Page 17 of Fool Me Twice

“But whyhere?”JJ asks. “And why in civilian areas? If this spellcaster is specifically targeting the Redwater Sanctum and Chain‍—to distract them or test reaction time, like you said‍—it makes sense, but otherwise, it would be a thousand times easier to experiment somewhere uninhabited. Like Antarctica‍—we have a Sanctum near McMurdo, but it’s a very small one.A spellcaster could open rifts for months down there without arousing suspicion.”

“I’m sorry,” Ez says. “You have a Sanctum inAntarctica?With the penguins?”

Desi claps her hands together, delighted. “Penguins! We should go visit the penguins on our next field trip, Auntie Ez!”

“Not if there are hunters down there, sweetie.” Ez stirs her chili contemplatively, considering JJ across the table.

Because, for better or worse, JJistheir resident hunter. He’s rejected the Sanctum as an institution and is actively working to unlearn his old biases, but he still has all the skills, training, and knowledge he was indoctrinated with. In fact, that unfortunate education is the only reason he can keep up with the magical nuances of this mega-rift crisis in the first place.

Unbidden, Maggie’s voice from earlier this week floats through Ez’s head.Central Office is exploring the possibility of enlisting some human spellcasters, too.

And civilians with a rudimentary understanding of spell work would be great, but an ex-hunter trained in the subtleties of magic would be better. “Speaking of which, JJ, how’s your spellcasting going?”

JJ straightens, his eyebrows furrowing. “It’s gotten better over the past few weeks. Most of my basic spells are at least functional again, and I can even manage a cloaking spell in a pinch.”

“Just what I wanted to hear,” Ez says. “You want to make some money? The Sanctum’s rift-blocking spell isn’t terribly complex, and I could use a human spellcasting partner in my contracting venture.”

JJ’s eyes widen. “Really?”

Cass stiffens. “That’s aterribleidea, Ez,” he says, shooting her a glare. “Both the Sanctumandthe Chain are after him. If anyone found out‍?—‍”

Ez scoffs. “Don’t insult me. I’d obviously glamour JJ to prevent them from getting their grubby hands on him. And I could maintain a glamour even during the rift-closing spell, so there would barely be any risk.”

Cass looks incredulous. “Parties unknown are opening mega-rifts in the middle of civilian areas for the lolz, and you think that counts as ‘barely any risk’? We still don’t have any idea who’s behind the rifts, what their plan is‍?—‍”

“No one has been attacked so far,” Ez argues. “By all accounts, this is safer than what JJ used to face in the Sanctum.” She glances back at JJ. “Full offense to your old friends, but I’d really appreciate some backup that isn’t Roma Gutierrez. At least I know I can trust you.”

For a split second, JJ looks startled.

And then his smile softens. “Thanks, Ez. I appreciate that.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” Ez says. “So are you in?”

“I‍—‍”

“Julian.”

JJ tenses the slightest bit at his full name in Cass’s voice, his eyes flickering over to meet his boyfriend’s. For a moment, the two of them frown at each other, having a rapid-fire conversation with their expressions that Ez can’t quite parse.

And then JJ turns back to Ez, his smile apologetic. “We’ll have to talk it over,” he says firmly. “I’d love to help, though. I definitely‍—‍” The smile wavers. “I definitely want you to have someone you can trust out there. And that isn’t Roma.”

He looks away when he says it, his voice quiet and sad. Ez’s heart hurts for him. Considering how thoroughly Roma faked her own defection to earn JJ’s trust before stabbing him in the back, he knows that better than anyone. “Well, just let me know,” she says, throwing Cass a look. Cass scowls back. “I’d love to have you on board, but, ah. Talk it over as much as you need.”

She can already tell that the answer is going to be “no.” Much as she knows JJ would jump at the chance to get back into the action, Cass has been understandably gun-shy about letting his boyfriend run headfirst into dicey situations again. And since JJ’s last brush with danger ended with Cass getting kidnapped and almost killed, JJ hasalsobeen understandably gun-shy about anything that could affect his newfound family.

There’s been a lot of gun-shyness in their ranks lately, Ez thinks. She never thought thatshewould be the most impulsive one in their little group, but with Cass sidelining himself for the next few decades, she supposes that someone has to claim the title.

“In any case,” Obie says abruptly, looking over at Desi, “how much do you know about penguins, honey?”

Desi brightens. “Lots of things! Cass got me a new book with penguins and seals and polar bears!”

“Which ones are your favorite?”

“Seals! I love seals! They’re so cute and funny-looking, and…”

Desi’s excited rambling quickly takes over the conversation, effectively killing any further discussion of JJ joining Ez’s rift-closing exploits. Ez turns her attention back to her chili, letting out a low sigh.

Looks like she’s stuck with Roma Gutierrez for the foreseeable future.

---