Sobs rack my shoulders. I knew keeping Jinx would be too good to be true. I should have enjoyed more time with him. I should have cherished even more of the moments. I should have recorded his cheeky voice so I could play it whenever I need a boost.

I squeeze my eyes shut, and feel the weight of Monica’s hand on my back, comforting me.

I open my eyes and watch as Mr. Baird walks Jinx into the elevator.

I swear, just for a second, I spot one of his tiny, black pointed ears give a twitch.

And I’m left with a spark of hope.

Epilogue

Two years later

It’s the end-of-year Profectus award ceremony, and my heart swells with pride. My fully upgraded level three scarab beetle baku, Slick, buzzes around my head, his wings now extended (using a superlight material) so he’s twice as big as before. With retractable legs, a reinforced carapace, and superstrength horns, we headed off several challengers in the baku battles. We won this year, of course. Team Lacey kicked butt and took names.

“And top of our honor roll this year is…Miss Lacey Chu!” My name is called. I automatically turn out to face the crowd before I step up onto the glossy hardwood stage. I see my mom’s face there, beaming. She waves at me and I lift my hand to show that I’ve seen her.

And still the thing I can’t get used to most of all. My dad is there next to her, his face glowing, his grin wide. Around his shoulders is the sloth baku, Lacey, his longtime companion at Lake Baku and that he still can’t bear to be separated from. Petal floats around Mom’s head. Even though she could have any baku she wanted now that we live on Companioneers Crescent, she didn’t want to change, either. That didn’t mean she didn’t allow me to make a few tweaks of my own, though—and now Petal never gets tangled up in a scarf.

There’s an after-party to celebrate the winners. Monica Chan is here to celebrate us all.

She pulls me aside, and I still find myself a bit tingly at the prospect of being so close to my mentor. In the years following Eric Smith’s reign, she has somehow managed to guide the company from strength to strength. “So Lacey, I understand you’re not going to be taking your prizewinners’ summer internship?”

A blush rises in my cheeks, and it creeps all the way past my hairline. I still can’t believe I hit “reject” on the guarantee of a summer at Moncha Corp—and not just any internship, but one that would put me in direct contact with my idol every single day.

But I’ve realized something along this journey.

It’s not that my lifelong dream has been to work for Moncha.