When she came to, Valerie was sitting in the front passenger seat of the SUV, which was parked in a garage. Thai was pressing a bottle of water to her lips.

"Sorry," she said to him.

He shook his head. "Don't try to talk yet. Zaki is still passed out in the back seat—from chloroform, I think. But once he wakes up, he can get some of those herbs."

"I shouldn't have done that. Stupid."

"Yeah, it was," he said. "But you can't help yourself; I know that."

"You get me," she said with a smile.

Zaki stirred and groaned. He sat up, his hand pressed against his head.

"Surely, James Bond never had to deal with this kind of amateur tomfoolery," Zaki said indignantly. His comment had the intended effect, making Thai smile grudgingly. "My bag of herbs, if you please."

Thai handed Zaki his pouch, and he expertly mixed some powders. He put some on his own tongue, and then gave some to Valerie. They didn't work as well as they had the day before, but a measure of energy returned to her.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"The airport. I didn't want to miss meeting up with Chisisi and Henry. And the sooner we get out of here, the better."

"Are you sure you weren't followed?" Zaki asked.

"I think so. Not that I'm an expert at eluding people," Thai replied.

Inside the bustling airport, Valerie held Thai's hand tightly as she automatically scanned the faces of the passersby.

Henry and Chisisi appeared through one of the sliding doors. Henry was pale with worry, and she made the effort to smile. When they were close enough, she hugged him.

"It's okay. We got away."

"I know. Cy told us everything. He got a good look at the woman who attacked you, and he and Kanti are back on the Globe trying to find out more."

"We must move quickly," Chisisi said, hustling them toward a ticket counter.

The rest of the trip was a blur for Valerie as they bought tickets and boarded the plane to Colorado. She couldn't even appreciate her time in the clouds, because she was fast asleep before they took off and woke up in Thai's arms, being carried through a rental car parking lot.

"Put me down," she said, embarrassed. He gently set her on her feet.

"You didn't even wake up when we landed, and it was really bumpy," Henry said. His anxiety for her leaked through their bond.

"It was worth it. I'm much better," she said, and it was true. She had barely touched her magic that afternoon, and if it hadn't been for her connection with Henry the day before, she probably would have been fine, she assured herself.

Henry's face relaxed, but Thai eyed her skeptically. She hoped she hadn't drooled on him.

They approached a nondescript blue van, and Zaki pulled out some keys. "I had originally reserved something a bit faster and sleeker. Also red. But Chisisi nixed it."

"This will be much less memorable for anyone who sees us," Chisisi said.

"But much less fun," Zaki countered, and messed up Chisisi's hair with his hand.

Valerie was both startled and amused to see the usually put-together Chisisi rumpled. But by now, even Chisisi was having trouble fighting a smile. Zaki seemed to have that effect on everyone.

Less than an hour later, they had left the city of Denver far behind them and were driving through a winding, bumpy highway up a mountain.

"Is this place far?" Thai asked.

"We can only get so close by car," Chisisi said. "After that, we must travel on foot. It is not an easy path. But for tonight, we will stop at a hotel, young ones."

"It is not Mena House, but things could be worse," Zaki assured them.

After another hour, Zaki turned into a long drive that led up to a small but elegant hotel that was nestled in the hills. It was like an oasis in the middle of the wilderness, she thought, seeing the lights beckon them. She couldn't wait to get into a warm bed.

"We know there's no way we were followed. We've been the only car on the road for miles and miles," Henry said, and she was happy to hear that the anxiety had finally left his voice.

The group entered the cozy hotel, which had a huge fireplace surrounded by comfy leather chairs. They sat down and waited as Zaki checked them in.

"There is a surprise for you, Henry," Chisisi said with a glint in his eyes. "I have arranged—"

"Henry?" a silver-haired man with sad brown eyes stood up from a wing chair by the fire. "I was afraid I'd never see you again."

"Dad!" Henry said, and gave the man a fierce hug. "I've missed you so much."

Valerie suddenly became shy. Her brother's father was much older than she had imagined.

"You must be Valerie," he said, and gave her a hug. "I hope you won't think I'm forward, but I have thought of you as an adopted daughter since I found out Henry had a sister."

She was touched, and her eyes filled with tears. In less than a year, she had doubled the size of her family. "I'm so honored," she said, her voice hoarse.

"And I'm Thai. Nice to meet you, sir."

"Please call me Joe."

Chisisi shook his hand. "Good to meet you in person at last, Mr. Jenkens."

"I must thank you for bringing me to my boy one last time."

"It is our pleasure."

"The rooms are ready," Zaki said.

