The circle flared with power lighting every charm on my necklace. If I had blinked, I would have missed it. But a surge that lit my core? No—surely, seers all over Acklemar would have felt that.

I cringed when the doors to the library flew open and crashed against the wall of my beloved sanctuary. "Astra!" she hollered. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Josie," I said, clutching my hand to my chest. My eyes darted toward the door.

She turned and looked at it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to, it's just that—"

I nodded. "I know. I felt it too."

Her hands were shaking. "I—I've never seen anything like it. I had to find you."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and guided her into a chair. "Well?"

"She's back..."

I sat down across from her and tapped my finger to my lips as I thought. There was only one person who had ever created a ripple in the circle before. But that was three years ago when she just disappeared and vanished from Acklemar without a trace.

"It's Wren—she's back," Josie insisted.

I reached over to close the book on the table. Of course, she was back. "Did you see where she was? I need all the details you can remember. We won't have much time."

"I know. Especially with that draw of power from the circle. The Fire throne will launch a search for sure." She sighed and ran her finger along the binding of the book that was on the table between us. "Astra... She looked hurt. The girl with her had burns and—"

I leaned forward in my chair, my heart racing. "What? She's hurt?"

"She had blood on her face when a gentleman caught her. It looked like she might have fainted or passed out."

"What? She had people with her?" I said in disbelief. "That's not possible."

She raised an eyebrow. "When it comes to Wren, I think the impossible has always been her specialty." Then after a brief pause, she giggled. "I still remember the time she astral projected through your bowl of porridge in the great hall. Scared you so bad, you wouldn't touch your gruel for a month. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard." She smirked. "Remember? You landed on your back, oatmeal in your hair and your dress flipped..."

"Ack-hem." I cleared my throat.

"Right." She looked down and smoothed out her skirt. "Your question. Yeah, there were three others."

"Three? You're sure?"

She sat up. "Astra. I know how to do my job. Of course, I'm sure."

"Sorry. But three..." If that was true— There was no time to waste. I thumbed the stones on my necklace and found the white crystal one, then rotated it around the rope chain. I closed my eyes and held one name on the tip of my thoughts, then brought forward every image I could remember of her, letting them spin in my mind. "Where are you?" The images faded and blurred to form a single picture—the Vardain Cliffs. Somewhere along the grain fields, with several plains of terrain to cover. "We'll need Travelers with sight... We should probably take Vega and Rygar. When you wake them, tell them we'll be shifting light and to meet downstairs in the great hall in half a turn."

"Rygar?" She swallowed. "I still have bruises from the last time you asked me to wake him. How about Terren? He's good."

"We need our best. That's Rygar."

"Fine." She pouted and walked toward the door. "But I'm launching something at him to wake him up this time. I'm not getting punched again."

I smirked at the thought of her even trying to wake him up. With his training, she was lucky to only end up with was some bruises. "Good idea. I need you conscious for this assignment," I hollered behind her.

"For the hundredth time, he didn't knock me out. I hit my head when I fell," she yelled back, her voice faded as she walked.

I turned and headed to the far side of the library and stopped in front of the stone scrying bowl. The basin's water sparkled in the morning light. I removed my charms from around my neck and dangled one end of them into the water. Moving the stones in a circular pattern, I pushed my mind past the expanse of Acklemar into the vast universe seeking my sister's voice.

"I take it this isn't just a social call to say you missed me." Nebula's image reflected in still waters of the basin.

"You're as chipper as usual. I could say it was, but you'd know that was a lie."

She rubbed her temple. "True. Curious as to the company Wren keeps, aren't you?"

Neb always knew what I was thinking, sometimes even before I did. "I don't suppose you have something to do with that?"

"What—interfere? Me?" She laughed. "Why do you think I took this post? A girl has to get in her fun somewhere."

"Are you going to keep avoiding the question?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Always the impatient one."

"Nebulaaaa."

"Astraaaa." She mimicked. "Well, if you must know. She's with a healer and the crown of the water circle."

"Kellan?"

She nodded. "But that's not all... You should probably know Jaxon was here about an hour ago burning mad."

"I take it he knows she's back on Acklemar."

She nodded. "That's for sure. He demanded transport home immediately and posted a payment notice of five million Acklemarian stones to the Traveler that was willing to get him home sooner than the scheduled portal opening."

"Five million!" That was more stones than any guild member would see in their lifetime. "I take it someone took him up on that offer."

"What do you think? Travelers are a loyal group, but with that price, he had at least three offers to take him, and those are only the ones I know of. He plans to leave within the hour."

"Still, the trip should take him six or seven days to get here."

She shook her head. "Dystan is taking him. You'll be lucky if it takes him as long as four."

I took a deep breath and rubbed my hand along the back of my neck. No pressure. "Got it. Who's the third person she's with?"

"Third?" She looked surprised at missing this detail. "He took the leap did he?" She smiled. "I've never been able to get a full read on Wren, only flashes. Hmmm. Losing his promised and best friend all at once? No wonder the fire prince was so angry when he got here."

