“Quite possibly,” Wander agreed, nodding. Jack sighed. It was a sigh that suggested this was not at all unusual for Wander. “We should gather your friends, and I will tell you all at once,” Wander continued. “The warrior, and the clever one who speaks very quickly?”

“Otto,” Eleanor said. “The thing is, it’s already after nine, and tomorrow is a school day, so there’s no way their parents are going to let them go out right now.”

“That is no obstacle, so long as you grant me permission,” Wander said.

“Permission?” Eleanor echoed, and then remembered what Jack had said about the house’s protections. “Sure, you have permission to do . . . whatever you’re doing.”

“Wonderful,” Wander said. She rose and raised her hands, pressing her fingertips together, and then swept them outward. Two shimmering vertical lines appeared to either side of her. Then they split, parting like curtains. Beyond them lay two very familiar bedrooms.

Pip was lying on her bed, watching a video on her phone. She sat up abruptly when she spotted Wander, and suddenly Gloaming—the magical sword she’d inherited from Jack—appeared in her hand. Pip had pale skin, a glorious set of freckles, and red hair that had gotten particularly fiery since the Prime Story had chosen her. She’d gotten taller, too, and more muscular. Her eyes were a pure, flat gray: the surest sign that the Prime Story had taken hold.

Through the opposite wall, Otto looked up from his desk, which was stacked high with school textbooks and leather-bound tomes of magic, and gaped. His tight curls were sticking out around his headphones. He had warm brown skin and rich brown eyes—but as the light flashed across those eyes, Eleanor thought for a moment they might be gray instead.

No. She had to be wrong about that. He couldn’t be a Story, too.

“Please. Join us,” Wander said, beckoning to them.

Otto cautiously removed his headphones. Pip slid off the bed and walked to what must have been the wall of her bedroom, right on the other side of the shimmering portal. She eyed it suspiciously. “How are you doing this?” she asked.

“I am the world-walker. I can always find my friends,” Wander said.

“Are we friends?” Otto asked, creeping forward.

“I should hope so,” Wander replied.

“She just wants to talk to us,” Eleanor added, staring in wonder between the two portals. Jack was good at swinging a sword and stuff, and the hedgewitch had helped them out with a magical ritual this past spring, but this was incredible.

Pip was the first to step forward. “You should text first next time. You’re lucky I’m wearing pants,” she noted casually as she passed through the portal.