Allie looked up from strapping Evan into his high chair as Auntie Gwen came into the apartment. She didn’t seem angry. That was good. At least Allie thought it was good. She could think of a few reasons why an auntie would be that blasé about being left in the dark and they weren’t good.

“Charlotte not only took out the obvious charms,” Auntie Gwen continued, scooping Edward up as he ran for the door, “she went to the effort of finding and removing the hidden ones. And, as we both know, Charlotte doesn’t do effort. They don’t call it playing music for nothing.”

“If you’re so sure they’re hiding something, why didn’t you ask them what it was?”

Auntie Gwen dropped Edward into the second chair. “You suspected they were hiding something, why didn’t you? Never mind, I’ll tell you; it’ll be both faster and easier. You’re afraid Charlotte won’t tell you. And if she doesn’t, or worse, if she lies to you, that means you’re losing her. That she’s on the last stage of going Wild and she’s becoming like Catherine.”

“Charlie is nothing like my grandmother.”

Evan slapped at her arm. “Mama! Tight!”

“Sorry, baby.” Allie loosened the belt that held him in the chair. “She didn’t come to bed last night.”

“And yet you weren’t alone,” Auntie Gwen pointed out tartly.

“That’s not what I meant. She’s not sleeping.”

“We’ve already established she has something on her mind, something she has chosen to keep to herself. I’m certain Catherine Sees many things she chooses to keep from the family.”

Allie only just kept her reaction from impacting the city as she repeated, “Charlie is nothing like my grandmother.”

“Wild is Wild, Alysha, and Charlotte accepted the responsibility some time ago. As much as she loves you, and she does love you, you need to accept the fact that you’ll never tame her.”

Allie knew Charlie loved her. That wasn’t the problem. “Jack’s Uncle Adam said that to me once.”

“The Dragon Lords are arrogant, overbearing, and homicidal, but they’re not stupid.”

“And what about Jack? He’s Wild. What happens when he accepts . . .”

“He’s always known.” Shaking her head, Auntie Gwen handed Edward his sippy cup. “Charlotte was raised knowing she was different. She had to find out what that meant on her own. Jack was raised as a prince. He knew what being Wild meant long before Charlotte told him what we call it here.”

“But he wasn’t Wild there . . .”

“Oh, for pity’s sake, Alysha, think about that for a moment. As a sorcerer and a half Gale, he stood separate from that family as well. Flew separate,” she amended after a moment.