Page 106 of Possession

“Because Henry said that the wards at the Institute were reinforced,” I reply. As we walk on, I keep my gaze fixed solely on the ground.

“And…?”

Time to break the news. “And… that means it would be difficult to summon someone at the Institute, so you’re going to summon someone here. For me.”

“A summoning. That’s why you wanted me along.” He glances at me, somewhat amused. “Well, might I ask who I’m fetching?”

I consider lying, but he’s been nothing but helpful. And I trust him.

“Do you remember when the Institute was broken into a few months back, and I escaped?” I ask.

“Yeah. Classes were canceled for a week—it was great.” He hesitates, adjusting the tie of his uniform. “You know, except for wondering if the world was going to end.”

“Right, well, I didn’t get out on my own. A girl snuck into the Institute to free me.”

He pauses for a moment. “I heard about that, too. She killed Sergei, didn’t she?”

“Who’s Sergei?” I ask.

“He was on duty, watching you. When we discovered you left, we found his body.”

I fall silent. I’d completely forgotten about the guard Cera killed. Sergei. I commit the name to memory and swear to myself that it won’t disappear.

“Oh,” I say uselessly.

“I’d just like to clarify—you want me to summon a murderer?” he asks skeptically. “Did Aris happen to scramble your brains while he was in you?”

I shoot him a look. “No, he didn’t. And yes, I do. I need her help.”

“With what? If you want out of the Institute, you’re free to go. No need to call this one up.”

“It isn’t that. It’s—I need her to teach me magic.”

He falters a step. “Henry could help you with that. He could even summon her.” Then, quicker, “Don’t get me wrong. I love a Mary-Simon team-up, but he’s better.”

“I don’t think he’d like me learning magic, given the consequences.”

“There aren’t any consequences unless… Wait, you want to summon this girl so she can teach you magic without a conduit?” There is a beat, and I weave around a group of people to avoid the incredulous stare that I know he’s sending my way. “Come on, that’s basic stuff! You can’t be using magic without a wand.”

“You can.”

“Not without consequences.”

“And what consequences are those?” I ask, annoyed. “No one will give me a straight answer.”

“Because no one knows anyone dumb enough to use disordered magic! It demands a cost, Mary.”

“And I’ll pay it.”

“What’s sent you off the deep end?” When I don’t immediately respond, I feel Simon’s gaze on me, studying my face. “You saw him again, didn’t you?”

He doesn’t need to clarify who “him” is; we both know.

My lips purse. “In a dream,” I admit.

“Then the wards still aren’t working.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m not taking the chance of a summoning at the Institute. Any number of things could go wrong, and I’m not waiting any longer.”

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