The next day, when Valerie checked in on Thai, he was sleeping. But luckily Chisisi had made it to his bedside.

"How's he doing—really?" she asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"I have read of this happening to others, but I have never witnessed the separation myself. According to my texts, this separation is quite early. But other than that, there are no anomalies."

"Have you talked to Tan?"

"Indeed. He is most anxious to be separated."

"He told me never to visit him."

Chisisi nodded solemnly. "He is still very underdeveloped. He will grow in maturity with time. We must all have patience."

"Thank you for coming to him, Chisisi," Valerie said, wishing that she could reach over and brush Thai's sweaty hair off his forehead.

"There is no need for thanks. This is the duty I have chosen—to help those cursed with magic on Earth."

"How can I help?"

"For now, we need to keep both Thai and Tan as calm as possible. So I suggest you leave before he wakes. You can visit without appearing, so check in first to make sure Tan is not in control before making yourself known."

"I wish I could come back and be there in person to help you."

"No, young one. You are where you are meant to be. And I will take care of two ill from their magic instead of three."

Valerie returned to the Globe with a lighter heart. Chisisi would keep both Thai and Tan safe, she sensed. And maybe in a few days or weeks, Thai would join her on the Globe. Her heart raced at the thought of picking up where they left off.

Checking the time, she hurried to the Capitol building to report to Azra. This time, she came through the front doors and was relieved to see that a patrol of Knights was on duty to protect the Guild Masters from any more attacks by the invisible men. She nodded to a couple she recognized, and she saw them nudge each other. It was impossible not to notice how much they all stared at her, like they expected her to break out into a song and dance routine.

She hurried to Azra's office. She had been there once before and was relieved when she found her way without having to ask anyone for directions. She knocked softly, and the door opened on its own. Inside was as she remembered, with vaulted ceilings and maps everywhere of the countries that made up the Globe.

I'll be there soon, Azra's voice chimed in her mind from somewhere else in the building. Make yourself at home.

Valerie paced around the office as she waited, examining the maps closely. She touched one and immediately she saw a birds-eye view of a beautiful city nestled in the hills. The roofs of the houses were silver and glinted in the sun. She concentrated. She could move the view in her mind closer or farther away.

She dropped her hand and was suddenly back in Azra's office, disoriented. The maps must work similarly to how the globe in Midnight's office worked, except this was a map of the Globe instead of Earth.

She continued to walk around the room. It was strange for an office. There was no desk and only a couple of chairs for visitors. In one corner was a patch of grass. She stepped on it and was transported to a valley filled with lilies. It was beautiful.

Welcome, a voice filled her mind like the low note of an oboe. You must be Valerie. I've heard many wonderful things.

A beautiful unicorn several hands taller than Azra with a golden horn stepped toward her across the meadow.

I see you've found my valley, Azra said, and Valerie jumped backward, off of the grass, startled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

Do not worry, child. You made yourself at home, and I am glad.

"Who was that? I thought you were the last..." her voice trailed off. She didn't want to be rude, but Azra was the only unicorn in the universe. Her race had died out long ago.

I am. My husband, Odysseus, made that as a gift for me on our two hundredth anniversary. It is only a memory of him, which he imbued with his essence. Sometimes it is a great comfort to me to see that echo of him.

"Other times it must be torture," Valerie said softly, imagining how the loss of him must sting every time she stepped away. It would be like the pictures she used to keep of her friends in the hospital who had died. Seeing them was a sweet, sharp pain, and in her rage at the universe, she had thrown them all away. But now she wished she hadn't, so that there was a piece of them left.

You see more deeply than most. It's true, his echo cannot compare to the reality, and it can be a bitter reminder of what I've lost.

Valerie was embarrassed as tears of empathy tried to fight their way to the surface. Azra nose dipped. Her mane obscured her eyes, but not before Valerie saw the tears in them. But suddenly she lifted her head and her eyes were filled with an emotion that Valerie couldn't name, but was infinitely beautiful.

