So Mack’s speeding second punch met his ex-roommate’s hand, slowing the blow and more importantly, conducting a bolt of primal electric current from witch to friend. Mack arced up, shuddering under the Taser-like impact of one of his buddy’s favorite spells. Catching just the tiniest backsplash of electric shock from her brother’s body, Jetta yelped but was still able to reach around to her left and yank the copper band from Mack’s wrist.

Swearing like a true college student, Declan threw his band onto the floor, then snatched the one from Jetta and tossed it on top of the other. A kick of his foot swept them both under his desk.

“Holy shit!” Jetta said. “Lucky for you Stacia told me about the bracelets.”

“Yeah—lucky,” Declan agreed, smiling a little for the first time. “Also lucky the door wasn’t shut and locked, lucky that the escrima stick didn’t knock me out, super lucky it fell like it did so that when you and Mack fell into me, it luckily pushed off my bracelet, and lucky that direct contact with a demon bracelet wearer still allows me to throw an electric shock spell. So yes—it was lucky.”

Jetta shrugged. “Like I said.” She then turned to her brother. “You back yet?”

He was groaning and starting to move. “What the hell happened? Did you freaking Tase me, bro?” he asked, incredulous.

“Yes. Damned good thing. You were trying to beat your sister senseless.”

“What? I would never!”

“Except you just did—try, that is. I was kicking your ass but Declan got in the way and ruined my beat down.”

“Yeah—sure—I got in your way,” Declan said, shaking his head. “Me all frozen up with a demon magic bracelet that you put on me, Mack.”

“Me?” Mack asked, looking very confused. “What the hell is really going on here?”

“Your new girlfriend—Lilly?” Declan said. “She’s a demon hoe. And where the Hell are your necklaces?”

“Lilly? I was just with her. She’s a demon?” Mack asked, hand reaching to his bare neck.

“Yeah, and she put a mind control bracelet on your wrist and had you put one on mine. Jetta saved the day.”

“I’ll say!” Stacia said from the open doorway. There were a few other Arcane kids in the hallway behind her, looking curiously into the room. “I heard the commotion from the stairwell. That was too close.”

“Was it? Or was it something else?” Declan asked Stacia with a knowing grin. She frowned, her glance going from Jetta to Mack before returning to her boyfriend. Then she shook her head and changed the subject.

“When is she supposed to get here, Mack?” she asked.