Page 86 of Magic in the Moonlight

“You haven’t asked for anything yet,” I point out, “aside from my agreement to join your society, which I already declined to do, and now you understand why.”

Sighing heavily, like it’s a great burden for him to speak his request, he says, “Will you travel to the past so you can right the wrongs done to my family?”

I look down at Hannah’s beautiful face. She’s sleeping peacefully, with a small smile on her face as she dreams about something good.

The physical contact with me is giving her a false reprieve from her illness, but I can feel the bargain working. Her lifeforce is weakening so fast.

If she were awake, she’d probably advise me not to make any promises, but I’ll do anything for her, even make a deal with a man like Envy.

Like it or not, we’re at his mercy. Braham has my flask, and the Valonite collar isn’t coming off unless Envy wants it to.

“Under two conditions,” I reply, coming precariously close to binding myself to a bargain. “First, we complete this mission as soon as possible. Second, once I’ve done my duty, Hannah and I are free to leave.”

“Where will you go? If you’re both going to perish, why does it matter where you are?”

“The solution to Hannah’s illness is directly linked to an interrupted bargain, and that leads me to my next warning.” Speaking more to Yorenzo than anyone else—because he seems to be the one with the brains—I go on to explain how magical deals cause a weak spot in the plane, and that when the terms are changed, the realities split. “That’s how alternate universes are made, and I need to take Hannah to the one running parallel to hers. I would’ve done it days ago, but by the time we realized she was suffering symptoms, I had already used the last of the amplifier, and that’s why we’ve been making more.”

Envy is quiet and thoughtful for several moments. “So you’re saying if you stop my ancestor from making the bargain in the first place, a new universe will be created?”

“Yes, but it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t at least try to get you to reconsider.”

Envy’s face pinches with distaste. “Why would I reconsider what I’ve been planning my entire life?”

“Because derailing the bargain won’t affectthisreality. In this universe, you’ll still be a king in hiding, and King Zoren will occupy the palace just as he does now.”

“So, I need to live in the new universe,” he concludes confidently.

Perhaps I didn’t give him enough credit in the smarts department because he seems to be following along just fine. “I suppose that would be a solution.”

He smiles, and his tone turns wistful. “I kind of like the sound of that… my own universe. I’ll need to come with you, then.”

My advice for caution wasn’t an invitation, but he’s not wrong. He could travel with us and live out his days in the past after the bargain splits.

“You don’t know what this other world looks like,” I say seriously. “It might be worse than this one.”

“Impossible. I will be king. Anywhere I’m ruling, all will be as it should.”

“No, your ancestor will be king,” I correct. “If Ackealenvyos the First wins the tournament, as you say he will, the crown will be his.”

Despite the off-putting fact, Envy still grins. “You let me worry about that. Just get me there, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

I tip my head toward Braham. “I’ll need my flask back.”

“We’re going now?” Excited, the fake king stands so fast his ill-fitting crown starts to fall off his head.

“No,” I respond, causing him to deflate. “First, I need to return to the farm to continue production. It’ll take three or four times what I have now to make your jump and my own.”

“How long will it take you to produce this much amplifier?”

“Working around the clock… two days, maybe. Believe me, I’m going to get it done in record time. Hannah’s life depends on it.”

“Excellent.” Happy to have gotten his way, Envy claps his hands. “So it’s a deal, yes?”

“Yes.” My gritted answer solidifies the promise, and it settles in my chest before wrapping around my new soul.

HANNAH

“Idon’t like how they’re looking at me,” I whisper to Ellister as we stand by the distiller.

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