"I don't need anything, thanks." She glanced up at Anica and smiled. "Come over and sit down. I have something to explain." She pulled a sheaf of papers out of her purse.

Anica's feeling of dread wouldn't go away. "Something you didn't want to tell me on the phone."

"Right."

Heart pounding, back stiff, Anica perched on the sofa.

"I know you're nervous, and I wish I could tell you not to be, but the fact is that spell has serious consequences. Because I'm a member of the Wizard Council, I have the authority to offer you this contract, which will address those consequences. Ambrose and I have researched this spell using every known resource through magical channels and the Internet. A contract is definitely necessary."

Anica told herself to keep breathing. "But you said Jasper could regain his human form."

"He can, but as the witch who imposed that spell, you must agree to give up something in order for him to return to normal."

Anica's heart felt as if it would hammer its way right out of her chest. "What?"

"Your magic."

She closed her eyes. She'd known it would come to this. Somehow she'd always known. "Forever?"

"Yes, forever."

The sentence was harsh, very harsh, but for Jasper's sake, she'd bear it. She realized that instantly. She would be strong, resilient. "At least I'll have Lily around. I can watch her do magic and get a vicarious thrill."

"That's the addendum, I'm afraid."

"What addendum?" Anica tried not to panic.

Dorcas flipped through the contract. "Here it is. Section four, paragraph six. Aforementioned witch, having voluntarily given up all use of magic in exchange for the lifting of Transformation Spell Four Hundred Seventy-seven, will hereafter have a negative effect on any magic done in her presence."

"A negative effect? What does that mean?"

"You'll give off antimagic vibrations that will interfere with attempted spells. You'll cancel out any and all magic."

"That seems so unfair!"

"It's one of the terms."

Anica swallowed. She wouldn't be able to ask for magical favors, and she thought she could live with that. But could she live with being a pariah, unwanted at any magical gathering?

"I'm sorry, Anica. I wish there could be another way, but I've researched the spell six ways to Sunday, and this is all we have."

"Right." Anica struggled to accept what must be if Jasper was to be permanently transformed.

"There's one last provision, one that might be even harder on you than the other two."

"I can't imagine what would be harder than being cut off from all magic."

"This is a result of that. Your antimagic vibrations mean that you have to stay completely away from Jasper. Any contact will result in him reverting to his cat form."

"No!"

"Those are the conditions."

"I can't accept that! I can't!"

Dorcas shrugged. "Then everything stays the way it is now."

Anica closed her eyes as the bad news. .h.i.t like a fist to her diaphragm. She was not only losing her magic, she was losing Jasper. Dear Zeus, how this hurt. She hadn't known there was this much psychic pain in the world.

After what seemed like a long, long time, she opened her eyes and took a shaky breath. There was no debate, really. She felt the grief ma.s.sing an army on the borders of her mind. She'd hold it off for now, so that she could do what needed to be done.

She cleared the emotion clogging her throat and faced Dorcas. "Any contact? Including phone and e-mail?"

Dorcas frowned. "I can't imagine e-mail would matter, but I wouldn't take a chance, if I were you. It says any contact, which covers a lot of territory. I might be able to get more clarification, but-"

"Never mind." A phone call or an e-mail would only increase the pain. "I agree to the terms."

Dorcas put her hand over Anica's, which was clenched in her lap. "You're absolutely sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." She met Dorcas's gaze. "I love Jasper. I would do anything to reverse that spell. I would . . ." She swallowed. "I would give my life."

Dorcas regarded her with sympathy. "Giving up your magic and the man you love can't be easy for you."

"This isn't about me. It's about Jasper and what he needs so he can get back to normal."

"And that's your final decision?"

"Yes. I . . . a.s.sume Ambrose will make sure Jasper doesn't come back to the apartment?"

"Of course." Dorcas pulled a purple folder out of her purse. "I'll need you to sign this contract, which waives all your rights to practice magic of any kind, and stipulates that you will take every precaution to stay away from the recipient of your spell, Jasper Steven Danes."

