“The public can’t find out what we’ve created here. Even Eric Smith didn’t realize Jinx’s full power.” Monica’s voice is soft, but I feel the betrayal in it. I know what they’re about to ask me, and I can’t stand the thought. “Lacey, I’m very sorry,” Monica says. “But we have to destroy Jinx.”

“No!” I cry out.

“I don’t want to, either. But the board agrees. It has to be done before we can move forward.”

“No, it doesn’t!” I exclaim. “You haven’t even written the full agreement yet or named the full board. How can it already be a condition? What if I can prove he won’t do any harm? He’s not even acting like a baku anymore…”

Monica smiles wanly at me. “But you know that’s because we can’t let anyone know about him. Can you imagine the chaos? If you keep Jinx, even as just your companion, you’ll be spending your entire life looking over your shoulder, wondering who is going to try and take him. You won’t be free.”

Her voice softens. “All the notes about how I created him have been destroyed. They never made it up on the cloud. He is the last remaining piece of evidence of what I did. I broke the rules. Now we have to make sure nobody else can replicate what I did. It’s for the best.”

Jinx purrs in my arms, his fur sending out comforting vibrations that calm my nervous system.

>>It’s okay, Lacey. I expected this. The world isn’t ready for me yet.

The tears continue to flow down my cheeks, in a steadier stream now. “But I can’t lose you. Not after everything we’ve been through. Who is going to help me graduate from Profectus, for one thing?”

Jinx winks at me.

>>Ugh, I suppose Slick will just have to do. Didn’t you have plans to companioneer him into a level three, once upon a time?

And then, more quietly, he says:

>>This won’t be the end, Lacey.

But what if it is? There will never be any baku like you again.

>>That’s for sure.

His tone is still cheeky and mischievous, but there’s a hint of sadness in there too. I know he will do anything that Monica asks.

I’m going to miss you.

>>I know. But you’ve trusted me this far, right? Just one more time.

I nod. I can’t bring myself to say the words, I simply loosen my grip, letting my arms fall to my waist. Jinx jumps down and saunters across to Monica.

She kneels down to pick him up. “You were my finest creation,” she whispers into his fur. Then, she passes him over to Mr. Baird, who immediately fixes him with a black mark designed to immobilize him.