Devlin shoots me a harsh look before turning to my grandmother, who came outside as soon as we motioned for her to.
“It’s good to see you, Rebecca,” he says casually as if some weird magic hasn’t just ripped through us.
It occurs to me—where are Nana’s handlers? Where’s my aunt? My mother? Who’s supposed to be watching her? Who has left their post and is letting my grandmother run amok?
“It’s not good to see her,” I snap at Devlin. “She’s a bad omen. Everyone knows that, so don’t lie.”
He slips his hands into his pockets. “I’m not lying.”
Nana grins at me. “See? Someone’s glad I’m here.”
I just…can’t. “What did you do to us?”
She lifts her palms to the sky and shrugs innocently. “What do you mean?”
“Do not play coy,” I hiss. “What happened out here?”
“You mean to you?”
Oh my word. If this is how this conversation’s going to go, I might throw myself on a knife. “Yes, to us.”
“It looked like to me that the two of y’all were wishing on a star, and a beautiful one at that.” She peers up at the sky. “What a magical night.”
She can shove the innocent act where the sun don’t shine. “We were wishing, but then some weird magic thing happened.” I fold my arms. “What was it?”
“Not sure. You might want to ask the star.”
“Not funny.”
“Well, what did you wish for? Seems like the heavens may have granted it.”
Devlin’s eyes widen in surprise. “It was a joke. A casual wish. It wasn’t anything that should have been taken seriously.”
“Do I look like I rule the night sky?”
“No,” I snap, “but you look like someone who might meddle in the affairs of others.”
“Preposterous. I’m just an old dead woman. Look at me. I’m see-through.” She lifts her brocade skirt to prove that yes, she is indeed transparent. “But if you’re wondering about what happened, test your wish.”
I laugh. “Test it? No. There’s no way?—”
Devlin’s hand is on my skin again. This is happening way too much for my comfort. “Do as she says. Try your power.”
“But—”
His jaw flexes. He’s not joking.
“Fine.”
What should I try? Get Devlin to dance by himself? Yes, that seems appropriate,
So I stare at him, willing him, nudging him to move toward the dance floor (that’s still highly occupied with people, by the way).
But nothing happens. Like I felt before, the power isn’t there. But in its place there’s something else, a nugget of energy that I can’t touch. Like it’s sitting high on a shelf just out of reach.
Oh no. This is bad. I don’t like my power, but I don’t want to lose it.
“I…can’t,” I whisper.
