ALEX FINALLY TEXTED ME AFTER MY TENSE CHICKEN FAJITA lunch with Dad, which had ended with him kissing me on the forehead and promising he’d catch up with me later before taking off in his shiny car. When I saw her name flash across my screen, I was equal parts relieved and terrified to read the message.

I don’t hate u, u loon. Pissed @ Crowe tho. Like to stuff that bird and hang him above the fireplace. R we still heading over to the property together? Have smthing to tell u. Can’t txt it.

The relief that ran through me was nearly palpable.

I’m glad, I replied. I was worried. Stupid rules. Stupid Crowe. Yes lets go together around 4?

Yup I’ll pick you up.

I showered and dressed, and by the time I came out of my bedroom, Alex was having a cup of coffee in the kitchen with my mom. She’d kindly brought me a frozen latte, since I only drank hot coffee in the mornings.

“Is that what you’re wearing to the festival?” Alex asked.

I glanced down at the outfit I’d picked: black leggings, black motorcycle boots, and a loose-fitting gray V-neck tee. “What’s wrong with this?”

“Show some leg!” Alex said. “Maybe some butt cheek. I mean, it’s the Kindled Festival. It will be crawling with hot, powerful guys.”

Mom sent me a meaningful look. She thought I should tell Alex about Darek, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Admitting that I was friends with the enemy seemed like a risk I didn’t need to take—especially now. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I put Darek in danger.

“I think I’m fine on my own, thank you very much,” I said.

“Yes, but Crowe would be jealous if he found you hooking up with another kindled. He would pretend otherwise, of course. Imagine if you hooked up with Katsuya Kitsamura? Crowe would die.”

Katsuya was a Curse King—the vice president of the club, actually. They were based in Minnesota, and he was not only incredibly hot—he was also packed with the arma magic that ran legendary through his family line. I’d met him last year, and nearly choked on my tongue because of both. He had the same power as Gunnar except a lot more of it, and his pale yellow magic was so thick and reeking of sulfur that I’d almost puked on his boots after shaking his hand. He probably thought I was a freak, but that was okay, since the stench kind of put a damper on the attraction.

I laughed. “I don’t think Katsuya and I are meant to be.”

“Certainly not in that outfit,” Alex said.

“I’m not changing.”

Alex frowned. “Fine. I guess that’ll save Katsuya a few more broken bones.”

Crowe had crushed both of his legs with a curse when the Kings rolled into town a few months ago hoping to take over. He’d sent Katsuya to the hospital and the rest of them packing. There were more than a few people who had an ax to grind with the Devils.

“Are we ready, then?” Alex asked.

I grabbed my bag and my coffee. “Oh, one minute. I forgot something.” I took my stuff and scurried down the hallway, guilt beating inside me. But I needed this—I was about to be in a place seething with magic, and I wasn’t going to make it if I didn’t prep ahead. I closed the door to my room and knelt next to my bed, reaching behind the headboard to pull out a bottle of Jack. I poured a generous measure into my frozen latte and snapped the lid back on the cup. After one or two deep pulls that led to a burn in my throat and major brain freeze, I rushed back down the hall. “Ready!”

Alex’s eyes narrowed briefly, but then she smiled and turned to my mom. “Gina, are you coming later?”

Mom folded herself into a kitchen chair, her paper coffee cup clutched between her hands. “I’ll try, but I might have to pull a double. We’re understaffed.”

Alex planted a kiss on Mom’s cheek. “My mom would love to see you.”

Mom smiled. “I’ll see what I can do. Be good, girls.”

“We always are,” Alex sang, and followed me out the door.

“I doubt she’ll come,” I said once we were outside the house.

Alex pulled a pair of large, round sunglasses on over her eyes. “Why?”

I shrugged. “Mom doesn’t really feel like she fits anymore.”

“Well,” Alex said, “I hope she does come, because she belongs there no matter what anyone thinks.”

Hearing that from her warmed me inside—Alex might have disliked certain people, but she never dissed members of our community just because they didn’t have as much power.

We climbed inside Alex’s Range Rover, and when she pressed the starter button, the air-conditioning burst from the vents like a winter wind.

I turned the AC down as Alex backed out of the driveway. I had planned to press her on the something she had said she wanted to share, but she beat me to the punch and asked, “So what’s with the giant scorch mark on the counter?”

UGGGHHH.

I took a long, slow drink from my spiked latte. “I was playing with matches.”

“Well, that’s one way to set a guy’s loins on fire.”

“Oh my God. You said ‘loins.’”

“Seriously, though. After what Crowe did to us, you let him in your house?”

