Chapter 0581

I laugh, wrinkling my nose at him. “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. But she’s fine, Jesse. I invited her up tomorrow night for the party.” “Really?” he asks, bursting into a smile. “That will be great.”

“Yeah,” I say with a happy sigh, resting my head back down on his shoulder. “I told her you’d give her a full display of your new magic skills. You’d better start practicing so you can show off.”

“No pressure,” Jesse murmurs, sarcastic. He raises a hand though, his brow furrowing with concentration, and then softly blows on it. As his breath fills his palm it darkens, taking the shape of a little black cat. I burst into a grin, watching as the cat walks daintly around his hand, rubbing its tail warmly against his thumb.

“It’s amazing,” I whisper, shaking my head in awe, smiling so hard I’m afraid my cheeks will break, “how good you’ve gotten at that in like two days.”

“It’s easier now that I’m not scared of it,” Jesse murmurs, making the little shadow cat jump from fingertip to fingertip. “I don’t remember who said it – but they really are mine, the shadows. Extensions of me. I can make them do…whatever I want.”

“That seems rich with possibilities,” I whisper, reaching out a hand and beaming when the little shadow leaps from Jesse’s hand into mine. Fascinated, I watch and feel it walk around, half substantial.