“That’s a start. Plenty of time to consider thepossibilities.”
The comment echoed my own earlier thought so well it made me feel a little queasy. How much was he waiting to change about me and mysituation?
“Thank you,” I said when we reached my door, letting go of Derek’s elbow. “Please give my dad and Celestine my apologies. Hopefully I’ll be feeling bettertomorrow.”
“Relax and get some rest,” Derek said. “You look like you needit.”
“Well, I’m quite surethatlast comment was completely unnecessary,” Philomena muttered as soon as we were alone in myroom.
“He didn’t mean anything offensive by it,” I said, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “And I wastryingto looksick.”
“A gentleman shouldn’t remark on suchthings.”
“Standards are a little different in the twenty-first century,Phil.”
“And what was all that talk about wrecking this gorgeous house?” she continued, ignoring me. “He’s been here two weeks—does he believe it’s hisalready?”
My throat tightened. “It will be, once we’re officiallypartnered.”
“Oh, Rose.” Phil sighed. “I’ve tried not to say anything, because friends should support each other’s decisions,but—”
No. I didn’t want to hear this right now. “Phil,” I interrupted, trying to stopher.
She barreled on. “He isn’t right for you, darling. He isn’t right at all. He doesn’t care about your opinions and he mocks the very idea of reading stories. He’d rather go meet some strangers who might offer some influence than make sure you’re happy and well. And that’s just in the last ten minutes! I can’t stand by and keep quiet when I can only imagine that marriage making you wretchedlyunhappy.”
“Iknow,” I said, hands balling against the duvet. “I don’t want to marry him. I have to, Phil. I have to, or I’m going to lose mymagic.”
She faltered. “Surely there must besomeway—”
I shook my head with a jerk. “I waited and waited, hoping the ‘right’ guy would come, and now I’m out of time. Who would have been better? Vincent Canterbury, who spent more time looking at my boobs than my face? Carlton Hewer, who wasn’t capable of talking about anything except race cars and whiskey? The selection of eligible witching men is a little limited. So Derek is what Iget.”
I lowered my head, blinking hard. My eyes had gone hot. Philomena came to stand beside me. I swore I could really feel her rest her hand on myshoulder.
“You’re absolutely sure?” she saidsoftly.
“Yes. Every tutor I’ve had, every text on the witching way was completely clear. The spark must be properly kindled by a witch’s twenty-fifth birthday, or the seed of it dies. You can’t ever get it back then. I met a woman once, the cousin of one of Dad’s friends, who’d lost hers… You could still the pain of it in hereyes.”
I took a shaky breath. “I’ll be okay. Derek and I just have to get to know each other better. We’ll make some compromises. And if I give it a real go and in a few years it’s still not working… I don’thaveto stay withhim.”
Of course, even once my spark was kindled, I needed a consort to keep it lit, to replenish my power as I used it. If I didn’t have Derek, I’d need to take another partner, or go without my magic all thesame.
The sound of a car engine starting carried through my window. I pushed myself off the bed, willing all those fraught feelings to leaveme.
A Hallowell witch didn’t wallow in self-pity. Especially not when she had a secret mission to carry out. At least that mission could distract me for a littlewhile.
The base on the second of my built-in bookcases was a tad loose. I eased the board open and snatched the prepaid phone Kyler had given me from the gap behind it. My thumbs darted over the keypad as I sank into the armchair, entering the numbers I’d already memorized to send a group message. I’d been deleting all our conversations after I’d read them, just in case one of the cleaning staff stumbled on thephone.
Okay, they just left, I wrote.Let me know when they go past you,Jin.
Already on watch, he replied. Jin’s studio had a view of the road Dad’s car should be heading down. When he spotted them, I’d know they were well on theirway.
Well away from here, so they wouldn’t catchme.
Are you sure you can manage the climb?Sethasked.
There you go being a worrywart again, I wrote back.It’s no problem. I eyeballed the ledge from outside—it’s nice andwide.
Let us know as soon as you make it back, heanswered.