“Don’t worry about it.” I gave him a reassuring smile and touched his chest, leaving a vaguely hand-shaped collection of golden sparks.

“What’s happening to him? Did you set him on fire?” Officer Blackwell shoved me to one side and reached toward Will.

“Keep your hands back if you don’t want to lose them,” I snapped.

Will’s entire torso was glittering now. Light passed through him, growing brighter. A high-pitched hum filled the air. Will screamed.

“You’re all right,” I shouted. “You’re not on fire, and you’re going to be fine.”

Blackwell reached for my arm. “Whatever you’re doing—”

Nidhi moved between us. “Would you interrupt a doctor in the middle of surgery?”

“Will isn’t in pain. He’s just scared.” I kept one hand outstretched, channeling the book’s magic. “Probably because a cop just told him he was on fire.”

The screams began to fade. So did Will himself. Seconds later, he vanished completely.

Blackwell stepped back and drew his sidearm. “Isaac Vainio, stand up and place your hands on your head.”

“If I do that, he dies.” The humming sound returned, bringing with it the golden outline of my patient. I heard shouts and people running toward us, but I couldn’t look around to see what was happening. I hoped nobody shot me before I finished. It would be great if they didn’t shoot me after, either.

The light and sparks died, and Will sat before us once again. He was completely whole and completely baffled.

“What happened?” He looked around, then down at himself. His clothes were intact. The handcuffs were gone. “Did my blood sugar drop? I checked it after lunch, but I can’t remember—”

“That’s probably for the best,” I said. “My name’s Isaac. You’re all right. Your son Jaiden is waiting for you. I’m sure one of these people would be happy to take you to him.”

Blackwell seized my jacket collar and hauled me to my feet. Sweat dotted his face as he swung me around. He jammed the barrel of his gun into my ribs like he was trying to stab me. “What the hell did you do? Why doesn’t he remember anything?”

The walls wavered around me. Between healing Will and Blackwell’s manhandling, I felt like I’d just stumbled off the world’s worst carnival ride.

“I’m guessing this is your first close experience with magic?” Nidhi said calmly. “It can be disconcerting.”

“Stand down, Blackwell!” Officer Rowland stood about eight feet away, along with several other police officers and two FBI agents, most of whom had drawn their own guns.