Page 81 of The Glittering Edge

“I’ll see you soon?” Penny says.

Naomi doesn’t answer.

Later, as she drives to IHOP, Penny’s mind races.

I’ll tell Naomi everything as soon as this is over, she promises herself.She’ll understand. She’ll be so happy I left her out of it. I know it’s the right thing.

But it doesn’t feel right. Every mile Penny drives puts another ocean between her and Naomi—and between Penny and her old life.

Alonso

“I REALLY DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IT,” ALONSO SAYS, SHOVING HALF Apancake into his mouth.

IHOP is empty. They’re sitting in a corner booth, listening to thunder gathering in the evening sky. Alonso is the only one eating. Across from him, Penny stares into her water glass. Corey is basically unresponsive. Alonso keeps staring at him to make sure he’s blinking.

“You two should have toast or something. Can’t fight evil on an empty stomach.” Alonso drowns the remainder of his chocolate chip pancakes in cherry syrup.

Corey presses his fist to his mouth. “I’m going to be sick if I have to watch you eat that.”

“Is that a promise?”

Penny grabs her water glass with both hands, but she doesn’t take a drink. “Maybe Milton got it wrong.”

“He sent me the marriage license,” Corey says, pulling up a text and sliding his phone over to Penny.

Penny zooms in and reads it aloud: “‘This confirms that John Edward Mayberry and Saskia Barnhardt were united in matrimony.’ Why didn’t your family know about this, Alonso?”

Alonso’s stomach is suddenly queasy, and he pushes his plate away. “Anyone marrying into a coven has to take the coven’s name. That’s why my dad’s last name was De Luca while he and my mom were married.”

“Then why would Saskia Barnhardt change her name?”

“Probably because she didn’t want to be known or remembered as a witch. Why else would she have dropped all her spell books off with my ancestors?” Alonso shakes his head. “Maybe my ancestors knew, but the story got lost over generations. This did happen a long time ago.”

Penny chews her lip. “You said a lot of covens disappear. This woman, Saskia… maybe she wanted a fresh start.” She glances at Corey. “Do you think Dylan knows?”

“There’s no way,” Corey says. “This isn’t the kind of thing Dylan would keep to herself.”

“Yeah, she would’ve cursed a few people on her own by now,” Alonso says.

“That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny. Why leak someone’s nudes when you could make their skin fall off?” Alonso can’t help it; he lets out a low laugh. “How do you do it, man?”

“Alonso,” Penny warns.

“Come on, you know you’re curious.”

“I picture my dead mother,” Corey says.

Alonso’s laugh dies in his throat. He turns back to his pancakes, avoiding Penny’s eyes.

They fall silent, watching storm clouds darken the sky. A few drops of rain hit the window.

“I guess we should see what we can find out,” Penny says.

“About what?” Corey says.

“Well, would the Mayberrys have any reason to curse your family?”

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