“Great,” I say, summoning as much of Jacob’s sarcasm as I can.

“But,” says Magnolia, holding up a withered finger. “With the right tools, you could cut the line.”

Lara and I exchange a look. “How?” Lara asks.

A short debate breaks out between the members, first on whether it’s possible, and then, when they agree that it is, on what we’ll need to do it.

I can’t exactly take notes in the Veil, but Lara has a scary good memory.

“And you’re sure it will work?” I ask when the Society members have explained.

“It’ll be dangerous,” says Agatha, “but you’re used to that by now, aren’t you?”

We thank them for their time and help.

“Nonsense,” she says, lifting her mug, “we enjoy the company.”

“Good luck,” adds Hazel as we reach for the curtain.

And I know we’re going to need it.

Chapter Fifteen

Lara and I step back through the Veil.

A shiver, and a sigh, and then the Society room is warm and solid around us again. Michael and Renée are seated at the table, in the middle of a discussion with someone else, but they trail off when they see us.

“Never got used to that part,” says Michael, gesturing to our sudden reappearance, but I’m staring past him, at the new arrival.

“Ah, yes,” says Renée, gesturing to the man in the chair. “This is our current historian.”

I stand there, mouth open.

Because the man in the chair is Lucas Dumont, our guide.

Surprise flashes across his face, but it only lasts a second.

“Actually,” he says, rising to his feet, “we’ve already met. Admittedly, it was under different circumstances. Cassidy …” He trails off, as if waiting for me to explain. Lara looks at me, too, and I realize that they haven’t met.

“This is my parents’ guide, Lucas,” I explain.

“Ah, the paranormal show,” says Renée. “Small world, isn’t it?”

“Very,” says Lucas, polishing his glasses. He nods at Lara. “And you are?”

“Lara Chowdhury,” she says, standing even straighter. “Future member of the Society. And Cassidy’s friend.”

“I see,” he says in his measured way. “And what exactly are you doing here, Miss Blake?”

I don’t know if he expects me to tell him the whole story from almost-drowning to being an in-betweener to my current predicament, so I just say, “I’m kind of … being hunted.”

“Emissary,” says Renée, “nasty business.”

“Were the others able to help?” asks Michael.

I try to drag my focus away from the fact that my parents’ very skeptical historian is a member of a paranormal secret society. We’re definitely going to have to talk about that later.

“Yes,” says Lara. “I think we have a plan.”