We step out onto the landing and are hit with a wave of noise. It’s surprisingly loud for a party made up of only people talking, and my anxiety rises as I realize just how big the crowd is.

>>The more people there are, the easier it will be to blend in—and you’ll be less likely to bump into Eric or Carter Smith.

That’s true, I think, grateful for Jinx’s grounding words.

A string quartet plays a fancy version of “Jingle Bells” and is only just audible above the noise of the chatter and clinking of glasses. From the mezzanine balcony, we finally get a view of the whole party. And what a party. Bakus and people mix, along with flutes of champagne that sparkle with their contents. The lighting is warm, twinkle lights draped wherever there is space, creating an atmosphere that looks as if the party is surrounded by stars.

I scan the crowd. Then, I drop my eyes. I realize I’ve been looking for Monica. A part of me still believes maybe this is all a mistake—that she’s not being imprisoned against her will anymore, that someone else from inside the company could have freed her—that all of this doesn’t have to rest on the shoulders of me and my friends.

There’s no sign of her.

“Holy bakus,” Zora says from beside me.

I’m awed too. This must be the biggest gathering of level four and five bakus I’ve ever seen. Some of them are so incredible, I wonder if they are even another level above what I even knew was out there. In the middle of the party is someone with a full-sized horse baku—so incredibly impractical, unwieldy, and stupid, but also amazing. I wonder if they could ride it off into the sunset? It’s certainly an attention-grabbing accessory—people are gathered around them to take a look.

For the most part, though, the bakus are more “traditional.” There are plenty of big cats roaming around at foot level, and lots of exotic creatures like monkeys and a fair few large reptiles. A few birds are circling too, taking video of the crowd. I’m sure this is going to make the gossip blogs go wild.

Through the chaos, I try to pick out the people I’m looking for.

My breath hitches as I catch sight of Eric, his red panda baku draped around his neck.

>>Breathe, Lacey.

But what if he recognizes you? This is too dangerous. We should leave.

>>We should stay. He knows you are here. It will be far more suspicious if you don’t make an appearance with Slick.

I tear my eyes away from Eric, and instead, I find Tobias—his golden eagle standing out above even the incredible level four and five bakus of the rest of the crowd. Aero is one of a kind.