“He drove me home after you ditched me.”

She winced. “I totally did. I’m sorry. I kind of short-circuited. I was so pissed at him.”

“It’s okay. I get it.”

“So he drove you home and set your kitchen on fire. My brother is such a gentleman. You know what I’m going to do? When I get my magic back, that is.”

“I suggest you do nothing.”

“I’m going to give him boils. All over his ass.”

“That might be a bit harsh.”

“Better than that fungus thing he threatened to do to me! Did you see Gunnar’s face afterward?” She shuddered.

“Has Gunnar turned up?”

“Nope. And fungus is nothing compared to what Crowe’s gonna do when he does. At this point I wonder if Gunnar’s just gone into hiding to save that pretty mug of his. Can’t say I blame him.”

We spent the better part of the ride complaining about Crowe and bitching about Katrina and the other girls Crowe had gone out with, and it felt ridiculously good. I liked that Alex was on my side. She wasn’t just mad that he’d made me bind her magic—she was also pissed that he’d forced me to cast in front of everyone. “I mean, I know you can, Jem, but it was such a dick move the way he did it.”

I closed my eyes. “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to.”

“But you did,” she murmured. “I can’t feel my magic at all. I’ve got nothing, Jem.”

My eyes popped open and I turned to her. She was frowning as she stared through the windshield. “I’m sure it’ll wear off soon,” I said. The guilt was back. “Do you want me to…?”

I wasn’t sure I could undo the binding I’d placed on her, and dread squirmed in my gut at the thought of trying, but for her, I would.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Maybe tomorrow when the formal stuff begins? Tonight I just want to get drunk and party. Don’t need magic for that!”

I grinned, relief sweet on my tongue. “Sounds like a plan.”

The Kindled Festival was taking place this year on two hundred acres that the Medicis owned. It was the same property that the cottage and the Schoolhouse sat on, but the festival would be set up far enough away from both places that no one would wander to them. The grounds were bound on three sides by thick woods with a single one-lane road running through to the old abandoned logging mill at the edge of the Medici land, on the bank of the Sable.

The property would give everyone the privacy they craved and needed to be using so much magic away from the drecks, especially in a town as small as Hawthorne. Drecks might notice an influx of “tourists”—there would be at least four thousand people attending this year, according to Crowe’s mom—but that was all they would notice. For the most part, the kindled coming into town would be sleeping in tents or campers on the property, and those who didn’t care for camping would stay in hotels outside of town.

Lori had done most of the planning for the festival, which meant she’d coordinated all the logistics, and hired a bunch of stronger people—mostly Devils—to do the hard labor for her. Last-minute preparations were still under way when Alex and I arrived. A huge tent had been erected in what would likely be the center of the gathering. The roof rose to a pointed steeple with a Medici banner flapping from a short flagpole. The flag depicted a crow with its wings spread, clutching a human skull with its talons. A gold dagger pierced the skull through the left eye socket.

The Medicis had never been known for their subtlety.

Smaller tents in shades of gray, red, and white dotted the rest of the field as far as the eye could see. Each had its own banner: Some bore family symbols, and others were club logos. I could see the Deathstalker scorpion flying above a tent at the very end of the path right at the edge of the woods, and wondered if Lori had deliberately put them as far from the Devils as she could.

On the south side of the property, also near the tree line, a large fire pit had been built, with benches and chairs circling it. The chairs were empty, but by tonight, people would be fighting for a place to sit. And in case of rain, I was pretty sure either Lori or her brother Boone were ready to use their terra magic to make sure the grounds weren’t hit by a single stray drop.

Somewhere in the maze of tents, metal rang out against metal, followed by a string of curse words. We tracked the sound to a white tent in the far back corner of the field and ducked inside to find Crowe hammering away at a tent support with a massive sledgehammer.

Lori stood over his shoulder supervising. “You have to hit it harder,” she said.

“Ma.” He straightened and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his T-shirt. “If I drive it in any farther, I’ll fucking bury it.”

“Don’t talk back to me.”

Though Crowe’s eyes were hidden behind a dark pair of vintage sunglasses, I could tell he was glaring at her by the deep V of his brow. “I have people for this,” he said, slightly breathless, his shoulders heaving. “And I have shit to do.”

“I do, too,” Lori countered. “Now get back to work. The tent is sagging in the middle.”

I glanced up. The tent looked fine to me.

“If they aren’t secure, they’ll collapse with a puff of wind,” Lori added.

“Can’t you make sure that doesn’t happen?” asked Alex.

Lori put her hands on her hips. “I can’t be everywhere at once!”

