Page 49 of Death Card

“Have you read them all?” I force a breezy tone, careful not to make eye contact.

“Not all of them.”

All of my sappy feelings from earlier have disappeared. I’m back in interrogation mode. “Do you have any magical objects, too? Like a crystal ball or a dagger?”

She looks up sharply. “Why would I have a dagger?”

“In the old days when more people believed in the existence of magic, some witches would carry protection at all times in case their magic failed them. They would enchant daggers to strike true.”

I finally look up to stare deep into her eyes, searching for hesitancy or a sharp intake of breath. She doesn’t even notice that I’m inside her head.

“You learn something new every day,” she says. Her gaze drifts back to her bookshelf. “I just read books. Other than the potions, I’ve never tried to practice.”

False. A memory appears at the forefront of her mind—a younger version of her kneels before a pool of water. Moonlight reflects off the surface. Her lips move as she clutches a piece of clear quartz. I’m not sure what spell she was trying to cast, but she clearly has attempted to practice before.

This is the first time Joelle has lied to me—or at least, it’s the first lie I’ve caught her in.

The buzz of my phone wakes me from my trance. Orion’s cocky grin stares up at me from my screen.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “Let me see what he wants.”

I walk out into the hallway before answering. “What is it?” I hiss into the speaker.

“Aye!” His voice ricochets through the line, stabbing my eardrums. “I’m at a party with the boys, and you’ll never guess who’s here.”

I roll my eyes. He interrupted for this? “Who?” I sigh.

“Aria Hightower. Can you believe it?”

A rush of adrenaline flows through my bloodstream. What are the odds that Orion would run into her so soon after our encounter at Crescent Moon? I’m not sure whether this is a lucky coincidence, but there’s only one way to find out.

“Where are you?” I ask. “I’ll come meet you.”

He yells out the address over the heavy bass in the background. As I hang up, I whirl around to find Joelle peeking into the hallway.

“Is Orion okay?” she asks.

“Everything’s fine. He was telling me about a party he’s at.”

Her eyes widen. “A house party? We have to go!”

“Actually—”

“Let me change really quick and I’ll be ready!” She darts down the hall to her bedroom before I can make up an excuse as to why she shouldn’t go with me.

The two competing crises of my life—Joelle and the Hightowers—are on a direct collision course. This should certainly make for a night to remember.

21

I park asclose to the house as I can, and we walk the rest of the way. The ground beneath my feet practically vibrates with how loud the music is.

Joelle catches my eye. “I wonder what their neighbors think,” she says.

“Half of them are probably paid off, and the other half are probably too afraid to call the cops.”

Britney Dupree’s best friend, Christine, throws legendary house parties. I’ve never been to one thanks to my rivalry with Britney, but my brother has attended more than his fair share. He never has an invite, but that doesn’t stop him. Despite the tension between Britney and me, Orion will take any and every opportunity to party.

I’ve heard that the Duprees have the police association in their back pocket, and Christine’s parents travel a lot for work, so there’s really nothing standing in the way of their good time.