Page 44 of The Glittering Edge

Corey is going to end him.

“And third, I might’ve found a way to break the curse.”

Suddenly it’s not just Corey’s body that isn’t working. His ears fill with a high buzzing sound that drowns out everything else.

Alonso lowers his hand, and Corey’s limbs become heavy. It’s likelifting a full pitcher of water when you’re expecting it to be empty. Corey loses his balance, stumbling to his knees.

There’s a long silence. While the pins and needles of the spell recede, Corey slowly straightens up.

“I’m leaving,” he says, his voice quivering. “Penny, you’re coming with me.”

“Corey, hang on. We should hear him out.”

Corey’s voice explodes out of him like a bomb. “No.We should run as fast as we can. You saw what he did to me, right? And you know what’s happening to your mom! That’s what magic does.”

“But that’s not all it does!” Penny stands in front of the door, holding one hand out in Corey’s direction. “Please, Corey. Please stay. What if he’s right?”

“And what if he curses somebody else? That will be on our heads. Believe me, we’re all better off with his magic under lock and key.”

Alonso shrugs. “Fine. It’s Penny’s mom’s funeral.”

Corey sees red. Before he even registers what he’s feeling, he lunges at Alonso.

“Stop!” Penny shouts. She throws herself between them, placing her hands on Corey’s chest to hold him back.

“Why are you defending him?” Corey’s voice is too loud, but he can’t hold this in. “His family killed my mom!”

“You’re right. And my mom is about to join her, which is why I’m willing to tryanything.” Penny leans in a little closer, and her eyes capture Corey just like they did at the hospital, pulling him in until he can barely tell which way is up.

“We know what will happen if Alonso’s magic can’t help us,” she says, “but what if it can?”

Corey wants to move away from her, but he’s rooted to the spot. This time, it isn’t because of magic. It’s because of the sadness in Penny’s face. The desperation.

Corey recognizes it. He feels it.

But working with Alonso De Luca isn’t an option. Itcan’tbe, evenif he wants to break the curse more than anything. But isn’t that why Corey came here today? To tell Penny he wanted to find a way to save her mom, no matter what?

Corey turns to the witch. He doesn’t bother keeping the warning out of his voice. “Why are you willing to do this now? Why didn’t your family step up before my mom died? Or my uncle, or my cousins?”

Alonso’s face darkens. “I told you, my family doesn’t know about my magic.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell them?”

“Because I don’t want it.”

Corey scoffs. “Right. That’s why you’re parading it in front of us now.”

“You know this curse has defined my entire life, too, right? Without magic, it’s like everyone in my family is missing a vital organ or something.”

“Then why don’t you give their magic back to them?” Corey says. “What’s stopping you?”

“A single witch isn’t strong enough to unseal anyone’s magic. I don’t even know why I can use mine. It was a fluke.” Alonso shakes his head. “I’ve ignored it for years, but if I have it, I might as well try to be useful.”

“Why don’t you use it?” Penny asks.

Alonso’s jaw tenses. “It’s destructive. Look what it’s done to the Barrions.”

The words hit Corey hard, cracking the foundation his life was built on. This is the first time Alonso has ever come close to an apology, or even an acknowledgment of the harm his family has done.

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