"Seven of our people have vanished this week alone," Chisisi said when Valerie came in for her daily report. "We don't know if they were captured or killed by the Fractus. But our enemies are no longer simply searching for clues to Earth's magic-binding charm. They are actively seeking out the Fist to engage in battles to weaken us."

Dr. Freeman was also present. He'd become a close adviser to Chisisi since Thai was spending more time at the Healers' Guild, and Valerie was glad that Chisisi had someone he could trust.

"There's another problem. Someone must be following me," Dr. Freeman said. "I've identified three families with a high potential for latent magic, and each of those families was targeted by the Fractus after I met with them."

"Do you think they know what you're doing?" Valerie asked.

"Perhaps," Dr. Freeman said. "At a minimum, they know that I am with the Fist, so they would clearly assume the humans I contact must be Fist supporters, as well."

"Was anyone killed?" Valerie asked, dreading the answer.

"No. They were all told to be on the lookout for the Fractus, and we had teams come to protect them in time," Dr. Freeman assured her.

"But our resources are spread thin," Chisisi said. "We cannot assign bodyguards to every human the Fractus targets."

"Those humans may have to protect themselves sooner than we thought," Valerie said, and then explained the clue that had been uncovered on the floor of the Pantheon.

Chisisi and Dr. Freeman wore identical frowns as they listened to her story.

"What comes next will be a slaughter," Chisisi said. "Right now, humans are at a disadvantage, but they still have weapons and can fight back. But with the Fractus's full magic unleashed, humans will be no threat to them."

"Even humans with magical potential won't have learned how to harness it in a meaningful way yet," Dr. Freeman said.

"We need to start bringing more soldiers of the Fist to Earth," Valerie said.

She knew that Skye was already strapped for soldiers on the Globe, but if more Fractus would be flooding Earth, this was where her forces needed to be.

Cyrus appeared at the doorway. Valerie drank in the sight of him, relieved that he looked healthy and had his usual glow, even if he wasn't wearing his typical grin.

"Henry wanted you to know that the symbols have been deciphered," Cyrus said. "He'd have come himself, but he couldn't travel to Earth anywhere within half a mile of you."

"He solved it already?" Valerie asked. It was about time for some good news.

"It wasn't a code at all. It was ancient Sumerian, and a master in the Language Guild was able to translate it right away," Cyrus explained. "It said that there is an eternal flame burning in the heart of the Atacama Desert in Chile."

"That desert is huge," Dr. Freeman said. "You'll have to narrow the location down. It's not a place you want people wandering around, magic or not."

Chisisi folded his hands. "I will assemble a team to quietly search for this flame. We have local contacts in coastal cities in Chile who can help."

"Good. We're less likely to attract attention if we actually find this flame that way," Valerie said. "Let's not do the Fractus's work for them."

When Valerie returned to the Globe, she found Kanti waiting on her front stoop. Her hair, which was pinned back in a complicated pattern, was coming loose. Her clothes were wrinkled and dusty.

Kanti's eyes brightened when she saw Valerie. "Took you long enough. I was scared I'd run into Henry while I was waiting for you."

"We had to agree on which days we'd be home, now that we can't be in the same location at the same time," Valerie said. "It's my day today. But you should see him, Kanti. He needs support, and I literally can't be there for him right now."

"I know," Kanti said. "That's why I'm here. I'm going to make things right with him tonight at the fundraiser."

"Fundraiser?"

"The Glamour Guild is raising magic for the Fist, remember?" Kanti said. She stood up and gripped Valerie's shoulders. "This is a big deal, Val. You have to be there."

"I need to talk to Skye about sending more soldiers to Earth, check in with Willa on the water situation, and if I have any free time after that, sleep," Valerie said.

"The magic that gets raised is the pure kind, currency in Elsinore. There are a lot of ways you could use it—you could hire soldiers who won't fight for free, or give it to Conjurors to shape into potions and charms that humans can use to protect themselves. At the very least, it keeps the magic out of Reaper's hands," Kanti insisted.

"Back up to the part about hiring soldiers," Valerie said.

"I wanted to talk to you about that. Conjurors in Elsinore think differently about magic than Conjurors in Arden. No one is going to sign up to fight to protect a bunch of magic-less humans," Kanti said. "Changing that attitude will take years, decades even. But if we could pay soldiers, it's a different story."

"How much of this currency would you need to hire a few hundred soldiers?" Valerie said.

"More than you'll raise tonight, but it's a start. I'm going to use my family's savings, as well," Kanti said. She held up a hand when she saw that Valerie was about to interrupt. "I'm not asking you for your permission, Val. There's no better use for our fortune than this war."

"Your parents agree?" Valerie asked.

