“I don’t need your money. If I did, I would charge you.” Sarah considered her. “I’ll be blunt. We don’t have the luxury of taking years for me to teach you or for you to study in your free time. You would do better to stay here. It will be cheaper than having to pay for room and board. Then you’d only have to work part-time.”

“I don’t need a job right now.” Molly smiled. “If I stay, I can get groceries and cook, and I’ll help with cleaning as well. If you’re going teach me, I can help you in return. It’s only the right thing to do.”

Sarah nodded. “We can always change our minds if it doesn’t work out.” She eyed Molly. “What do you think?”

Molly tapped her fingers on the table, considering. “I think you should know the whole story before you decide to take me on,” she replied. “My real name is not on the ID I’m carrying. My husband tried to kill me, and now he’s dead. The police want me for questioning, and no, I didn’t kill him. That witch I told you about… It’s complicated. I’m pregnant with his baby. He and his coven are hunting down an ancient, dangerous witch who steals other witches’ Power to prolong his life. That may or may not have something to do with how my husband died, and whoever it is may or may not also want me dead. We’re not really sure at this point.”

She paused to give Sarah a chance to react. The older witch said nothing, just regarded her with a calm, nonjudgmental gaze.

“Want to kick me out?”

Sarah said gently, “It makes me want to help you more.”

Her face softened, but then her own words caught up with her. “Wait. Josiah said eventually every witch faces a choice. Either they exit their lives with integrity, or they steal what is forbidden—someone else’s Power. But why isn’t there a third choice?”

Sarah’s gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The way I see it, we have two urgent issues,” Molly said. “The first one is time. You need to teach me how to prolong your life. You don’t need to steal my Power. I’ve got too much to control right now as it is. As long as we can avoid draining me completely, I’ll gladly help to sustain you.”

“You would do that?” Sarah’s expression opened with wonder. “What a kind heart you have. I’m afraid I’ve advanced too far for your gift to do much more than buy me a bit of time, but I would love to give Sam as much time as I can and to be here as long as I can to teach you.”

“Then we’ll do it.”

“What’s your second urgent issue?”