Zaki handed out the keys. "Valerie, you are with Henry and his father, and Thai will stay with Chisisi and me." Zaki turned to Thai, pressing his lips together to keep from laughing. "I'm sure you're honored as well to be bunking with such suave and skilled men of mystery, instead of Valerie. I heard she snores."

In the elevator, Joe rested one hand on her shoulder and the other on Henry's. "If only your mother could have met Valerie," he said.

"I know, Dad. I wish it, too."

Valerie fell asleep quickly to the sound of Henry's and his father's even breathing, but she woke up a few hours later, restless. It reminded her of her days in the hospital, when she had insomnia after being sick and asleep for too long. Quietly, she left a little note for Henry so he wouldn't worry if he woke and slipped out of the room. She wished that she could stop by Thai's tent like she had for months, but with Chisisi and Zaki sharing his room, she didn't dare to even knock.

Instead, she headed downstairs and out the back doors of the hotel, breathing a sigh of relief when she was outside. The crisp mountain air was refreshing, and steam rose off of the swimming pool, which was gently lit and glowed aquamarine. Without overthinking it, she kicked off her shoes and jumped in. The water was warm, and she swam underwater as far as she could until she had to surface for air.

"Hard to believe you couldn't swim until a few months ago. You're a natural."

"Gideon!" she said with glee, seeing her mentor standing at the edge of the pool, projecting from the Globe.

"Cyrus lent me your charm. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Is everything okay?"

"With Cyrus, yes. He told us what happened, and he's working on finding out who came after you. But something else has happened."

"Valerie, is this guy bothering you?" Thai asked, stepping out the back door of the hotel.

"This is Gideon, my mentor on the Globe and second in command at the Guild of the Knights of Light. He's the one who's training me to perfect my fighting skills—with and without magic." She swam to the edge of the pool and rested her arms on the ledge.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm glad to meet you."

"Likewise. I've heard good things about you."

"If you don't mind my asking, what kind of magic do you have?"

"I have chosen not to develop my magic. But I am skilled at fighting, like Valerie. Without her gifts, of course."

"He's much better than I'll ever be," she said. "But, Gideon, you said something happened."

Gideon's relaxed smile disappeared, and she could see him draw himself up to his full height, which was over six feet. "It's Jet. He's missing, and we are afraid that the Fractus have taken him."

"Jet and Chrome are the wolves who protected me after I'd been attacked by Sanguina," she explained to Thai. "They have the ability to follow magic trails."

"They're brothers?" Thai asked.

"Mates for life," Gideon replied. "Their connection intensifies their powers, and until recently, they have never failed to trace magic anywhere it has been used, even after several days have passed."

"So can't Chrome follow the trail of magic to discover what happened to Jet?" she asked.

"He can sense nothing. It's similar to how they couldn't sense the transparent men who attacked you in Messina. That's why we think the Fractus are involved."

"How can I help?"

"Chrome has specifically asked if you will join the search party. He's not sure who we're going to have to fight, and he wants you with us. He's seen you in action and thinks you're the best. And right now, he wants the best on his team."

Valerie's desire to stay on Earth with Thai warred with what she knew was right. Everything was just beginning between them, and the thought of leaving seemed wrong—like she was torn in two. But there wasn't really a choice.

"Of course I'll be on the team," she said. "Please tell Chrome how sorry I am that this has happened."

"I will. It will be good to have you back, Valerie." Gideon's tall form vanished, leaving her alone with Thai.

"You want to help me out of here?" Valerie asked, reaching up for Thai's hand.

"Sure," he said, but when he held out his hand, she pulled him into the deep end. He surfaced, spluttering. "You're going to pay for that!"

He dunked her, and she retaliated, splashing him back. He chased her down to the shallow end of the pool, where she let him catch her.

"I know I have to, but I don't want to go. I want to stay with you," she confessed.

"I couldn't watch you here, getting weaker every day. It would kill me. But I do wish I could go with you. Half of me is going to be ripped away."

"You have no idea how much I wanted to hear you say that."

She was back in his arms, his lips against hers. The warmth from the first time tingled through her, but hotter. But suddenly his kiss changed, became harder, and the light inside her went out. She pulled away quickly.

"Tan?"

He threw back his head and laughed. "How'd you know it was me?"

"Why did you do that?" she asked, her hands involuntarily balling into fists.

"Wow, sorry. But surely you can see the humor in this."

Rage built in her. She wanted to smack the smirkof his face. What stopped her was knowing that Thai would suffer from anydamage she did to Tan. She got out of the pool and squeezed the water out ofher long hair. Her clothes were drenched. The night was ruined, just like hershirt.