"I'm the Reigning Royal now. They'll do what I say. But they're starting to come around," Kanti said. "I'm trying to make it trendy to live simply and not show off your wealth."

"How's that going for you?" Valerie said with a small smile, trying to imagine Kanti's parents downsizing from their ice palace.

"Not especially well. But you never know," Kanti said, returning her grin.

"We really need more soldiers for the Fist on Earth," Valerie said, thinking of kids like Ming who didn't have a Chrome to protect them.

"So you're coming?"

Valerie nodded.

"Good. Let's start with what you're going to wear."

An hour later, Valerie was scrubbed, groomed, and zipped into a blue dress that came to her knees.

"What do you think?" Kanti said, turning Valerie so she could see herself in the mirror.

Valerie slid on her battered sneakers and strapped on Pathos. Kanti rolled her eyes. "Guess you have the accessories covered."

"Last time I wore high heels, someone tried to kill me. I promised myself I'd always wear shoes I could run in and have Pathos at my side," Valerie said.

"So you're saying I should be grateful to have you in a dress at all," Kanti replied.

"Yes. And I love it. Thanks, Kanti."

"There's one more thing," Kanti said.

A low hum of magic came from Kanti's hands. She threaded her fingers through Valerie's hair and pulled gently. As she did, Valerie watched in awe as her hair became longer and longer, until it hung down the middle of her back, like it had two years ago. Its familiar weight felt right, grounding her, and the streak of silver that wound through it was hidden.

"Guess there are some side benefits to the flowers-and-hearts brand of magic," Kanti said. She placed a wreath of flowers in Valerie's hair as a final touch.

"Will Thai be at the party?" Valerie asked, blushing as soon as the words were out of her mouth. "Never mind."

Kanti burst out laughing. "I'll drag him myself if I have to, okay?"

Valerie had yet to confide to Kanti that she wasn't going to date Thai, ever. She hadn't had a memory lapse in a few weeks, but only because she hadn't healed as many soldiers lately. But she decided not to ruin the closest thing to a normal afternoon that she'd had in a long time by telling Kanti that.

"No letting Thai steal you away until you've given a toast to say thank you to the Guild and everyone who donated."

"Yes, Mom," Valerie said.

"Go make your entrance, Cinderella. But don't lose your slipper. It would be cruel to make anyone other than you touch those ratty sneakers."

In spite of Kanti's instructions, Valerie insisted on sneaking into the party through a side entrance of the Guild. The ballroom was easy to find, because people were pouring into the giant room. It was lit with an enormous, golden chandelier, and the floors were covered in shiny marble.

Kanti peeled off from Valerie to go in search of Henry, so Valerie forced herself to mingle with the Grand Masters and Conjurors of the Fist. She immediately knew that Kanti had been right. Her soldiers needed to see her. She had to be no more than a ghost on the battlefield with them.

The food was incredible, but it reminded her of Dulcea's culinary creations, and turned to dust in her mouth.

The Grand Master of the Glamour Guild, Roza, glided over on eight long tentacles. Her upper body was human, and very beautiful, though Valerie knew that she could choose to look any way she wanted.

"Skye assured us that you wouldn't miss the fundraiser, but I admit I had my concerns," Roza said.

Roza handed Valerie a glass of something bubbly that would temporarily increase the volume of her voice, and she took a sip. She cleared her throat, and the room went quiet.

"Seeing you all here, selflessly giving your time, your lives, your blood, and your power, gives me hope not only for this war, but for what comes after. Thank you all," Valerie said.

Everyone cheered, and Valerie raised her glass. She saw Skye across the room, and he nodded his approval at her words. Then she drained her drink, and relief worked its way through her as lilting music began to play.

As people started to dance, she headed toward the door to make her escape from the party, stopping every few feet to shake hands with soldiers who wanted to meet her.

She'd reached the door and was about to make her getaway when she saw Thai hurrying up the steps of the Guild. He saw her and stopped moving.

"Kanti said...you needed me?" Thai asked, still staring.

"Oh, sorry, did she pull you away from your work? I don't know what she was thinking," Valerie said, vowing to give her friend a good shake when she saw her next.

"I'm really, really glad she did," he said. He'd reached her side then. "I hear music in there. Want to dance?"

Valerie knew that the right answer to give was no. She had a million things to do, and this would only give Thai false hope.

Before she could shape an excuse, Thai pulled her back inside. The ballroom was less overwhelming when he held her hand. Valerie was able to appreciate the fairytale lights, and the fact that everyone was smiling for a change.

A heavy beat melted into a slow tune. The Conjurors began a couples' dance that had moves Valerie didn't recognize. Thai watched for a little while and then pulled her to the dance floor. He effortlessly guided their movements. He was so sure on his feet that she didn't stumble, didn't even have to think about what the right steps were.

