I shoved the urge to cry to the back of my mind to join the rest of my childhood nightmares and entered the dining room with my head held high. Magnus sat in his usual place at the table, but on seeing me he leapt to his feet. I should’ve ignored him, but we locked eyes immediately. His eyes were rimmed a bit with red and his nose was rosy, but otherwise he seemed intact.

Magnus pulled the heavy chair out for me. I dropped my gaze. I don’t know why that simple act of politeness was too much for me.

Maybe because he’d never done it before.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“You’re welcome,” he murmured back.

Again, simple, polite words, but brimming with so much intimacy I could barely stand it. I felt the urge to kiss him emerging through the tiny cracks in my stoicism. Instead, I sat and allowed him to push in my chair.

“You too, Andromeda?” Esjay asked, concerned and a little confused. “Everyone is so depressed today. Don’t worry, this isn’t the last time Kelela will visit before she leaves.”

“I won’t miss how cold it is,” said Kelela, her tone especially sharp today. It should’ve been ludicrous, but she looked beautiful in her high pink ponytail and matching pink lips. “Have you done any cleansing at all?”

At this point I knew better than to get upset over Kelela’s prodding. Anyway, I had plenty else to be upset about.

“As long as the Evil Eye is still present,” I said, “it’s not going to get any warmer. But the focus now is to cleanse Magnus.”

“Well, that’s excellent news.” And then Esjay and Kelela went about dinner as if that were the end of the subject.

I chewed on my lip. “So, we’ll need a volunteer to make eye contact with Magnus and draw out the Evil Eye.”

It was equally fascinating and discouraging to watch Esjay’s expression drop as I spoke.

“Kelela,” he said, standing quickly, and it was the most severe I’d ever heard his voice. “Don’t let Magnus look at you. Bow your head as you get up.”

“Esjay,” she protested, as if embarrassed by his behavior, but did as she was told. “We only just got here.”

Magnus popped up, wiping away stray tears. “Wait, you’re leaving?” he asked, a slight squeak of panic at the end.

“It won’t be just anyone.” I held up my hand, standing. “It has to be a willing volunteer, who’s fully aware they’ll be in the line of danger.”

“That’s a death sentence,” Esjay said, taking Kelela’s arm to prompt her to her feet. “You’ll never find someone to cooperate. Come, Kelela.” And he guided his sister toward the exit.