“Qis smaj y’pa,” I say, pointing, and a stream of light stretches from my fingertip to the cold metal. It glows and blinding orange light ripples like a wave down the walls, up the stairs, and out of sight. Everything pulses brightly for a moment, then flickers out.

“I think it’s done.”

“Y-you think? We have to be sure.”

I touch the lead wall. It’s warm to the touch. “There’s definitely magic in there. But for good measure… stand back.”

“What are you going to do?”

“The only way to know if it’ll withstand an attack is if I attack it. Consider it quality assurance.”

Taavi covers her eyes. I dig deep for my magic, draw my arms back, and thrust. Energy pools and my arms gleam. Magic gushes from my hands, slamming into the wall with a clang. The spot where my magic hit the wall glows, pulsing, and the ground trembles. Dust rains from overhead, but the walls hold, and the glowing spot dims before fading out.

“It works!”

“H-how do you know?”

“Because that was a destruction spell. I told my magic to combust whatever it touches.”

Her eyes bulge and I wink.

“O-okay, well, at least it works well.” She swallows then exhales. “Is that it, then? W-we ready to go?”

“Almost,” I say. “Get your mother; she’s coming with us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

BACK IN EAST ROW, Julius was waiting for me outside his house, shirtless, in a floral zip-up hoodie, a fedora, and a thick gold chain around his neck. I didn’t even know hoodies came in Hawaiian print. Also, this ain’t some tropical vacation. But I let him make it.

He’s been waiting for months, ever since I sat on Mom’s stoop and locked hands with him. Ever since he saw everything that transpired here. What to say or do when things get in a pinch always comes so easy to him. And it’ll be good to have someone else keep their eyes and ears open, see who is playing me two-faced.

I’d had him hold on to me tight as I mumbled the transport spell, and we vanished.

Now, in Totsi’s Texts, Zora and Taavi are giving him side-eyes and he’s throwin’ ’em right back. The remnants of the sun glows like an ember outside, and there are so many bodies inside the bookstore, you’d think someone had the heater on blast. We’re almost ready to go… if I can smooth over these awkward intros.

“These your friends or what?” he asks.

“Yeah. You remember Bri.”

She waves.

“And this is Zora and Taavi.”

Julius sticks out a hand, but no one takes it.

“Nice to meet you,” Taavi says, giving his wardrobe a once-over, eyes pausing at his wrists.