Page 99 of Strike It Witch

“Give that here. You’re about to keel over.” She took the rake out of my hands and scraped over the parts of the circles I’d missed.

“Thanks,” I said, watching her work. “So, that was very deus ex machina of Sexton, showing up in the nick of time like that.”

“Yep.”

Scrape,scrape,scrape.

“When did you call him?”

Ida gripped the rake handle tighter. “I didn’t.Hecalledme. Asked if he should put in an appearance. Apparently, you told him what you were up to, and he was concerned.”

“Concerned? He’s neverconcernedhimself with my demon-summoning shenanigans in the past,” I said. “Why now?”

She rested the rake against her shoulder and looked at me. “You haven’t summoned anything since before Lila died. The only time you’ve come close was the other night in Sexton’s cemetery.”

“I banished Gnath,” I said. “Three times, counting tonight.”

“Besides the fact that a hitchhiker demon doesn’t exactly rank at the top of the demonic power class, banishments aren’t summonings. Fewer moving parts in a banishment. Something you already know.” She started raking again.

“Sexton was watching me that night in his cemetery, wasn’t he?” I’d expected it. I’d mentioned as much to Ida. Still, the fact that I hadn’t picked up on his presence was unsettling.

“More than that night. He’s taken an interest in you. Probably not a good sign, even if it worked out tonight. Demons don’t do things for altruistic reasons, which means he’s got plans for you.”

“He wants me to do another job, is all. I have no intention of doing it, if that makes you feel better.”

“This isn’t about a job.”

A chilly breeze blew loose strands of my hair into my face. I tucked them behind my ears. “You sound worried.”

“Worried doesn’t begin to cover it. But I’m also the one who gave that creep temporary permission to enter the property.” She kicked gravel over a stubborn spot. “Make of that what you will.”

I didn't mention that with Persephone's Ear, he didn't require permission. “I love you, too.”

She held the rake steady and met my gaze with a soft smile. Ida loved me even more than she feared Sexton, and that was no small thing.

“Don’t leave the park, Betty.” The words burst from her, each syllable a cry of sorrow. “You keep trying to lone wolf it through life, and it’s not working. What if I hadn’t been around tonight? What if Sexton hadn’t called? What if Joon hadn’t been chanting double-time to keep your outer circle up?” Her voice wobbled, and I knew she was fighting back tears. “What if you’d died?”

NowIwas fighting them. I wrapped my arms around myself. “I’m not trying to lone wolf it, I swear.”

“Sure seems that way. You’re my best friend. I know better than anyone how much you crave connection. Yet, when it presents itself, you run.Why do you always run?”

It hurt that she thought that, and it wasn’t her fault that she did. She didn’t know everything.

“Stay here, Betty. You can?—”

“I don’t want to leave. I have to,” I blurted.

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I looked around to see if anyone else had heard. The only ones around were Joon, Ida, and me, and Joon was by the dumpster cleaning out the elemental bowls.

“Because of the money?” Ida asked. “I can help with that. I’ve offered to help. I’ve raised my own rent every month since you moved back, and you keep returning the money. This is a prime example of?—”

“It’s not the money—well, not just the money. It’s my magic.”

Her gaze sharpened. “What’s going on with your magic?”

“It’s dying.”

Ida let the rake fall. “What? Why?”

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