They may not be real, but I still want to do more than just watch these illusions. I want to live in them with my good memories of Dad and Mom and forget about vampires for once. Magic could help me forget.

“Umm, can I get my purse back?”

I didn’t even realize I still held it. I’m clutching it to my chest in a weird way, so I force myself to give it back.

Stacie chuckles. “I forgot how much you love this stuff.”

I nod.

A small blue feather teeters on my knee, and I reach out and pluck it up, twisting it back and forth between my thumb and finger. It would be easy enough to manipulate a single feather—even I could do that—but an entire bird? My thoughts try to pull me back into my conspiracies. It’s always a trick, Ava. Find the strings. Mom’s voice brings me back. If you hid a bunch of birds around the room and released them at the right moment, people would believe some of them came from their purses. The power of suggestion. None of us saw what we thought we saw.

“Hey, look.”

I glance up to where Stacie points. Xander and the bird girl walk among the audience, shaking hands with people.

“Let’s meet them,” I say, jumping out of my chair. I don’t mention I already met Xander.

Stacie glances between me and Xander, and a knowing look crosses her face. “That one’s all yours,” she says.

“I’m not—”

She glances at her phone. “Actually, something came up. Do you think you could get a ride home from here?”

I sigh. I’m pretty sure she’s just trying to make me look more available, but I don’t really want to argue. “Yeah. I need to get my bag though.” I follow her out of the club and wait as she grabs my backpack from the car and holds it out to me. I grab the strap, but she doesn’t let go.

“Go get him,” she says with a grin.

I frown. “That’s not why I’m here.”

She leans in and air-kisses my cheek. “Whatever you say, babe.” She winks before darting around to get in her car.

My resolve wavers as she drives off. It was nice to have a friend to back me up.

But I still crave more magic. My feet carry me back into the club and toward Xander like they know what I want, even though my head and heart don’t want the chance to be rejected, but then I think of the words of the girl at the door. Xander was expecting me to come back. That puts too much pressure on the encounter.

I veer off course and make my way to the bird girl. Up close, I see that two identical blue parakeets sit on her shoulder, nestled in her hair.