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"Why would she have gone back ho? That makes no sense"

"Well If she left you a spell-bomb, wouldn’t she want to be as far away as possible when it went off?"

Seph stood, towering over Jason Power bled from his skin and ran in rivulets to the floor, where it scorched a ring into the flagstones He looked dragged-out tired, but hyper-juiced at the same time

"Hey,with you, just asking questions Or is that not allowed?"

Seph glared at hi

Gotta tread easy here, Jason thought He tried to think of so har ed his forehead as if to pry loose a reluctant truth "It was kind of Nick’s idea He wants you to go to Coalton County and spy on Madison and find out what the story is Is she in danger, or is she working for the Roses or what? Is anyone else hanging around down there who ht be behind the attack on me?" He looked up at Jason "So you can do both Check on those things and bring her back" He looked away "Either way If she’s working against us, we can’t… we can’t risk letting it continue If she’s not, we can’t risk leaving her out there on her own"

And what are you going to do if it turns out she has gone over to the dark side, Jason thought

"I’o-to person when it comes to wizardry" He shook his head when Seph ree "Just …don’t Why"I can’t leave, and neither can Nick With Madison, it doesn’t e to be juiced" He setically

"Why send a wizard, then?"

"Well In … in case she’s … in case there are wizards down there That she’s working with"

This was killing Seph, Jason knew And if Jason brought back the news that Madison had turned, he just er He tried a joke "What if she won’t come? My deadly charm won’t work on her, you know"

Seph didn’t look ah his hair "I know you’re back in school, but it shouldn’t takeher back Three or four days would give you tiuess"

He put his blistering hand on Jason’s arm and looked him in the eyes "Whatever happens, Jase, we need you back here when you’re done We’ve got some plans in the works that need wizardry, and that’s e’re short on"

Jason considered this, taking his time Seph wouldn’t send Jason to Madison if he didn’t think it was necessary Otherwise the risk would outweigh the benefit And, just as obviously, Jason was o? It would get hiuessed Coal Grove wouldn’t be an i he needed to break away, to get out froation he felt to Seph He could do hiet down there?"

"I made Madison write out directions before she left My , anyway" Seph grinned, lookingit back in one piece"

Sweet Linda drove a BMW Z4 roadster convertible Though Madisonmore than a toothbrush

The coil of tension inside Jason unwound a notch It was a plan He had so at the docks over the past year He’d retrieve a few ht help him in Britain He’d accompany Madison back as far as Coluone, he could be back at Raven’s Ghyll He’d s take hio in the world, other battles to fight

Right

Of course this only worked if Madison was on their side

"Okay I’m on etting light when Jason parked the BMW in the lot at St Catherine’s

The tiny trunk was already loaded with his clothes andHe hoped to leave toithout dealing with Nick or Mercedes With any luck, they’d slept late

He felt bad about Leesha, but he’d text her to let her knoas gone, once he was on his way He didn’t feel like he could risk an in-person goodbye When he was settled, he could get back in touch