But I didn’t say anything. If this guy had Bee, I’d hold my tongue for as long as I could.

David had other ideas. “I don’t have ‘clear, helpful visions’ anymore,” he said. “All I can see are... minor things.”

Alexander’s pleasant expression didn’t falter, but something about him still made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Did he know what Ryan and I had been doing?

“You have these powers,” he said, waving one hand, “but no idea how to channel them. You’re using them for trivial things, like ensuring that Miss Price’s friends don’t get their hearts broken.”

I started. If he knew about that, then surely he knew why those were the only sorts of visions David was having. But Alexander just kept going, his voice low and smooth. “With our help, you can reach your full potential, which is all we want for you, David.”

On my right, David rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, his shoulders tight. “And I’m supposed to believe that? After you people spent months—no, my whole freaking life—trying to kill me?”

Alexander’s green eyes blinked twice, and then he sat up abruptly, thrusting his hand out at David. “Take it,” he said, nodding to his palm. “Take it and look for yourself.”

David blinked at the outstretched hand, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses. “I can see the future, not read minds.”

Alexander’s smile widened the littlest bit. “Are you sure?”

Leaning forward in my chair a little, I studied Alexander. “Who are you? Like, chief Ephor, or head Mage? You clearly have some kind of crazy magic.”

Alexander kept his hand outstretched, his eyes on David. “Six of one, half a dozen of the other,” he replied, and I wanted to point out that he hadn’t given me much of an answer.

I could hear the grandfather clock ticking in the corner, could hear my own breathing, and as I watched, David reached over and very gently laid his hand on top of Alexander’s. I couldn’t see anything happen when their hands touched, but then David closed his eyes and there was the briefest hint of light behind his eyelids.

And then his hand fell back to his lap. “He’s telling the truth,” David said, almost wonderingly. “I... I don’t know how I know, but I know.”

I didn’t like that. I didn’t like it at all. How could David suddenly have new powers we didn’t know anything about? Saylor had never mentioned anything about mind reading, and, ugh, I was in no way ready to handle a boyfriend who could read my every thought whenever we touched hands.

“There are all sorts of things we can teach you.” Alexander sat back, his chair creaking. “All sorts of powers locked away in that mind of yours.”