I bounce again. “Forgive me if I don’t believe everything you say.”

Tara bounces high above me. “The feeling is mutual.”

“And yet we have to work together.” I do a split in midair. I won’t admit it, but this is kind of fun.

“According to Red, yes,” Tara says with a sigh. “But if you think I’m going to risk all of our anonymity to help you publish a blog about Olivina, you’re as crazed as the Mad Hatter.”

“It’s the best way to get our story heard by as many people as possible—including our families.” I try falling on my back and bounce back up again.

“But the minute we leave this forest, Olivina can sense it.” Tara does a somersault. “This will put all our lives at risk. Staying here and doing things from the tree house keeps us safe.”

“How long have you all been stuck out here?” I ask. Tara bounces wordlessly. “If you want your situation—and ours—to change, then you have to change the way you do things. You can’t keep everything the same.” Tara bounces away from me. “Don’t you want to find a way to stop Olivina?”

“Of course I do!” Tara snaps, scaring a few birds flying by. “But it’s not as easy for me as it is for the rest of you!”

“Why is that?” I bounce over a stream beneath the invisible trampoline.

She stares at her feet as she bounces. “I told you. She said I was a chosen one. She may let the rest of you off the hook, but if she gets near me again, I’m not sure I’ll ever get away. She’s too powerful.”

Tara’s scared. I didn’t see that before now. “We won’t let her get you,” I say, the bounce deflating out of me. “We won’t leave you behind.”

Tara stops bouncing too. “Promise?” she asks softly.

“I promise.” Tara and I stare at each other.

“What’s going on down there?” Heath calls.

The softness on Tara’s face disappears. She bounces hard. “We’ll do it your way, but I’m reaching out to Red again to figure out the best way to get into the village. Whatever she says goes.”

“Fine.” I spring up, light as air.

“It should be fine.” Tara bristles. “I know a lot about living out here.”

“I didn’t say you didn’t.” I wonder if I could pull off a back handspring.

Tara gives me a look. “I have some tiny friends that we’ve used for recon before. They could be helpful as well, but…”

“But what?” I try to back handspring and land on my face. I quickly bounce back up.

“If it doesn’t work…” Tara’s voice trails off.

“It’s going to work,” I say. “We’ve got a hacker witch, a pirate wardrobe genius, a killer reporter, an animal whisperer, and a couple of quick-on-their-feet royals who want to get the job done. This blog will be printed, and we’ll all be free. You’ll see.”

“I wish that were true,” Tara sounds sad, but I won’t let her wallow.