Gage leaned over, forearms on his knees, to stare down at the porch. “Thing is, he always said he didn’t like her that way. And I always had a thing for her. Mateo knew that. Yeah, they were best friends—I should’ve figured—but still. After all those months he told me to make my move on Elizabeth, to see him getting together with her at my own party—it got to me, I guess.”

“Wait.” Nadia grabbed Gage by the shoulders, clearly startling him, but she didn’t care. “Are you telling me Mateo left here with Elizabeth Pike?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Looked pretty possible from where I was standing.”

There was no way he would ever have willingly gone with her. Elizabeth had him—whether through a spell or a threat, there was no way to know. But Elizabeth was holding Mateo prisoner. She’d already tried to kill Verlaine. And now—now she had Mateo’s Steadfast power to make her even stronger tomorrow night—

“Sucks, doesn’t it?” Gage sighed. “But really we should have seen it coming.”

“Which way did they go? Tell me!”

“Seriously, don’t go after them. You’ll only feel worse.”

“Gage, this is important.”

He couldn’t have guessed what she truly meant by that, but his expression changed slightly, like he finally got that this wasn’t as simple as a party hookup. “I—I’m not sure. Her house, I’d guess.”

Nadia didn’t even say thank you, just got up and ran.

Dammit, dammit, why did she pick tonight to wear high heels? Every single step she took on the high, winding coastline road stabbed up through her feet and knees, but Nadia never slowed down. She went up the steps to the main road, wobbled on one heel, and nearly fell—so she stopped only long enough to kick off one shoe, then the other, before taking off running again. Concrete started ripping at her tights, bruising her feet, but it didn’t matter.

Next Christmas she was asking for a car.

Mateo’s my Steadfast. Not hers. That means he’ll give my spells more strength than Elizabeth’s. And she won’t be expecting me. That’s all I’ve got going for me. Is that going to be enough?

It has to be. I’ve already lost Verlaine, already let her down, and I can’t lose Mateo, too—

Finally Nadia reached the street where Elizabeth lived. She’d been here before—had jealously spied on Mateo and Elizabeth together. That felt so childish now, so pointless. But even then she’d known that approaching Elizabeth’s house might be dangerous. Waiting inside could be protective spells, wards, and watchers, omens Nadia might not even recognize.

But Mateo might be inside, too, in danger, and that left her no choice. Nadia went up the steps without hesitation and tried the door. It was unlocked. What she saw was … a completely normal, nicely furnished house. Like something out of a Pottery Barn catalog. Not what she’d been expecting.

No. This wasn’t right. It had to be a glamour at work.

Nadia touched her bracelet, went through the simple thoughts necessary to construct a spell of disillusion, and watched as the Pottery Barn facade melted. In its place was—a ruin.