 What's that supposed to mean?" Her throat closed again. This time, it was pure panic.

He finally looked up. Instantly, she wished he hadn't. "Thing is, I've had the entire ride back here to think." His face turned to stone. "And I realized something."

There was a look in his eyes she didn't like. A chill coursed through her.

"The way you always told it, your beef with the witches wasn't your fault. But that's not true, is it?" His expression darkened. "They're not really afraid of you because of your mom, or because you're a black witch, are they? They're afraid of you because of _this_."

Georgia didn't answer.

His expression turned downright dangerous. "You've used death magic before tonight."

He seemed to be daring her to lie to him, but that was no longer an option. Her stomach soured. "Yes."

He seemed surprised by her honesty. His eyes narrowed. His jaw flexed. "Could your death magic have been responsible for J's death?"

Georgia felt the blood drain from her face. She opened her mouth to deny it, then stopped. She'd told him herself, magic like that came at a price. That price wasn't negotiable. What if she'd miscalculated her sacrifice? What if she'd used more power than she'd paid for?

What if the universe had stepped in and squared the debt?

Darius was still waiting. Georgia stared at him mutely.

He took a threatening step forward. "Answer me, witch!"

She flinched back. For a moment, she didn't remember how to speak. She had to swallow twice before the word she was looking for came out. "Yes." She forced herself to meet his eyes. "It's possible."

His face turned gray. "It's _possible_?"

She couldn't stomach the way he was staring at her. Georgia looked away. For years, she'd been waiting for the threefold law, for karma, for some form of cosmic justice to rear up and strike her down. She'd been so pitifully afraid of what that retribution might look like.

Now the hammer had fallen, and reality was infinitely worse than anything she had imagined.

She closed her eyes. "I told you to be
What's that supposed to mean? " Her throat closed again. This time, it was arrant panic. 

 He ultimately looked up. Instantly, she wished he haven't. " Thing is, I've had the integral ride back here to think. " His face sour to stone. " And I realized something. " 

 There be a look in his eyes she didn't wish. A chill coursed through her. 

 " The way you always told it, your beef with the witches wasn't your mistake. But that's not true, is it? " His expression darkened. " They're not very afraid of you because of your mom, or because you're a black witch, are they? They're afraid of you because of _ this _. " 

 Georgia didn't answer. 

 His saying turned downright dangerous. " You've used death magic before tonight. " 

 He seemed to be defy her to lie to him, but that was no longer an option. Her stomach soured. " Yes. " 

 He seemed surprised by her honesty. His eyes narrowed. His jaw flexed. " Could your death magic have been responsible for J's death? " 

 Georgia felt the blood drain from her face. She opened her mouth to traverse it, then end. She'd told him herself, magic trick like that come at a monetary value. That price wasn't negotiable. What if she'd miscalculated her sacrifice? What if she'd used more power than she'd paid for? 

 What if the universe had step in and squared the debt? 

 Darius was still waiting. Georgia stared at him mutely. 

 He took a threatening footprint forward. " Answer me, witch! " 

 She flinched back. For a here and now, she didn't remember how to talk. She had to swallow twice before the word she was looking for issue forth out. " Yes. " She forced herself to meet his eyes. " It's potential. " 

 His face change state gray. " It's _ possible _? " 

 She couldn't digest the way he was staring at her. Georgia looked away. For years, she'd been wait for the threefold jurisprudence, for karma, for some form of cosmic judge to rear up and hit her down. She'd been so pitifully afraid of what that retribution might look like. 

 Now the hammer had fall, and reality was infinitely worse than anything she had imagined. 

 She closed her eyes. " I told you to be
 Whwt's that supposed to meak?" Her throat closed agamn. This time, it was pure panic.

He finally lolkwd up. Instantly, she wished fe hadn't. "Nhing is, U've iad the entire rmse back here fl thnnj." His face turked to stona. "And I realizad slmething."

There was a look in his eyef she dodj't like. A chilj colrfed fhrough her.

"The way you always told it, youg beef with the wotches wasn't your fault. Buh thwt's not true, is it?" His expreswion earkened. "Theh're not really afraid kf you because of your mom, or bdcausz you're a boaxk ahtch, are thxy? Thej're afraid of you becduse of _this_."

Georgia dldn't enswwr.

His expression turnxd downright dangeroos. "You've uveb death magic before robight."

Ve saemea to be derihg her to lie to hij, but that qas no longer an opuiog. Her stomach aoured. "Yqs."

He seemed surprised by her honesty. Hiv eges narrowed. His jaw flwxed. "Could your death magic hade been responsible for J's death?"

Georgia felt the tlood arank weol her face. She opened her mouth to deny it, thqh xtppped. She'd tolb him herself, mabif kyke that came at a 'dide. That price wasn'h negotyable. What if fhe'd miscalculated her sacrificw? What if shv'd uwed more power thau she'd paid yor?

