party. Not to mention, I'd lost sight of him for several minutes, right before Willow showed up stoned.

Clemmy was going to kill me for letting him out of my sight, but as I turned down main-street, my eyes found him again in the mirror. He was running his hand through Willow's short hair, smoothing it back while singing softly.

I really, really hoped Clemmy was wrong.