Page 73 of Reckless Witch

“Not so invincible. A thirteen-year-old kid circumvented the spell,” I say.

“I’m twelve.”

I snort. “A tween. That’s even worse.”

He shakes his head. “I’m using Blade’s magic against him.”

“What do you mean?”

“The spell I used to redirect his spell is magic I learned from Blade. He probably didn’t think anyone would use what he taught against him.”

“Well, fuck a duck.” I laugh. “I bet he didn’t.” The irony is just too damn good. “Still, you better get out of here. Blade might give you points for ingenuity. Raith won’t. Not to mention, he’ll force you to tell him why you’re here. Did some of the other students put you up in this? They’re not doing you any favors by tricking you into breaking into my room.”

He shakes his head. “No one put me up to coming here. I—” He hesitates, and I realize he’s embarrassed.

I groan inwardly. Don’t tell me the kid has a crush on me. All I need is some lovesick tween following me around.

“I wanted to say thanks,” he says.

“Thanks?” I frown. “Thanks for what?”

“For saving my life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You pushed me out of the way of that spear.”

I had forgotten. He’d jumped in front of me. “That was brave, kid, but a little stupid.”

His eyes drop. “It’s my fault you got hurt.”

“It’s only your fault if you’re the one who sicked the spear on me. Did you try to kill me?”

His head snaps up, eyes wide. “Oh, no. I would never do that. It’s my fault because I got in the way and you had to push me aside. That left you vulnerable.”

I release a breath. “It’s not your fault. The magic in the spear was very powerful. I wasn’t getting out of that room”–I start to say ‘alive,’ but say—“unhurt,” instead.

He shakes his head. “You’re wrong. You used magic despite having Mr. Bordeau’s sigil on your hand. If I hadn’t gotten in the way, you would have beaten the spear.”

I laugh. “What’s your name?”

“Jonas.”

“Well, Jonas. If nothing else, you’re great for my ego.” I study him. “You said you redirected Blade’s magic. Does that mean I can get out of here?”

His face brightens. “Oh, yeah.”

I cross to the door. He takes an uncertain step back when I clap a hand on his shoulder and step over the threshold. “Jonas, you may regret this, but you’re my new best friend.”

Chapter Thirty

LEILAH

The Police

I send Jonas back to his room with the promise that I won’t rat him out to Blade, then quickly draw the curtains and arranged pillows beneath the blanket to look like a sleeping body.

An hour later, I get out of a cab in front of the White Plains police station. Pound Ridge doesn’t list any homicide detectives, so I’m figuring the bigger city of White Plains handled Grams’ case. They ruled the case suicide, but a detective had to investigate to come to that conclusion. I enter the station and go through security, then approach the front desk where a balding police officer sits.