The ceremony was at the end of the day. Like Earth at sunset, everything was pink and gold as they walked to the courtyard. Cyrus met them there, and even seemed a little dazzled by Kanti, who was radiant dressed up and highlighted by the rosy colors of the sky.

Stop it or Ill smack you, Kanti said.

There she is, Cyrus said. Good to know your temper wasnt improved along with your looks.

Cy! Valerie said, smacking his arm.

But Kanti laughed. Nope, its worse if anything. So watch out.

Their banter was interrupted as a giant purple bird flew overhead. Only when he came closer did Valerie see that he was holding Henry in his talons. He gently dropped him into the giant fountain at the center of the courtyard and then perched on top of it. Henry landed with a splash right in the water, but he emerged dripping and smiling.

Henry was dressed in a white tunic. It must be some kind of Empath uniform, because the fountain was surrounded by creatures similarly dressed.

The Empaths shut their eyes, and a low hum of power in the ground traveled through Valeries bones, alerting her to an outpouring of magic.

She watched, astonished, as one part of Henrys head glowed red, then another part glowed blue, followed by yellow, green, and purple.

What the she started to whisper to Cyrus, but then her own mind was filled with the delicate perfume of a rose. Next, she could swear soft petals brushed against her fingertips. She heard wind whispering through a meadow, and tasted a sweet, light flavor on her tongue that reminded her of sunshine and freshly turned dirt. Last, an image exploded in her mind of a dazzling yellow rose in full bloom. It was bright and beautiful, and somehow with the image came a sense of how precious life could be.

Whoa Kanti whispered.

Welcome, Henry, Dasan said, his deep voice resonating across the crowd. We accept your gift and welcome you as an Empath. Come in peace and stay in love.

A jolt of pure relaxation passed through Valeries mind, calming every muscle in her body. For the first time in her whole life, she was worry-free and totally at peace.

I love you guys, she said to Cyrus and Kanti a little dreamily.

Sooooo much, Cyrus agreed.

I know Dasan is taking my worries away, but I dont care one little bit, Kanti said.

Henry made his way over to them, happy and starry-eyed. Did you like my gift?

The rose? Kanti asked.

He nodded. I saw it in a windowsill the day before my mom died. I tried to recreate it with every one of my senses as well as the feeling she always gave me. I made the moment in my mind and sent it to everyone. Dasan showed me how.

It was beautiful. I wish I knew her, Valerie said, but somehow Henrys grief didnt touch her inner sanctum of peace. She could empathize without being sucked into his pain.

But Henry didnt seem sad"he was staring at Kanti with reverence. Youre an angel. Your outside matches the inside now.

Valerie had never seen Kanti blush"until now. Thats the only right thing anyone has said to me about how I look.

Henry took her hand and they wandered off.

Are we on some kind of magical drug? Valerie asked, curious but not concerned.

No, Dasan flooded your mind with the hormone you release when youre happy. And he somehow takes your worries and puts them in a little box inside you for awhile, so you can have a break from them.

Its like the box that Gideon taught me to put my pain in. Best magical power ever.

Cyrus and Valerie weaved their way through the crowd, which hadnt dispersed much even though the ceremony was over. People sat around chatting and laughing. She did a double take when she saw Claremont making a daisy chain and putting it on her head like a crown.

Unreal, Valerie whispered.

This is always a fun ceremony to go to, but its better when the Conjuror whos joining the Guild has a strong power. Henry must be the strongest yet, because Ive never seen a crowd of this size affected for so long.

Help, a voice croaked nearby.

Normally this would send Valerie into high alert, but now she didnt assume the worst. Maybe someone needed the bathroom.

Please, help, the voice said again, and she heard a wet cough.

The crowd began to hush, and a bedraggled boy stumbled into their midst, knocking against people on unsteady feet.

Valerie. Do you know her? I gotta find her, he said.

The box of worry in the corner of Valeries mind jiggled a little. Here I am. She walked over to the boy and laid a hand on his shoulder. Can I help you?

Its me, he said. Jack.

Her peace of mind cracked and the box of worry inside of her exploded open, almost choking her with the intensity. It sickened her, overwhelmed her.

Shade? What happened to you? she asked, horrified.

He had a long gash that went from his cheekbone down his neck and disappeared under his shirt. His arms and face were covered in bruises. But he sighed in relief at her recognition and promptly collapsed. She barely had time to catch him before he hit the ground.

A kiss of wind blew against her face and saw that Dasan had landed next to her.

His mind is very muddled, Dasan said in a light, musical voice. It isnt only bones that are broken.

Valeries magic surged inside of her, and sharpening her focus.

We cant heal his mind until we fix his body, she said, and lifted him easily, thanks to her burst of power. She began running with him in her arms toward the Healers Guild. Cyrus and Dasan followed.

She crashed through the doors of the Guild. Nightingale!

Lights in the hall flickered on, and Healers poked their heads out of the doors to see what was causing the commotion.

Valerie carried Shade up the stairs to the ward where Nightingale worked, brushing aside people who tried to stop her with questions. When she reached his floor, he was already hurrying down the hall.

What is it? he asked, and then saw the boy in her arms. Ah yes. In here, please.

She was surprised to see that a half dozen of the beds were filled with recuperating Conjurors. In the past, shed never seen more than one visitor at a time. Nightingale gestured to a bed, and she lay Shade down gently. He murmured in pain, but didnt wake up.

I must insist you leave, Nightingale commanded.

No, Valerie said, but Cyrus pulled her backward.

There are rules, Dasan explained.

I want to make sure hes okay. This is my fault, she insisted.

