I must have tossed and turned all night.

The image of my father lying lifeless on the ground and the sensation of his warm, sticky blood coating my clothes won't leave my mind. It's there when I close my eyes, playing on an infinite loop.

If it weren't for Hawthorne, my dad would be dead.

The thoughts plague me until I cannot pretend to sleep anymore. I crawl out of bed, brush my teeth, run cold water over my face, and tiptoe to the meditation garden.

The sun breaks over the mountains, spraying the skyline with oranges and yellows over the lightening purple. After he learned of my ability, my father built a meditation garden in the compound. It was suggested as a way of shutting the world out of my mind.

The garden is the greenest place on the grounds. The sound of falling water washing against stone is the first thing I hear, closely followed by the scent of mint and lilac.

I breathe in the fresh air as I find a spot near the small pond. I look out onto the pond, where Koi fish swim, oblivious to my presence.

The overhanging cypress trees cast what little shadow they can on the ground. I find a comfy space under the redwood pergola and sit with my legs crossed. The space is untouched, even by sound, thanks to a quieting spell.

The moment my eyes close, I feel everything, from the bee buzzing between the succulents to the Koi stroking its fins to move underwater. The gentle falling of the water on the rocks calms me and allows me to find the flow needed to shut everything else out.

He's okay. Not dead.

The thoughts bring peace to the parts of me in panic. Minutes flow like a stream. Time flows like an ocean until the sun beams down on my face.

The moment Amised steps into the garden, I know he's there. Amised is my tutor in all things magical, especially my powers. He's why I don't barge into people's private thoughts without trying.

Dad met him in Africa when he was a little older than me. The two exchanged magical practices, which Dad refers to as a cultural exchange. He shared more cultural magic with Dad, which he could share with us.

Vodun, Hoodoo, Santeria, Candoble.

I still refuse to call it Juju.

As Amised draws closer, I can feel him close off his thoughts to me. His thoughts are never wild or broadcasting. It's like he's always in control of them.

"Good Morning, ina mu." Amised says.

My eyes blink open as the man's impeccably clear chocolate skin comes into view. His shining white teeth gleam as he grins down at me. The veins in his arms protrude as he steadies himself on the pillow next to me.

Goddess, if I were much older.

"You're up early. Bad dreams?" Amised crosses his legs. "I'd imagine that would be the only thing to get you up this early during the summer. Or seeing your father impaled."

"You heard?"

"News travels fast. One of my oldest friends gets impaled, it tends to stick in your ears." Amised laughs. "Your father is okay. Are you?"

"My father died. A necromancer had to bring him back from the brink."

"And that was scary."

Amised is a smooth talker, but he's not fooling me. He is trying to gauge whether I'm okay or in need of a psychiatric evaluation. The question is whether it's coming from him or his bosom buddy.

"You saw your father hurt beyond human means of help. "Bathed in his blood" is how it was explained to me at the night market."

"I'm fine."

Amised chuckles. "The same thing he said. You're more alike than you want to admit."

"Genetics are a bitch, I guess. Don't tell Mom I said that."

Amised waves his hand over his mouth, and a lock appears on his lips. A key appears before the lock and slides in, clicking it close. I laugh as the lock and key disappear.

A large shadow passes above the garden—Eret circles overhead, outside of the cone of silence. I'd imagine she's screeching.

"Your bird is looking for you. I'd almost thought it was a dragon." Amised says. "Intelligent creature. I wish they weren't endangered."

"Or hiding. Phoenixes in the wild don't like to be caged. Or so I heard."

"Yes, phoenixes are notoriously vicious. I heard one ate a baby."

"You're lying."

"Am I?" Amised says. "Let's hope we never find out."

Amised pushes himself to his feet before helping me up. Eret drops from the sky and latches onto my shoulder. His claws latch on tight, digging into my skin. A letter falls from his beak into my hands.

"What a romantic idea."

"What?" I ask.

"Letters. Most people are glued to their phones or diving crystals. I can't remember when I saw someone send physical letters." Amised says. "I don't imagine the bird wrote it."

I smirk. "The bird is intelligent but not that intelligent. She lacks thumbs."

"Right. Should I leave so that you can read your letter?"

"It's not a secret."

"Now, who's lying?"

"Fine, I'll take my super-secret letter and start the day."

"Before you go, Erised says you'll be headed to Midas."

"Yeah, it's prep for the internship. We'll be becoming a real Histor for a day."

Amised laughs. "Yes, well, be careful. While my sister's heart is in the right place, investigating old temples in Midas is dangerous. So, with that being said, be careful. You never know what dangers hide in the dark."

"I appreciate your concern. I'll be fine. Besides, Erised said others will be onsite to ensure..."

"Everyone is safe. I've heard the pitch. Just be careful. You go, I'll stay behind. I need some peace."

Eret pushes off my shoulder and flutters her wings until she is high over the garden. I follow her out of the garden as I rip open the letter. My eyes skim the letter once before I read for comprehension.

"Dear Peri,

I can't stop thinking about our kiss—all of them. My dad says I'm 'distracted,' but he has no idea. Thoughts of you have invaded my mind, and I have no clue how to get you out. Amaria says that she'll be going with Erised to Midas, which means you'll be going to Midas. Be careful. I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you. Hope to hear from you soon."

