Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches -

Maggit, terrified and thrilled, tried to light another candle. The house switched to a barbershop quartet version of "Moon River." Finch laughed harder. The windows fogged with joy.

"If we bind ourselves together—magically, not just emotionally—the Society can't separate us. Our magic becomes one signature. One Irregular signature. They'd have to undo all of us at once." very secret society of irregular witches

The house exhaled. The lights came back on, warmer than before. And Maggit felt it: a low, humming connection. She could sense Lark's heartbeat, Samir's next thought, Finch's unspoken joy. Maggit, terrified and thrilled, tried to light another

The Society still watches. Enforcers still visit. But the Binding holds, because Bindings made by Irregulars don't follow the rules. They'd have to undo all of us at once

Lark started crying into her scone dough. "That's the problem," she whispered. "When we're happy together, the magic gets beautiful. And beautiful is the easiest thing to destroy." They came three days later. Not in black cloaks or dramatic lightning. Enforcer Indira Voss arrived in sensible shoes and a cardigan, carrying a clipboard and a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Below that, a single coordinate and a date.