Page 79 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

“Vine’s right,” Fiona said from my other side, her book splayed open in her lap. “You won’t be prepared for book club tomorrow. And Auntie Harriet said the book is getting really spicy. She sounded excited about it.”

I flicked the little girl in her arm, and she glared at me.

“I don’t think you should be listening in on your aunts’ conversations.” I paused as I saw a pink figure inching up the vine ladder that hung off the ledge of my bedroom.

Morton poked his head into the room.

“Besides,” I said, wiggling my fingers at the bookwyrm, “I have a plan.”

Morton entered my bedroom, spreading his wings out. “What am I doing here, exactly? I got a note that said there was a book emergency. I came as soon as I could.”

I’d gotten to know the little bookwyrm more over the last few weeks, and I’d discovered the perfect way to lure him here to help me.

Vine perked up, and Morton shrieked when he noticed it.

“Does that thing eat wyrms?”

Vine slithered toward Morton, who flapped his wings, barely able to lift off the ground and get himself to the bed.

“Don’t you come near me,” he said to Vine.

Fiona patted Vine’s tail. “I think it just wants to be your friend.”

Morton’s shaggy pink eyebrows shot up. “I make it a point to not be friends with creatures who can eat me.”

I looked up from my book. “That’s actually valid.”

“Vine would never eat you!” Fiona said, a horrified look on her face.

Vine had slithered up into her lap, and she was petting it as it purred. She had absolutely ruined my python vine. It wasn’t remotely as terrifying as it used to be.

“You still haven’t answered my question,” Morton said, now perched on the end of the bed and shooting wary glances at Vine. “What is the emergency?”

I held up the blue book. “I need you to eat this.”

Morton paused a moment, then gasped. Vine shot straight up, shaking its head.

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not cheating, Vine. I’ve read over half the book. I already know they’re going to end up together. All Morton is doing is speeding up the inevitable for me.”

“What’s invetybal?” Fiona asked.

Morton’s mouth dropped open. “You want me to spoil the ending of the book for you? That was your emergency?”

“I have to be ready for book club tomorrow, and I don’t have time to read to the end of this.”

“Then why did you join book club?” Morton asked. “Books are sacred, and I am wholly against spoiling them.”

“Oh, come on.” I dangled it in the air. “I know you’ve been wanting to eat this book.”

Morton licked his lips.

“I’ve seen the way you stare at it during our meetings. It’ll be our little secret.” I shot a look at Fiona. “Right?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I want to see you eat the book!”

Morton huffed, smoke puffing from his nostrils. “Absolutely not.”

I dropped the book on the bed and nudged it toward him with my foot.