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“I need to go over there.” Cassandra pointed at the area behind the truck.

I followed.

The moment she stepped out of view of the store’s entrance, she shoved her wet hair out of her face and flopped against the vehicle. “Goddess above, did you see that?”

“I did,” I assured her.

She combed her fingers through her hair. The damp tendrils were starting to curl in a terribly becoming way.

“I can’t believe I did that.”

“I can. I’m pretty sure you’ve had that ability all along.”

She blew out a long breath. “Me too. I think he’s been manipulating me for a very long time. Using me as a cover for his misdeeds.”

“I agree.”

I had become apparent to me during our discussion on the drive over that Cassandra was not to blame for all those forced regeneration situations. But I knew she needed to figure it out for herself.

And she did so, spectacularly.

Movement caught my eye. I jolted as Wyldfire leaped onto the tailgate and bumped her head against Cassandra’s arm. She scooped her up and cuddled the wet cat against her chest.

She did not appear relieved or shocked. “She’d already jumped off the cart before Uncle Lewey blasted it with magic,” she said, “so I knew she was okay. When he told me to calm down and I wanted to blast him into the stratosphere, I saw her sitting on the truck. She nodded, like she was giving me permission. And I realized she wasn’t giving me permission to send him into outer space—that probably isn’t even possible—but to use my magic.

“Like, all of a sudden, I realized my magic was perfectly fine. I could handle him. And I could do it without alerting the humans to what I was doing. It was a perfect moment of clarity, and it was all because of her.

“Well, and you.” She gave me a shy look through her lashes.

“Me?” What had I done?

“You believed in me. You didn’t question me. And you weren’t running away after I confessed.”

“Because I knew you hadn’t done it. At least, not on purpose.”

“Exactly.” She placed the cat on the bumper. “Come here and hug me. I’m afraid to stand upright at the moment. Still a little shaky.”

I hurried over and pulled her into my arms, holding her maybe a little too tightly. Or maybe not, considering she sank into me like she never wanted to part from me again.

I liked that idea.

“Here are your stupid supplies.”

Reluctantly, I pulled away, keeping my hands on Cassandra’s biceps in case she needed the support.

She smiled. And then stepped away from the truck to face her uncle. He thrust the list at her. “Really? This is a thing now?” He waved his finger between the two of us.

Cassandra’s smile turned sly. “Yeah, it is.”

I was hoping she’d say that.

Her uncle pointed at himself. “I’m the one who’s been obsessing over the guy, and you’re the one who wins him over. Unbelievable.”

“Very different tactics,” I said.

“Whatever.” He blew a raspberry. “I’m out of here. Have a nice life. I’m sure I won’t.”

He stalked across the parking lot.