“If you want to split hairs.”

My dad let go of the railing with one hand. He extended his arm like he was trying to balance on a tightrope.

“Dad, don’t do it!”

“Rid, don’t do this.” Link was walking toward her, slowly. I could hear the chain from his wallet jingling.

“Didn’t you hear what your friend said? I’m a witch. A bad one.” She took off her shades, revealing those golden feline eyes. I could hear Link’s breath catch in his throat, as if he was really seeing her for the first time. But only for a second.

“Maybe you are, but you aren’t all bad. I know that. We’ve spent time together. We’ve shared things.”

“That was part of the plan, Hot Rod. I needed an in, so I could stay close to Lena.”

Link’s face dropped. Whatever Ridley had done to him, whatever she had Cast, his feelings for her were bigger than that. “So it was all crap? I don’t believe you.”

“Believe what you want, it’s the truth. As close to the truth as I’m capable of, anyway.”

I watched my dad shift his weight, his free arm still stretched outward, swaying up and down. It seemed like he was trying to test his wings, to see if he could fly. A few feet away, an artillery shell hit the ground outside and a spray of dirt burst into the air.

“What about everything you told me about you and Lena growin’ up together? How you two were like sisters? Why would you want to hurt her?” Something passed across her face. I wasn’t sure, but it almost looked like regret. Was that possible?

“It’s not up to me. I’m not the one calling the shots. Like I said, this is my job. Get Ethan away from Lena. I’ve got nothing against this old guy, but his mind is weak. You know, one biscuit short of a picnic.” She licked her lollipop. “He was just an easy target.”

Get Ethan away from Lena.

This whole thing was a diversion to separate us. I could hear Arelia’s voice as clearly as if she was still kneeling over me.

It’s not the house that protects her. No Caster can come between them.

How could I have been so stupid? It wasn’t a question of whether or not I had some kind of power. It was never about me. It was about us.

The power was what was between us, what had always been between us. Finding each other on Route 9 in the rain. Turning the same way at the fork in the road. It didn’t take a Binding Cast to keep us together. Now that they had managed to separate us, I was powerless. And Lena was alone, on the night she needed me with her the most.

I couldn’t think clearly. I was out of time, and I wasn’t going to lose one more person I loved. I ran toward my dad, and even though it was just a few feet, it felt like I was running through quicksand. I saw Ridley step forward, her hair twisting in the wind like Medusa’s whole head of snakes.

I saw Link step forward and grab her shoulder. “Rid, don’t do it.”

For a split second, I had no idea what was going to happen. I saw everything in slow motion.

My dad turned to look back at me.

I saw him start to let go of the railing.

I saw Ridley’s pink and blond strands twisting.

And I saw Link standing in front of her, staring into those golden eyes, whispering something I couldn’t hear. She looked at Link, and without another word, her lollipop went sailing over the railing. I watched it arc down to the ground below, exploding like shrapnel. It was over.

As quickly as my father had turned away from the railing, he turned back toward it, toward me. I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him forward, over the railing and onto the balcony floor. He fell in a crumpled heap, and lay there looking up at me like a frightened child.

“Thank you, Ridley. I mean, whatever that was. Thanks.”

“I don’t want your thanks,” she sneered, pulling away from Link and adjusting the strap of her top. “I didn’t do either of you a favor. I just didn’t feel like killing him. Today.”

She tried to sound menacing, but she ended up just sounding childish. She twirled a pink strand of hair. “Though that’s not gonna make some people too happy.” She didn’t have to say who, but I could see the fear in her eyes. For a second, I could see how much of her persona was just an act. Smoke and mirrors.

Despite everything, even now, as I tried to pull my father to his feet, I felt sort of sorry for her. Ridley could have any guy on the planet, and yet all I could see was how alone she was. She wasn’t nearly as strong as Lena was, not inside.

Lena.

Lena, are you okay?

I’m fine. What’s wrong?

I looked at my father. He couldn’t keep his eyes open, and he was having trouble standing.

Nothing. Are you with Larkin?

Yes, we’re headed back to Ravenwood. Is your dad okay?

He’s fine. I’ll explain when I get there.

I slid my arm under my dad’s shoulder, while Link grabbed his other side.

Stay with Larkin, and get back inside with your family. You’re not safe alone.

Before we could even take a step, Ridley sauntered by us, back through the open balcony doors, those ten-mile legs stepping across the threshold. “Sorry, boys. I gotta jet, maybe head back to New York for a while, lay low. It’s cool.” She shrugged.

Even though she was a monster, Link couldn’t help but watch her go. “Hey, Rid?”

She stopped and turned to look at him, almost ruefully. Like she couldn’t help what she was any more than a shark could help being a shark, but if she could…