Nadia turned to Mateo and saw her own delight reflected back to her in his face. The two of them burst out laughing at the same moment. “So it works?” he said. Salt water flecked his hair. “I’m a good Steadfast?”

“I don’t know how you’re one at all. But yeah, you’re good. You’re incredible. That spell should have moved the water a couple of feet, not—parted it like the Red Sea!” Nadia brushed back her own dampened hair. The wind was colder now that her clothes were wet, but she didn’t care. This beach seemed like the only place she could ever want to be, Mateo the only person she’d want to be with. “We’ll have to be careful how we practice. You give me so much power, even simple spells could be dangerous.”

Mateo’s smile faded, and his gaze hardened again. “Enough power to take on Elizabeth?”

God, she wanted to lie about this. But Mateo had been lied to enough already. “She’s strong. Stronger than any other witch alive, and her ally is the One Beneath. But—but maybe I don’t have to be more powerful than her. Just powerful enough to stop her.”

“Say the word. Anything I can do for you, Nadia, I’ll do. And I know what’s at stake, you know? I know what Elizabeth can do. I’m not afraid. I’m with you, no matter what.”

As they looked into each other’s eyes, Nadia found herself remembering what they said about a Steadfast—that the power she gave to a witch was in proportion to the potential for trust between the two. The potential for understanding, and for love.

14

“NADIA?”

“Hmmm?” She kept staring out of the living room window, where the sky was darkest. That was the east, the direction of the ocean. All Nadia could see was the image of her and Mateo together, surrounded by sea spray, with the power of that magic coursing through her—and the look of wonder in his eyes—

“Earth to Nadia.”

Startled, Nadia turned to see her father giving her a look. “Sorry. I kinda zoned out there.”

“You’re sure you’re okay with being on Cole Patrol tonight? You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“Of course I’m okay with it. That’s my job, right?” Okay, it was past time to get her head out of the clouds. She and Mateo could explore anything—everything—tomorrow and all the days after that.

“Hey.” Her father took a seat next to her on the sofa. Already he was in work mode—the pen tucked behind one ear was a sure sign—but his expression was worried. “It’s not your job. You’re not the nanny. If you have homework, or you and Verlaine were going to do something—”

“I don’t, and we weren’t. Seriously, Dad, your case is coming up. Go do your lawyer thing. I’ve got Cole.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.” Nadia knew she ought to be grateful he was so worried. Lots of parents dumped stuff on their kids without even asking. But honestly, it was almost irritating. Dad knew she helped out, knew she wanted to do it, so why did he keep being so careful with her? It was like he wanted to make himself feel better about it or something.