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Then I caught the hint of gold glinting at her neck, a chain that disappeared under the sheet Without speaking, I went over and tugged it out Katia lifted one hand to fend ainst old o and took a step back, triumphant Then I reached into my own shirt and pulled out the little medallion on a chain When I drew it out, Katia’s eyes widened I held it up to the pendant dangling near her face "I found this in Molly’s backpack," I said "You’re wearing the same necklace around your neck"

Chapter 35

Katia’s brow furrowed, and she reached out a tre suspiciously at us, like the whole thing was a plot so we could smack her wrist When neither of us made a move, she took it from me and slowly raised it to her face "That is not possible," she said after exa it for a moment "I do not knohat this is, but there is no way this Molly is one of Oskar’s--" Her eyes widened

"So that’s his name," Jesse said casually "Good to know Why couldn’t Molly be one of Oskar’s girls?"

Katia just glared at us solare, and if she were capable of standing or even sitting up by herself, I ed "If you really care about this guy, how could it hurt to prove that he didn’t pie thirty-five," she said stiffly "This was in the late 1930s I have seen an old passport; I know this to be true" She held up Molly’s necklace "Your girl was already free by then I doubt they even knew each other" She gave us a look of great triumph and tossed the medallion at me Well, she tried to toss it at me She was so weak that it went about as far as her own chest

"Then how come you have the same necklace?" Jesse asked

She twitched her shoulders in a shrug-like manner "They are similar, yes But not the same Mine was never a coin" She hesitated for just a second, then picked up her own necklace "It is spelled so it cannot be removed, but you are a disruptor, yes?" She looked at me

I nodded I hadn’t felt a tiny spell short out e’d first ic around me," I said

"Then here, look" She tried to lift it over her head, but I had to help her get it free When I got it untangled from her hair and sat back she had the oddest look on her face, a combination of fear, vulnerability, and jubilation I handed it to Jesse, who held up both necklaces, coh, Katia’s pendant was sle inscribed date: February 8th, 1997

"Why does he make you wear these?" Jesse asked "Just to identify you as his?"

She bristled a little, but answered hiold Oskar has a gold coin from it, too There is a trades witch who can use the connection to find all of us"

So it was a tracking device that the wearer couldn’t remove themselves Smart I would have shorted out the removal spell, but not the tracker That kind of like-for-like spell wouldn’t require active ate it until the necklace moved out of my radius

"Wait," Jesse said "If that’s true, why hasn’t Oskar already come for you here?"

Oh Shit

But Katia just twitched her shoulders in a tired parody of a shrug "Most likely, he could not find a trades witch here who could help hieles yet, and he keeps his coin on him at all times When he awoke at sunset and I had not yet returned, he would have needed to fly soo after Molly instead of trying to rescue you He abandoned you, Katia"

She gave me an impatient look "He is not my husband, my boyfriend To him, I am a useful tool He will recover me when he is able"

Jesse and I locked eyes "Talk to you in the hall for a second?" I asked He nodded, and I stuffed Katia’s necklace into the pocket ofas it was close to me, no witch would be able to use it to find us

There was nothing in the room that Katia could use as a weapon, but I didn’t want to take any chances "Shadow," I said, and the bargest’s eyes snapped to me "Watch and defend" Herdoith about a foot between her front paws and the witch’s cot Shadow bared her teeth, and Katia instinctively shrunk back on the cot, just a tiny bit Her eyes ide "If I were you," I advised, "I wouldn’t move"