She studied Azra carefully, and realized that she looked different. Her coat and mane were glossier, if that were possible, and her eyes sparkled with something hopeful. Something profound had happened to Azra, she suddenly knew with certainty. But it wasn't her place to ask what it was.

Azra tossed her mane briskly. Let's turn to more urgent matters. As you know, I believe there is a spy among the Grand Masters. Usually I can see into others' hearts, but this time, the source of all the trouble is masked from me. Whoever it is wields powerful magic, which only strengthens my belief that it must be a Grand Master.

"It could be someone who a Grand Master confides in," Valerie said thoughtfully, and Azra nodded. "Do you think that Reaper person Elden told us about and the spy are the same person?"

Perhaps. Or maybe as you say, it is an informer for Reaper.

"Why do you want me to help you? I don't think my fighting abilities are going to be of much use here."

You have a sense for people that you underestimate. And you will be in a unique position to meet the Grand Masters without arousing their suspicions.

"Why is that?"

Because you have been named my successor.

Valerie sank into a chair, lightheaded. Her hands shook uncontrollably. "It's like everyone's out of their minds except me. Don't I get a say in all this?"

Of course you do. There will be time for you to formally refuse the position if you wish. In the meantime, if you play along, I will be training you in the management of the Guilds and the Globe. You will meet everyone who could be a suspect, and can ask any questions you like of them.

"So it would be like I'm undercover?" she asked, her heart calming down a little.

Azra's laugh was like tinkling bells in her mind. Indeed. And it will also give you the chance to see if this role is something you might actually want.

Valerie shook her head doubtfully. "I'll help you find your spy. I can't make any promises about the rest."

We will see.

"There's something else I wanted to ask you about," Valerie said, her face heating with embarrassment. She hated asking for favors. "I need a new place to live. Any corner will do. Rastelli doesn't want Conjurors from other guilds taking up space, which I understand."

Azra's eyes flashed, first with anger and then compassion. You never need worry about a home, my dear. You could always stay with me in the woods, but I do not think that would be the most secure place for you. I will find you somewhere safe to live.

"Thank you," Valerie whispered, and hurried away without meeting Azra's eyes. Soon she'd find a way to fend for herself, so she'd never have to beg for a bed again.

The next few days were a blur for Valerie. She checked in on Thai several times a day, but he was usually resting or Tan was in control. Chisisi explained that Tan's dominance was a natural part of the separation, but not being able to speak to Thai left her hollow. As much as it had been sweet torture to be separated by a universe, unable to touch, not being able to communicate with him at all was far worse.

She tried to talk to Henry about her new role at the Capitol, but he was so withdrawn that she didn't want to burden him with her worries. Kanti wasn't much help either. Trying to fend off her new admirers and win back Henry's friendship left her grumpy at the end of the day.

Even Cyrus, usually her touchstone, wasn't his typical enthusiastic self.

"Azra's successor, wow," he said, but his smile was forced. "I hope you'll remember the rest of us once you're in with all of the Grand Masters."

"Are you kidding? The last thing I would ever do is put myself in Azra's position. I'm undercover to help her right now, but as soon as we smoke out this Reaper guy, I'm outta there."

Cyrus relaxed a little. "Sorry, Val. I know you're not one to get a big head. If you have some time later today, I thought we could try to send Leo the message."

"Yes! How about tonight after dinner? We could send it from the Lake of Knowledge."

"Exactly the spot I was thinking of. Great minds think alike. Hey, maybe I should be Azra's successor," he joked.

She spent the rest of the day studying a book that Azra had given her with pictures and some information about each of the Grand Masters. There were over five hundred guilds, so there were too many Conjurors for her to memorize each one. But a core group of seven formed an inner circle called the Council that organized votes and finalized decisions. Azra was sure that the spy was part of this group.

Most of the Council members were known to her—Midnight, Kellen, and Azra were all members. Chern was recently elected to join the group, though Valerie was a little mystified as to why the History Guild would be so essential to running Arden.

