Rastelli squinted at Cara. Youre familiar"you must be Cyruss sister! What a pleasure. He pulled a bouquet of pink flowers from the air and handed it to her.

Cara blushed. Thank you.

I hope youll all stay as long as you like. And if you have any ideas to make this place more fun, let me know personally. We always want to improve!

Rastelli then skipped away, heading down the flagstone path. The minute he was out of earshot, Henry burst out laughing.

Is that guy for real?

Dont make fun! It isnt nice, Cara said. I thought he was sweet.

He is"most of the time, Dulcea said, glancing at Valerie.

Valerie hid her feelings with a bright smile, her good mood from their fun day evaporating. Where was she going to live? She wished Thai was there to help her figure it out.

Youre thinking about Thai again, arent you? You always get that dreamy look like youre imagining chocolate cake, Cyrus said, a note of accusation in his voice.

I miss him. I dont have so many people in my life who care about me that I can take any of them for granted, she said, and Cyrus face softened. He put his arm around her shoulder.

Well keep you distracted till he gets here.

I think I can help with that, Kanti said, walking up behind them.

Valerie threw her arms around her friend. Finally! It hasnt been right without you.

She pulled back and stared at the person she was hugging in confusion. Instead of Kantis buck teeth, yellow skin, and greasy dark hair, the girl in front of her was stunningly beautiful. Her raven hair glinted and fell down her back in elegant waves. Instead of warts, she had two beauty marks that somehow gave her face a unique charm. Her skin was like milk, and long, thick eyelashes framed fathomless brown eyes.

It was the eyes that convinced her that this really was her friend, especially when Kanti scowled at her after she stared for too long.

What happened? Henry asked, stunned. Cyruss mouth hung open.

Only Dulcea wasnt surprised. Kantis parents must have already told her what had happened.

Turns out Im a metamorph. The ugly duckling come to life. I dont want to talk about it. Im fine and Im the same person.

But gorgeous! Cyrus said.

I knew I could count on you to be tactful, Kanti said sarcastically, but her now rosy lips twitched in her familiar grin.

Were glad to have you back, in any form, Valerie said.

I knew you wouldnt be weird about this, Kanti said gratefully. Then her eyes turned wary as Henry stepped closer to her.

He swallowed. Um-yeah. Youre the same as always.

BFFs forever? Kanti said, trying to warm him up.

Of course, he said. He came over and slapped her lightly on the shoulder, like a buddy. It was incredibly awkward, and Valerie cringed for him.

Weve got a party thats been waiting for you for days! Dulcea said, sounding overly cheery.

Sorry, I thought Id surprise you guys. Maybe that was a bad idea.

Whatever, you need to lighten up, Cyrus said. They had reached the dorm. They all went into the cafeteria and Cyrus yelled Party on the tenth floor! The kids cheered.

Lets get up there and turn on the music! Dulcea said. Come on, Henry, give me a hand. The rest of you wait a few minutes before coming up.

After they left, Kanti was swarmed. At first everyone wanted to know who the hot new girl was in their Guild. When they realized who it was, they flooded her with questions. Several guys tried to flirt with her, and Kanti turned away, dismissing them.

Valerie tugged her away from the crowd by her elbow. See you guys later!

Thank you for rescuing me. This is no way to live, Kanti said miserably.

Cara made a sympathetic noise, but Cyrus stared at her in disbelief. What about this is bad? Isnt it every girls dream to wake up and discover shes a beautiful princess?

Valerie smacked him on the arm, and Kanti gripped him by the shoulders and shook him. Do you know me at all? How could you think that I would want everyone to suddenly want to be around me because of how I look? Im the same freaking person. I dont like frills, pink, or people who are fake.

Sheesh, fine. Relax. Well get you a glamour disguise if its that bad.

Or we could just cover you in mud and dress you in a potato sack, Valerie said.

Kanti gave a little snort of amusement, and Valerie was relieved. The tension was temporarily broken.

Isnt there a party in your honor up there? Cara asked.

Lets get this over with, Kanti said darkly.

Its a party, not a public execution, Cyrus said. Maybe youll have fun.

On the tenth floor, Kantis favorite hip-hop was blaring. They opened the door to the hall and saw that someone had used magic to turn the color of everything from the walls to the ceilings to the furniture completely black"Kantis favorite color.

Already a good number of kids from the dorm were dancing, and even though a few of the guys checked Kanti out, she wasnt swarmed again like she had been earlier. Henry wove his way through the crowd.

Like it? he asked Kanti.

Love it, she said and beamed at him. It was the first time she had smiled since she had come back, and the effect was breathtaking. Henrys eyes widened, but he recovered.

Glad your tastes havent changed, he said. Come on, you havent even seen the real dance floor yet.

Henry led them all down the hall and opened a door. Inside looked like a club on Earth, complete with plush red furniture to sit on and dim lighting. In the corner, there was even a DJ spinning records. He was so good that Valerie was sure he must be using magic, but you couldnt tell unless you really watched him.

