Page 72 of Fool Me Twice

Roma’s heart flutters. Ez clearly isn’t trying to build Roma up or compliment her, not when both of their lives could be on the line if this reversal goes south. No, she’s genuinely just stating the facts as she sees them.

She really does respect Roma as a spellcaster. Roma swallows hard past the warmth in her chest at the thought. “Um, thanks,” she says, hastily looking down at their counterspells to hide the blush creeping up her neck. “So what now? We should get some second opinions, right?”

“Second, third, fourth, and possibly even fifth,” Ez agrees grimly, settling back in her chair to think. “I’ll ask my crew. Spellcasting isn’t any of their fortes, but Obie in particular has been on Earth for long enough to know the rules‍—he’s probably forgotten more than I’ll ever learn just via osmosis. Same with Maggie Khan. And Cass and JJ can look over the spell from a baseline academic standpoint, which is always useful.”

A pang twists through Roma at the thought of JJ checking a spell that she helped to create. Just like old times. “Sounds good,” she says eventually. “I’ll run it past the Council, too‍—they can enlist our best spellcasters to analyze it. They want this over just as much as the rest of us.”

This could be the perfect opportunity to conduct more research for Operation Thirteen.

Roma aggressively shoves the memory away. Regardless of whatever Operation Thirteen is, she doubts it’s important enough to justify delaying the end of the epidemic.

Besides, it hasn’t escaped Roma’s notice that the Sanctum primarily sends out purebred spellcasters for the overnight rift-closing shifts. They’ve probably been able to conduct all the research they need.

Ez wrinkles her nose. “That should work. Just make sure the Council doesn’t try to pull the bloodlines card and send out a purebred spellcaster to replace you. I don’t trust any of them as far as I can throw them.”

Roma snorts with surprise. “I doubt any purebred spellcasters wouldwantthis job‍—not with the aforementioned mortality rate.”

Ez’s lips twitch. “And we should probably touch base with some others, too,” she says, and she grimaces. “Like the Conspiracy Fam.”

Roma’s stomach churns. “Oh. You mean, uh, Micah and Gregorio?”

“Yep.” Ez looks roughly as unenthusiastic about the prospect as Roma feels. “Micah’s spellcasting isn’t amazing, but he can triple-check the basics. And Gregorio is in the same camp as Obie and Maggie‍—he’s been alive for long enough to have insights we might not have considered.” Her eyes narrow. “How about Naomi and Sawyer? They were the ones who figured out the Deep was involved in the first place, after all.”

Bitterness crawls up Roma’s throat. “Sawyer’s spellcasting isn’t great‍—or it wasn’t six years ago, at least. But Naomi… might be an option. She didn’t take any advanced spellcasting classes, but she always helped me study for mine. She picked up a decent amount of knowledge from that.”

“Do you want to reach out to her?” Ez’s expression is neutral and her words are careful. Not trying to pressure Roma, but making it clear that the option is there.

The thought of asking Naomi for help with this‍—for help withanything,really‍—makes Roma feel faintly nauseous. She cinches her fingers more tightly together. “Not really,” she saysevenly. “If you’re going to run this by Micah and Gregorio anyway, could you just ask them to pass it on?”

Relief floods through her when Ez nods. “Sure. It’ll be more efficient that way, anyway,” she says, and she hesitates. “But what’s the deal with you and Naomi? Are you just, you know, planning on never speaking to her again?”

Roma fights back a scowl. “I mean, if I can manage it, then yes. Exactly.”

“Sounds healthy.”

“What?” Roma demands, a little harder than she intended. “Are you going to try and guilt me into forgiving her because ‘oh, you’resisters’?”

Ez rolls her eyes. “Of course not. We’ve both known for a long time that you have averycomplicated history with Naomi, and frankly, I’d still be salty about the abrupt six-year abandonment, too. Forgiving her is your decision, no one else’s.”

Some of Roma’s instinctive anger deflates. “Oh. Okay.”

“But…” Ez’s voice is measured. “You might want to consider talking to her at least one more time. Not necessarily to make amends or reconcile or anything like that, but‍—but just for closure. Especially since you still look ready to bite anyone’s head off who so much as mentions her, it might be helpful to figure out where you stand. Maybe even set some boundaries.” She arches an eyebrow. “Or have younotbeen living in constant fear that she’s going to contact you at any given moment?”

Roma almost laughs. “I don’t want to admit how accurate that is,” she says, slumping back in her seat, “but yeah. Yeah, that’s accurate.”

“So just consider it,” Ez says. “I’ll check in with Micah and Gregorio, and if they offer to bring the counterspell to Naomi and Sawyer, great. If not, then that’ll leave the option open for you, should you choose to take it. Okay?”

When Roma looks at Ez, her eyes are sincere. She genuinely wants what’s best for Roma, genuinely wants her to have the chance to make this decision, genuinely wants Roma tobethe one to make this decision. No pressure. No ulterior motives.

Just honest caring.

And Roma looks at Ez, and for the briefest of moments, she imagines‍?—

Imagines what it would be like if things were different. If Ez wasn’t a demon and Roma wasn’t a hunter. If they didn’t meet under the worst possible circumstances, if Roma didn’t betray her within weeks of claiming to be on her side, if they weren’t forced into this current alliance by a mistake that Roma can’t even begin to explain to Ez.

She imagines what it would be like if she and Ez could justbe.If Roma knew this house’s address, and if she could walk in with tacos anytime she wanted, complaining about the latest nonsense and rambling about esoteric spellcasting principles. If Roma actually had any sort of claim on Ez’s life, if she actually took up anyspacethere, and wasn’t just looking in from the outside.

If they could expand on their fragile alliance and shaky friendship, grow it and nurture it and deepen it into something precious. Something different.

---