Page 145 of The Glittering Edge

Milton’s voice cuts Alonso off:“Feet on ground, soul on ice.”

An icy weight traps Alonso, and he is caught mid-step. It figures someone would use the same exact spell Alonso used on Corey. That’s got to be karmic retribution.

Milton appears in front of Alonso, looking disappointed. “Gotta rein it in, man. You’re done.”

Alonso doesn’t want Milton looking at him that way. Like he’s a bundle of wasted potential. For a second, when Alonso was convinced they would break the curse, he daydreamed about training with Milton. Clearly that’s never going to happen.

“He won’t be upset for long,” Alonso’s mom says. “He’s been begging us to leave Idlewood for years. He’s getting exactly what he wanted.”

Alonso is suddenly glad he can’t look at his mom. There was never much hope of them getting their magic back, but his actions have made it impossible to hope at all. And worst of all, Alonsowantshis magic. He wants to keep learning, to get stronger, to make his family proud—to make Penny proud.

That will never happen now.

Mrs. Pierre continues. “We’ll arrange for some temporary housing in Bloomington. Then you can decide where to relocate.”

Milton whispers a few words, and Alonso can move again. He wastes no time turning to Mrs. Pierre and falling to his knees. She flinches as he clasps his hands together.

“Please,” Alonso says, “don’t make us leave Idlewood. It’s the last bit of our identity we have left.”

Mrs. Pierre glances at Alonso’s mom. “You want to give your boy a reality check, or should I?”

Alonso’s mom stands up. “You were right, Alonso. We’re mortals. And you’ll be joining us soon enough.” She pauses, the tips of her fingers touching the old table like it’s a member of their family. “It’s time for us to start over.”

“That’s not what you want,” Alonso says.

“I want you to besafe. And that means we need to get away from that family.” She pulls Alonso to his feet, nails digging into his arm. Then she points at the solarium. “Now go.”

Milton and his grandmother follow Alonso into the solarium in a solemn procession. His mom and the aunts sequester themselves in another part of the house, because watching their family lose magic yet again is too much for any of them.

Alonso is on his own.

He stands in the middle of the room. Mrs. Pierre stands to the north, Milton to the south. Alonso is sweating, and as they raise their arms, words come pouring out from his mouth.

“If I’m so impressive, you shouldn’t seal my magic. Train me, and I’ll work for the Council. I’ll do anything.” At another sharp look from Milton, Alonso adds, “Ma’am.”

Mrs. Pierre looks like she wants to slap him. “Maybe in another universe, boy. But that won’t be your story.”

Alonso stares at his phone. The screen lights up with another text from Penny, but he can’t open it. He doesn’t want to tell her that he’s losing his magic, because that’s the only reason she ever needed him. What could he offer her now besides a bad temper and a worse reputation?

“Are you ready?” Milton says.

“Get it over with,” Alonso mutters.

They raise their arms. They speak softly, maybe because they don’t want Alonso to hear.

He closes his eyes.

His mom was right. Alonso never wanted magic, and he’s finally getting his wish. But as Alonso’s veins begin to thrum, his body is immediately covered in a layer of sweat. The words grow louder. Heputs his hands over his ears, shouts something even he can’t understand, but the words of the binding spell are impossible to unhear:

“In every crevice, take every drop.

Forget the self that moves through the Veil.

Forget the words, forget the feeling

of glitter in the blood.

Bury the power, seal this witch

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