Cyrus began to tense up. Sorry, Gabriel. I wanted to"

But before he could finish, Gabriel swam away. Cyrus turned red.

Who cares about that guy? That was unbelievable! Cara said, fairly glowing with pride. How did you do that?

Lets get out of here and Ill show you.

Bye, Juniper! Valerie said as they headed out. He nodded in acknowledgment and his eyes followed them longingly.

The three headed to The Horseshoe and sat on the bright green grass in the middle.

Its easiest to show you outside where theres a lot of light to work with, Cyrus explained to his sister.

He sat down and closed his eyes. The first thing I have to do is absorb the light, he explained. Its like Im breathing it in.

As he spoke, Valerie could see Cyrus begin to glow as streams of light were attracted to him like a magnet.

Then I channel it out of my hands and imagine what it is Im trying to create. I can shape the light like its clay. Of course, its way more flexible than clay, so I can make it do many more things.

His hands worked quickly, moving through the light. When Im done, I release my hold on the light and"

There was a bright flash and a tiny horse was in his hands. For you, sis, he said to Cara.

Her eyes were wide. She touched the horse tentatively. It looks like Brownie.

Duh, thats what I was going for. I know how much you miss that horse, he said.

Cara threw her arms around him. Cyrus paused in surprise, but then he hugged her back. When she pulled away, she was glowing. At first, her face broke into a huge smile, but as it sank in that she was channeling magic herself, she jumped backward.

Get it out of me! Make it stop! she cried.

Relax, release your hold on your magic and it will go away, Cyrus said.

She wrung her hands, and Valerie could see tears in her eyes. She let out a little grunt, and the light left her. Cara sagged in relief, sobbing. Cyrus patted her shoulder awkwardly.

Dont touch me! she said. I cant believe I used magic. Im broken; theres something wrong with me. I dont deserve to go back to Messina. Mom and Dad will be so disappointed in me.

Magic is a gift, Valerie said gently. Youre lucky to have it. You can use it for good, like Cyrus does.

Leave me alone! Cara said, and ran away from them both.

You dont understand, Cyrus said quietly. Were raised to think of magic as evil. I never really believed it, but I got away when I was still young. Cara has had that hammered into her for fourteen years. As much as she may like to see magic in others, seeing it in herself is like finding out she has an incurable disease.

Valerie shook her head. Thats so sad.

Cyrus shrugged and sighed. I had this tiny hope that shed decide to stay. I really miss her, ya know?

Sorry, Cy.

Chapter 16.

The next day, when Valerie checked in on Thai, he was sleeping. But luckily Chisisi had made it to his bedside.

Hows he doing"really? she asked, a little afraid of the answer.

I have read of this happening to others, but I have never witnessed the separation myself. According to my texts, this separation is quite early. But other than that, there are no anomalies.

Have you talked to Tan?

Indeed. He is most anxious to be separated.

He told me never to visit him.

Chisisi nodded solemnly. He is still very underdeveloped. He will grow in maturity with time. We must all have patience.

Thank you for coming to him, Chisisi, Valerie said, wishing that she could reach over and brush Thais sweaty hair off his forehead.

There is no need for thanks. This is the duty I have chosen"to help those cursed with magic on Earth.

How can I help?

For now, we need to keep both Thai and Tan as calm as possible. So I suggest you leave before he wakes. You can visit without appearing, so check in first to make sure Tan is not in control before making yourself known.

I wish I could come back and be there in person to help you.

No, young one. You are where you are meant to be. And I will take care of two ill from their magic instead of three.

Valerie returned to the Globe with a lighter heart. Chisisi would keep both Thai and Tan safe, she sensed. And maybe in a few days or weeks, Thai would join her on the Globe. Her heart raced at the thought of picking up where they left off.

