I take the note from her and add the words really, reaaally between We’re and sorry. Because I really am that sorry. Although I’m still a teensy bit mad at them for lying to me for all these years. Maybe they deserve to stew for a little while….

Emmett fiddles with his ring, and suddenly I remember the big elephant in the room.

“Em,” I start slowly, “you said yourself that magic got me into this mess in the first place. And I know your dad hates you getting involved with any clan stuff.” I glance down at his ring. “And understandably, too. So thank you for your genius idea about praying to Mago Halmi. But I think you should go home now. Leave this to us. Hattie and I will do the summoning.”

He jumps to his feet and puts his hands on his hips. “Are you serious? Look what happened when I let you two take charge at the ceremony.” He stares down at me with laser eyes so intense I shrink back. Even Hattie takes a step away. “No way. Not in a million years. I am not leaving you to ruin your life any more than you already have. If you’re gonna summon the mother of all creation, you’re gonna need me around to keep you alive. Let’s face it—I’m the only one here with their head screwed on straight.”

He takes a long moment before speaking again. “Besides, I lost my mom once to magic. I’m not gonna lose you to it, too.”

I swallow hard and look at Hattie. I have to tell Emmett everything. He needs to know I come from the clan that killed his mom. What kind of best friend would I be to keep that from him when he’s willing to put everything on the line for me?

Hattie’s eyes are sympathetic, but she doesn’t give me a sign either way.

“Stop dawdling,” he says. “Let’s go.”

And just like that, the moment is gone. I know at some point I’ll need to tell him. And I mean, I will.

But not now.

Not today.

Because right now, we have the mother of all creation to summon. And I need all the help I can get.

8: Noah Noh and the Dojang

AFTER WE MEET NOAH OUTSIDE the dojang, he sneakily leads us past his mom’s bodega on the ground floor and then up the back stairs. Hattie and Noah are acting super awkward with each other, and I can’t believe I hadn’t picked up on their lovey-dovey vibes before. Now that I know, I kind of feel bad that I didn’t notice earlier. Sisters should notice these things.

“Hattie says you’re a b-boy as well as a martial artist,” Emmett says to Noah, looking at him curiously. “Are you as good as she says you are?”