"Are you there?" Halen asked again as she stepped out of the bathtub. She had asked this several times while showering, but Asair was silent. Had she dismissed their only chance at saving the realms? Still, if he thought for one minute she would surrender her powers to him... There had to be another way.

Securing a towel around her chest, she grabbed another and ran it over her damp hair, being careful to avoid the stitches along her ear where Tage had sewn a neat row. She tugged the suture thread while studying the bruise along her eyebrow. What had her life become? Insanity, madness, and absurd popped into her thoughts.

More like inconvenient, Asair answered.

She clutched the towel. "You are there. You're listening to my thoughts!"

You might want to answer with thoughts, so the others don't commit you to an institution. Of course, they may have to once your mother is through with you. And yes, I can hear each and every one of your thoughts.

"That's not right, you know?" Halen lowered her voice to almost a whisper.

Listening to your thoughts or you going insane?

"Neither one, dammit!"

Her hand unwillingly swiped the steam from the mirror. Asair's dark eyes shadowed her own.

Look at you. His voice simmered through her mind. You're letting them decide your fate once more. You're better than that. Stronger. You're the one who faced me, not them.

Her arm swung to the side, finger outstretched toward the door.

Why do you let them decide what is best for you?

Her heart tripped with fear, knowing he had that much control over her body. She forced her arm down by her side. "Because what they want is best for me—for all of us. Why won't you just release Etlis? The fires will destroy everything. What would Elizabeth have wanted? What would your Guardian think of what you've done?"

He snorted and her stomach filled with the roll of laughter. I suppose she would think I was a monster.

Halen could almost see the coy smile playing on his lips.

"You don't have to be a monster."

Blue moon sirens don't belong in any realm. We're an abomination. Have you had a good look at yourself lately?

She wouldn't accept his challenge. "I make my own choices."

Really? Did you always dream of being an assassin?

She swallowed hard. He was right, and she hated herself more because of it. The Tari used her as their weapon. Without even considering the consequences, she willingly unleashed her magick at their command. Now she was left with the wreckage of guilt. How could she have given so much of herself?

That's right, darling. They convinced you I was a demon, and you believed them. When you held my lifeless body, I felt very little remorse inside you. Guilt, yes, for what you had done, but you were relieved when you thought I was dead.

"How should I have felt?" Her voice came out with a hiss. "You taunted me! You lured me into your bedroom and then attacked me! I had to defend myself." She shook her head. "You of all people should have known, once I unleashed my magick, I couldn't turn back."

"Halen, the food is here!" Dax shouted from the other side of the door.

She jumped, clutching the towel tighter, and shifted the conversation to her thoughts. I have a Guardian, don't forget.

Dax knocked three times.

Yes, that is unfortunate. I have a plan for him.

Don't touch him! She slammed her free fist on the counter.

"Are you all right in there?" Dax's voice rose.

Best to keep our conversation a secret.

I can trust Dax.

Can you? How well do you know your Guardian?

"Halen?" Dax's knock turned to heavy pounding.

"I'm good. I'll be out in a minute." When she caught her reflection, Asair was gone. For now, anyway.

She quickly towel-dried her hair and changed while Asair's words lingered in her mind. She had just met Dax, but he had devoted his life to the Tari. Sure, he may have kept a few secrets, but Dax's lies protected all of them. Asair was playing another one of his games. This time, she wasn't falling for his tricks.

Dax's pounding grew louder. When she opened the door, he all but shouted at her. "You can't do that! I need to know what's going on with you at all times."

"Relax." She patted his chest and ducked under his arm. His hovering not only made her claustrophobic, but she had to be extra cautious in guarding her secret. She would tell him about Asair if she had to, but first, she needed to speak to her mom. If her mom could purge Asair, then Dax wouldn't need to know the truth.

She followed the scent of delicious french fries into the other room. Tage and Ezra hovered over the cart, shoveling food in their mouths.

"Care to join us at the apocalypse buffet?" Ezra waved his hand over the cart.

Tage elbowed him.

Halen snagged a french fry off one plate. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flickering orange glow. At once, she dropped the fry. Waving her hand, she aimed.

Dax caught her wrist mid-swing.

"Tage's spell." He lowered her arm.

A rock spire jutted from the center of the glass coffee table; the fiery glow cast shadows along the wall. "I thought it was a fire. Sorry, I almost put out the protection spell."

Tage's gaze darted to the table and then to Dax. She nibbled her bagel without saying a word.

"Why don't you eat?" Dax stepped beside Halen.

Okay... They were giving off some pretty strange vibes. Normally, she would pry, but her secret was bigger. The less she pushed Tage, the better. "Any word from my mom or your dad?" she asked Dax.

"No, not yet. No news is good news—right?"

"Definitely," Ezra said, dipping several fries in ketchup. "Because the news sucks big-time right now." He nodded toward the television, where the news anchor sat behind his desk, stiff as a mannequin.

Halen turned her attention back to the cart. She lifted one of the silver lids covering the plates. She frowned at the mountain of leafy greens topped with candied salmon chunks. "You've got to be kidding. Ezra gets a burger and fries, Tage bagels, and you ordered me low carb? We really need to work on this Guardian connection thing if you're going to be ordering food for me."

Dax's grin widened as he removed the silver dome from the last plate. A tower of french fries toppled to the edges of the plate. "The salad is for me."

She flushed. "Um, thanks." Grabbing the fries, she stuffed two in her mouth at once. "Sorry, I'm a little hangry."

Ezra grunted. "Good thing your magick's tame right now or you might have burst Dax into flames."

"Yeah, I'm not getting pulverized over lettuce." Dax laughed.  