“Lori!” someone shouted outside.

“I gotta go. Don’t cause trouble,” she said, pointing a finger at each of her kids before hurrying off to solve whatever problem had arisen.

“So are you two pests gonna behave tonight?” Crowe said casually, the sledgehammer resting on the ground by his boot. Without missing a beat, Alex said, “Why? You planning to threaten us with fungus again?” She dropped her mouth open and clapped a hand over it. “Oh, wait. Or maybe you’ll go full asshole and threaten to have Jemmie bind my magic?” Her hand fell away, revealing a sneer. “Been there, done that.”

“Careful, little sis.” Now his teeth were gritted. “I’ve had a shitty day and if you add more shit to it—”

“You’ll leave scorch marks all over our houses?” she countered.

Crowe glanced at me, and I was glad he was wearing the sunglasses. I was glad I was wearing sunglasses, so I could pretend I wasn’t looking right at him. Secrets were paramount with Crowe, and apparently this had been one he thought we’d silently agreed to keep. I hadn’t told anyone, but somehow everyone seemed to know. Why? Because the scorch mark was evidence I couldn’t hide. That was Crowe’s fault, not mine.

Still, somehow, in some way, I felt like I’d betrayed him.

“Come on,” I said, and grabbed Alex by the arm, dragging her from the tent and into the daylight.

Crowe followed us out. “You’re pissed,” he said. “I get it. But you have no one to blame but yourself. And pulling something like that on Katrina in the first place? That was just shitty.”

Alex set her hands on her hips. Her dark hair, caught by the wind, whipped around her shoulders. She looked fiery and dangerous. I loved her when she was like this, like a storm cloud threatening to rain hell. And I had no doubt she could pull it off, if raining hell was what she wanted.

“Why do you care so much about Katrina’s feelings?” Alex challenged. “She’s just one of four or five you’re stringing along, am I right?”

Crowe ran his tongue along the inside of his bottom lip, and I took a step back.

Sometimes I wondered if there was more behind Crowe and Alex’s animosity, some other discord between sister and brother that I wasn’t privy to, that Alex stoked by defending me. Crowe seemed to have an ongoing feud with everyone right now. Or at least everyone who wasn’t his subordinate. The Devils’ League members were in his good graces because they took his orders without question. Alex and me, not so much.

Finally, Crowe shifted, moving away from his sister, and the friction dissipated. He started to leave, but not before leaning into me and saying, in a low, throaty voice, “You really need her to fight your battles for you?”

Bitterness flared inside me. “This isn’t my battle at all. Who you sleep with has absolutely nothing to do with me.”

For a moment, he was completely still, like his own magic had locked all his muscles and bones into place. “You don’t understand at all,” he finally said, very quietly. And then he left, the sledgehammer hoisted over his shoulder like it weighed nothing at all.

Alex and I ambled through the paths created by the lines of tents. I wasn’t sure where we were headed, but it seemed like Alex was. I caught a glimpse of Katrina coming out of the Niklos tent, wearing a lace tank and looking confident and undeniably gorgeous. It only served to remind me of what had happened at the mall, and how Alex targeted Katrina in part out of loyalty to me.

“Crowe was right—I do let you fight my battles. Does sticking up for me bother you?” I asked, anxiety trickling in and threatening to extinguish the pleasant buzz from my Jack-infused coffee. I tossed the empty cup in a trash bin that had been set up next to the path. “I’m sorry if—”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m just happy you put up with my antics.” She gave my arm a little shove. “And I’d punch the pope if he looked at you funny. You know that.”

More likely, she’d curse him, as long as her magic wasn’t bound. “I do know. I just wish…” I wished I could use my power like she did. I wished for once that every time I was around magic, it didn’t make me feel like I was going insane. I craned my neck, looking for the beer tent. I found it right down the lane, radiating music and magic that hung in the air like a shattered rainbow.

Alex followed the line of my gaze. “You know I’m the biggest partier there is, so I’m not judging, okay? But I’m worried about you. I’m not going to be an asshole about it like Crowe is, but I needed to say that.”

I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at her—or the magic. “Just to take the edge off.”

“The edge of what, Jem? You’re among family. You belong here.”

I opened my eyes and met her gaze. “Do I?”

“Of course you do. And if you’d actually use your powers like you did last night, you might realize that.” She threw an arm around my shoulders. “If you ever want to practice on me, let me know.”

