“Being trapped thus is incredibly frustrating for me, andoccasionally I take it out on others. Again, I apologize. Now,if you’d like, I can help you with what you’re seeking.”Knowing I’d probably regret it, I crossed the room andyanked the canvas off the mirror. As before, he was sittingon the table, smirking at me.“Jackass, jackass on the wall, where’s the info on HexHall?”

“Jackass, jackass on the wall, where's the info on Hex Hall?”

“How is it that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Did they teach you that in The Eye?"He stopped, and his eyes glided over my lips."Actually, I'm just trying to see if I can make you mad enough to kiss me again.”

“It felt like some kind of honor, you know? Being asked to be the head of the Council's son-in-law. Plus, you dad, he, uh, told me a lot about you."My voice was barely above a whisper. "What did he say?""That you were smart, and strong. Funny. That you had trouble using your powers, but you were always trying to use them to help people." He shrugged. "I thought we'd be a good match."The vast dining room suddenly felt very small, like it consisted only of this table and me and Cal.”

“So why were you with her?""She was my assignment.""From The Eye?""No,from the Boy Scouts. That Witch Dating badge just kept eluding me.""Well,you must have at least three Total Douchebag badges by now, so that has to count for something. What about Holly? Was that fake,too?" I was panting slightly, thanks to trying to keep up with him. Stupid short legs.He had his hands in his pockets, and hi head was slightly down, like he was walking against the wind. "You know, these were all things I was willing to tell you several weeks ago. Too bad you decided to stand me up."I had caught up to him by now, and I snagged his elbow,doing my best to ignore the little thrill that went through me even at that innocent touch. "How is that you can go from decent human being to complete jackass in zero-point-two seconds? Do they teach you that in The Eye?"He stopped, and his eyes glided over my lips. "Actually,I'm just trying to see if I can make you mad enough to kiss me again.”

“That present sucked," I muttered.Dad slipped an arm around my shoulder and helped me sit up. As he did, his sleeve fell back to reveal several slivers of demonglass embedded in his forearm."I'm fine," he said before I could ask. "Cal can get them out later. Are you all right?"My shoulder was still on fire, but there was no pain anywhere else, and other than the shock of being blown backward and stabbed, I was peachy. "I think so. What was that, like a magic pipe bomb?"The present lay in tatters on the floor, its ribbon coiling and snapping like a snake. Cal stomped on the ribbon, and it went still. "Seems like it," he said grimly."And it was ensorcelled to seek you out," Dad added. He looked so worried and angry that I decided not to give him a hard time for using a word like ensorcelled.”

“Hey,”he said, taking in my disheveled appearance. “Why are you up so early?”“Oh, I was just, you know, exercising.”I jogged in place for a second before realizing that I probably looked like a mental patient.”