Checking the time, she hurried to the Capitol building to report to Azra. This time, she came through the front doors and was relieved to see that a patrol of Knights was on duty to protect the Guild Masters from any more attacks by the invisible men. She nodded to a couple she recognized, and she saw them nudge each other. It was impossible not to notice how much they all stared at her, like they expected her to break out into a song and dance routine.

She hurried to Azras office. She had been there once before and was relieved when she found her way without having to ask anyone for directions. She knocked softly, and the door opened on its own. Inside was as she remembered, with vaulted ceilings and maps everywhere of the countries that made up the Globe.

Ill be there soon, Azras voice chimed in her mind from somewhere else in the building. Make yourself at home.

Valerie paced around the office as she waited, examining the maps closely. She touched one and immediately she saw a birds-eye view of a beautiful city nestled in the hills. The roofs of the houses were silver and glinted in the sun. She concentrated. She could move the view in her mind closer or farther away.

She dropped her hand and was suddenly back in Azras office, disoriented. The maps must work similarly to how the globe in Midnights office worked, except this was a map of the Globe instead of Earth.

She continued to walk around the room. It was strange for an office. There was no desk and only a couple of chairs for visitors. In one corner was a patch of grass. She stepped on it and was transported to a valley filled with lilies. It was beautiful.

Welcome, a voice filled her mind like the low note of an oboe. You must be Valerie. Ive heard many wonderful things.

A beautiful unicorn several hands taller than Azra with a golden horn stepped toward her across the meadow.

I see youve found my valley, Azra said, and Valerie jumped backward, off of the grass, startled.

Im sorry, I didnt mean"

Do not worry, child. You made yourself at home, and I am glad.

Who was that? I thought you were the last her voice trailed off. She didnt want to be rude, but Azra was the only unicorn in the universe. Her race had died out long ago.

I am. My husband, Odysseus, made that as a gift for me on our two hundredth anniversary. It is only a memory of him, which he imbued with his essence. Sometimes it is a great comfort to me to see that echo of him.

Other times it must be torture, Valerie said softly, imagining how the loss of him must sting every time she stepped away. It would be like the pictures she used to keep of her friends in the hospital who had died. Seeing them was a sweet, sharp pain, and in her rage at the universe, she had thrown them all away. But now she wished she hadnt, so that there was a piece of them left.

You see more deeply than most. Its true, his echo cannot compare to the reality, and it can be a bitter reminder of what Ive lost.

Valerie was embarrassed as tears of empathy tried to fight their way to the surface. Azra nose dipped. Her mane obscured her eyes, but not before Valerie saw the tears in them. But suddenly she lifted her head and her eyes were filled with an emotion that Valerie couldnt name, but was infinitely beautiful.

She studied Azra carefully, and realized that she looked different. Her coat and mane were glossier, if that were possible, and her eyes sparkled with something hopeful. Something profound had happened to Azra, she suddenly knew with certainty. But it wasnt her place to ask what it was.

Azra tossed her mane briskly. Lets turn to more urgent matters. As you know, I believe there is a spy among the Grand Masters. Usually I can see into others hearts, but this time, the source of all the trouble is masked from me. Whoever it is wields powerful magic, which only strengthens my belief that it must be a Grand Master.

It could be someone who a Grand Master confides in, Valerie said thoughtfully, and Azra nodded. Do you think that Reaper person Elden told us about and the spy are the same person?

Perhaps. Or maybe as you say, it is an informer for Reaper.

Why do you want me to help you? I dont think my fighting abilities are going to be of much use here.

You have a sense for people that you underestimate. And you will be in a unique position to meet the Grand Masters without arousing their suspicions.

Why is that?

Because you have been named my successor.

Valerie sank into a chair, lightheaded. Her hands shook uncontrollably. Its like everyones out of their minds except me. Dont I get a say in all this?

Of course you do. There will be time for you to formally refuse the position if you wish. In the meantime, if you play along, I will be training you in the management of the Guilds and the Globe. You will meet everyone who could be a suspect, and can ask any questions you like of them.

So it would be like Im undercover? she asked, her heart calming down a little.

