I swallowed hard, uncertain of how to process it.

So I didn’t.

Now wasn’t the time, anyway. I didn’t know if he cared for me, anyway, so no big deal.

“You’ve got this,” Mac repeated, and squeezed my hand.

I squeezed hers back and walked toward Grey. “Let’s get this over with.”

“You’ll have no trouble,” he said, holding the door open for me.

He followed me inside, and we walked toward the main part of the church. The paint had been scrubbed from the floor and the place returned to normal, but I’d never forget the dark stain of Ivan’s magic.

Walking toward the Council beside Grey was a big improvement from being dragged in wearing Magicuffs. Several of the Council members smiled at me. Most of them, in fact. They didn’t know the exact role I’d played in saving us all, but they knew I’d been there and appreciated it. Even Ubhan didn’t scowl quite as deeply as he had before, though he gave Grey a good, hard stare. The vampire and the sorcerers weren’t friendly, but they were on better terms now that the sorcerers knew why we’d broken into their tower.

Ubhan stood. “You are here to demonstrate that you have control of your magic.”

“Yes.” I stopped in front of them, raising my arms. I drew in a steady breath and made sure I had my signature on tight lockdown, using the tricks that Grey had taught me. “As you can see, you can’t sense it at all.”

The Council members leaned forward, brows creased, as they tried to detect my magic. I stood perfectly still, keeping a tight rein on it by visualizing it as a monster trapped in a cage within my chest.

“Well, I’m impressed,” Mateo said. “Not a hint of it.”

“And I think we owe her a debt of thanks for her role in saving Guild City,” said Cartimandua, the Witches’ Guild leader.

“Of course.” Ubhan nodded graciously. “We owe both of you our thanks.”

The words were only slightly begrudging, and his eyes gleamed with sincerity. He’d been trapped in the cell while the whole thing had happened, able to feel the magic going out of control. He knew firsthand how close we’d all been to dying.

“You may approach the star now so that you can be assigned to your guild.” Cartimandua smiled at me.

I stiffened, going a bit cold. “I didn’t realize I’d be joining a guild now.”

“Everyone joins a guild.” Ubhan’s voice hardened. “You’ve controlled your magic. Now the ceremony will know where to place you.”

“Okay.” I looked at Grey, who stood stiff and still.

“All will be well,” he murmured.

I had the distinct feeling he didn’t mean, “No problem, you’ll be chosen by a guild.” He meant, “This will be fine, even if I have to kill them all.”

I gave him a weak smile and nodded, turning to walk toward the metal star inlaid in the floor. Visions of Ivan flashed in my head, and I shook them away.

I needed to think witchy thoughts. That was the guild I’d choose, given a choice, though I wasn’t keen on joining a guild at all.

When I reached the bronze star, I stopped, standing right beneath the window in the ceiling. Tension tightened my skin as I waited for the ceremony to begin.

Please don’t knock me out.

I was getting damned sick of being knocked unconscious.

As one, the Council members leaned forward, watching me intently. I felt Grey’s gaze on me, and I focused on his rather than the others’.

As it had the last time, a low chant began to echo around the room. It echoed, flowing through the space like water. Magic filled the air, pressing in on me. I looked up at a noise from above.

The star-shaped window in the ceiling was opening, and a shaft of light beamed down on me.

I braced myself, remembering the last time I’d stood in this light.

But this time, it glowed warmly on me. No pain.

I shifted, looking around the room. Was something supposed to happen?

The Council members looked at me, confusion flickering on their faces. Ubhan looked at the floor, then at me. “The magic isn’t pointing to a guild.”

“Yet she is not unconscious.” Cartimandua’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve grown stronger.”

“Just had a good breakfast.” I gave a weak smile.

“Uh-huh.” She clearly didn’t buy it for a second.

Grey stepped forward. “Something is clearly amiss with your ceremony. You should have that fixed.”

Ubhan glowered. “That is not the case, and you know it.”

“If the ceremony worked, she would be unconscious, or she would be assigned to a guild.” Grey shrugged. “She is neither. Something has gone amiss. I expected better of the Council.”

A low grumbling sounded from different corners of the room, but Cartimandua stood. “We don’t know what is happening with the ceremony, but we can hardly return her to the prison.”

