What is happening here?

Falon laughs boisterously, a sound I’ve never heard from him. “You say that now, Lyss, but spend five minutes with them and you’ll be ripping your hair out. Or they’ll be doing it for you, more likely. Abby has reached her terrible twos a year late and she’s a menace. Ethan and Isaac are angels in comparison, and they’re still little terrors. I honestly felt bad sneaking away today and leaving Esther to battle them alone.”

“Don’t worry, mate, they’ll grow out of it,” my dad says.

It’s the first time I’ve heard his voice in nearly three years. Tears spring to my eyes as I stare at him, seated on the navy suede couch with his arm curled around my mum’s shoulders.

“I’m not sure,” my mother says as she looks at Riley and me, jokingly. “Ours are sure taking their time.”

“Hey!” Riley cries. He’s sprawled in the armchair opposite Falon, while my memory-self is sitting on the ground beside Riley’s legs, leaning against his chair.

“I’m kidding, sweetheart,” Mum says, her blue eyes dancing. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

This is surreal. So incredibly surreal.

“As for the sneaking, hopefully that’ll change soon, too,” my dad goes on.

Falon nods solemnly. “It would be nice not to have to hide this from my wife any longer. But with you two heading up SCARS”—he dips his head toward my parents—“and me being your spy inside Lengard, I can’t risk her knowing yet. Or my kids. Not until I can be sure of their safety—of all Speakers’ safety. I won’t allow them to become targets.”

SCARS—what is that? Why is Falon claiming my parents have something to do with it? My mum was a high school teacher, my dad was a real estate agent. They lived unremarkable lives. Normal lives.

“We’d make the same choice in your position,” my mum says with understanding. She glances toward me and Riley, a hint of fear in her expression as she adds, “Having two children with such powerful abilities—I’d give anything to hide them away until all this has passed. The thought of him getting to them—”

“There’s no point in worrying about that right now,” my dad cuts in smoothly, tightening his arm around her shoulders and sending Riley and me a small smile of reassurance. “We’re all here, we’re all safe. That’s what matters.”

“I wish I could say I came here to confirm that,” Falon says, and the atmosphere instantly becomes heavier. “But I have news. And you’re not going to like it.”

My dad sighs and runs a hand through his graying dark hair. “Let me guess—our old friend is causing problems?”

Old friend. He has to mean Vanik.