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“Look, I have to stick my hand in my pocket, but you’re going to want to see what I have in there.”
    I decide to drop my awesome jokes for now and zip my mouth shut.
    He reaches into his pocket, and what he pulls out causes my heart to leap in my chest.
    “A whispering crystal.” I gape in awe at the palm-sized crystal crammed with fragments of glittering silver branches that once grew on the whispering tree hidden in the Hushing Forest.
    “Impressive, huh?” The shimmering ring of pale purple glowing from the crystal illuminates the smug look on his face.
    “Honestly, yeah.” I brush my fingers across it, and a spark of magic kisses my fingertips. It’s strange since I have no power in me. “These things are really rare … How did you get it?”
    “Dash stole it from my father. And I confiscated it from him.” He pulls a wary expression at the crystal. “I was going to give it back, but I had this feeling it might come in handy one day.”
    “Why did your father have it to begin with? I thought you said he was a Guardian.”
    “He is a Guardian. He bought it off some witch to help him on a case once. He never got rid of it, though. He put it on display in our living room. I think he liked to brag that he had it.”
    I bite my tongue, refusing to comment, no matter how desperately I want to.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” he snaps. “And he’s not like that. He didn’t keep it because he’s hiding secrets.”
    “I didn’t say that, did I?”
    “I can see it all over your face. And no matter what your Keeper parents have taught you, not everyone has a hidden agenda.”
    “I never said they did.” My tone sharpens. “And don’t bring my parents into this.”
    His lips part, ready to blast me with a cruel comeback, but then he fuses his lips together and composes himself. “You know what? I don’t have time for this.”
    I expect him to get up and leave, but he sets the crystal down between us and rotates it until the orb shifts from pale purple to a murky grey. I know enough about the Whispering Crystal to know we can now talk without anyone eavesdropping.
    But two questions cross my mind: 1) How the hell did Jax get the crystal to work when only witches are supposed to hold that kind of power? And 2) Who does he think is listening to our conversation?
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    I tap the crystal with my finger. “How did you get it to work?”
    He shrugs. “I have my ways.”
    I skeptically eye him over. “Are you hiding a witch’s mark somewhere?”
    “No,” he replies. When I shoot him a skeptical look, he adds, “If you want to search me, then go ahead, but you won’t find one.”
    I lose my mind for a half a second and consider peering under his shirt to see if he’s hiding a mark under there, but I manage to keep a firm grasp on my sanity.
    “Did you steal a bit of temporary Wicca magic? Because that’s the only other reason I can think of.”
    His lips lift to a small smile. “I’m impressed. I thought it’d take you longer to figure it out.”
    I lightly prod him in the chest with my finger. “Hey, I know a thing or two about witches. Remember, my aunt’s one. I also know that you better hurry up and say whatever you need to say, because you only have a few minutes before that magic wears off.”
    “I know that.” He blows out a breath. “You remember that noise you heard on the phone?”
    “The dying alien noise?”
    He nods. “I’m pretty sure your phone’s been bugged. By whom, I’m not sure. My original guess was the Electi, but it could be a couple of other people, too. I’m going to take it to a friend of mine who can check it out and see.”
    “But why would anyone want to listen to my conversations?” I ask. “I’m super boring.”
    “The Electi probably don’t think you’re boring.” He traces his fingers along the edge of the crystal. “I’m also wondering if it might be Vivianne.”
    “Why would she do that to me? Like I said, I’m super