Page 88 (1/1)

I twirled around, surroundingwith the joy of it Belatedly, I realized that putting on a light shoasn’t the stealthiest thing to do under these circumstances I killed the sparks, then conjured up a bottle of chalasses for all of us Owen opened the bottle and poured the chalasses

"A toast to the last ical Katie," I said "It was fun while it lasted, but I think I’ain After all, if I’d been my norical Katie," Owen toasted I noticed that he left out the "end" part

I’d never ht way, but I tried it now, pouring every bit of power I had into it to direct a thought to Owen’s mind I really am okay It’s not the sahtest whisper in my mind, so faint I had to think to decipher it You’re braver than I would be

I didn’t have the energy to send another ht you’d already been that brave Why shouldn’t I be?"

Instead of answering ic"

I tried for the sparks, since they were theout Instead of the big showers I’d had earlier, I barely ers Since that was barely visible a few feet away, I kept going until I couldn’t even generate a faint glow "Okay, looks like I’m done," I said

I forced ical ie when I’d be like ic, but unable to use it I’d lost ht "nor io, now," Florence said, standing fro process Her huet you through the streets without any uard encounters If someone does stop us, try to act like you’re under the spell, and I’ll pretend I caught you I’d rather not blow my cover if I can help it"

Despite her assurance, I wasn’t happy about leaving the relatively safe harbor of the park I associated the cityscape with being hunted and on the run Once ere back in the city, it didn’t look any different to me, but I supposed it wouldn’t yet

Owen tookit will take to drain the last of the ic, so maybe I should start now," hemy voice too low for the others to hear "We won’t exactly be able to tell the portal guards to hold on a sec while we restore et past their wards" I shivered as I felt the tingle between our clasped hands

Florence must have known the pattern of any patrols because we didn’t run into anyone on our way to that sic levels e because the buildings flickered when I looked at the there, but it was just a big, blank box instead of a block of picturesque brownstones

"This place isn’t nearly as nice without the illusion," I whispered to Owen "It really does look like a prison"

Then I did a double take On top of the building across the street frooyles I didn’t see them if I looked directly at theht if I didn’t try to focus on therabbed Owen’s jacket with oyles here! Instead of trying to ed here, they h the portal, stuck the, and veiled theh I suppose they could have enchanted theoyles who can’t talk or move I know I didn’t see them ere here before"

He turned to look, even though he couldn’t see thenize any of them?"

"They’re pretty far away, and I still don’t see them if I look directly But if we could snap the to that portal"