She looked up and saw that he was staring down at her, his dark brown eyes intense. Every place their bodies touched tingled. Her hands, her waist, her shoulders... They had never been more sensitized.

Thai fiddled with the ends of her hair, and Valerie remembered the nights in their tent back on Earth when she'd lain next to him and he'd played with her hair.

"You rocked in short hair, don't get me wrong. But I missed it like this," he said.

Valerie let her hair fall forward to hide her blush. Another benefit of having long hair again.

Then he tipped her chin up so she couldn't avoid his eyes. The yearning in them made it almost impossible not to lean forward to see if his kisses were as good as she remembered. But the little part of her mind that was still capable of logic was screaming at her. She couldn't have this, have him, even if she wanted it.

Valerie forced herself to look away from Thai's eyes before she changed her mind. That was when she saw Cyrus watching them, his lip turned in utter disgust. Valerie pulled herself out of Thai's arms. He followed her gaze and saw Cyrus.

"Go ahead and talk to him," Thai said, and Valerie saw only sympathy in his eyes.

Cyrus ran out of the party, and Valerie chased him down the steps of the Guild.

"Cyrus, wait!" Valerie said.

He turned on her, his eyes flashing. "I have actual news about the war we're fighting, the one you're supposed to be leading. But maybe you'd rather play dress up and dance with your boyfriend."

"Of course not, I was—" Valerie began.

"Save it. People are dying, Val. On the Globe, on Earth. I shouldn't have to tell you that. How can you be dancing right now? Don't you have better things to do?"

Part of Valerie was humiliated because there was truth to his words. But the bigger part of her was consumed by an emotion she only recognized as rage when she saw that the Laurel Circle was a warm, bright gold.

"You're my best friend, the person who knows me better than anyone else in the universe. What do you think?" Valerie said. "It's a fundraiser. I had to show up to raise magic for the Fist. And, yeah, I forgot myself and enjoyed a dance. You're the one who said that we had to snatch moments of happiness when we could in the middle of all this horror, remember?"

"But I meant with me! Not with him!" Cyrus said.

Valerie had no reply, and Cyrus sucked in a breath.

"Some days, I wake up and I can't believe that you'll never be mine again," he said. "You're so woven into my heart, cutting you out will kill me."

"Then don't cut me out. We can find our way back to friendship," Valerie said.

Cyrus sagged. "You'll never understand. That's why there's no point talking about this anymore."

He stood a little straighter as if he was consciously trying to cast off his pain.

"I found you to tell you that Elle and Will need to see you," he said. "They're in my room."

Valerie and Cyrus went to his room in the dorm of The Society of Imaginary Friends, and she found Elle and Will on the bed Henry slept in sometimes. Their hair was slightly damp.

"How are you both? Are you safe in Illyria?" Valerie asked.

They nodded, but neither twin smiled.

"What is it? Has Illyria fallen completely to the Fractus?" she asked.

"Illyrian politics are complicated. And decisions are never made quickly," Elle said.

"There is an endless amount of information to be gathered and analyzed," Will explained. "I think they forget that just because they are immortal does not mean that time moves slowly above the waves."

Valerie let out a breath of relief. "I feared the worst, after my trip there."

"Your trip wasn't a waste. There are Illyrians who agreed with your logic and are supporters of the Fist," Elle said.

"It is those supporters," Will said, "who informed us that the Fractus have tapped into a new source of magic, one that is far more powerful than the black weapons they've been wielding."

Valerie sat down on Cyrus's bed. "Where?"

"Plymouth," Elle said. "Beneath the bedrock is a special kind of dark magic that pooled there during the early wars on the Globe. The records call the magic Carne. There is a river of this stuff that Reaper can use to enhance his army's powers."

Valerie remembered her own trip to Dunsinane through the tunnels of Plymouth, and how she'd sensed something evil far below.

"What will happen when Reaper uses this magic?" she asked.

"The Akashic Records hold all of the information in the universe, but they do not predict the future," Will said. "For that information, you must visit Ephesus."

"In the meantime, send some scouts of the Fist into Plymouth to see if you can uncover what they plan to do with the Carne," Elle said. "Their plans are shrouded, and even the most skilled readers have not found that information."

"What about you two? Are you going back to Illyria?" Valerie asked.

"It's our home," Will said. "We belong beneath the waves."

He gave her a shell that buzzed a little in her hand.

"If you need us, toss it into the lake," Will said.

"I hope I'll see you again soon," Valerie said.

"You will. The time for change has come, and that includes Illyria. We are with you,and the Fist," Elle said.