“NO, I WASN’T!”

“OW, DON’T POKE ME!”

Dex rubbed his temples as they headed downstairs. “My mom keeps promising they’ll calm down when they get older, but they’re twelve now, so I don’t think it’s going to happen. And I’m pretty sure they’re going to beat your detention record this year.”

“Not if I can help it,” Ro jumped in. “Hunkyhair and I still have plenty of chaos to cause, don’t we?”

She held out her hand for a high five, but Keefe kept right on walking.

He couldn’t imagine life ever being that normal again.

“Over here!” Elwin called, gesturing for them to join him in the center of the giant main room, where he stood with Kesler in front of the swiveling armchair.

The triplets were way on the other side of the room, making different shadow animals in the multicolored light filtering in through the windows—which was good, since Keefe could already feel crackly waves of their enthusiasm slamming against his senses.

He was going to have quite the headache when they got closer.

“Sorry we woke you,” Kesler told Keefe. “I was hoping you’d already be up.”

Keefe shrugged, trying to tell Kesler it wasn’t a big deal.

“Okay, take a seat.” Kesler patted the armchair. “I’ll try to make this quick. It’s hard to know if I’m on the right track with something until I see how the elixir actually works—and these formulas are so specific to what you’re dealing with that I have to test them on you.”

“I thought it’d be smart to test my prototype, too,” Dex added, pulling something small and silver out of his pocket, which kind of looked like a tiny metal egg. “I’m sure it still needs some tweaks, but I’m hoping I’m close.”

He tapped the top of the egg, and the gadget split open, revealing all kinds of cogs and circuitry neatly arranged inside.

Ro whistled. “You made that in one night?”

Dex shrugged. “It’s not as complicated as it looks.”

Keefe doubted that. And when he studied Dex closer, he could see dark shadows under his eyes.

Dex must’ve stayed up all night working.

And Kesler and Elwin looked just as exhausted.

“You okay there, Hunkyhair?” Ro asked.

Keefe nodded, but his eyes felt a little watery.

He wasn’t used to people making those kinds of sacrifices for him—and he could feel their concern drifting through the air, with no trace of any pity.

“I should probably explain how this is going to work,” Kesler said, pointing to three vials on the small table next to the armchair—one green, one purple, and one orange. “The plan is—”

“GIVE IT BACK!” one of the triplets shouted, followed by a whole lot of squealing.

“DAAAAAAAAAAAD!”

“STOP CRYING TO DAD ALL THE TIME!”

“I’M NOT CRYING—YOU’RE CRYING!”

“I’LL MAKE YOU BOTH CRY!”

“AHHHHHH!”

Kesler sighed as Rex, Bex, and Lex charged past them like a strawberry-blond stampede. “Sorry. I know the triplets can make things a little chaotic—”

“A little?” Dex cut in.

Kesler rumpled Dex’s hair, making the resemblance between the two of them even more noticeable. “Okay, fine—a lot more chaotic. But that’s why they’re here.” His periwinkle eyes focused on Keefe as he said, “I need you to get overwhelmed. I won’t know if anything’s working until you start to lose control—and for the record, I won’t mind at all if you end up numbing my kids. I might even have you leave them that way. I could use a little quiet.”

“Relax,” Elwin said, blocking Keefe from getting up. “If all goes well, no one will end up numbed—and if they do, it’s totally painless, and you already know how to fix it.”

“Rex, Bex, and Lex also know what might happen,” Kesler added, “and they’re good with it.”

“YEAH—DO YOUR WORST!” one of them shouted. “YOU’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO NUMB ME!”

“OR ME!”

“OR ME!”

Keefe shook his head, even though he could definitely feel their conviction.

“I know there’s a chance you might end up giving a different command,” Elwin told him, before Keefe could figure out how to convey that exact argument. “That’s why I’ll be wearing earplugs, so I can step in if needed.”

“So will I,” Kesler promised.

“Me too,” Dex agreed.

“Me three!” Ro winked when she added, “And I’ll happily smack you around to snap you out of it.”

“And yes, we realize there’s still a small risk,” Kesler admitted, “but… that’s pretty normal for us.”

“Yeah, my dad’s always making us test his Slurps and Burps elixirs,” Dex explained. “One time he made all my hair fall out and gave the triplets explosive farts. And my mom got stuck with bloodred teeth for a week.”

“Ohhh, I might have to try that bloody teeth one!” Ro cut in, puckering her red lips.

“And let’s not forget that Dex has almost electrocuted me several times,” Kesler noted, “not to mention that hole in the roof.”

Dex shrugged. “It happens.”

“So see? Nothing out of the ordinary around here,” Kesler added. “No need to look so worried.”

Keefe shook his head again.

He could definitely tell from everyone’s emotions that none of them were the least bit concerned by this plan they’d come up with. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t a super-bad idea.

“LOOK HOW SCARED HE IS!” one of the triplets shouted as the stampede charged closer.

“YEAH, WHO KNEW THE GREAT KEEFE SENCEN WAS SO BORING!”

“HE’S NOT BORING! HE’S CUTE!”

“EWWWW, BEX LIKES KEEFE!”

“SO WHAT IF I DO?”

Keefe had never been so relieved to not have to come up with a reply.

Especially when Rex and Lex started making a bunch of really loud kissy noises and chanting, “BEX WANTS TO SMOOCH HIM!”

Dex snort-laughed. “Welcome to my life. Try not to be envious.”

Keefe grinned at the joke. But honestly?

When he looked at the crinkly smile on Kesler’s face and the way he rested his hand on Dex’s shoulder, Keefe was envious.

He would’ve fit in so much better with a loud, chaotic family. Instead, he’d been stuck with—

His thoughts were cut off when the triplets sprinted over, hitting him with such a strong blast of excitement, smugness, and pure energy that Keefe felt his eyes start to glaze.

“Okay, let’s get this going,” Kesler told everyone. “Earplugs in!”

“Remember, this is the best way to find something to help you deal with this. It’ll be okay,” Elwin promised before popping two glittery blobs into his ears.

Dex and Kesler did the same.

Ro sighed and crammed hers in too. “Even your earplugs are sparkly. You elves have serious issues.”

Kesler clapped his hands. “All right. We’ll start with the green and go from there. You guys remember what to do, right?” he asked the triplets.