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I decided to just blurt it out, like ripping off a bandage "Well, it turns out I’ic, and it’s running out"

I heldfor her reaction, but she just nodded and said, "Hmmm"

I babbled on to fill what felt like an aard silence "Owen ran sole for uess I burned through too es, and Ito run out sooner or later They want ic entirely so I’ll have it if a situation comes up where I really need it"

"That would be prudent And I think this is why I got that feeling I needed to co way like your idiot brother did You have good people teaching you But havingyour resources for a rainy day, that I can help you with"

She got up fro to herself I followed "I don’t knohat ingredients the boy keeps around the house Other than the books, you’d never knoizard lived here But I’ll bet he can get them at work, or Merlin’ll knohere to find the withto trust yourwhen I had her send me some clothes"

She reached the kitchen, where she dug around in the cabinets, clicking her tongue in disapproval "No, I’ll have to give hio to the market next ti?" I finally asked when I could get a word in edgewise

"Why, s that’ll help restore your strength, give you a little y It won’t stop the decline, but it should slow it"

"But why bother?" I said wearily, leaning against the edge of the countertop "Why drag this out? I’o back to norood at that"

She whirled on er in ift for so and has a plan, and that plan bestowed ical powers on you For all you know, it’s just in ti no one else could do, so you’d best be ready to make the most of it, whenever that coot into your head to make you think that about yourself It’s probably your mother’s fault"

"But I--" I started to protest

She wavedand ordinary that no one would notice you Well, whose fault is that? And it has nothing to do with how hter of irl could have caught that boy’s eye the way you did He’s no du yourself the way he sees you and work on being the best you instead of worrying about what you’re not At the h resources to o cut yourself another slice of cake while Ilist"

Chastened, I sat at the tiny kitchen table and cut a slab of chocolate cake Granny’s lecture had cheered ht happen that would require ical powers

Chapter Four

Perdita wasn’t there the next ain, so I sent Rod an e- with the wizards or did so happen to her because of her association with us?

It was difficult to focus on hen I was so worried, but I still jumped, startled, when someone knocked on the frahtly shaggy blondish-brown hair "Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, but your assistant isn’t here, and that’s why I’ the employee disappearances"

I knew that there were non-gargoyles in the security teauely faer who’d been part of the atteht "Oh, yes, come in and have a seat," I said "I’d offer you coffee, but that’s so my assistant has to do for me"