would he tell you that?” Mr. Moore asked.
“He thought we could keep an eye on Ashley and Ariel. He owes Ariel big time and he thinks you could both be targets of some kind.”
“I understand Caeco as a bodyguard, Declan, but why you?” Ashley asked, a gleam in her eyes.
“Because I’m not your average warlock, Ashley,” I said.
“You know, that’s been my suspicion all along,” she said. “I mean, come on. God’s Hammer seeks you out for your opinion on stuff? An eighteen-year-old warlock that shouldn’t be able to do much but turns out to be the only dual-affinity witch in our school? Like, please.”
“Are you aware of the necklace that Gina’s daughter wears?” I asked.
“The black stone in the silver tear? Of course,” Ashley said, puzzled.
“It’s a really, really powerful artifact that protects Toni. My aunt and I pretty much made it.”
“No way?” she asked. I just nodded.
“This thing a big deal, then?” Mr. Moore asked.
“Chris bombed that silo in New Hampshire because he was so upset that he couldn’t protect Toni. That’s where we met him… protecting his goddaughter,” I explained to Mr. Moore. Ashley was nodding impatiently.
“So we helped make the necklace. It’s instant death to anyone who attempts to harm her. Lets him protect her no matter where he is.”
“Will the necklaces you made for Ariel and I do that?” she asked, fingering her Rowan amulet.
“No, but it will block witch attacks, up to a point.”
“What point?” she asked.
“I think if the twins and all the others worked together, they would pretty much blow past the wards. One on one, though, you’re pretty safe.”
“Is that why Erika’s spell failed on Caeco?”
“No, I blocked that one by reflex. Better if they don’t know about the necklaces,” I said.
“Hmm, I feel a bit better about you attending this school, Ash,” Mr. Moore said.
“Oh, Mr. Moore, Ashley mentioned you might be revisiting your knife forging business. Are you taking commissions?” I asked.
“What do you have in mind, Declan?”
“A folded steel set like the ones on your poster. Bowie and tomahawk, only with silver wire folded in as well,” I said.
“Anti-werewolf and vampire, huh? That’s an expensive order. Have you seen the price of silver lately? I can give you a discount, but it’s still going to cost,” he warned.
“I have money that I’m not having to spend on college and Caeco, my girlfriend, really, really admires your work. Plus, with the two species being out in the open, I would think folding silver into the mix would be a big hit.”
“Why Declan, you romantic, you,” Ashley laughed.
“Caeco’s much more of a knife and axe girl than a diamond and gold girl.”
“I think we can work something out. Just make sure you keep an eye on my kid,” he said.
“Dad… you know Neeve is always lurking about, and I have Pancho. Plus, I’m learning to protect myself,” she said, hands on hips.
“The more the merrier, kiddo,” he said. “Now let’s get some chow.”
“I have to get to English anyway. Nice to meet you, Mr. Moore,” I said, shaking his hand one last time before heading out.
Chapter 12
My class was mostly sophomores, with maybe a few younger kids like me who had gotten AP English credits in high school. Held in one of the older buildings, the room had hardwood floors and chairs with attached desks set in rather haphazard rows that more or less faced the old-school blackboard.
I grabbed a desk, maybe two-thirds back, and hung my jacket over the back of it before breaking out a spiral-bound notebook and pencil. Kids were trickling in, finding their own spaces and basically ignoring each other. So I doodled. The room filled slowly and the empty desks dwindled. A wave of warm, perfumed air announced that the desk next to mine had been claimed. I glanced over and met a pair of amused green eyes.
“Hey Declan, what are the odds, da ya think?” Ryanne asked, setting her own supplies up on the little desktop.
“Well, you write music and basically grew up next to the United Kingdom, home of English. So actually, the odds must be pretty decent. I’m guessing you tested out of English 1?” I asked.
“Naturally, but me meanin’ was more about the odds that a slacker like you would have shuunted it as well,” she clarified, flicking my forearm lightly with the eraser end of her yellow No. 2 pencil.
“I took AP English in eleventh grade and the college accepted the credits,” I said.
“Good on ya, D,” she said with