The remaining three she had never met. Skye represented the Relations Guild that managed diplomatic interactions between Arden and the other countries on the Globe, Al was from the Stewardship Guild that made sure the planet's weather and physical systems were functioning as they should, and Calibro was the Grand Master of the Justice Guild.

She would meet them all the next day when they interviewed Gabriel about what he had found in the Akashic Records. She was intensely nervous about her new role, so she was glad that tonight, she would have something to take her mind off of what was coming.

She gladly tossed aside her book a few hours later to meet her friends for dinner. She hurried down to the cafeteria and smacked into a boy that she didn't recognize at first.

"Well? Let's have it," Henry said. She shut her mouth. His hair, which had been streaked with gray, was now entirely dark brown.

"I like it," she said. "You look more like...you."

It must have been the right thing to say, because Henry gave her the first smile she'd seen from him in days. "I don't want to be reminded of Sanguina and Zunya every time I look in the mirror. And I don't have to dye it or anything. The Glamour Guild changed the color permanently for me."

"That would be worth a fortune on Earth," she said, as they grabbed a table.

"Yeah," Henry said, but he wasn't paying attention. He was staring across the cafeteria at Kanti, who had two guys fighting over who would carry her tray.

"Are you talking to her yet?" Valerie asked tentatively.

"I was never not talking to her," he replied.

"You know what I mean."

He sighed. "I can't compete with all these guys."

"You don't have to—she wants to be with you."

"Maybe before she had all these options. But now she has the opportunity to see if she can do better. Which she can."

"Glad to see I didn't miss the pity party," Cyrus said, dropping into the chair next to Valerie. "Nice glamour on the hair, man."

"Thanks," Henry said, fighting back a pleased smile. "Get me out of my own head. What's going on with you guys?"

Valerie and Cyrus exchanged a glance.

"We're sending a message to someone in Illyria who might be our dad," she said. She waited for him to shut down the conversation, but instead he nodded. Valerie hoped he was starting to adjust to the idea.

"Let me know what happens."

Kanti walked toward their table with the two guys from earlier still in tow. She turned around and snapped, "A little space would be great. Thanks." She glared at them, but it didn't have the same effect that it would have before she was beautiful. The guys grinned and shuffled off.

"I need one of those things they have on Earth that shocks people," she said grumpily.

"You mean a Taser?" Henry said.

"Yes! Ingenious," she said, and smiled when he laughed. She reached up, like she was going to touch his hair, but then pulled back. "I like it."

"Thanks," Henry said lightly, trying and failing to seem as if he didn't care.

Kanti changed the subject. "Are you getting any closer to picking your guild?"

"I toured the Empathy Collective. It's very new-age hippie," he said. Cyrus and Kanti stared at them, a little baffled at the Earth cultural reference. "They're a little spaced out, but the way they channel their mental powers is pretty cool."

"What's your next step?" Kanti asked.

"Their process is to have you go through an orientation and then commune with nature for a few days before you make your final decision."

"Do you have to pass a test?" Cyrus asked curiously.

"No, they accept anyone who really wants to join. But they're very interested in me because of my abilities. They say I have a 'powerful psychic connection with the universe'—whatever that means."

"That reminds me, would you come to the Knights' Guild with me to talk to Chrome, the wolf I told you about?" Valerie asked. "I thought you might be able to use your psychic powers to help with finding Jet."

"I don't see how, but I'm happy to try."

"Thanks, bro," she said. A deep measure of relief filled her. He seemed to be finding his equilibrium again.

That night, at the Lake of Knowledge when sheand Cyrus sent his message of light for Leo into the water, it was like she wassending a wish into the universe. There were so many things to hope for, and tofear for. As she watched the light steal away into the depths of the lake, shesaid a little prayer for her brother, her friends, her father, and Thai.Without saying a word, Cyrus held her hand and squeezed.