I read the letter twice. Guilt fills me. The only thing I've been able to focus on is my father. Our kisses were incredible, every single one, but they were no match for what happened with my father.

When I look up again, I stand at the end of the hallway near the study. I stuff the letter in my pocket as I stop at the study.

My dad sits at his desk, leaning back in his comfy chair, while Wilum sits in front of the desk. He listens intently as Dad discusses the Saltare Infinitorum—the anniversary of the Great Awakening. I'd almost forgotten it's in two weeks.

To my surprise, Melumn walks the length of one of the bookshelves, running his fingers down the spines of the books.

The smell of leatherbound books leads me into the room. I've always loved the books' smell and the pages' crispness as you flip through. It's like a shot of adrenaline straight into my bloodstream.

"The Saltare Infinitorum is very important. If the Great Awakening hadn't happened, we'd still be in the shadows. It's when succession announcements are made, including ours. Announcing you as my successor is an important step in Esterios' future." Dad says. His eyes fall on me as I enter the room. "Tell your brother the importance of Saltare Infinitorum."

"Hey, nephew!" Melumn says. "I'd stay out of this if I were you."

"What's the conversation?" I ask.

Dad clasps his fingers together over his stomach. "Your brother is suggesting we postpone the celebration as if we could."

"Until this mess is sorted out." Wilum frowns. "Dad, you were attacked last night."

"And I'm fine."

Amised's voice pops into my head, telling me how similar our answers are. How similar we are. If that's true, he's not okay. Moments like this make it hard not to wriggle into his mind.

Bron saunters in beside me and lays at the foot of the desk beside Wilum. He rolls over onto his stomach, begging Wilum to rub his belly.

"Rub his stomach, idiot."

Wilum winces before rubbing the poor hound's stomach. "I'm just saying maybe we have other things to worry about. Do you think it's wise to have us all in one place?"

"You saw the Council's reaction to my attack. Convince them, not me." Dad says.

"Rost, the kid's not saying something crazy. He's worried." Melumn says. "You could hear him out."

"I am. I'm not saying his concerns are unfounded. I'm saying you'd have better luck stealing a dragon egg than stopping the Saltare Infinitorum."

"Dad's right," I interject. "The Council's not going to stop the Saltare Infinitorum. It's too big."

"Finally, someone understands," Dad says.

"So, the only option is to figure out who attacked you before the Infinitorum so no one else will get hurt," Wilum says.

"Yes! Finally, you're all cooking with gas. I love having my family back in the compound." Dad says. "Even my pesky little brother."

"Contain yourself, Rost. I'm going to be someone's father." Melumn smiles.

"A wonder Fennis would give up her figure for another life." Wilum thinks.

"Imagine if she chips a nail during labor. We'll never hear the end of it."

Wilum snorts as he laughs. Dad and Melumn stare at him as if he has three heads. It is a chain reaction, an infectious action. I laugh, too.

"What are you two up to?" Dad asks.

"Nothing," Wilum says. "Peri made a joke about the baby having Melumn's gigantic head."

Rost cackles into the air. Melumn raises an eyebrow at me, and I pretend not to notice. I close my mind off to him when I hear static from him. A stray curse word comes through between the static.

"Do you think Aunt Karis and Uncle Orion will make it?" Wilum asks.

"Colorais has their own celebration," Melumn says. "Besides, when have they ever taken a minute out of their busy schedules to see us? I think Karis is still mad that your dad got the Magister ahead of her. She always was a crybaby."

"Karis is fine running her coven in Colorais. It's coastal. She's always sending texts to the group chat from the beach." Dad says. "You'd know if you ever went into the group chat, Melumn."

"I'd love to stick around and discuss how ridiculous our family is, but I'm supposed to be in Midas in an hour."

"Midas? I think maybe you should cancel that." Dad says.

"Why?"

"I want everyone to stay close to home today. And maybe tomorrow. Midas is hundreds of miles away."

"But only a couple minutes by portems."

Dad inhales. Concern wavers beyond his eyes. "After last night—"

"If an assassin is after you, staying close is more dangerous than helpful."

"Ouch." Dad says. "Fine, but you'll wear a tracer."

"Dad. Tracers are for lost kids."

Melumn chuckles. "Sad reality of the situation."

"Tracer, or you don't go," Dad says.

"Fine."

Melumn and Wilum stifle their laughter as Dad leans forward. He reaches down to the drawer on the desk and pulls out a large velvet box. The box slowly opens, and a green light fills the room before dying out.

A gaudy emerald crystal on a string floats through the air and lands in my hand. "Green?"

"It changes colors depending on what level of danger you're in." Wilum smirks.

"I wouldn't smirk too much, son, because I've got one for you, too." Dad smiles.

"Me? But I'm—I'm—"

"Just as much in danger," Dad says as one of the crystals lands in Wilum's lap. "Safety first."

"I'm late. So, I'm going to go before you have some tacky ring to go with it that tells you the precise moment I need to be burped." I say.

I slowly back out of the room, not daring to turn my back on him lest he try to attach some spell to put me in a bubble. Once I've left the room, I study the green crystal in my hands. It's lighter than it looks and has no visible flaws. To my horror, it glows dimly.

As if a piece of crystal will save me from a fairy assassin.