Then her human body shimmers and changes, shrinking into the form of a magpie. Her black-and-purple feathers are glossy, and she utters a soft, chattering call that makes me feel warm and gooey inside.

Jennie gasps, and Taeyo explains, “When we pass into the Spiritrealm, we can choose to shed our human bodies and take on our soul-animal forms. Our bodies will change with each new life, but our soul animals will always remain the same. This is your halmeoni’s true soul form.”

As we all watch, Jennie’s halmeoni opens her wings and flaps them, slowly at first, but then stronger and faster, until soon, the parlor room is full of wind. We cover our eyes as a warm light blooms inside the four walls, and suddenly, with a great burst of energy, Jennie’s halmeoni disappears.

“She’s gone,” Jennie murmurs. “She’s really gone.” But she doesn’t look sad. Nor does she look like her normal, mean self. She somehow seems softer around the edges. Fluffier. Nicer.

David takes two vials from his pocket and gives one to Jennie and one to Emmett. “These are calming tonics. I figure you guys might need one right about now.” When Emmett frowns, David quickly adds, “They’re totally natural and nonaddictive. I help my mom make them for the Gom clinics around town.”

When I corroborate David’s claim, Emmett accepts the vial and swigs it in one go. “How are we gonna find the fallen star now?” he asks quietly. “We wasted the favor on me, and we don’t have the time to match with another gwisin.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “We didn’t waste anything. It was worth asking, wasn’t it? For the chance that we could help her?”

Emmett nods imperceptibly. “Thank you,” he whispers to me. “For trying. I know how much you sacrificed to give me that opportunity.”

He looks at his feet, and I feel another lump forming in my throat. “You would have done the same for me.”

It’s not exactly forgiveness, but it feels like a start. I’ll take it.

“Besides,” I say, “I have a plan.”

“You do?” Taeyo asks.

I breathe in deeply. “I’m going back to the campus to do the initiation. I’m gonna pledge my allegiance to the Horangi.”

The whole room gasps, and even the pug seems to look surprised (although that could just be her buggy walleyes).

“This is a circle of trust, right?” I ask Jennie. “We helped you, so you’ll help us? Because I’d rather you kept this information to yourself.” I hold up both palms. “I promise I’m not planning a takeover or anything. I just want to save my sister.”

“The Horangi aren’t what they’ve been made out to be,” says Emmett, putting his hand on Taeyo’s shoulder. “This guy is one, and he brought your halmeoni.”