“We have bigger problems, anyway,” I said. “Riley, Epistola escaped.”

Riley sighed. “Yes, I know.”

My jaw dropped. “You knew? How could you not tell me?”

“I wished to keep you from worry, little one,” he said. “There’s no need for alarm. The woman’s mind is broken. She is a mere shadow of what she once was. She could not harm anyone now, even if—” He stopped short.

“Even if what?” I asked.

Riley tried to change the subject, but I wasn’t going to let him off that easily. I could tell he was holding something back. Finally, he relented.

“There is to be another Alignment next year,” he said.

My heart sank. “You mean we might have to go through this whole thing again?”

“No!” He shook his head vigorously. “I told you, the Epistola woman is no longer a threat.”

“But what if someone else—?”

“Andromeda, trust me,” he said. “There is nothing to fear.”

I wanted more than anything to believe him. So I told myself that I did.

Riley took my hand. “Let’s get away from this crowd, shall we?”

We walked down to the beach, leaving the noise and light of the Pumpkin Festival behind us. There was no one else in sight. Riley’s hand was strong and sure around mine, and the sea was calm under the stars. For the first time in weeks, I felt truly peaceful.

“There is something I want to give you,” Riley said suddenly. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small box wrapped in silver paper topped with a gold bow.

“You got me a present?” I gasped. “What for?”

Riley looked deep into my eyes. “I thought that was obvious by now,” he said sincerely.

I blushed. “I mean… I wasn’t expecting… I don’t have anything for you.”

“Your existence is the only gift I require.”

“And you think I don’t feel the same way about you?”

“Why must you always make everything so difficult?” Riley huffed. “Just open it!”

Smiling, I took the box from him and plucked off the bow. Then I began to carefully pull up the tape, trying to preserve as much of the beautiful wrapping as possible.

“The paper is mere packaging,” said Riley. “It is acceptable for you to tear it.”

I laughed. My family and friends had teased me all my life about not understanding the concept of wrapping paper, but Riley sounded like he might be wondering if I actually knew.

Finally, I managed to pull the paper off without destroying it. Inside was a plain white box, but inside of that…

“Sea glass!” I exclaimed, holding the stone up to the moonlight.