Page 178 of The Glittering Edge

“Can we stop it?” Corey asks, his voice distant.

“We have to cancel it out,” Penny says. “With another bargain.”

Corey nods. “Fine. I’ll do it today.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Penny says.

“Do you have the book, Penny?” Alonso says. “The grimoire?”

Penny reaches into her backpack and hands it over to Alonso. “I’ve been carrying it around with me. I’m scared to leave it alone.”

Alonso flips through the book once, twice, three times. “It shouldbe right here… Wait.” He opens the book wider, and along the gutter are the remnants of four or five pages.

Understanding dawns on Penny. “The pages were torn out.”

“Someone took the chapter on bargains?” Corey says.

“Wonder who,” Alonso mutters.

Corey’s expression darkens. “I guess we know where to look.”

If Corey is this quick to believe his grandfather would hurt his family, what does that mean about how Charles Barrion has treated all of them? What else has Corey had to endure, growing up in that man’s shadow?

And, because of this bargain, Corey’s pain will get worse before it gets better. Penny steels herself for what she has to say next.

“There’s one more thing, Corey,” Penny says. “You have to make an equivalent sacrifice.”

“An equivalent sacrifice,” Corey repeats. “Are you saying I have to… to kill someone?”

“I don’t know, Corey. It’s what your grandmother told me.”

They look at each other. The dark circles under Corey’s eyes are prominent, and Alonso grits his teeth. Even after everything they’ve gone through, this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. But underneath their exhaustion and anger, there’s determination. It makes Penny stand taller.

“We’ll fix this,” Penny says. “Right?”

“No,” Corey says. “This is on me now. You two shouldn’t be involved.”

Alonso sighs and grabs Corey’s shoulder. “Respectfully, that’s stupid.”

Corey watches him with uncertainty. “How could you possibly want to help me after everything my family has put you through?”

“Because I’m a superpowerful witchandan altruist. Plus, the record store cut my hours when they hired me again, so I have a lot of free time.”

Corey frowns, but some of the tension disappears. “Can we talk about this in a few days? I need… I don’t know. To think, I guess.”

“Yeah, of course,” Penny says. “We should go drink lemonade anyway.”

Corey’s eyes linger on Penny, and her face heats up. There’s a look in his eyes that wasn’t there before—hesitation mixed with something else. Something warm.

Then it’s over, and Corey looks away. “Actually, I have to go. Football practice.”

“Oh,” Penny says, but Corey has already turned away from them. Penny and Alonso watch him walk to his car, all broad shoulders and words unsaid.

“Stoic fuck,” Alonso says as Corey drives away.

“That almost sounded affectionate.”

Alonso’s face softens. “I respect him, you know. For everything.”

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