Page 43 of The Glittering Edge

Alonso glances at Penny, who meets his eyes. Something passes between them.

“What?” Corey says.

“Yeah,” Penny says. “Tell us why you stopped by.”

“Not in front ofhim,” Alonso says, and then his eyes go wide. “Was this your evil plan, Penny? Get us into these outfits and trick us into breaking the curse?”

“Breaking the…” Corey’s heart is suddenly pounding. “What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t supposed to be here for this, Corey, but I guess you would’ve found out anyway.” Alonso holds out his arms, as if to present himself on a silver platter. “I want to help.”

“Help with what?” Corey says.

“Your football plays. The hell do you think, Barrion? I’m talking about the curse.”

That doesn’t make sense. Corey looks to Penny, but she’s staring at Alonso with bright eyes.

“You’re being serious?” she asks.

“How would you help?” Corey says. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“What if I found a way?”

“You’re not a witch, remember?”

Alonso smirks at Penny. “So you couldn’t keep his secret, but you kept mine? I’m flattered.”

It clicks. Corey is either going to pass out or projectile vomit. “Please tell me you don’t have magic.”

Alonso’s jaw pops to one side, but he doesn’t say anything.

Corey takes a step back, holding out his hands. “This is a joke, right?”

“Calm down, Golden Boy—”

“You’re telling me the Council lied to us. That your family has had their magic this whole time, and my family hadno idea.”

“I never said anything about the rest of my coven.”

Corey barely hears him. His skin is hot with anger, because his family has been living across the street from the De Lucas like defenseless animals.

He has to do something. Alonso can’t be allowed to use magic on him or anyone else. Corey steps forward, ready to scream, to fight, to hurt Alonso as much as humanly possible.

Then Alonso holds up a hand.

“Feet on ground, soul on ice,” he whispers, and the words echo into every crevice of the room.

And then Corey is frozen.

It’s like sleep paralysis except worse, because the weight isn’t only on his chest. It’s all over him, as if a hundred walls are pressing on every angle of his body at the same time, holding him up. Suddenly he’s on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Before you lose your composure,” Alonso says, “I need to explain a few things.”

Penny grabs Corey’s arm, but he can’t feel it. Her eyes are full of terror, but when she looks at Alonso, they grow dark. Angry.

“What did you do to him?” she says.

“It’ll wear off in a minute. I just need to get some stuff off my chest.” Alonso holds up one finger. “First of all, the Councildidseal my family’s magic. When I was a kid, I realized I could use mine. I don’t know how it happened or why.Second, my family has no idea, because I’ve barely ever used it.” He frowns. “Well… except now.”

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