I should totally take her up on her offer. She’d never laugh at me. Maybe I could even tell her about my weird reaction to magic. But I knew I wouldn’t. As much as I thought about leaving the kindled world, I didn’t want to be pushed out of it. If Alex knew magic made me feel sick, she probably wouldn’t want to go to the Schoolhouse with me. She probably wouldn’t even want to be here with me right now. She’d want to protect me, just like she always did. Maybe, though…

“You know what? Yeah,” I said. “Tomorrow? No promises, but I’ll give it a try—right after I unbind your magic.”

I sounded a lot braver than I felt, and Alex rewarded me with a grin. “It’s a date, and if you stand me up, well, I’ve got another smelly charm tucked away for a special occasion.”

With a spring in her step, she started walking again, tugging me inside a red tent, the flap embroidered with golden filigree. A hand-painted sign staked into the ground read WARES. Because the festival wasn’t really yet open for business, we had the place to ourselves, though Lori already had it all set up. Two long rows of tables dominated the space, with cuts organized for sale on the tabletops. Even if they hadn’t been labeled, I would have known what they were by their scents alone, if not by the telltale wisps that rose from their intricately carved surfaces. But none of them was too strong, so I breathed through my mouth and cautiously walked deeper into the tent.

There was a table for almost every kindled power here. Not every family was represented in person—my mom’s family, the Cabreras, were scarce in the States and based in Brazil, and the Kitsamuras were based in Japan. However, there were other kindled who, through our tangled family trees, had inherited the powers associated with those family names. Apart from the Medicis, who had their own trading space, the only one not represented was the Croft family. Their tollat magic had been both famous and despised in the kindled world—it included the ability to siphon others’ magic and use it as one’s own. But the Croft family had died out in the late nineteenth century, and to my knowledge, no one had turned up with those powers in the past fifty years or so, with one notorious exception.

Henry Delacroix, the former president of the Deathstalkers. With his death, it appeared the tollat magic had gone extinct. Our kindled world had lost a slice of its vibrancy and variation, but no one thought it was a bad thing.

I spotted the Niklos table and headed for it. They possessed animalia magic—the ability to talk to animals, control animals, sometimes shape-shift into them. I’d never met my grandmother Niklos on my mom’s side—she’d died before I was born—but I’d always been interested in her magic. Talking to animals seemed like a very useful ability. Katrina was a Niklos and apparently had that power, but she was nowhere in sight anymore, thank God.

Alex wandered over to the Stoneking table and fingered a cut with a swirling silver design on the front.

“Let me ask you something,” she said.

“Okay.”

“Do you think it’s possible to bind another family’s magic to your own?”

I thought about that. “I heard that if you mix your blood with another kindled, you get temporary access to their power and a sort of rush.” Blood magic was severely frowned upon in the kindled community. My dad had once told me it led down a dangerous path, but he wouldn’t explain much more than that. I’d only been about ten at the time. “I’ve heard that it’s addictive. Is that what you’re talking about?”

She bit her lip. “I’m thinking about a lot more than mixing your blood with someone else’s. But blood is the key, right?”

I gestured at all the cuts around us. “That’s how you make these. It’s the only way to share power. A measure of blood plus a specific incantation or rune combination to trigger the magic.”

“Yeah, of course, but that’s using your own magic. I’m talking about stealing someone’s power for good. Getting it directly from blood instead of a cut.”

My eyebrows rose. “Are you planning to—?”

“No!” She glanced at the entrance to the tent as if she was worried someone was listening. “I’m just wondering about something called blood power, and how dangerous it is.”

“Why?”

She bit her lip, apparently not yet ready to spill.

I let it slide for the moment. “The only way I’ve ever heard of taking another person’s power without a cut is doing blood magic—but that’s more about combining and mixing power, isn’t it? Oh, and there’s tollat magic. Siphoning someone else’s power.”

“That’s only temporary, too, though. Right?”

I ran my fingers through a hanging display of cuts strung up on leather cording, sneezing as the scents mixed and hit my nose. “I guess we’ll never know. But you’re talking about something permanent? What’s up?”

She shoved her sunglasses up on the top of her head and looked over at me. “That thing I wanted to tell you… I found something of my dad’s, some notes he was keeping before he died and—”

The tent flap rustled as someone entered, cutting Alex off. We both turned to the newcomer.

Darek stood in the doorway. He looked from me to Alex and pulled back a step. “Hey.”

A flutter of excitement burst open in my chest, along with a stab of anxiety.

Alex tossed a terra charm back to its table. Her earlier seriousness disappeared, replaced by a flirtatious smile and a batting of her eyes. “And who are you?”

“Darek. Delacroix.” He grinned, stepped past me, and offered his hand to Alex. “Alex, right? We actually met briefly at last year’s festival. I guess I’m not that memorable.”

