“He has the arrogance of luck and being loved,” said the Queen. “But would you really want all of them to love you and believe you were him? Or would you rather be loved as your own self?”

“You know what I would want,” he said.

Her smile was the curve of a cat’s tail. “And you can have it. Let us make new plans.”

The Queen had always wanted him to stay in the house of mirrors by the sea, he realized that now. She wanted him to be Ash’s guardian, Ash’s guard who nobody could pass.

Janus could do that. He wanted to do that. He would help her to her heart’s desire, if she would give him his. They talked for a long time. The Queen seemed pleased by the idea that they had someone in New York who would do Janus a favor. She said she could slip Lily a forgetting potion, until the time came for Janus to collect his favor. The Queen suggested several more ideas, and then said that Ash was waiting.

The Queen was right.

This time Janus did not catch Ash by surprise. Ash met him as Janus made his way up the winding road to home.

Ash had been out flying. Janus watched as Ash landed, alighting in the long grass of the cliff by the sea. His black wings folded down against his narrow back and his broadening shoulders, and there was a bright expectancy on Ash’s face that was almost like hope.

Ash had looked at his father, Sebastian, that way long ago, but it hadn’t lasted. He looked at his mother, the Queen, that way, but the brightness was beginning to fade now, as Ash learned how different his mother was from his childish memories and yearnings.

Ash only had Janus, but Janus would not fail him as his parents had.

“You’re back. I was watching out for you,” said Ash.

“How did you know I was coming?” Janus asked.

“I didn’t. I just sometimes look out to see if you might come. That’s all.”

Ash shrugged, but Janus didn’t think his shrug was as indifferent as Ash made it seem.

“I saw Clary,” Janus said quietly. “She’ll be with us, one day.”

“I thought …” Ash looked puzzled. “I thought you were going to live with her in the New York Institute.”

“Plans change,” said Janus.

“What’s the new plan?” Ash said. “Will you stay?”

My last hope, Janus wanted to say. I will always love you and never leave you. I knew this world must be better than ours, because you come from this one.

“What if I did?” Janus asked Ash. “What would you say if I said I would stay with you and train you?”