I laughed. I could only imagine what my work might seem like to a handyman. For a moment I envied him. It would be nice if all my problems could be fixed with a hammer and a handful of nails … then I realized how foolish that was. The problem I had right now could be solved with a couple of words. “No, I need to go by my dean’s office. And you’d better get back to work.” I looked up at the clear blue sky. “Who knows how long it will stay like this?”

I walked across campus to Liz’s office determined in my resolve to confess my membership in the Grove and tell her everything I’d learned from Jen Davies. It felt good finally knowing what to do about at least one thing … as good as it felt to be walking in the sunshine after last night’s rain. All the storms on the horizon were still rumbling but I felt a power of my own growing. Maybe it was anger at the Grove for conspiring to hurt my town, or maybe last night’s transformation had released some power. Just thinking about running through the woods with Duncan made my fingers prickle with energy and my skin itch to change again.

By the time I was walking up the two flights of stairs to Liz’s office I was setting off sparks. When I touched her doorknob gold cinders sizzled in the air. Some protection spell? I wondered. But if it was, it wasn’t strong enough to withstand my new power. I walked in without knocking.

And was immediately sorry I had. Liz Book was on the couch in a close embrace with a woman. I was embarrassed enough when I thought it was Diana, but when the two women sprang apart I saw that the second woman was Soheila – and that Liz’s face was wet with tears.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, instantly alarmed at the sight of usually composed Elizabeth Book in tears. “Has something happened?”

“Liz was upset over some bad news in my family …” Soheila began, but Liz put a hand on her arm and shook her head.

“There’s no reason not to tell Callie – she’ll find out soon enough. I’m upset because Diana has told me that if the door is closing forever she will go back to Faerie.” Liz’s voice wobbled at the end and Soheila handed her a tissue. I sank down into a chair.

“Diana would go back to Faerie forever? But why? If it’s because she’s afraid of living without Aelvesgold, we might have a solution for that.” I was going to tell her what Duncan Laird had said about some creatures producing their own Aelvesgold but Liz was shaking her head.