She blinked at him. “I must have been trashed. I can’t imagine forgetting that face.”

He gave me a quick glance, still smiling. “Fair warning—I’m a Deathstalker. I know we’re mortal enemies, but I can’t help but appreciate beautiful girls when I see them.”

She narrowed her eyes, but I could see the half-smitten smile creeping across her lips.

I suddenly felt a little sick.

“Is that right?” She shook his hand. “I suppose lines can be blurred for one day. This is my friend Jemmie.”

Darek gave my hand a brief shake and turned so he faced us both. He’d showered and changed recently, his blond hair still damp and raked back from his forehead. He was now wearing ripped black jeans and a white T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses hanging from the collar.

“Were you looking for something in particular?” Alex asked. Her eyes flicked to me, speaking our unspoken language. This one is cute, the look said. See, you should have worn short shorts!

If only she knew.

Outside, the roar of motorcycles sounded in the distance. Alex let out a breath, disrupting a lock of hair that hung along her face. “That’s my cue. Jem, I’ll catch up with you in a bit. Nice meeting you, Darek. I hope my brother doesn’t kill you.” Alex side-eyed me, and waggled her eyebrows, before slipping outside.

When I was sure she was out of earshot, I whisper-shouted at Darek. “What are you doing?”

Darek frowned. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“She can’t find out we know each other. You heard what she said—Crowe is looking for the slightest excuse to crush bones. Especially Deathstalker bones. Remember—he thinks Deathstalkers killed his dad.”

“I asked some of the guys about that earlier. Michael Medici died in a motorcycle accident out on Bayou Road.”

I nodded. “But Crowe said it looked like his venemon magic had been turned on him. Is that something Killian could have done?”

Darek laughed. “You met him last year, right?”

“Yeah, but just a handshake at a mixer. It’s not like we’re pals. He doesn’t really—”

“Look like the leader of a gang?”

“I guess not.” He looked more like an accountant, actually. “But come on. I’ve heard talk.”

“It’s true, Killian is a badass. And I guess he could manipulate someone into using their own magic against themselves if he wanted to, but trust me, the guy is determined to keep our club straight. I would bet my life he didn’t harm a hair on Michael Medici’s head. Unless he was bald. Was he bald? I never met him.”

“Stop.” I grew serious. “A lot of people around here are still grieving his death.”

The smile melted off Darek’s face. “I’m a jerk. I’m sorry.” He reached out and touched my arm, and I sighed at the warmth of his fingers, wanting to relax into him again. “Forgive me?”

I laughed. “Okay. Just this once. But be careful about what you say around here. Promise?”

“Will do. Now…” He wrapped an arm around my neck and pulled me into his side. The cigarette-and-mint smell of him was heavier than it had been before. “Alex likes me. I’m a likable guy. What say we stop Romeo and Julietting around and take this public? It would be the talk of the festival.”

“Absolutely not.” I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. He’d kept his voice light, but there had been a note of hope there, and I still wasn’t quite sure it would be fair to him to start something.

He laughed and pulled me closer into a half hug. His mouth pressed against my temple. “It’s okay, Jem. I mean, you’re breaking my heart here, but I can try to withstand the pain a little longer.”

“I have to go,” I said, and pulled away.

Darek grabbed me around the waist and tugged me back.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because if Crowe walked in right now, one of us would be gutted. Probably me.”

“Damn. Abusive much? You know that’s what you’re supposed to call that behavior, right?” Now he looked pissed. His fists were clenched. Crap. With the Harleys parked, the Devils could be heard shouting and laughing outside, and fear pulled me taut.

“I was exaggerating. He’d never hurt me.” Not physically, anyway. He’d already hurt me emotionally, too many times to count.

“Don’t make excuses for him,” he whispered in my ear. “In fact, don’t think about him at all.” Darek’s fingers found their way beneath my shirt, to the sensitive skin at the small of my back. His fingers were ghosts, his touch light but somehow far-reaching, too, so that I felt it all the way down to my toes.

I wanted him to stop.

I didn’t want him to let go.

My knees threatened to buckle. The minty bite of my magic was all around me, clinging to him where our skin connected like it didn’t want to let him go, either. I closed my eyes just long enough to summon an ounce of self-control. Darek’s hands withdrew, and he stepped away.

“I’ll see you later, then? At the house?” he asked.

I blinked. “Um… sure.”

He started for the door.

“Wait.” I brushed past him. “Let me go first. Just in case.”

He nodded and waited in the shadows of the tent as I ducked outside into the stark light of day, suddenly blinded.