"I apologized. I'm not good without food." She slurped back a big sip of her shake, her attention shifting to the news anchor. He spoke with some guy outfitted in a flak jacket, camouflage pants, and combat boots. "Take the mute off."

Burger in hand, Ezra hit the remote with his pinky finger.

"We are speaking with Billy Hanover, a well-known prepper and survivalist. Mr. Hanover is coming in live from his underground bunker where he and his family have been sealed off since the first reported ring of fire. Can you hear us, Mr. Hanover?"

"Yes, I can hear you just fine." He rapped on the side of the green structure. "End of the world-proof and I still have Wi-Fi."

The news anchor cleared his throat. "So, is this the end?"

Mr. Hanover removed his ball cap and held it over his chest. The camera zoomed into his face. "I pity the fool who didn't prepare."

Dead air hit the studio. No amount of bronzer could hide the news anchor's fear.

"I bet the reporter wishes he had a bed in that bunker," Ezra said. "Maybe it's not such a bad idea."

"Turn it off." Tage marched to the television and pressed the power button. "How can they even let that paranoid doofus on TV? I mean, come on..."

Halen dropped her fries and shoved the plate away. "I'm not hungry anymore."

Tage shoved it back. "News is only meant to scare people. Eat. Food triggers your emotions; it's a siren thing. And if I remember correctly, this plate of greasy potatoes is going to give you a little bit of happiness. And trust me, we need all the happy we can get."

Halen sighed. She could fry all the potatoes in Idaho and happiness would still be a long way away.

Dax's cell phone rang and he answered it before the next beat. He mumbled, shaking his head.

"What is it?" Halen asked, though judging from his frown, it wasn't good.

"They're on foot. My dad had to ditch the car. The police barricaded the city due to the fires in the Bay. No one's getting in; it's almost as if the entire city is under a restriction spell." His gaze slid to Tage.

"What's a restriction spell?" Halen asked.

"Nothing that concerns us." Tage stuffed more bagel in her mouth, preventing her from saying more.

Halen turned back to Dax. "So, where are they now?"

"Well, that's the interesting part." He opened the window.

The charred stench of a melting city drenched the room.

"Close it!" Ezra buried his nose in his sleeve.

"Just a second." Dax stuck his arm out the window and waved.

Halen thought he had gone off the deep end when a soot-covered bird fluttered before them and perched on the tip of Dax's finger. Quickly, he brought the wren inside and shut the window.

The bird flitted between the suites. When the wren completed its check, the bird flapped its wings so vigorously Halen thought the little wren might explode. Instead, with a flash, the bird morphed into the body of a slight girl.

"Lina!" Halen smiled. 

Lina plucked a feather from the corner of her eye and coughed.

Halen handed her a glass of water from the cart.

"The smoke," she wheezed. "I need a few minutes to adjust."

"Where are the others?" Dax asked.

She held up her hand, still coated with fluffy down feathers. Her copper hair draped her bare body like a cape falling over her waist.

Tage riffled through her backpack and yanked out a pair of white pajamas. "You can put these on." She nodded toward the bathroom.

Lina scooped the clothes against her chest. "Thank you." Ignoring Tage's suggestion for privacy, Lina slid on the shirt, rolled the sleeve hems, and pulled on the pants.

"How far away are the others?" Dax asked.

"They're a few blocks north. My brother put on quite the show. I hope he doesn't get himself tranquilized, or a bullet in the butt."

"What do you mean?" Halen asked. "I hope he's not using his body as a shield again. That didn't go so well the last time." 

Lina folded the hems of the pajama bottoms. "The police wouldn't let us through the barricades so Tasar shifted."

"In front of everyone?" Ezra's jaw dropped.

"Well, why not?" Lina shrugged. "Dragon wings are beating the sky; the ocean is on fire—a bear in traffic won't make the news."

Dax illuminated the screen on his cell phone. "I should wait for them in the lobby."

"No, you can't!" Tage glanced toward the glowing stone.

Lina followed her gaze. "You've locked yourselves inside—why?"

Tage gnawed at her fingernails.

"Tage?" Halen stepped toward the coffee table. "What is Lina talking about?"

She slumped in the chair. "I couldn't take the chance that Asair was alive inside you."

Lina's shoulders rolled back, and she sprang to the balls of her feet. "He's here? Is that why the flames still burn?"

"No!" Halen backed away. It would be easy for Lina to slit her throat and vanquish Asair's soul. Halen was no match for her magick. Why had Tage blurted her suspicions? What kind of friend was she? Halen had to turn this around. 

Be convincing, she told herself—or was that Asair's voice in the back of her mind? 

"I can't believe you, Tage. Why don't you trust me? I trust you." Her heart beat with a frantic rhythm as Lina watched her every move. "After all we've been through, you think I'm lying? Some friend you are."

"We need to be careful. What if Asair deceived you?" Tage's voice was small.

She felt horrible for calling out Tage, but she was too close to the truth. She couldn't back down now. "Remove the spell! We're on the same side here. I want the flames to stop just as much as you do." Tage didn't budge.

"Tage—remove the spell!" Halen leaned over the chair, placing her hands on the armrests.

"Why?" Tage crossed her arms.

"Why not?" She wasn't getting anywhere with her. Tage was stubborn, but this was ridiculous. She stepped away, shaking her head. "Why won't you believe me?"

"That's exactly why I did it." Tage pointed at the glowing rocks. "The Halen I know wouldn't care if we were locked inside. Asair, on the other hand, would want to get away before your mom had time to purge him." Her tone softened. "Just consider it, Halen."

The glowing rocks set her on edge; the urge to run consumed her. Surrounded by people who wanted to help her, why then did she feel like the hunted?