Page 144 of The Glittering Edge

i’m sorry penny. we tried.

ALONSO DE LUCA has left the group chat.

Alonso

ALONSO THROWS HIS PHONE ONTO THE TABLE. “THERE, I TOLD HER I’Mdone. You happy?”

The old woman across the table gives Alonso a glare he wishes he could emulate. Her gray curls are gathered into a bun on top of her head, and even though she must be at least eighty, her skin has almost no wrinkles. Milton Pierre stands behind her, arms crossed over his chest.

“Grandma, we should go soon,” Milton says. “We got an appointment at the shop.”

Mrs. Katherine Pierre turns the full force of her glare on Milton. “We go when I say we go.”

Milton sighs. “Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. Pierre looks to Alonso’s mom and aunts, who sit on the other end of the table. “You really expect us to believe you never knew your boy had his magic? None of y’all had aninkling?”

“If we had known, we never would’ve let him get into this situation,” Vera says, her voice low.

“You don’t know how stubborn he is,” Donna mutters. “If he decides to keep a secret from us, wild horses can’t get it out of him.”

“He didn’t hurt anyone,” Emilia says quietly.

“That isn’t the point,” Mrs. Pierre says. “I’m here to make sure the Council’s integrity isn’t threatened by an overgrown child with no respect.”

“Thanks,” Alonso mutters, trying to ignore his pounding head.He spent one night in the hospital for observation, but it only made him feel worse. He didn’t sleep at all. How could he when Mrs. Emberly was two floors up?

Thinking of Mrs. Emberly makes him think of Penny, which makes the pounding worse. Something in his chest twists, and Alonso doubles over, clutching the front of his shirt.

He was so close to having Penny. Now, they’re over before they really began.

That thought is too big. It fills every vein in his body and makes him feel weak, like he no longer has control of his limbs. Alonso closes his eyes, trying to push it away. He used to tell himself that Penny was better off without him, but fuck that. He would love her better than anyone could. He would protect her.

But that’s a lie, because Alonso couldn’t break the curse. He’s useless after all.

Mrs. Pierre stands up, and even though she’s a foot shorter than Alonso, she towers over him in every other way.

“We don’t know how his magic escaped the Council’s binding,” Mrs. Pierre says, “but to make sure this never happens again, we’re going to require your coven to leave its seat of power. The magic in the soil is too strong. It might be why he was able to access his abilities in the first place.”

Alonso drops his hands to his lap. “You’re not serious.”

Mrs. Pierre’s eye twitches, which probably indicates she is indeed serious, and also that Alonso is annoying her.

“Mom,” Alonso says, hoping she’ll come up with some argument to save them. But his mom just sits there, eyes closed. It’s like she’s a ghost of herself.

“We were going to leave anyway,” Aunt Donna says. “The Barrions sent us a hefty check this morning. They’re buying our house.”

“They’rewhat?”

“Alonso!” Vera snaps. “Enough!”

Alonso gapes at her. This doesn’t make sense. Even though they live across the street, the world of the De Lucas’ home has neverbelonged to the Barrions. They might as well reside in another dimension.

“You told them no, didn’t you?” Alonso says. “You won’t let them do this.”

None of his family members respond.

“Wow. Okay.” Alonso shoots to his feet. “I’ll tell them where they can shove their check—”

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