Every day that was feeling less and less clear.

“Linh’s doing okay,” Marella promised, probably assuming that the sigh that slipped out of Sophie’s lips was for something less selfish. “We’ve been training together every day—and it’s super handy to have someone who controls water around when I meet with Fintan.”

Sophie stood taller. “Linh goes to your Fintan lessons?”

Marella nodded. “Mr. Forkle thought it would be safer, since she can drown any flames. She’s only gone once, so far, but the lesson went way better with her there. I think Fintan’s impressed with her.”

Absolutely none of that sounded like good news.

Sandor must’ve agreed, because he muttered a string of goblin swear words under his breath.

“Well… wow,” Sophie mumbled, feeling miles behind the curve. “Anything I need to know about your lessons—or about what you and Linh are working on?”

“Probably. But that’s not what we came here to talk about.” Marella shot a meaningful look at Maruca, who’d been standing so quietly, Sophie had almost forgotten that she was there. “And I should go make sure Linh hasn’t renamed the alicorns Prince Shimmernose and Princess Sparklefeathers or something. I swear, if she and Keefe ever get together, I’d feel super sorry for their kid.”

“Does she like Keefe?” Sophie blurted out—her face heating about a million degrees when she realized how nosy she was being. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“Probably not,” Marella agreed. “But maybe not for the reason you’re thinking? And on that bombshell—I’m out! Have a good chat, you two! Miss me!”

Marella gave a teasing salute before she wandered off in the same direction that Linh had gone, leaving Sophie with a little whiplash as she tried to figure out what that last comment was supposed to imply.

“Gotta love how unapologetically honest she is, huh?” Maruca asked, breaking the silence. “I’m trying to get better about doing the same thing—tell it like it is a little more.”

Sophie cleared her throat. “Yeah… and I think I know what you’re here to tell me.”

“I know you do,” Maruca said, tossing back a couple of her dreads. “Just like I know Wylie talked to you.”

“You do?”

“Of course. He means well and I love him. But he’s also a paranoid pain who makes me want to punch him.”

“He’s not paranoid,” Sophie corrected gently. “Really bad things can happen to anyone who gets involved in this. Look at where Tam is right now.”

“I know.” Maruca stepped closer, clearly not backing down. “But I’m good with taking those kinds of risks. I know Wylie doesn’t want me to—and that’s sweet of him. I appreciate it. But that doesn’t mean he gets to dictate my life for me. And since I’m sure you’ve had your share of people trying to make decisions for you because they think they know better than you do, I’m hoping you’ll at least hear me out.”

Sophie sighed and motioned for Maruca to follow her over to the shade of Calla’s Panakes tree.

“Full disclosure,” Sophie said while she sank down onto the grass, “it took me years to finally get on good terms with your cousin, and I really don’t want to do anything to make him mad at me again.”

“I get that,” Maruca agreed, noticeably not sitting. “Just like I’m sure the next thing you’re going to tell me is that you aren’t in charge of who gets to join the Black Swan and who doesn’t.”

“Well… I’m not,” Sophie had to point out.

“Maybe not. But come on—pretty much all the new members have been your friends,” Maruca argued. “Don’t even try to say there’s not a connection.”

“Yeah, well, for one thing, Mr. Forkle and I aren’t really on great terms right now, so I’m not sure if I’m the best ally,” Sophie admitted. “But even if I am, you realize I don’t exactly love how many people I’ve dragged into this, right? If I’d never made friends with Tam and Linh at Exillium, he wouldn’t be trapped with the Neverseen right now.”

“And if you hadn’t, Atlantis would be destroyed, and you guys would’ve been captured in Ravagog, and who knows what other stories I haven’t heard?” Maruca countered.

“I know,” Sophie said quietly. “I’m not saying I necessarily regret it. But… if something happens to any of you, I can’t help blaming myself. And it’d be extra hard with you, because Wylie made me promise to keep you out of this. So… lots of guilt—and you know how dangerous guilt is.”

“I do.” Maruca’s shoulders drooped and she stared at her hands. “Why do you think I’m here? I don’t want to risk my life, or worry my mama, or Wylie, or anyone else. But you guys need me. I can keep you safe.”

“How?” Sophie and Sandor asked in unison.

Maruca’s eyebrows rose. “I take it that means Wylie didn’t tell you?”

“About your ability?” Sophie clarified. “He told me you manifested, and he made it sound like you can do something pretty powerful. But he wouldn’t tell me what it was.”

“That’s because he knows it changes everything,” Maruca said, tossing back more of her dreadlocks. “Trust me. Once you know what I can do, you’ll want me with you everywhere you go.”

Sophie had a feeling she was going to regret this, but now she definitely had to know. “Okay, show me,” she said, leaning back against Calla’s trunk and crossing her arms.

Maruca nodded, looking both proud and nervous as she raised one hand, her fingers poised to snap.

Sophie assumed that meant she was about to reveal herself as a Flasher.

But the light that flared around Maruca was a glaring white curve that bent into a dome.

A force field.

“You’re a Psionipath,” Sophie breathed, stumbling to her feet.

“I am.” Maruca snapped her fingers again, forming another perfect force field, this time around Sophie—which Sandor looked less than thrilled about, given that it separated him from his charge. “I saw how crucial the Neverseen’s Psionipath was during the fight at Everglen. He kept his people safe and controlled all of you. And I can do exactly the same thing.”

She snapped her fingers a third time, making both force fields disappear—then snapped again to form a single glowing dome around Calla’s entire Panakes tree, caging her, Sophie, and Sandor in a wall of energy that grew thicker and thicker, until it was almost humming.

“I’m a Psionipath,” Maruca emphasized. “I’m the piece you’ve been missing. And if you let me fight on your side, I can turn this game in our favor.”

TWENTY-ONE

THE THING IS…” SOPHIE KNEW she was about to sound like one of the boring, lecture-y adults she’d rolled her eyes at lots of times over the last few years. But she needed to be very clear, and not get too wowed by the shiny force field glowing around them, even if her brain was screaming, MARUCA’S A PSIONIPATH—THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!