“I’ll say,” Reagan said in a dry voice, and Dizzy started chuckling.

“Well, Penelope,” Ja said, “you have my eternal gratitude. Based on what I have gleaned, we are heading into some turbulent times.” Her gaze rooted to Reagan. “This happens in cycles, of course. Powers awaken, or are found…” Reagan’s eyes started to burn now, but Ja just smiled. “Stands are made. Agendas pushed. Kingdoms toppled. Darius is amassing some serious players in anticipation of what’s to come, as any well-positioned elder ought to. I am late to the game.”

A wave of vertigo swept over me and I felt Reagan and Emery stiffen. Kingdoms toppled. My mother looked more closely at Ja, then at Darius, her wheels turning.

“I am not interested in the politics of the Realm just yet,” Darius said, dipping his spoon elegantly into his soup. I looked down at my own dripping spoon before accidentally clattering it against the bowl.

“I was not talking about the Realm.” Ja’s eyes sparked, and a pulse of her ancient power cut through my middle.

A blast of magic welled up, filling the room. Hot and cold and climbing the walls…

Reagan was responding to Ja’s insinuation, and it was inviting me to respond with it.

I squeezed Emery’s hand as my power surged, out of my control.

“Penelope,” Ja said, her face turning away from Reagan’s heated gaze. Her magic was torn away, leaving a strange absence. She was intentionally kicking the hornets’ nest, that was clear. “I am in your debt, bound by honor. Should you ever need assistance, I am at your disposal. You need but ask.”

Callie, Dizzy, and my mother all started shaking their heads. Ja pretended not to notice.

“Now.” The extremely old vampire stood, and Darius stood with her. “Darius, thank you for allowing me to intrude on your hospitality. I will leave you. I must reestablish myself within the Lair. I do hope you can understand.”

“Of course.” Darius bowed.

“Goodbye.” She smiled at everyone, but it seemed like it was just for me. Based on Dizzy’s preening, however, he clearly thought she had reserved her notice just for him. Everyone probably had the same impression. “It was lovely meeting you all. I’m sure I will see you again.”

With that, Ja glided from the room, leaving silence in her wake.

“Stay the hell away from that vampire, Penny,” Reagan said. “Far away. She is…something.”

“She is a serious power player,” Darius said softly, looking after her. “I am owed a debt as well. It is a priceless commodity, I have no doubt.” He fell silent for a moment.

“Am I in danger?” I asked.

“No,” Darius said. “Not even remotely. You will be forgotten for a time while she reestablishes herself in our hierarchy.”

“You won’t be,” Reagan said to Darius, squeezing his hand tight.

“She will change things, yes. But this won’t be the first time our carefully balanced hierarchy has been in turmoil.” He leaned forward, and the pressure on the room released. His smile put stars in my mother’s eyes before she remembered herself and turned it into a frown. “So, Penny, Emery. I hear you have not yet become a dual-mage pair, yet there is a definite magical balance between you two. I must look into this idea of a natural pairing. I have not heard of it.”

“Neither have I,” Emery said.

“It’s pleasing,” Reagan said, “the feel of their magic. Potent and powerful, but in an inviting way.”

“Yes.” Darius nodded and dabbed at his mouth.

“To be a dual-mage pair, you need to pledge your lives to each other,” Callie said, her tone even.

“And you’re too young to be doing that,” my mother said.

“We were their age, hon.” Dizzy looked around at the other bowls, clearly wanting more soup.

“They barely know each other,” my mother said.

“Wow. This is seriously awkward.” Reagan grinned.

Emery’s jaw was clenched and his eyes haunted. And in that moment, I knew—he was fighting the pain from the demise of his brother. In his mind, becoming a dual-mage pair with me would mean replacing what he’d lost, admitting that his brother was gone forever.

He wasn’t ready to let go.

I squeezed his hand in support. Time would tell. If it was meant to be, it would be. In the meantime, we had a lot ahead of us.

We needed to take on the Mages’ Guild. And this time, we needed to stop them for good.