A dangerous path, to be sure. He wasn’t sure if he trusted the government to walk it alone, the fuzzy spaces between their universe and the rest. But maybe, if he was a part of it from the start, he could guide it. Maybe he could set things right.

“We’re going back to the city,” Liam said. “I know you miss its sounds.” He leaned closer toward his mother. “And I’ll be there with you. Every step of the way.”

It was true, what Rebeka had accused him of—and accused Daniel of, too. He hadn’t really believed in an after. He’d left money and instructions for her care, but those would have eventually run out. He’d left classwork unfinished, debts unpaid. He’d been looking for another world, another power source, but he hadn’t stopped to think about how it fit into his life.

Well, he didn’t need it to fit. He could change his life all on his own.

He squeezed his mother’s good hand, and she returned it. It was enough, from her.

They stepped out onto the sunny afternoon streets of Princeton, where Rebeka and Phillip waited outside. They’d been speaking in hushed tones together, and Liam didn’t miss the color that touched Rebeka’s now-full cheeks beneath her hat brim as she straightened up at her brother’s approach. She looped her arm in Phillip’s as Liam led them to their car.

“How was she?” Rebeka asked.

Phillip kissed Rebeka’s cheek, then opened the back door for her. They all climbed in, Phillip and Rebeka in the back, Daniel and Liam up front, and Daniel chugged the motor to life. Liam caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror as Daniel adjusted it, the black scar glistening with Pitr’s parting gift, and he wondered, just for a moment, what lurked under it—but it was better locked away.

“She seems content. C’mon.” He twisted around to grin at Phillip. “We’re gonna be late. Gotta meet with our new lab rats.”

“We’re going to get into all kinds of trouble on the government dime, aren’t we?” Phillip asked.

“Yeah. That’s kind of the plan.”

Liam slid his hand into Daniel’s, and their fingers locked together over the clutch as he eased them down the road.

“To whatever the future brings,” Daniel said gently.

Liam squeezed Daniel’s hand back. Before, when he’d thought of the future, it had consisted of being better, being more. Now the future had been blown wide open; one world was quite enough.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the brilliant guidance of my agent, Thao Le; my editor, Liza Kaplan; and the rest of the Philomel/Penguin team, especially Talia Benamy and to cover designer Kristie Radwilowicz. Special thanks also goes to promotional material artist Monica Borg, and to Ammi-Joan Paquette.