“True.” I laugh. But then regret it. Willow’s smile is so wide and sincere that I have to wonder if it’s real or if she’s just the best illusionist I know. She can’t love that Roman’s training me. How would I feel if Xander were training someone else on the side? But Willow and I are competitors, not just friends, which means I have to look out for myself.

I glance at Roman.

“That was good,” he says gruffly.

Willow giggles like she’s used to his sad attempts at praise and links arms with me as Roman starts to head back the way we came.

We straggle behind him, his crisp white shirt a fading beacon in the moonlight. He never glances back to see if we follow or not. I doubt he would care if we turned around and swam out into the ocean and just disappeared.

“Is he always like this?” I ask.

“No. He’s in a good mood tonight.”

I snort, and she snickers, brushing her pale hair behind her ear.

“Why do you put up with it?”

“I want out.”

“Of what? Didn’t you say you had a big family?”

She sighs. “That’s what I wanted out of. I’m the oldest of ten kids. I felt like I was an extra set of hands and nothing else. All I wanted was to get a scholarship for music, but I didn’t have time to practice, so before I learned to tap into my magic, my talent was average. Roman found me on one of those rare nights I got away from tucking kids into bed. I was playing a guitar out on the street and singing, and he dropped a hundred dollars in my case and walked away, but I ran after him to say thanks. He was kind of cute.” She laughs.

“Are you…” I don’t know what I’m asking, but if she has a crush on him or something, I’ll stop feeling whatever it is I’m feeling. I shouldn’t be feeling it anyway.

“Oh, gosh no.” She laughs louder. “He’s like a cranky older brother now, but did you know he plays the piano? That’s how I ended up training with him. He could hold his own talking music.”

“I didn’t know that.” I stare at his tense shoulders leading the way ahead of us. I’m sure he can hear us talking about him.

I slip on a rock, and Willow’s grip keeps me from falling. My knees would be bruised and bloody without her. We keep walking like it was nothing.

“Thanks,” I say, about ten seconds too late.

“Anytime.” She says the word casually, like an automatic response, but deep in my gut I know she means it. Even if I’m probably hurting her.

CHAPTER 15