Nightingale turned to her, his face calm and focused, but also determined. She barely had time to register the buzz of magic before she was pushed out of the room by a giant, invisible hand. The door slammed in front of her eyes.

If we dont leave now, theyll kick us down the stairs and out the door the same way, Cyrus said in a low voice. Its woven into the magic of the building that no visitors who are unwanted can stay.

Better to go peacefully, Dasan said, but she heard a hint of worry in his voice that troubled her.

Whats wrong? Valerie asked him after they had left the building, his dark, fathomless eyes piercing hers.

The Healers Guild is compromised.

What do you mean?

He cocked his head to the side, examining her like a little robin she had once seen on Earth. I can hardly tell myself, except that something rotten has been inside. But it isnt there right now.

Then Shade isnt safe! Valerie said, and began to pound on the door, which was locked against her now.

For now, I sense no danger for your friend, Dasan tried to assure her.

Nightingale was trying to help him, Val, Im sure of it, Cyrus said. Besides, theres no way youre getting back in there.

She sank down on the steps and put her head in her hands. The aftershocks of all her worry had given her a pounding headache, but she knew she had to act.

Your troubles are meant to return to you slowly, leaving you refreshed and ready to face them anew, Dasan said.

Are you reading my mind? Valerie asked, unable to keep the suspicion out of her voice.

I am only receiving what you are sending out, Dasan said, and she slammed the door of her mind closed against him, like she did with Henry.

He fluttered his wings as if she had caught him off guard. Your mind is as powerful as your brothers. There is much you could learn at our Guild. You should come and take some classes, even if you dont join.

Valerie could hardly process his words, her mind racing through potential scenarios and next steps. Dasan watched her with his beady but gentle eyes, and for the second time that night, peace took over her mind. She resisted, but Dasans power slipped through the cracks of her defenses, and again she fell under its spell. Next to her, Cyrus slumped, his muscles obviously relaxing as well.

We shouldnt she said, but couldnt remember why her worries were so pressing. There was nothing she could do for Shade right now.

You must take this break from your worry and fear, Dasan said. Even for a mind as strong as yours. Without rest, it will break.

She nodded. Youre right. Thank you.

Come and visit us any time, Dasan said, and then took off into the air.

The sight of him soaring away was imprinted on Valeries mind, and the peace he had given her sank deeper into her bones. She sighed in relief. Had she ever been this weightless in her life?

Come on. I wanna show you something new I can do with my power, Cyrus said with a glint in his blue eyes.

He led her to the other side of The Horseshoe, and they stopped in front of a building she hadnt paid much attention to before. It was one of the smaller guilds, but it looked strange. There were no sharp corners, every window was a circle, and all the edges of the building had been rounded off. It was only two stories high. Cyrus led her around back to a beautiful garden.

Strange flowers in shapes and colors shed never seen before blew their perfume in the breeze. It smelled amazing, like vanilla cake, peppermint, and baking bread all rolled into one.

Where are we? she asked.

You wanted to see the Empathy Collective. Theres not much besides meditation rooms inside, but the garden is special. Especially when I do this. He concentrated and flicked his hand, and one by one the flowers began to glow.

Oh Cy Valerie breathed.

I finally made something living glow last week"Ive been trying and failing for years, Cyrus said proudly.

They were distracted from their conversation by the sight of two people locked in a kiss a hundred yards from where they stood. As the garden lit up, flower by flower, she saw that it was Henry and Kanti. They were so absorbed in each other that they didnt even see what was happening around them.

Aw, he stole my spot, Cyrus said. But hes got the right idea.

Before Valerie knew what was happening, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. The warm, pleasant touch of his lips against her own was nice, and she began to respond. But something in her mind screamed"wrong!

She stepped back, away from Cyrus. He seemed confused, unsure why shed pulled away.

Then a pained expression flickered across his features. S-sorry, Cyrus said, shutting his eyes. His peace had been shattered for the second time that night. He turned and ran. Valerie didnt follow.

As much as she knew that the kiss would change everything, somehow she was able to hang on to her own peace of mind. She and Cyrus would figure everything out"the strangeness of the circumstances and Dasans magic had confused him.

But even in her relaxed state, that didnt really ring true to her. Cyrus hadnt been surprised by what had happened. Somewhere in her, she knew that he had wanted this, been waiting for this. How would he cope with her rejection?

It was the first worry to surface, and she dreaded the return of the rest. Instead of going to bed, she stayed outside, walking and thinking. As Dasan promised, her worries didnt return all at once. She absorbed each one as it returned and kept moving.

By dawn, Dasans magic had completely faded, but she did achieve a measure of peace, ready to face all of the problems crowding her mind. She sat down on the steps of the Healers Guild, which was still locked against her, and fell asleep.

Chapter 27.

Maybe unsurprisingly, Valerie dreamed her terrible dream about sinking into darkness again, but it had lost some of its poignancy. Someone nudged her gently awake and she sat up, shrugging off a blanket that had mysteriously appeared to cover her as she slept. Henry walked across The Horseshoe holding two steaming mugs.

Hot chocolate. I finally found a little shop that makes it, and its the best Ive ever had.

She took a cup and blew on it before sipping. Thanks. Howd you find me?

Oberon told me you were here on my way to my Guild this morning. Henry made a face. I guess he doesnt know it was us who followed him the other day. And now I feel kinda bad about suspecting him. He was all worried about you. I think that blanket is his.

Really? she wrapped it around her shoulders against the chilly morning air.

Cyrus told me about last night. Henry said, changing the subject. Valerie looked at him in shock, remembering the kiss. Henry almost spilled his drink as his mind touched hers and he saw what had happened. He kissed you?