“Private people,” Essa clipped.

“Doesn’t make any sense,” Sophie said. “Since when does the School for Evil take new students?”

“Weren’t old enough to be picked as Nevers the first go-round,” Anadil broke in.

“Must be quite the Ever Killers if the School Master’s willing to bring them in now,” chimed Dot, snacking on a crog bone turned to fudge.

Sophie noticed the cousins studying Rafal’s ring on her finger, seeming less like Ever Killers and more like jewel appraisers. She hid her hand. “Well, like I said, the School Master didn’t mention anything to me about new students, so I really should check with—”

“Course he didn’t mention it to you,” scoffed Hester, marching past Sophie towards the castle. “Bringing in outside assassins . . . doesn’t want you to think he’s doubting your ability to kill Agatha and Tedros, does he?”

“Since he’s your true love,” said Anadil, following Hester.

“And it’s your job to kill them,” said Dot, following Anadil.

Sophie bristled nervously and looked at the two strangers.

“Death to Agatha!” Edgar blurted, raising a fist.

“Death to Tedros!” squeaked Essa, fist up too.

They hurried after the witches.

As the two Ever Killers ran up the hill, Sophie felt her heart curdle with dread. From the day he put his ring on her, Rafal had never trusted her loyalty to Evil. Now he’d brought in two trained murderers to force her hand. Would Rafal make them kill her best friends if she wouldn’t? Would Rafal kill her? And how long could she possibly keep Tedros’ name hidden from him?

Watching Edgar and Essa approach the castle, Sophie made a desperate wish to keep Agatha and Tedros away from this school . . . to stop them from trying to rescue her . . . to never see them again and save all of their lives . . .

But as with most of Sophie’s wishes, this one had gone wrong, for without realizing it, she was watching Agatha and Tedros right now, darting into the castle.

She hadn’t kept her friends out.

She’d let them in.

17

Missions Impossible

As soon as the three witches thrust Edgar and Essa into their smelly, burnt dorm room, Hester locked the door and scowled at Essa.

“Tedros, you brain-dead cow! Why’d you grab Agatha’s hand! Almost gave yourselves away!”

Tedros and Agatha were both bent over, slurping breaths. “Sophie! She’s . . . wearing . . . ring . . .” Agatha wheezed. “Almost hugged her—”

“Should have taken your chance. No way we’re getting out of this place alive,” Tedros panted, glowering down at his shapely girl’s body. “Did you see the way those Everboys in the hall goggled at me?”

“We saw our best friend again and we’re still in one piece. I’d call that success,” said Agatha, flopping boy limbs across a bed and knocking over a frame on the nightstand.