“My dear children, what an absolutely outlandish ordeal you’ve endured!” Lady Azure says once Amelia finishes. She speaks with an accent that feels affected by wealth, like maybe she studied abroad in London or has watched Grey Gardens one too many times.

“You simply must allow me to set things suitable once more. While the power of Perilli’s teachings resonate with many, I’m afraid not all interpret them with the proper intent. I’m sure those Wandering heathens would speak similarly of us Coupled, but let me assure you, not all Perillians are of their kind. Not remotely!”

“Coupled?” Amelia asks.

“There’s so much to explore, where to begin?” Lady Azure says, shifting her gaze upward to the gem-speckled ceiling. “Yes, Coupled is the name of the Perillian Cups Corner.”

Lady Azure points to a Cup charm inside the counter, which rests beside a Perillian toolset, just like the one Maggie gave us.

“The final Perillian toolset is special, but not entirely rare,” Lady Azure explains. “It’s just like that old coward Maggie to use it as bait.”

“Hey, Mom,” a new voice speaks from behind us. “I can come back later if you have customers to read.”

We all turn to find a teenage boy about our age in the doorway, standing with a surfboard and a half-unzipped wetsuit. My eyes don’t know where to start: On the water dripping down his visible six-pack? The sun reflecting off his flawless, light brown skin? The smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose? Every one of us tenses seeing him—well, maybe not Anwar, but I still don’t think he belongs here in the first place.

“Seidon!” Lady Azure coos. “These aren’t just any customers! These are the sojourners I predicted would come in the waning days of summer! Those possessing the last, lost Perillian deck!”

Seidon blinks at his mother and I can practically smell his skepticism from here, along with the saltwater and sunscreen.

“Oh, wow,” he says. “That’s a big deal, right?”

“Positively enormous,” Lady Azure answers. “I was actually just going to offer our new compatriots a complimentary reading so that we may all align ourselves in the same Corner. Why don’t you stay before we retire for dinner?”

Seidon nods, waving hello to us as a group.

“It’s true, we have waited eons for your arrival,” Lady Azure continues, turning back to us. “Might you allow me the honor of imparting my gift upon you, so that we may commune with a reading?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see Seidon roll his eyes. I also notice Logan still stares at Seidon a little more intently than I’d like.