I awoke in one of the hospital wings. I wish I could say it was the first time someone had managed to assassinate me, but that would be lying. Let's just say people really don't like my mum and think killing me is the best way to get to her. It never ends well for those people and I always recover. Yay for immortality.

While most people would panic at the thought of attempted—well, technically successful—assassination, my first thought was, "Not again." Yeah, I really need to work on that.

"Glad to see you back with us."

That was the one voice I hadn't expected to hear. My mum was with me, sitting in a chair beside my bed. It was only then I realised she wasn't alone. My friends were also in chairs, all of them either asleep, or on their phones or reading. Well, most of them. Troy was in his wolf form on the floor with Maddie using him as a pillow as she slept. Imogene nudged them awake with her foot.

Troy immediately jumped onto the bed, resting his big fluffy head on my stomach and looking downright adorable. I giggled, giving him a scratch behind the ears.

"You alright?" Sky asked.

"Head feels a bit funny," I admitted, "but I think I'm okay."

"Do you remember what happened?" mum asked.

"Someone darted me when I was leaving the Temple," I answered honestly. "I have no idea who."

Mum's famous frown overtook her face. No doubt she would be having words with the Headmaster before she left Academy Island. Knowing my luck, she'd probably send guards or one of our family members to stalk me and make sure no one has another go at me. I almost sighed at the thought but managed to bite back on it. How was I supposed to read that book now?

Almost as if she heard my thoughts—I really wouldn't have been surprised—mum's frown turned to an almost dark smile. "By the way," she said in what I've come to call her 'oh shit run for it' tone, "what's this?"

She held up the book. The book. The one that had appeared out of nowhere in the Temple.

"I found it," I answered way too quickly.

"Interesting." Her fingers drummed on the dark blue cover. My friends watched intensely, all going into protect mode. Mum would never hurt me but she just had this thing with scaring people. "You see," mum started, "this book is supposed to be in the Royal Vaul—I mean the Palace Library's Restricted Section."

"Royal Vaults?" Sky asked suspiciously.

This time it was mum's turn to answer too quickly. "Another name for the Restricted Section."

Sky clearly didn't believe her.

"So, I'm wondering," mum continued, "how this got from the Palace to Academy Island." Her matching violet-gold eyes met mine. She knew I was lying. "We have very good security and I know for a fact you're not allowed in that section. The only thing I can think of is some sort of Intervention." Her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

You know, people really underestimate how smart my mother is. Even I do sometimes. People usually just see her as the Queen or Guardian or some brute barrelling through Creation causing trouble. To be fair, they're not wrong. But she is smart. It's her job to know things, especially these things.

I sank back into my pillow.

Maddie's eyes widened. "Oh my Gods, you had an Intervention."

Imogene all but leapt out of her chair in excitement. "Girl, what happened?!"

"Is that why you were at the Temple?" Isaiah asked with his natural calmness, though it was clear even he was very interested in this.

"I don't know why I went there," I said. "I just felt like going there and ended up at Ixasis' statue. Might have started demanding answers a little—" I laughed nervously— "Anyway, I turned around and suddenly this book had appeared out of nowhere."

"What's it about?" Sky asked.

It was mum who answered. "The history of Time Magic, the past Vessels of Time, people chosen by Ixasis, and lessons on how to use and control Time Magic." She hummed thoughtfully to herself, fingers still drumming on the cover, then, surprisingly, held the book out to me.

"Really?" I asked.

Mum shrugged. "Who am I to argue with the Gods?"

"Usually the first," I sniggered, taking back the book.

She gave me a playful glare. "I can take that off you at any time, you know."

"You won't."

Sky tilted his head curiously. "Ms Topanga—"

"How many times must I tell you to call me 'Amneris', Sky?

"Sorry . . . Amneris." I swear Sky grimaced at using her name. Cultural thing. "Is there anything you can do about the media? I mean, a lot of people are pretty freaked out at Hathy—your daughter—having Time Magic. You know that much, but is there anything you can actually . . . do?"

Mum went quiet. There was no way that was good.

"Honestly?" she said. "No. Time Magic is illegal. I might be the Queen but that law was created by people above me. It is possible that people will grow accustomed to it, and I do hope they do, but it won't be an easy transition." Mum turned to me. "Remember the first time I took you to Tes-Pyroc with me and your grandfather? A move I still regret, by the way."

I cringed at the memory. I had very much regretted asking mum to take me on more diplomatic stuff so I could get more into the whole Princess thing. The people of Tes-Pyroc are . . . let's be nice and say behind. Not only did they have problems with me being a woman (gasp!), but also with me not being a full-blooded Fae (double gasp!), unmarried (oh, how dare I!) and there was a very big deal about my dark skin colour (the horror!). It was a bad day. Mum pulled a few strings to get us out of there quickly (don't ask about the giant crater which has now been turned into a lake). From then on, I always made sure to ask for all the details before agreeing to anything.

"It's kind of like that," mum said. "Because something has been a certain way for so long, even if it is something really stupid that a lot of people are actually fine with, there will be people who just aren't okay with it and no amount of rules or me threatening people will change that." Mum leaned forward to place her hand over my own. "I am trying, Hathy, I promise I am."

I squeezed her hand and took a deep, unneeded, calming breath. "I know you are, mum."

She smiled softly, something we don't see all that often. "I'm going to talk with the Headmaster once I talk with the nurses. Don't worry, I won't force you to come home or have anyone stalk you."

Yeah, I'm so subtle about these things. Totally have not mentioned it before.

"Now," she said, looking over me and my friends, "is there anything else you lot would like to tell me before I head off?"

Me and my friends exchanged glances. We all seemed to come to the same silent conclusion.

"Well," Maddie started slowly, nervously, "there is this thing about a prophecy . . ."