"Steven," Anica said softly. "I didn't even know his middle name."

"We had to look it up."

Anica stood, needing to move. "I'll get a pen."

"No, I have a pen." Dorcas dug around in the bottom of her purse. "I know I put it in here."

"Let me get mine."

"No, you need to use this one. Remember, this was a really old spell. Aha. Here it is." She pulled a black feather from her purse.

"A quill? Did you bring ink?"

"The quill produces its own ink, and it's a onetimeuse instrument. After you sign and date the contract the quill turns to dust. I have a supplier in Sedona, and fortunately I just got a new shipment."

Anica held out her hand for the pen. Sure enough, after she'd signed and dated the contract, the quill turned to dust that drifted down to the carpet. Then, right after that, the contract shriveled and became dust, as well.

That was fine with Anica. Who would want to have such a horrible doc.u.ment hanging around? "How soon does it take effect?"

"Immediately," Dorcas said. "That pen-to-dust and contract-shriveling magic is the last that will ever work in your presence."

Anica let out a breath. Magic had always been there as a helper, a special friend and a secret ability that made her feel confident and alive. Now it was gone, banished from her life. She wouldn't even have the joy of watching others do it.

Painful as that prospect was, she could think about it, though, and even imagine how she'd deal with the loss. Jasper was another matter. She didn't dare think about him, and she had no idea how she'd face losing him.

No, that was wrong. She knew exactly how she'd deal with losing Jasper forever. She'd concentrate on an image of him happy and healthy, enjoying his human form for the rest of his life. She'd picture the grat.i.tude he'd feel and how precious his days would be for him now that he could live them fully as a man.

She turned to Dorcas. "How about that gla.s.s of wine?"

"By all means. I would like to raise a gla.s.s and toast you. Not everyone would have done what you have."

"Not everyone's lucky enough to love a man like Jasper Steven Danes."

Walking back into the restaurant felt weird as h.e.l.l, but Jasper thought it was fitting that the whole thing would end here. He suggested to Ambrose that they sit in the bar at a small two-person booth.

"You seem familiar with this place," Ambrose said as he took off his coat and sat down.

"This is where I brought Anica on our date Monday night, when she ran into my ex-girlfriend, Sheila. After that, the date was completely FUBAR." Thinking of that, Jasper took a quick inventory of the restaurant. He hadn't really expected to see Sheila, but he was relieved to know that she wasn't here tonight.

"FUBAR?" Ambrose frowned.

"f.u.c.ked Up Beyond All Recognition."

"Oh. I like that. FUBAR. I've had a few of those situations myself."

"Me, I'm ready for life to get a little less FUBAR." Jasper signaled a waitress, who came, took their order and left quickly.

"I'm hoping you can help me get my life back on track," Jasper continued. "And poor Anica. I know she really misses her magic, and I really miss . . ." He paused to think, and soon he began to chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"You know what, Ambrose? Other than wanting to be a guy twenty-four/seven, I don't miss much about my former life. I'm wondering if I want to continue chasing market trends for the rest of my days. I'm thinking I might get into fund-raising. There's a lot that needs fixing in the world, and maybe I can pry people away from their money so we can get some of those things fixed."

"It's a worthy goal."

"So, in order to lift this spell, what's my task? Reverse the direction of the Nile? Repair the hole in the ozone layer? Bring about world peace?"

Ambrose smiled. "A sense of humor is good in situations like this." Ambrose reached into his small briefcase and pulled out an official-looking contract. "Why don't you look this over while we wait for our drinks? There's a place for your signature on the sixth page."

Jasper didn't get past the first paragraph. "I can't sign this."

"Why not?"

"You know perfectly well why not. It bans Anica from ever using magic again. It even says she'll have a negative effect on the magic of others."

Ambrose shrugged. "That doesn't seem like such a horrible thing compared to what you'll gain from this doc.u.ment. Sometimes the end justifies the means."

