“Next.” Tara motions to Heath. “I’ll be last up to close the protection spell again. Hurry!”

Logan looks worriedly at me as Heath jogs past him and disappears. Corden takes Raina’s hand, and the two of them disappear. One by one, everyone disappears until only Tara and I are left.

“Devin!” Logan calls down to me. “It’s okay! Come up. The ride is great!”

Ride?

“You better get going, Princess,” Tara tells me. “Or this opening is going to close. I’m not sure you’re cut out for this storm that’s brewing.”

I square my shoulders as the wind picks up. “I’m sure I’ve seen worse.” I reach down to pick up Lily and put her into my pocket, then I jog into the clearing and place some dust in my hand as the thunder booms closer. Then I close my eyes and blow the dust into the wind. My body is sucked up so fast, I don’t even have time to scream. I feel myself whooshed through an invisible tunnel as if I’ve been catapulted into the sky, and then, boom! I land on a Technicolor pirate deck that smells like cinnamon and apples.

I’m taking a deep whiff when my arms are lifted by two mechanical arms. I kick out in a panic, but am quickly placed on a giant X that marks the spot. I’m doused with water and soap that makes me sputter (even if it tastes like licorice) and then dried just as fast. The nicks on my arms from climbing down from the firebird’s nest are somehow gone too.

“Presenting Devinaria Nile of Cobblestone Creek,” a tinny voice from beyond declares. “Animal lover, reluctant princess, and lover of trousers. When in residence, she’d be more comfortable wearing something like this!”

The muddy, much-too-heavy ball gown that I’ve been wearing since the anniversary party the night before disappears, replaced with a shorter blue dress, my favorite polka-dot leggings, and a purple robe with a hood. My footwear has been upgraded to boots. The mechanical arms disappear, and I’m free to move around in my incredibly perfect, clean, and warm outfit. Lily pokes her head out of a pocket in my new dress, looking around, bewildered.

“This pirate ship is incredible,” I whisper.

Thump! “Of course, it is,” Tara says, landing behind me. “I created it.”

Chapter 5

Goons, Gadgets, and Guessing Games

“Who did you say created this ship?” Prue’s glittery face sparkles as she waits for an answer. She twirls her long red hair up into a bun and holds it in place with a pencil.

Tara sighs. “Okay, you did. But I gave input.” Prue and Tara grin at one another. “The green camo paint was perfection.”

Prue turns and looks at me. “Forgive me for being so rude. We still haven’t been properly introduced.” She holds out her hand. “Prue Turner, former first-year at Royal Academy. Welcome to the Tree House.”

I falter for a moment and look to my friends. They’ve been transformed too. Heath and Logan are clean and in fresh clothes that look similar to their school-days look, while Sasha is in a short pale-pink dress paired with fitted, dark-pink pants and thigh-high boots. Raina is the only one of us still wearing something formal. She’s so busy admiring the quilted flowers on her new purple ball gown that she doesn’t even look up.