I nodded slowly, taking a cookie. There had been introductions among the Garudas, but I knew that wasn’t really what Serena meant. “She’s friends with Harriet,” Laurel said, prodding one knee with a finger.

“Well, that can be corrected,” Serena said. She slid over to replace her book on the shelf, her movements so fluid it seemed the world itself shifted to accommodate each of her intentions.

“Laurel,” she said, “let Olivia sit on the bed.”

Laurel looked appalled.

“She’s our guest. Guests should be given the best seat.” When Laurel didn’t move, Serena frowned at her. “You can have it back next time,” she said. “If you’re here, I mean.” Laurel glared at me and pushed herself onto the floor. I hesitated, but Serena gestured impatiently, so I took Laurel’s place at the foot of the bed. It was still a little warm, and I had to keep myself from kicking Laurel in the back of the head for good measure. You might as well learn this now: even the tiniest bit of power turns me instantly immoral.

“For what it’s worth, I like Harriet,” Janet said.

“You would,” Laurel said.

“I just said I did,” Janet said. “Are you quite slow?”

“So,” Serena said, turning to me. “How’s Luke treating you?”

The full force of her attention in that enclosed space was almost shocking. I thought of Maya, whoever she was: those lotuspetal eyes, enormous, white, and searching. “Fine,” I said. “He doesn’t say much. Just sort of hands me things and wanders away.”

“That sounds like him,” she said. “But would you say he likes you?”

I didn’t understand where this line of questioning was leading. “He gave me a flower,” I blurted.

“Did he,” Serena said. She and Laurel exchanged a swift glance.

“I still don’t understand why they gave the garden rota to a new girl,” Laurel said.

“Well, they’re not stupid,” Janet said.

“They are, though.”

I could feel Serena watching me. I looked down at the popsicles: they had turned evil and leering in the half-light of the tent. “My dear Olivia,” she said at last. “I was hoping you’d join us tonight for the feeling.”

“For what?” I said.

“The Feeling,” she said, as if that clarified anything at all.

We followed her out of the tent and away from the clearing, along an almost imperceptible path that eventually sloped upward to a small platform made of rock, flat and open like a palm. An overhang loomed on one side, creating a sort of shallow cave, but the rest was wholly exposed, like a bald spot the mountain was failing to conceal. Serena unfolded her flashlight into a lantern. Janet spread a blanket on the rock, and Laurel dropped a large bag onto it.