When I glance back at her, she’s digging through the storage box again. “Um, thanks for the ride,” I say, pulling my backpack up onto my lap.

She makes a quiet cry of triumph, pulling a hair elastic from the box. “Yeah, of course,” she says, gathering her hair up into a bun. “Let me know if you ever need a ride home again after rehearsal.”

Yeah, that’s not happening. I make a noncommittal noise and get out of the car. “Bye.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Chapter 19

The concept of a magical license, which would create a uniform standard for magical training, first entered the public consciousness in the 1910s. The idea did not become popular until 1964, when a series of high-profile magical accidents in new magitech factories caused widespread destruction in surrounding areas.

—United States history textbook, Advanced Placement edition

When I FaceTime Lex to do a debrief of my day, she’s at the gym doing flame archery. My phone projects a tiny illusion of Lex’s face and upper body above the screen as she answers the call. A black metallic bow dangles loosely in her gloved hands.

“Wanna see me shoot?” she says immediately.

“Obviously,” I say, rolling up to sit cross-legged on my bed.

She fiddles with her phone, and the illusion of her side grows more detailed. Red spheres appear, suspended in the air around her head, and I can see the target she’s shooting at in the background.

“When did you get back into archery?” I ask.

“Today,” she says breezily, bringing the bow up into shooting position. One of the red spheres flies toward her bow. It flattens and stretches midair, turning into a long arrow that nocks itself against the bowstring. With a little grin, she lights the arrow on fire and lets it fly. It hits the target pretty darn close to the center.

“How? How?” I gesture wordlessly at my phone. “How are you so good at that?”

She does a little victory shimmy. “I’ve still got it.”

“You’re ridiculous. When was the last time you even did archery?”

“Like, two years ago? I dunno.” She shrugs. “Did you call for something?”

“Yeah.” I rub my temples. My head still hurts a bit. “I have to tell you about my day.”

I barely get through an explanation of what happened before she launches into a tirade.

“Oh my god, did you leave your brains at home this morning?” she shouts exasperatedly. “You know those energy potions are bad news. Everyone knows that!”

“Yeah,” I mumble, rolling over on my bed to bury my face in my pillow.

“I can’t believe you got your panties all in a twist because Mr. B said something annoying,” Lex says. She’s waving her bow wildly in the air for emphasis. “I love you, but what the hell, Shay! You’re lucky Ana covered for you, or else you would have been totally screwed.”