"Robin? He's with her?"

"Can't be certain." She shrugged. "He has a thing for Wren's friend Sage, so if I had to guess."

I smiled. "We'll see you here when we get back."

"You caught that thought did you?

I cocked my head to the side and sighed. "Testing to see if I've gone soft while you've been away?"

"I'm your sister. It's my job to test you, just wait till I'm back." She grinned.

"I've got to meet the others now."

"I know. The fates haven't decided her destiny yet, so take our best people." She winced and held her temple. "I know you'll be traveling light but bring weapons. There are groups already searching for her and won't take losing."

Weapons? This was getting more dangerous by the second.

"Yes, it is. So be careful." She waved her hand through the scrying waters and dropped our connection.

A cool cloth brushed against my skin. "Wren," he called softly.

"Hmmm?" I stretched and opened my eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the filtering light through the shelter's leaves. I smiled at the sight of Kellan without his shirt on, gently washing my face. "Is this going to be a regular thing, you not wearing your shirt?"

"I told him, he was just showing off," Robin said before Kellan could even open his mouth. Sage was lying up only a few feet away with Robin holding a cloth against the burns on her side. She still hadn't woken up.

"Hey, that's not fair. Sage has my towel. I needed something to wash the blood off Wren's face."

Robin lifted cloth he had against Sage's side and looked up. "Uh-huh. Like you couldn't pull another shirt from that bag of yours?"

"Nope. If you've got it..." Kellan dusted his hands across his abs.

Robin started to lift the hem of his shirt. "What? Are you saying I don't?"

"Hey! Down here." I waved from the ground. "Enough with the testosterone contest already." I took a deep breath and dragged myself to a seated position. "My head is pounding and my—"

"Ankle?" Kellan lifted the cuff of my jeans to show off a burnt blistered hands print. "When I get my hand on Jaxon, I'm going to kill him."

"Yeah, well take a number," Robin grumbled while he wiped Sage's forehead. Then he picked up his eyes and looked directly at me. "It's not like his family has the biggest fan club out there."

"Why do I get the feeling there something more to that comment," Kellan said turning to look at me.

Robin just shook his head behind Kellan's back, like he didn't want me to explain further. "I'm sure we can all think a few reasons not to like the Fire throne. Shall we make a list? Mine might be my mother's sentence or—"

"Yeah, you're right. Making that list wouldn't be all that hard."

"How's Sage?" I turned Robin.

He just looked down at her and shook his head. "I—I don't know really. Healing isn't my talent. But I don't think it's good."

"I could take over for a bit?"

"No way. You need to rest." Kellan said sounding concerned.

"Yeah, I'm with Kellan on that one."

I smirked. "Well, we might need a fire to keep warm tonight, and someone is going to have to get some wood. Not to mention, we'll have to get Sage into something clean." I tugged on her sleeve.

Robin's eyes went wide, and his cheeks blushed. "Changed my mind, I'm volunteering for firewood duty. Feel free to get Sage in something clean while I'm gone. —But then you're resting." Then he crawled out through a hole in our shrub cave.

"I'll second the part about you resting. But you're right about the fire. We won't be long." He crawled out the hole after Robin.

I pulled a bag of Sage's stuff over and riffled through it. She looked like she packed to go camping for a week. She had everything in here. Everything but a stupid first aid kit. I grabbed a t-shirt and pair of jogging pants and put them aside. Then I lifted her shirt off her with great care, trying not to touch the burn along her ribs. I cringed at the blisters marring her blackened skin. I tried to push aside my reaction and focused on getting her in something clean. I don't know how I managed to get her skinny jeans off, but when did, I rolled them up, and a stone necklace fell from her pocket into my lap.

The Dekarta stone was encased in a pendant that hung on a long silver chain. It looked just like the one I was wearing. I picked it up latched it behind her neck, then slipped her into the rest of her clothes. I snagged a spare shirt from Sage's bag and flipped my dirty one off over my head. When I went to put the clean one on, I shrieked. A blue-green wave was etched across my chest. I lifted one arm then the other. The water flourish wrapped under my arms.

"Kellan," I said much more loudly than I intended. He must have been close to hear me. I think I only heard two footsteps when I grabbed Sage's shirt and draped it over me.

He stuck his head through the entrance. "What's wrong?" When he saw me with the t-shirt hugged against my front and my bra straps showing, his eyes lit up and sparkled a sky blue hue. He raised his eyebrows and smirked. "You need help?"

I gasped when he looked at me. "Your eyes—they're blue." I glance down at the water mark peeking over the edge of the t-shirt. "This isn't a flourish, is it?"

Hi All! If you missed the Book Trailer Video, you can check it out in the previous chapter. Would love if you'd consider voting for the chapter. :)

Special thanks to: ChayAvalerias for his editing suggestions in this chapter.