“That is procedure!” Ubhan shouted.

“She helped save your hide, Ubhan.” Cartimandua glowered at him. “Carrow must join a guild soon. If the ceremony doesn’t work for her, we’ll need to find another way to assign one. But in the meantime, we will vote on what to do with her.”

I bristled. I didn’t like the sound of this. The Council was way too involved in my life. But Cartimandua shot me a wink.

She had to know the vote would go in my favor, right? She’d been on my side all along. And I liked her.

I nodded. What choice did I have?

Cartimandua looked at each member of the Council. “Should Carrow stay free until she is assigned to a guild?” Her voice took on a heavier tone. “And do not forget the role she played in saving us all.”

I waited, breath held, as the Council voted.

The no vote went first.

There were some real sticklers, it seemed, because four unfamiliar hands went up in support of keeping me in a holding cell until I was able to complete the ceremony. Ubhan’s went up as well, making it five.

I felt sick to my stomach.

I could feel Grey at my side. The tension surrounding him was a physical thing. Were members of the Council allowed to abstain from voting? If so, and if there weren’t enough votes in favor of letting me walk free, Grey would act.

And it wouldn’t be pretty.

He hadn’t so much as told me that he liked me—because fond certainly didn’t count—and yet, I could feel that he would have my back.

When Cartimandua called for the vote to release me for the time being, the remaining Council members raised their hands.

Thank God.

Tension drained from my shoulders, but I stood straight. I didn’t want them to know how worried I’d been.

“That is that.” Cartimandua clapped her hands together once. “You may go. But be warned, we will call you back soon to undergo the ceremony once more. In deference to the service you have done for Guild City, we will let this slide for now. But only for now.”

“Thank you.” I spun on my heel and left, getting the hell out of there as quickly as I could.

I didn’t hear if Grey said anything to them, but his disapproval was apparent.

He joined me in the lobby, and we walked out. Silence fell heavily around us, and I remembered the sight of his terrified face as I woke up after the blast.

He’d been so worried for me.

I shot him a glance. How the hell we were going to go forward from here?

There was so much between us, none of it normal.

What were we?

We reached the main doors and stepped out into the sun.

Mac pounced. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.”

“You passed?”

“I did.”

“Do you have a guild?”

“No. And quit with the third degree. I’ll explain later.”

Mac glared at Grey. “Why didn’t you fix it for her?”

It almost looked like he rolled his eyes, but the Devil of Darkvale would never stoop to such a common thing. He ignored Mac and looked at me. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll—”

He turned and walked away.

Damn.

I shot Mac a look. “What a weirdo. Just walking away like that?”

She shrugged. “He’s the Devil of Darkvale. He the ultimate weirdo.” She sighed. “But he was really worried about you when we thought you were dead. You should have seen him.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I went with silence.

Mac grabbed my arm. “Come on. I’ve got something to show you.”

She dragged me through the streets of Guild City. Since the dome had dropped, the mood of the city had been festive. The danger from Ivan hadn’t lasted long, but it had been intense. The swell of dark magic that had rolled over the town had given its citizens a frightening glimpse of their possible fate, and when it had been averted, everyone wanted to celebrate.

A few minutes later, we reached our building. Mac shoved her way through the green door, which was already unlocked.

“Isn’t that weird?” I asked. “It should be locked.”

“Normally, yes.” She raced up the stairs to my flat, flinging open the door.

I followed her. As soon as I peeked my head in, a chorus of voices shouted, “Surprise!”

I blinked.

My flat had been decorated, albeit in a haphazard fashion. Furniture of all different styles and colors filled the space, as well as crazy artwork on the walls featuring colorful animals.

Eve and Quinn stood inside. The witches I’d met last week, Beth, Coraline, and Mary, were also there, dressed in insane ensembles of feathers and colorful leather. It was a cool look. Cordelia sat on the couch, looking pleased as punch.

Balloons decorated the walls, and they all held glasses of champagne.

I grinned. “What is this?”

“Surprise party!” Eve said. “Your official welcome to town. We got you a few things for your place.” She turned and gestured to a sign. “And also this.”