Azras laugh was like tinkling bells in her mind. Indeed. And it will also give you the chance to see if this role is something you might actually want.

Valerie shook her head doubtfully. Ill help you find your spy. I cant make any promises about the rest.

We will see.

Theres something else I wanted to ask you about, Valerie said, her face heating with embarrassment. She hated asking for favors. I need a new place to live. Any corner will do. Rastelli doesnt want Conjurors from other guilds taking up space, which I understand.

Azras eyes flashed, first with anger and then compassion. You never need worry about a home, my dear. You could always stay with me in the woods, but I do not think that would be the most secure place for you. I will find you somewhere safe to live.

Thank you, Valerie whispered, and hurried away without meeting Azras eyes. Soon shed find a way to fend for herself, so shed never have to beg for a bed again.

The next few days were a blur for Valerie. She checked in on Thai several times a day, but he was usually resting or Tan was in control. Chisisi explained that Tans dominance was a natural part of the separation, but not being able to speak to Thai left her hollow. As much as it had been sweet torture to be separated by a universe, unable to touch, not being able to communicate with him at all was far worse.

She tried to talk to Henry about her new role at the Capitol, but he was so withdrawn that she didnt want to burden him with her worries. Kanti wasnt much help either. Trying to fend off her new admirers and win back Henrys friendship left her grumpy at the end of the day.

Even Cyrus, usually her touchstone, wasnt his typical enthusiastic self.

Azras successor, wow, he said, but his smile was forced. I hope youll remember the rest of us once youre in with all of the Grand Masters.

Are you kidding? The last thing I would ever do is put myself in Azras position. Im undercover to help her right now, but as soon as we smoke out this Reaper guy, Im outta there.

Cyrus relaxed a little. Sorry, Val. I know youre not one to get a big head. If you have some time later today, I thought we could try to send Leo the message.

Yes! How about tonight after dinner? We could send it from the Lake of Knowledge.

Exactly the spot I was thinking of. Great minds think alike. Hey, maybe I should be Azras successor, he joked.

She spent the rest of the day studying a book that Azra had given her with pictures and some information about each of the Grand Masters. There were over five hundred guilds, so there were too many Conjurors for her to memorize each one. But a core group of seven formed an inner circle called the Council that organized votes and finalized decisions. Azra was sure that the spy was part of this group.

Most of the Council members were known to her"Midnight, Kellen, and Azra were all members. Chern was recently elected to join the group, though Valerie was a little mystified as to why the History Guild would be so essential to running Arden.

The remaining three she had never met. Skye represented the Relations Guild that managed diplomatic interactions between Arden and the other countries on the Globe, Al was from the Stewardship Guild that made sure the planets weather and physical systems were functioning as they should, and Calibro was the Grand Master of the Justice Guild.

She would meet them all the next day when they interviewed Gabriel about what he had found in the Akashic Records. She was intensely nervous about her new role, so she was glad that tonight, she would have something to take her mind off of what was coming.

She gladly tossed aside her book a few hours later to meet her friends for dinner. She hurried down to the cafeteria and smacked into a boy that she didnt recognize at first.

Well? Lets have it, Henry said. She shut her mouth. His hair, which had been streaked with gray, was now entirely dark brown.

I like it, she said. You look more like...you.

It must have been the right thing to say, because Henry gave her the first smile shed seen from him in days. I dont want to be reminded of Sanguina and Zunya every time I look in the mirror. And I dont have to dye it or anything. The Glamour Guild changed the color permanently for me.

That would be worth a fortune on Earth, she said, as they grabbed a table.

Yeah, Henry said, but he wasnt paying attention. He was staring across the cafeteria at Kanti, who had two guys fighting over who would carry her tray.

Are you talking to her yet? Valerie asked tentatively.

I was never not talking to her, he replied.

You know what I mean.

He sighed. I cant compete with all these guys.

You dont have to"she wants to be with you.