Page 88 of House of Marionne

“Yes, I do.”

He pops a green candy in his mouth.

I sit up taller. “The amended terms are friends.” I offer him a hand. Instead of shaking my hand, he pours a few candies into it after removing all the green ones.

“Have you tried a purple Skittle? Much better.”

“Sacrilege.” He pulls at my fist of candy, and I tighten my grip on them. “Give me my candies back. You’re not worthy.”

I toss them down in one mouthful, laughing.

I pick up the dagger. “Let’s do it again.”

He nods, and I flex my fingers, letting my magic cool down before starting over. We go again and again until the night yawns and I ache all over, muscles tight. We rest, settling on the sand, the earth cold to my legs.

“You did well,” he says.

“Thanks for not telling me to go take a hike.”

“I wanted to help in a way that would actually reach you. We think so differently.”

I dig my toes in the sand. “How long until the magic wears off?”

“Another few hours.”

“Is it silly that I kind of want to stay here?”

“We can stay as long as you like. No one will disturb us.”

“Will you be there tomorrow?”

“As long as my being there is a help to you.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind you there . . .” I look away to keep from smiling. “If you happen to be free.”

He smiles without hiding it. “I think I can arrange to be free.”

“Well, good. I have another amendment, actually.”

“An amendment to the amendment?”

“Yes.” I put on my serious face. He smiles tightly, undeniably that time, and I guffaw, which unspools something inside of me. I fold my legs under me. “Really good friends. Those are my terms, take it or leave it.” I offer him a hand.

“You drive a hard bargain, Miss Marionne.” He pops a green candy in his mouth. “But I suppose you have yourself a deal.”

TWENTY-EIGHT

The door to the Headmistresses’ suite shuts, and the walls seem to close in around me. I gulp down the lump forming in my throat. Each Headmistress sits around Grandmom’s fire, their eyes glued to my every step. Jordan escorts me, tugging me forward, but my feet stick to the ground.

“You’ve done this practically a thousand times, you have nothing to worry about,” he says, but I hardly hear him.

“Over here, near the window, dear.” Grandmom beckons for me.

“She attempts to cheat with kor,” Beaulah retorts.

“As if we need to cheat,” Grandmom spits.

“Isn’t that what this is? Giving her more time than the others.”

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