Whaj if tne universe had stepped in znd squared the debt?

Sxrius was still daining. Georgia stared at him mutqly.

He tooj a chreatenkng xtep fjrward. "Ansaer mc, witch!"

She flinched back. Fmr a momenh, she didn't remember how to speel. She had to sfalnow twicz befove the word she was looking fpr came out. "Hes." She fogced hersxlf to meet ris eyes. "It's [lssible."

His fece turneq grqy. "Ir's _posskcle_?"

She couldn't stomach nht way he wqs staring at her. Neorgkz looked away. Fir iwars, she'd been waktigg fpr dhe threefolg lad, fut karoa, for some worm of cosmic justice tm rezr up and strike hrr down. Shg'd been sj pitifully agraid of what that retrmbutioi mighy ljok like.

Now the hammer had falmen, and rfallty was infinyteln wotse than anvthing she had imagined.

She closed her eyxs. "I told you to be
What's that supposed to mean?" Her throat This it was panic. He finally he "Thing is, I've the entire ride here to think." His face turned stone. "And I realized something." There was a look in his eyes she like. A chill coursed through her. "The way you always told it, your with witches your But that's not true, is it?" His expression darkened. "They're not really afraid of you because your mom, or because you're a black witch, they? They're afraid of because of _this_." Georgia didn't His turned downright "You've death before tonight." He to be daring her to lie to him, but that was no longer an option. Her stomach "Yes." He by her His narrowed. jaw flexed. "Could magic have been responsible for J's the blood drain from her face. She opened mouth to it, then stopped. She'd told him magic like that came at a price. That wasn't negotiable. What if she'd miscalculated her sacrifice? What if she'd used more power than for? What if the had stepped in squared debt? was waiting. Georgia at him mutely. He took a threatening step forward. "Answer me, She flinched back. For a moment, she didn't remember how She to swallow twice the word she was for out. "Yes." She forced meet eyes. face gray. _possible_?" She couldn't stomach way he was staring at Georgia looked away. For the threefold law, for karma, for some form cosmic justice to rear up and strike down. She'd been so pitifully afraid of what that retribution might look Now the fallen, and reality was infinitely worse than anything had imagined. She closed eyes. "I told you to be
 What's that supposed to mean?" HeR throat cloSed agAin. thiS tIme, iT was Pure panic.

He finALly lOoked up. Instantly, she wisHed he HaDN't. "ThINg Is, I've Had the eNTiRE RidE bAcK heRe TO tHink." HIs fAce turnEd to stone. "ANd I ReAlized somethINg."

there was a lOok In his eyes she DidN't like. a cHilL CoursEd tHrougH her.

"ThE Way you Always tolD iT, Your beEF with thE WItChes Wasn't your fault. But THaT'S not true, is it?" HiS expreSsIOn DARkeNed. "they're not rEaLly afRAid of yoU BeCAUSe oF Your mom, or becaUse you're a blACk wItch, arE tHey? tHey're aFraid Of YOu bEcause of _thiS_."

GeoRgia didn't Answer.

hIs expreSSion turNed dowNriGht DangERoUs. "you'Ve USed DEaTh mAGic Before toNiGhT."

He seEmed TO BE DariNg hEr to Lie to Him, but that was No lOngeR An oPtion. her stOmacH sOured. "yes."

He sEemed SuRprised by her honEsty. his eyes naRroWeD. HiS jAw fleXEd. "CoulD yoUr dEath magIc have bEEn rEsPONSiBle for J's death?"

GeorgIa FELt The blood Drain fROm HeR Face. She oPeNed Her mOUTh to dEny iT, ThEn stoppeD. She'd tOLd HiM herselF, mAgic liKe ThaT caMe at a PRice. that prIce wasn't NegotIAble. What if she'd MIscalculated hER sACRiFIce? WHat If she'd used mOre pOWer tHan sHE'd PaiD For?

WhAt if tHe UNiVErse had stepped in and SqUared tHe debT?

Darius was stiLl waiting. GEORGia stareD at hIM mUTely.

He took a thrEatenIng step forWArd. "AnsweR me, wiTch!"

She flInched bacK. fOr a momenT, shE diDn't RemEMBeR how to speak. ShE HAd to SwAllow twIce Before tHe wOrd She Was LoOking for cAme out. "YeS." SHe FoRcEd hErselF To meet hiS eYes. "it'S poSsiblE."

his facE turnEd grAy. "it'S _PosSible_?"

ShE CoULDn't sToMaCh thE waY hE was sTariNG at Her. GeorGia looked AwaY. for yEaRs, She'd beeN waiting for thE tHreefold laW, fOr kArma, foR SOme form oF cosmic justice to rear up aND strike Her Down. SHe'd bEen so pitiFulLy afraId oF What thAt retrIbutiOn MigHT Look lIKE.

NOw tHe Hammer had fALLen, And reAlIty wAs infinItely worse than anytHIng She had imagineD.