I thought you should have the full Earth experience, Henry explained.

This is amazing, Kanti said, her eyes lighting up as she took in all the details.

Henrys pleasure and embarrassment pulsed through their mental connection. He must be really flustered if he wasnt shutting her out of his mind as he had been since their last conversation about their father.

Dulcea did all the decorating. I just told her what it should look like, he said.

And dont forget, I brought Lance! Cyrus chimed in, gesturing to the DJ.

Who is he? Hes amazing, Valerie said.

Hes a Master in the Music Guild and a buddy of mine. He owed me a favor and I called it in.

You guys really pulled out all the stops, Kanti said, trying to hide that she was touched.

Enough talking, more dancing! Dulcea said, and then led the way to the dance floor.

Finally, the gang was reunited"except it was even better because now Henry was part of the group as well. Once Thai and Tan were there, it would be complete. But for now, having her friends together and happy was enough.

The next couple of hours they spent dancing, eating mouthwatering desserts that Dulcea had whipped up especially for Kanti, and when they were tired, relaxing on the couches and catching up.

Cyrus, Cara, and Valerie were deep in a conversation about which guilds Cara should visit before she left when Valerie saw Henry whispering in Kantis ear. At first, she was smiling, but as he continued to speak, the warmth drained from her face. Finally she pulled away from him.

I expected this from my parents and my sisters. Even the other Conjurors here in Arden. But not you, Henry!

What do you mean?

The conversations around them stopped, and everyone listened to the fight.

You see me differently because I look different.

Youve got it wrong" he tried to say, but Kanti interrupted him.

You think youre the first to suddenly discover you have feelings for me? she said, raising her voice.

Henry set his mouth in a hard, angry line. You dont know what youre talking about, he said. Valerie was glad to see that instead of crumbling, he was standing up for himself.

I do know! Everyone disappoints me. Its a lesson I learned when I was ten, and I guess this whole thing happened to me so that I can learn it again. Everyones alone.

Maybe youre right, he snapped.

Kanti stalked away, and everyone stared after her. Even Lance had stopped spinning.

Okay, the shows over! Cyrus shouted to the crowd.

Right! Dulcea said, but her usual good humor seemed false. Music, please?

Lance put on another song, and people slowly resumed talking and dancing. Henry left the room without another word.

Do you mind if I get out of here? Valerie whispered to Dulcea.

No, its okay. Ill shut the party down soon anyway.

Ill come with you, Cyrus said.

Thanks, but Im going to see if I can find Henry. Maybe you can help Cara find another bed to sleep in tonight, in case Kantis still on the warpath.

You got it, he said. Tell Henry"tell him Im sorry. I have a pretty good idea how he feels right now and its worse than having your powers ripped away by Zunya. Cyrus swallowed once before turning away from her.

She didnt have time to ask him about it. Instead, she followed the path her brother had taken. Outside of the dorm, she didnt see any sign of him or Kanti. She shut her eyes and tried to see if she could connect to him mentally.

Without warning, she was blasted with intense heartbreak. It was like being hit in the face with a fire hose of pain and grief. She stumbled, almost losing her balance.

Henry, she whispered. As abruptly as it started, the connection closed. He had found the strength to close his mind to her again.

She suddenly was incredibly angry at Kanti. She hurried over to a platform and went up to her room on the eighth floor. But when she stepped inside, she stopped short. Kanti was sitting on the edge of her bed with her head in her hands. Valerie couldnt bring herself to make her feel even more miserable than she already was.

I was a total jerk, wasnt I? Kanti asked.

Valerie didnt say anything.

He told me that he loves me and I threw it in his face.

Why would you do that to him, Kanti? You know what hes been through. At the very least you could have let him down gently instead of publicly humiliating him.

You dont understand. A month ago, hearing him say those words would have meant everything to me. But now I know its meaningless. He doesnt love me"not like that. He just thinks he does because of all this, she said, gesturing at herself with disgust.

Youre so wrong.

How do you know?

Because he was planning to tell you he loved you before any of this happened. Hes practically been going crazy without you. All those days by your bedside, saving your life"

What?! Kantis shouted.

Didnt your parents tell you that Ani tried to hurt you and Henry saved you? They forced him to leave, or else he would have still been there when you woke up.

They never saidthey didnt even tell me I had visitors. I am a first-class, Grade-A idiot.

And a jerk, dont forget, Valerie teased.

How will he ever forgive me? I should have known. I totally underestimated him.

Hell come around, she said gently.

Kanti laid her head on Valeries shoulder. Im no better than my parents.

Yes you are. Youre one of my favorite people, and I have amazing taste in friends, in case you didnt know.

Kanti laughed weakly. You know whats worse than all this looks stuff?

No, what could possibly be worse than becoming stunningly beautiful? Valerie asked.

Kanti held out her hands and concentrated, and suddenly a shower of pink flower petals rained down on both of them, covering their beds and the floor.

Your power has appeared! Valerie said excitedly. What is it, exactly?