just be nice and hug?â
âNo!â we cried out in unison.
Jack gripped my arm and tugged me closer to Mom. âLook at her face.â
âJackson, Iâm not in the mood for your jokes this morning. Iâve got to get toâ¦â
I closed my eyes, pleading Mom wouldnât notice.
She gasped. âMaggie, what in the world happened?â
âApparently sheâs been dating Sasquatch.â Jack handed her my torn shirt.
What a prick. I was half-tempted to grab my wand and turn him into a giant turd. But Mom would probably make me clean it up.
She held my shirt. Her eyes widened then her gaze fell to the tattoo mark on my wrist. Crap. I was so dead.
âJack, go get breakfast while your sister and I talk.â
He hesitated, glancing between us. âIf someone at school did it, Seth and I will kick their a...â
Mom spun around. âJackson Charles! If I ever hear th at word come from your mouth, Iâll make you drink a bottle of dish soap. Do you understand?â
Jack held his hands up and backed out of the room. âSorry, Iâm just saying.â
Mom shut the door and sighed. âGrandma had the chance to talk to you last night?â
âUmâyeah.â
âThen youâve officially taken over for her?â She moved to my side, brushing my arm with her hand.
âWait, you know?â
She nodded. âGrandma tested me when I turned sixteen. I was the only person, other than the people she helped, who knew her secret.â
âSo you didnât want to do it?â I ran a hand through my tangled hair.
âI didnât possess the Godmother power. But even if I did, I wouldâve still said no.â Mom hugged me. âMy mom was gone a lot. I didnât understand her constant disappearance. At least not until I was older.â
The scent of Momâs perfume clung to me as she pulled back. âItâs a lot of work, Maggie. And youâll miss out on things.â
âI know. Grandma explained it.â
She gave me a sad smile. âIâll try to help you as best I can. And Iâll make sure to give your dad some excuse to cover for you. Maybe tutoringâ¦something thatâd take you away.â
âThanks.â Relief flooded through me. At least I wouldnât have to lie to her. âSo, any idea how Iâm supposed to explain my face?â
She quirked an eyebrow as strands of blonde hair tumbled across her forehead âDo I want to know what happened?â
âFlying lessons.â I laughed, flapping my arms like a crazed bird.
âIf anyone asks, you fell.â Mom walked to the door. âIâll tell Jackson to say the same. Now, go on and get dressed.â
With a smile, I hurried to pick out my clothes. Nothing could ruin today. Not my bruised face. Not my brother. Heck, not even Katrina. Nope, today was the day my life would take a drastic change. Four magical words. Connor. Prince. After. School.
****
Jack glared at me from the driverâs seat. âHow did you get Mom to believe your stupid lie?â
âI told you, I fell down the stairs. Will you drop it already?â
âI just want to know if someone hurt you, thatâs all.â
I rolled my eyes. âNo one hurt me. Besides, you saw my face last night during Grandmaâs party. No injuries, remember?â
âStill doesnât explain the shirt. And I didnât hear you fall down the stairs.â He shifted the car into reverse. We pulled onto the main road. Jack slid on a pair of sunglasses. âBesides, when Mom first walked into the room she seemed as surprised by your face as I was.â
I threw my hands in the air. âWhat? Do you think I used a magic wand and forced her to tell a lie?â At the word wand , mine slipped from my wrist and landed in my lap.
Crap! I reached for it and tapped it against my arm. My skin tingled as it disappeared again. I glanced at Jack to see