The old cliche ran through Jasper's brain as if he'd grabbed hold of a live electrical wire. That had been his justification for lying to a potential girlfriend. Would the man he'd been a week ago have taken this deal? He hoped to h.e.l.l not, but he couldn't say that for sure.

"Sorry, Ambrose. I'm not signing this. It would be like sucking the lifeblood out of that woman." He tossed the paper back to Ambrose. "Show me something that allows Anica to get her magic back and I'll sign that."

The waitress brought their beers and a bowl of peanuts. Jasper handed her his credit card because he had no cash. He'd been hoping to remedy that today. Now he was wondering if he needed to stop by an ATM on the way back to the apartment, because at this rate, no telling what tomorrow would bring.

Ambrose waited until the waitress had left. "Here's the situation. Either Anica gets her magic back or you get to be a man again. Your fate became intertwined with hers the minute she placed that spell on you."

A vise tightened around Jasper's chest. "That can't be right. Good deeds were supposed to take care of everything, and once I became a man again, she'd get her magic back."

"Dorcas and I thought so, too. But then we started digging deeper, found a more detailed explanation of the ramifications of this spell, and apparently the good deeds can only get you twelve hours. The other twelve require that she sacrifice her magic."

Jasper stood and grabbed his coat. "G.o.ddammit, is that what Dorcas is telling her? Because I know what she'll do. She'll give it up to save me. I can't have it, Ambrose. I can't let her do that." He started to leave.

"Wait." Ambrose grabbed his arm.

Jasper wondered if there was a penalty for brushing off a wizard. "I don't have time to wait."

"You could sign this instead." Ambrose brought out a different contract.

Slowly, Jasper resumed his seat. "Give me the Cliffs-Notes version. I need to get back to that apartment and make sure she doesn't sign away her magic."

"This says that you agree to live your life as a man for twelve hours and a cat for the other twelve. If you agree to that, it signifies that you've accepted your new role, embraced it, even, and you bear her no ill will. She'll get her magic back."

"Good G.o.d." Jasper buried his face in his hands. He didn't really have to think about this. He knew what he was going to do. He just had to give himself a moment to adjust. Adjust. Was that even possible? Voices were screaming in his head, reminding him of all he was giving up.

Maybe if he took the first deal Ambrose had offered, he could make it up to her for losing her magic. He'd be fully functioning again. They could have a life together with all the good stuff-kids, house, pets.

And every d.a.m.n day he'd know that he'd bought all that at her expense, robbed her of her birthright. She would never have pulled out her wand if he hadn't been acting like a s.h.i.t. He'd goaded her into putting the spell on him, and she shouldn't have to pay for that. He would.

And oh, how he would pay. He'd struggle with the half-cat, half-man thing, but he could do it. That wasn't the toughest part of this deal. What made him ache was knowing that he would give up Anica. If he couldn't be a fully functioning partner, then he wouldn't allow himself to be with her, simple as that. He would spend the rest of his life grieving that loss.

It was settled, then. He would sign the second contract, and Anica would have her magic back. He looked at Ambrose. "Got a pen?"

"Yes." Ambrose pulled a black quill out of the briefcase. "Use this."

Jasper took it. "But it's a feather."

"It'll write."

"Whatever." Jasper scribbled his name with the pointed end of the feather, and ink flowed for some strange reason.

"Date it."

He did, and at that moment the feather disintegrated in his hand, turning to a dusty pile on the table. Then the contract shriveled and went away, too. Jasper didn't get it but didn't really care that he didn't get it. The waitress returned with his credit slip and card. He signed it, pocketed the card and stood. "Get the h.e.l.l back to that apartment, Ambrose. Make sure Anica doesn't sign anything giving up her magic."

"I'll hurry." Ambrose stood, too.

Jasper hesitated. He longed to give Ambrose a message to take back to Anica, something to let her know how much he loved her. But all that could do was make things worse for both of them. The grief he'd been keeping at bay began clawing at him, threatening to tear him apart.