“He didn’t at first,” Niamh said. “He started to pay it heed with the first wave of danger. He wasn’t doing it to spy. None of us are doing it to spy, and if you’re feeling sorry for yerself, we just tune ye out, so we do. We got our own problems; we don’t need yours, like. But ye’re smart, so ye are, and we knew ye might find a way to cut us off if ye knew the truth. And if ye find yerself in a spot of trouble and the danger seems great enough, ye might try to hide yerself to protect us. We couldn’t take that chance. Ye’re too damn nice, girl. Ye know ya are. So we deceived ye, as ye say, to help protect you.”
What she said made sense, but it still stung. They should’ve been more open with me. Maybe not right in the beginning, but we’d been through a few battles by now, and I could see the value in what she was saying. At the same time, they were the original crew of this place, deeply entrenched in their positions and their ways, and I could forgive the misstep. I would also acknowledge that the Jasper and Ulric situation had been an oversight on Mr. Tom’s part. Fine. People make mistakes.
But Austin…
That guy had made a big deal about privacy. A big deal. He knew I didn’t tap into the magical link unless I needed emotional cues to interpret his new expressionlessness. If he’d decided to keep his side open, he should’ve said something. I had trusted him from day one. Why didn’t he trust me? If he’d explained that he was keeping the link open to ensure I stayed safe, protecting my privacy as much as possible, I would’ve been okay with that. I would’ve understood.
But he’d said nothing. Not a peep. Nor had he hinted that the others could tell every time I was sad or anxious or moping. No, he’d helped ensure that everyone in the crew could open me like a book to be read at their leisure. That Ulric and Jasper could peep in on my most personal moments.
He would tear down the world if someone had done that to him.
Tear it to the ground.
My heart ached with the betrayal. My eyes stung with unshed tears. I’d always thought Austin and I were a team, the two normal ones in a maelstrom of weird. I’d missed hanging out with him something awful these last weeks. I’d longed for him to randomly call me, like he had at the beginning. Except it hadn’t been random at all. He knew when I was okay. He even knew when I was lonely or sad.
Let’s have some space, Jess, I imagined him saying. Let’s take a step back and clear our heads. But only you will feel lonely. I’ll be good because I’ll have the reassurance of your presence with me all the time.
This wasn’t how friends treated each other.
I blinked away the tears and slowly blew out a breath. I hated that they could all feel my heartache and the cracks forming in a trust I’d once valued so highly.
Anger was less embarrassing than mopey sorrow.
“What a dick,” I said to no one.
“Uh-oh. Looks like some fireworks are coming our way,” Niamh murmured.
Yeah, it did. I wanted an explanation. I wanted a confrontation. I wanted him to make it better.
Before I could about-face and head straight to the bar, a knock sounded at the door.
I froze. Mr. Tom and Niamh looked between each other and me.
No strange presence stood on Ivy House soil.
A mage strong in magic had been able to fool Ivy House. My summons had been answered.
Four
“We should…” I rolled my shoulders, pushing away my anger so I could focus.
“Let me.” Mr. Tom moved to step in front of me, but I put out my hand.
“I will.” I pulled open the door slowly, my face surely matching my mood—grim.
A guy of about thirty stood just off the front stoop, his light brown hair disheveled and sticking up at various spots, stubble adorning his sharp chin, and thin eyebrows sloping over light gray eyes. He had his hands in the pockets of his loose jeans.
He looked me over, his expression flat. Finally, he pulled his right hand free and dragged a blue note card from his back pocket. “You wanted me to make this potion?”
I frowned at him. “You’re not glowing.”
He glanced down at himself. “I altered the potion a little. Hope you don’t mind. If you glow, you give yourself away as magical. People will know you’re using a spell. This way, no one will know.” He turned back and pointed at the ejection panel. “Otherwise the potion’s kind of like that spell. Anyone who knows what to watch out for would avoid that.”