It was lunchtime at Rosewood and Jamie had promised to help Raphael and Percy with their English coursework, not realizing Raphael wanted to study by the Ivy dorms so he could spend some time with the devil cat. Jamie was starting to wonder if Vampy had put some kind of spell on everyone, because he certainly couldn’t see what everyone loved about the spoiled little beast. As if he could hear his thoughts, the cat turned to him, big yellow eyes like moons dipping in and out of view when he slow-blinked.

‘You OK?’ Percy signed, raising an eyebrow. ‘You still haven’t really talked about the run-in with …’ He paused to make pretend horns with his fingers, his pale skin and black hair making a surprisingly convincing image of a demon.

‘I’m fine,’ Jamie signed, swatting the conversation away. ‘Nothing I’m not trained to deal with.’

The truth was, he hadn’t really thought about what happened in Tokyo since they’d found out his attacker had been Claude. The image had become warped, like the whole event had taken place underwater. Claude’s face was so familiar, always watching you when you entered the palace, that he’d become as grounding as gazing at his reflection. To think that emerald-eyed friend was the man behind that Goat Mask didn’t make sense.

‘Whatever you say,’ Percy signed, scoffing. He and Raphael shared a glance.

‘I can see that there’s something bothering you two,’ Jamie signed and said at the same time. ‘Just say what you need to, so we can move on.’

Percy and Raphael gave each other one more look, before Raphael cracked.

‘We’re worried about you.’ He ran a hand through his coiffed hair. ‘Ever since you got back from Tokyo you’ve been so intense. Even more than usual, as though you’re constantly on the lookout for an enemy, or someone to fight.’

‘And it’s not just that,’ Percy continued, his sharp features contorting into a scowl. ‘We don’t think you’re processing what happened properly. We just want to know you have someone you can talk about it with. Lottie, maybe?’

‘No!’ His protestation erupted too fast, and they shared a look of exasperation, not even bothering to hide it from him.

‘She has far too much on her mind right now after the discovery about her uncle, don’t you think?’ Jamie posed the question with sincerity, watching their faces cloud with shame, which he refused to feel bad for inflicting. This was a promise he’d made to himself – that this year he was going to protect Lottie from everything and not be the cause of her problems.

Why do you keep looking at me like that? He heard her words again, and a well of disappointment opened up in his stomach.

‘Then what about Haru?’ Raphael offered. ‘Didn’t you two get close while you were out there?’

‘Perhaps,’ Jamie said.