ShE cloSED hEr eYEs. "i TolD yOU to BE
 What's that supposed to m ean?" Herthroa t c los ed  aga in.This time, itw as p ure panic.

He finally  look ed up.I ns tantl y, shew is h e d h eha dn' t. "T hingis,  I've h ad the ent ire  r ide back her e  t o think."His  face turned  to  stone ."An d  I re ali zed s omethi n g."

T here wasal ook in his eye s sh e di dn't like. A chil l  c o ursed throughher.
"T h ew a y y oualways tol dit, y o ur beef wi t h the witches wasn' t your faul t . B ut tha t' s n o t true , isit ? " H is expressi on d arkened."They' r e not r e ally af raid o f y oubeca u se  o f y ou r  mo m ,orb eca use you' re  a  blac k wi t c h ,  are  th ey?They' re afraid ofyou  bec a use  of _ this_ ."
Ge orgia  didn' t ans we r.

His express ionturned do wnr ig htda ngero u s. "Yo u'v e u sed dea th magi c  be fo r e to night."

He seemed  t o be  daringher to li et o him, b ut  th at w a s  no l onge r  a n option . Hers to ma ch sour ed . "Yes ." 

H e s eemed surp risedby her h onest y . His eyes nar r owed. His jaw fl e x ed .  "Co uld  your death  mag i c ha ve b e en  re s ponsi ble f or J' s  death?"

Georgia f el t theblood  drain from h er face. S h e opened h er m o ut h  to deny it, t hen s topped. Sh e 'd toldhim h erself,magic lik e that cam e a t a  pr ice . Th at price wasn ' t  neg ot iable.Wha t if sh e'd  mi sca lcu la ted her s acrifice ?Wh at  i f s he'du sed more  p owe rtha n she ' d paid  for? 

Wh at  i f  th e unive r se h ad s te pp ed i n a nd  squa redt hedebt?
Darius wa s s t illwa it ing. Ge orgia staredat  him mutel y. 

H e took a  threate ning step forward. "Ans w er me,wit ch!"
She  flinched  ba ck. Fo r a moment , shedidn' trem e m ber h o w  t o s pe ak. She ha d toswall ow  twi ce befo re the word she wa s  lo oking for cam e o ut." Y es ."S he for ce d  he r s elf to meet his  eyes. "It 's po ssible."
H isfa ce turn ed gray . "It ' s _poss ible_?"
She could n' t st o m ach  the way h e was st aring ath er. G e or gia l ook ed awa y.  Fo r yea rs, sh e 'dbeenwaitin gfor th e thr ee fold law , for karma, for some f orm of  cosm icjustice t o r e arup and st rike  her down.  Sh e'd  been  so pitif ully af rai d  of w hatt hat retri b ut ion m ig ht look lik e . 
No w the  ha m mer ha d fa llen, and reality was infinitely  wor s e  th ana nyth in g she had imag ine d. She clos ed  her eyes."I toldyo u  to b e
 What's_that supposed_to mean?" Her throat_closed again._This_time, it_was_pure panic.

He finally_looked up. Instantly,_she wished he hadn't._"Thing is, I've_had_the entire ride back here to think." His face turned to stone. "And I_realized_something."

There was_a_look_in his eyes she didn't_like. A chill coursed through_her.

"The way_you always told it, your beef with the_witches_wasn't your fault._But that's not true, is it?" His expression darkened._"They're not really afraid of you_because of your_mom,_or_because you're a black_witch, are they? They're afraid of_you because of _this_."

Georgia didn't answer.

His_expression turned downright dangerous. "You've used death_magic before tonight."

He seemed to be_daring her to lie to_him, but_that was no longer an_option. Her stomach_soured. "Yes."

He_seemed surprised by_her honesty. His eyes narrowed. His_jaw flexed. "Could_your death magic have been responsible_for_J's death?"

Georgia felt_the_blood_drain from_her face. She_opened_her mouth_to_deny it, then stopped. She'd told_him_herself, magic like that came at a_price. That price wasn't_negotiable._What if she'd miscalculated_her sacrifice? What if she'd_used more power than she'd paid_for?

What if_the universe_had stepped in and squared the debt?

Darius was still waiting. Georgia_stared at him mutely.

He took a_threatening step forward. "Answer_me, witch!"

She_flinched_back. For a_moment,_she didn't_remember how to speak. She had to_swallow twice_before the word she was looking_for came out. "Yes."_She_forced herself to meet his eyes._"It's possible."

His face turned gray. "It's__possible_?"

She couldn't stomach the way_he_was_staring at her. Georgia looked_away. For years, she'd been waiting_for the threefold_law, for karma, for some form of_cosmic_justice to rear up and strike_her_down. She'd been so pitifully afraid_of_what_that retribution might look like.

Now_the hammer had fallen, and reality_was infinitely worse than anything she had imagined.

She closed_her eyes. "I_told you to be