“Of course, Mabel.”
“Really.” She puts her hand on my shoulder when we get down to the landing. “No one other than Zeke has cared that much. You fought your sister. And she said some pretty awful things.”
“You heard that?”
She makes a face. “I did and I should have told you before, but you had a lot going on.”
“I still do,” I say with a laugh. “You’re my friend.”
Mabel’s eyes fill with tears. “You’re mine too. And knowing we have each other, it’s like we can handle anything. From demons in a nightclub to evil stepsisters.”
I laugh. “That’s one way to describe her.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I say and start my way to the kitchen to get a pre-workout snack.
“How did you not crumble from the things she said?”
“First of all, it’s nothing new. Larissa has a love-hate relationship with me, though I’m thinking it’s more hate-hate. But everyone has something that can break them. And you can either wear that like armor or like a scab that can be slowly picked away until you’re left standing there bleeding and in pain.”
“I should post that on TikTok.” She pulls out her phone and types in a note, fingers moving with vampire speed. “What scab did you turn into armor?”
“I’m a witch. I’m different. Unclean and unholy in the eyes of the Order. And I realized long ago that I could either let their words hurt me and believe them to be true or I could find it inside to believe that they are wrong. And they are.”
“They are so wrong. There ain’t no other like you. You’re my best Jane.”
Assuming that’s an old-timey way of sayingbest friend, I take her hand and give it a squeeze. “Ride or die, right?”
“More riding and no dying, right?”
We both laugh and keep talking while I get something small to eat. Mabel runs through outfit ideas that will cover up the bite on my neck, and I think we’ve decided on a different dress—for now. Then I go downstairs, crank up the music on my AirPods and start working out. I run three miles, do a leg workout, and have moved on to arms when Xavier appears in the threshold of the workout room.
“You are magnificent,” he tells me, tipping his head as he looks me over.
“I’m sweaty and gross.”
“Still magnificent.” A smile plays on his face. “You’re missing a key part of training.”
“I know. I don’t have any weapons.”
“You do have weapons.” He comes into the room, and I set the dumbbells down. “Where?”
He taps my forehead. “Inside. You are so much more powerful than you’ve let yourself realize, Wren.”
I slowly inhale, trying to catch my breath. “I don’t disagree, but I am pretty clueless how to enhance my magic.”
“Are you? Or have you just been told there’s no other way?”
“Both.” Xavier and I already uncovered how the Order purposely suppressed my psychic abilities. “I don’t want you to hold back.”
“I don’t want to blow up the house.”
He chuckles. “True, you could risk yourself.”
“And the house.”
“Houses can be rebuilt. I’ll set something up. Be ready early for the summit.” Without warning, he’s right in front of me, picking me up and pressing me against the mirrored wall. My legs fasten around him and I grip his shoulders, eyes wide as I stare right at him. My lips part as he leans in and warmth floods through my entire body.
