Peter’s throat bobbed, and his eyes dipped to his hands, then back up to my face. “Why didn’t you use the earpiece I gave you? You could’ve been seriously hurt if she’d managed a direct hit with that spell.” His nostrils flared. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t confront her alone.”
I raised my brows. Riiiightt… about that. I certainly couldn’t tell him the truth—that I wasn’t able to use it because I didn’t have magic anymore. I darted a quick glance at the stony-faced Daisy. And I couldn’t outright lie with the truth-o-meter nearby.
I licked my lips. “Well… it just all happened so fast. Madeline pulled me into a clothing rack out of nowhere, then dragged me over to Aileen. And the questioning started out calm enough, but it escalated out of nowhere and—”
Daisy growled, quiet at first and then a deep rumbling that interrupted my thoughts. We both glanced over at her when she jumped to her feet and barked. Liar! Whatever you’re saying, you’re lying to my Peter!
Peter looked at Daisy, then up at me, his brows lifted and pinched together in the middle. His deep blue eyes pleaded with me to tell the truth—we all knew I was hiding something, but, gentleman that he was, he didn’t outright call me on it. My stomach twisted.
Part of me really wanted to come clean. To drop the act and just tell him everything. But Will’s voice sounded in my head, warning me of the dangers to everyone from Ludolf if I exposed any shifter secrets to the police. The danger I’d put Peter in.
I heard Aileen’s voice, too. In my experience, it never ended well when people found out who you really were. It never ended well when street rats tried to improve their station in life. I wanted to be good enough to deserve Peter—but at heart, I was just an orphan from the Darkmoon District.
So I pressed my lips tight together in a small smile. “I’ll make sure to call you next time.”
Daisy growled again, and pain flashed through Peter’s eyes. He knew I was lying to him. But still, he reached over, took my hand, and squeezed it. It broke my heart.
He managed a little smile. “Let’s hope there isn’t a next time.” His grin widened. “Not that that wasn’t a pretty fantastic tackle. But maybe don’t throw yourself in the path of danger next time.” He raised his brows, and his eyes searched my face.
I waved it off with my other hand. “I was fine.”
“Yeah… but….” His throat bobbed. “Some of us were worried for you.”
A wave of emotion rolled over me, and I felt as though the room were swaying. He squeezed my hand again, tighter this time. I wanted to return the gesture—and more. A few days ago, and this would’ve made me practically giddy.
“Hey... I wanted to ask you something.” He grinned, though there was something else behind his eyes. Fear? “And it’s not to go undercover at a sweatshop again.”
I sniffed. “Good.” My heart thundered in my chest, his hand still closed around mine. But I tried to make light of it. “Because I don’t think they’ll take me back after I mangled every piece of fabric I touched.”
He chuckled. “No, I, uh—” He scratched the back of his neck, then gave me an earnest look. “The policeman’s ball is coming up, and... I was wondering if you wanted to go with me? As my date?”
My breath caught. I wanted to say yes, but Peter didn’t know the real me. And if he did, I doubted even the wonderful man that he was would accept me for me. I didn’t even accept me for me. And even worse, I’d be putting him in danger with Ludolf and his goons.
My chest clenched, painfully, but I pulled my hand away and forced myself to roll my eyes. “Okay, Dad, first of all, you don’t need to worry about me so much.” My throat tightened.
His smile faltered.
I made myself keep going. I pushed off the runway and dropped to my feet, ignoring the hand he offered to help me down. “I’m fine. I can take care of myself.” I winked at him, though my stomach twisted. “As for the other thing, it’s been a long night—I think I’m gonna head back home. I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
And before he could offer to escort me, as I knew he would, I sped off up an aisle toward the exit. I shoved my hands into my pockets to hide their trembling.
27
TOLD YOU
Heidi let me into the clinic the next night, and then ran behind the counter to grab her wand. “Hold still.”
I waited, just inside the door, to be dried off like a wet dog. A small puddle formed under my feet, and rivulets of rainwater trickled from my hairline down to my chin. It was times like these I missed my magic the most—simple spells, like the umbrella one, would’ve really come in handy during the sudden summer downpours.
Heidi, sporting her usual unbuttoned white lab coat, bounded out from behind the receptionist’s desk and pointed her wand at me. She muttered a few quick words, a pink light flashed at the tip of her wand, and a pleasant heat engulfed me.
Steam rose from my arms, and my scalp tingled. Within a minute, I was completely dry. Even the puddle on the linoleum had evaporated.
I took a deep breath and let it out, feeling much warmer. “Thanks, lady.”
She grinned. “No problem.” Her smile faltered, and she opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
“I’ve already seen it.”
Her shoulders slumped. “You have?” She bit her lip, her eyes tight with worry. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Is Will free? I thought it only fair
