“That, my dear, is one of my safe houses. The first number is for the safe behind the portrait of the Fighting Emeraire. You can’t miss it.”

“Mister, uh . . .”

“‘Mister C’ works.”

“Mister C,” Emily said. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“I don’t know how much time I have left, but I’ll tell you what I can while I’m still able. The Cabal is moving into this city. My city. Not that my reign was ever as strong as I would have liked. They are, in a word, bad news, even to people not on our side of the morality line. They’ve gotten to me. I only made it out because I had a shaft hidden under the floor. It doesn’t matter. Soon, this city will be yours to rule.”

“Rule?” Emily asked.

“Is that not what you are? A ruler, a boss? You are as all Villains are, aren’t you? Soon the board will be cleared, and a new opponent will be sitting opposite you. It’s early, yes, but for the good of everyone, Eauclaire needs a proper Villain in place. I wanted that to be me, but as I said, my time’s up.”

He coughed again, and it sounded worse, far worse.

“Black Shield, Thunder Clot, and Spin to Win. They’re stationed here, and they’re Cabal.”

“I don’t understand,” Emily said. It didn’t make sense for him to be telling her all that, not out of the blue. “I’m not a . . . you know.”

“Oh, you are. You have potential, too, more than I ever did. I might be able to win you a little bit of time. Use it well.”

The line went dead.

Emily had a bad feeling about the call, a really bad one.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Entirely Fine

The sisters went to the park next to the college, the same one where they’d met Melaton that one time. It was all sunny and bright, with green grass underfoot and plenty of room to run around in, and that’s exactly what Teddy’s sisters were doing.

Tina was huffing and puffing as she ran after one of Trinity, arms outstretched as if that would help her catch their newest little sister. But Trinity was really fast, so Teddy didn’t think Tina had great odds.

Teddy kind of wanted to join in, but it was her job as the biggest and best sister to keep an eye out for the others. That, and the Boss was sitting on a park bench, bent forward with her phone dangling between her knees. She looked like she was thinking real hard.

The bear girl moved closer to Emily, then backed her butt up to the bench and jumped backward so she was sitting by the Boss’s side. The Boss looked at her, and her lips twitched up in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.