Free Of Witches and Wind by Shelby Bach

stood up on my arms, kind of like static but without the stinging crackle. This felt warm and ticklish in a bubbly way, like immersing myself in a soapy bath. I was pretty sure this didn’t happen every time two people held the sword.
    â€œNot to tell anyone that the person I see before me, Chase Turnleaf, is half Fey, half human. Not by voice, or written text, or insinuation . . .”
    I repeated all this after him, more and more ticked off with every word.
    â€œNot even Mom, Dad, and that scary woman Amy. Not even Lena.”
    I hesitated. “Lena’s really smart. She’s going to figure it out.” And get really mad at me for keeping such a big secret from her.
    Chase shook his head. “No, her head is full of her inventions. She won’t solve a mystery she’s not looking for. Finish repeating it.”
    He was being kind of a jerk.
    I was tempted to stop repeating right then, but . . . he was just so freaked out.
    I sighed. “Not even Mom, Dad, and that scary woman Amy. Not even Lena.”
    Something invisible rushed over my arms and into the sword, like warm water swirling down a drain. I didn’t know why I was even surprised. Of course he could do magic. He was half fairy.
    â€œThat was a spell?” I said sharply.
    â€œYeah. A Binding Oath.” He sagged. At first I thought the spell thing had taken more out of him than I expected, but when he smiled at me, his biggest grin, the one that took up half his face, I realized it was just relief.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me you were casting a spell?” I said, but that wasn’t what I really wanted to know. I wanted to know why my word wasn’t good enough for him—why he felt like I needed to be enchanted to keep his secret.
    His relieved smile shrank.
    Then the door flew open, and someone launched herself at me so fast I staggered back. “I knew I would find you here!” Lena said triumphantly.
    I hugged her back, glad she had interrupted. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to know Chase’s answer. “Don’t you have school?”
    â€œNot really. But I did it! You have to come see.” She tugged me back to the courtyard.
    â€œLena, please tell me that you’re skipping class,” Chase said, following us outside. His voice gave me the creeps. He sounded so normal—teasing, cocky—like the last half hour hadn’t happened. “That would make my day. It would mean I’ve corrupted you forever.”
    â€œNo, just study hall. I don’t know who scheduled that—astudy hall last period on Friday before spring break. But”—Lena stamped her foot on the grass impatiently—“you guys aren’t looking.”
    About twenty feet from the Tree of Hope, a doorway-size rectangle hung in the air. The edges were on fire, the inside darker than the rest.
    â€œCrap! You made a portal!” Chase yelped, and Lena looked very pleased.
    I’d never heard of a kid making a portal. Actually, I’d never heard of any Characters making a portal into EAS besides Ellie—and she only did it using the Door Trek doors that ringed the courtyard, and only when the Director said it was okay.
    Beside the flaming doorway Melodie stood on Lena’s humongous duffel, scowling. She clearly didn’t appreciate being left behind. “Lena, you really need to invent me some legs.”
    Lena nodded, but I couldn’t tell if she was agreeing with the harp or just excited. “I got the idea last year, up the beanstalk. If the Snow Queen could make one from the Glass Mountain to Matilda Searcaster’s desk using just a letter, then technically you should be able to make one into EAS the same way. It’s a simple spell if you’re not linking it up to an existing Door Trek system. It just takes a lot of power.”
    The breeze wafted some of the doorway’s smoke toward us, and I wrinkled my nose. Only dragons and their