“Look, I won’t lie. It’s not good. She’s . . . Goddess, she’s really hurt. It’s really bad.” I rubbed my face with my hands to hide the gag I made. “But Katherine is doing everything she can, with the help of Myrtle and the Seelie leaders. We’re just in a waiting game. And Esther isn’t the only one down.”

“Who else is down?” Birdie whispered.

“Tegan has Witch’s Shock. Henley and Devon are still down from before. Chutney, Deacon, and Bettina were . . . Goddess, their injuries make Esther’s look like a picnic.” At that my stomach rolled. I pushed my food away from me. “Willow, Bentley, and Royce are injured but on their feet.”

They all cursed, then seemed at a loss for words.

“Listen, you cannot speak of this to anyone. It’s a secret.”

“Understood.”

“Lips are sealed.”

“You got it.”

Ava’s face fell. “Thank you for telling us. It makes training that much more important. For Esther.”

For a moment we were all silent.

Then Seamus tapped on my Potions 101 book. “What’s this about?”

“Professor Rigdon gave me this book and told me to read through it, percolate, and then come back to her and she’ll try to help me.” I held it out to him. “I don’t know. It’s probably helpful. It just doesn’t feel like it right now.”

He scoffed. “Because it’s not. Professor Rigdon is a potions instructor for Cups students. For healers and people like me. You’re not like us. You’re not a Cup. You’re The Tower and I’ve seen first-hand how your magic works. Definitely take the book but . . .”

I frowned. “But what?”

Seamus eyed me with a sparkle in his eyes. “I was chatting with Constance outside about your mission at hand. Come with me. Let’s try something.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

FRANKIE

“INCOMING!”

I looked up at the sound of Brody’s voice just in time to see Seamus’s golden retriever, Rootbeer, leap into the air right for me. I braced myself and tried to catch her but the next thing I knew we were sprawled on the cement with all of her floof in my eyes and mouth. I giggled and rubbed her with both hands.

“SORRY!” Brody yelled, this time closer. “I was not expecting her to do that!”

Seamus groaned. “Rootbeer, you can’t tackle people⁠—”

“She can tackle Frankies anytime and she knows it!” I giggled, still buried beneath eighty pounds of soft golden fur. “There are some hills we’re all willing to die on.”

Seamus just sighed, but he did force Rootbeer off of me, then helped me to my feet. “Ya know, she reacts to Tenn like this. Must be that Proctor blood.”

That made me grin. I ruffled her ears as her tail wagged fast. “Then I can’t wait for her to meet Bettina.”