The volunteers gossiped and paced by turns, while Leanne resisted the urge to nibble away at her thumbnail. As she raised her hand to her mouth for the fourth time, Trev caught it and squeezed her fingers. She smiled at him, unable to settle because of how tight the margins on the race had become. She’d certainly gotten the word out more effectively, but just because someone saw her stances and platforms online or liked one of Trev’s reels, that didn’t mean it would translate to actual votes.

“We gave it everything we had,” Trev whispered. “Nobody could’ve done more.”

Leanne didn’t argue, but while she couldn’t compel votes, it might be possible for Clem or Danica to meddle with election results if technology was involved. She’d never ask such a thing of them, however. Witches weren’t supposed to accrue power through magical means; it would rouse suspicion if presidential candidates came out of nowhere and won in landslide victories that no political analyst could have ever predicted.

She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, working to reach a peaceful state of mind. “Thanks, hon. Win or lose, we did the best we could.”

Hazel came over and wrapped Leanne into a cuddle. “It’s so exciting to witness your rise to power. One day I’ll be able to tell everyone I knew you way back when.”

Leanne laughed. “You make it sound like I’m taking over the world.”

“Aren’t you, though?” Hazel winked and sauntered off to check the coffeepot.

She drank two more cups while waiting for the results, and when they were finally posted, everyone in the room started screaming. Leanne stared at the final tally, unable to believe her eyes. I won by 212 votes. A narrow margin, but Team Underdog came through. Trev wrapped his arms around her, lifted her, and twirled her around, so the room blurred into a sea of cheering faces. As he slid her down his body, he kissed her forehead, and her heart went a little gooey from happiness overload.

Then he asked, “Do you want to say a few words, Councilor?”

She shook her head. “Maybe later. They aren’t listening right now anyway.”

To get the room even more fired up, Leonard cranked ABBA with “The Winner Takes It All,” and Hazel popped open so many bottles of champagne that they were overflowing everywhere. She hadn’t brought wineglasses, so they used plastic cups and coffee mugs. Leanne shook so many hands that she lost track. Her entire coven was here, mingling with the volunteers, and it gave her a strange but heartwarming sensation.

She threaded through the office to reach Clem and Danica, each sipping from red plastic glasses. “How do you like my party?”

“I thought you were an independent,” Danica joked.