In my lap, an envelope sat where there had been nothing a moment ago. It was made of delicate parchment and addressed to me in Reg’s unmistakable calligraphy. I looked at Lina, my heart bursting with hope, but she gave me a tiny headshake and an apologetic smile.

“Only a messenger,” she said.

With a shaking hand, I turned the envelope over in my lap to see the seal holding it closed, the symbol of House Drake pressed into the wax. I knew then that Reg would never be very far away, and I hoped wherever he was, he would someday understand that I had not left him and that I didn’t blame him for leaving me. Maybe the courier who had delivered this letter would tell him how happy I looked among my friends. I tucked the letter into the backpack at my feet to read later, when I was alone.

Then I noticed the wooden box, open to Reg’s photo just seconds ago, was now closed. Heart thumping, I reached down to flip up the lid.

All of the pictures inside were gone.

I smiled to myself.

Maybe the photos, when they reached Reg, would trigger a memory—something buried too deep for the Elders to remove.

As for me, I had plenty of time to take more photos, create new memories. And this time, the memories were mine to keep.

Acknowledgments

It takes a lot of truly amazing humans to launch a book into the world. The following people claim to be mere mortals, but their superhuman feats say otherwise.

I am endlessly grateful to my husband, Matt; my parents, Michael and Holly; and my in-laws, John and Donna. This book would not be possible without their constant support.

Jennifer Laughran, my agent for more than a decade, thank you for your unflinching honesty and for having my back as I veered into a new genre. Whichever way my publishing path turns, I feel confident because you are with me. And thank you to Taryn Fagerness, for spreading my stories around the world.

I won the lottery getting to work with Tara Weikum. Her editorial expertise, combined with the insights of Sarah Homer, made this story deeper and richer. Thank you, both, for caring about this quirky cast of characters and for bringing their world to life.

This book could not have found a better home than with HarperTeen. I deeply appreciate the collaboration and communication at every step of the publishing process. Thank you to Gweneth Morton, Mikayla Lawrence, Chris Kwon, Jenna Stempel-Lobell, Arwen Rosenbaum, James Neel, Lisa Calcasola, Anna Ravenelle, and the entire team at HarperCollins.

Thank you to Amy Dominy, Amy Nichols, and Tom Leveen, for letting me bring chapters of the same book to writing group for two years. I never would have finished without you, and the book is so much better for your brilliant feedback.