His anger cracked and a smile tugged as if seeking permission to come out.

“Ahem.” Coralis stepped forward and extended his hand. “We haven’t met yet. I am Coralis.”

“THE Coralis?” She shook his hand—reverently at first, then hard and harder. “I never thought … OMG!” She squealed like a delighted child.

“Did Mom just say OMG?” Brianna asked Henry. “Well, LOL.”

The dam holding Henry back broke with a vengeance. He laughed long and loud and raced into his mother’s arms. “I missed you so much.” The words gushed out as they squeezed each other in a death grip until Brianna interrupted, “You’re killing me here!”

“Brianna, is that really you?”

“Either that, or he’s turned into a world-class ventriloquist.”

Their mother laughed again in a carefree way that reminded Henry of simpler, happier times gathered around their kitchen table.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Coralis said softly. “But we don’t have much time. I think it’s best if—”

“Coralis?” The voice came from Brianna, but it wasn’t her. It was a young man’s voice, with a distinctly British accent. Henry was about to congratulate his sister on her new talent when the Wand Master cut in.

“Randall?”

“Of course it’s me. Who else would it be?” Brianna—Randall—swiveled to survey the room. His gaze lingered on Serena for a few moments longer than necessary, and Henry was surprised to feel a quick pang of jealousy.

“Where are you?” Randall and Coralis asked simultaneously.

Coralis answered first. “We are in a sacred cave in Monument Valley. Are you nearby?”

Brianna/Randall considered this for a moment. “No. I am in a valley somewhere in Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert. I was attempting a mind-link with you but ended up with … this.” He looked up at Coralis. “Curiouser and curiouser.”

“Indeed.” Coralis frowned, rubbing the beard stubble on his chin. He turned toward Joseph, and Henry saw they were communicating wordlessly—two ancient minds trying to piece together a puzzle.

The longer the silence lingered, the more worried Henry became.

Finally Randall spoke. “The wand I am using has been out of my possession.”

Coralis’s frown deepened. He nodded as if Randall’s admission was the key to solving the mystery. And when he spoke, his voice was grave and solemn. “Your wands have been contaminated.” Then he added, “By Malachai.”

The hedgehog’s head snapped forward. “But that’s impossible! He’s long dead.”

“As impossible as it may be, it is the truth. He has shown himself to me. He is in possession of the aura of Henry’s father.”

“No!” Lois cried. Henry gripped his mother’s hand.

“That would explain a lot, actually,” Randall said. He turned Brianna’s eyes to Henry. “For what it’s worth, I believe your father is fighting him as hard as he can. Otherwise, I’d probably be dead.” Then he asked Coralis, “Is it possession or replacement?”