Hers was the only applause, though, and as I looked out at the audience, I saw my parents sitting like they were frozen in their seats, their mouths open in identical Os of horror. It was a sea of pale, shocked faces as far as I could see.

Another pair of hands began clapping loudly. As I watched, Aunt Jewel rose from her seat, her tall form sparkling slightly from the sequins on her dress. “It’s part of the show!” she said loudly, still clapping and giving me a nod. “Performance art!”

Her words slowly started to penetrate the rest of the crowd, and there was the slightest smattering of applause, but for the most part, everyone was still gaping at me, and I felt sick to my stomach.

The sick feeling increased when I looked down and saw Bee, slumped there on the stage, her temple already swelling, black and blue.

But I couldn’t worry about that right now. Not when something was happening to David.

Nodding at Aunt Jewel in thanks, I dropped the branch and ran.

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

MY INSTINCTS were leading me outside, and as I ran backstage, I dodged the other girls, all of whom were blinking at me. “What was that?” Abi asked, her hand closing around my elbow, but I shook her off, making my way to the back door that led to the parking lot behind the rec center.

I pressed down hard on the bar, but the door wouldn’t budge. The tightness in my chest was getting worse, my blood and heart racing, and I tried again, even harder this time.

But whoever had sealed this door had done a darn good job, and when I squinted at the bar, I saw crude runes scratched into the metal.

My whole body went cold.

Those were wards. A Mage had put those there.

“Harper,” Ryan said, panting, and I turned to see him standing beside me. His tie was loose, his cheeks flushed, and he’d shed the jacket he’d been wearing earlier.

“Can you undo this?” I asked, gesturing to the door. “We’ve got to get—”

“To David, I know. But... Harper, let him go.”

I’m pretty sure my mouth actually fell open. “You’re in on this?”

He winced. “Don’t say it like that. Like we’re not on the same side.”

My chest was so tight it was a wonder I could breathe, but I managed to say, “If you did these”—I pointed savagely at the wards—“then we are not on the same side, Ryan. Not even remotely.”

Ryan’s gaze swung to mine, his face pale. “We both want what’s best for David, right? Harper, this is what’s best.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks all over again, and I wiped at them. “Then why is my chest on fire? Why do I know he’s in danger, Ryan?”