Page 25

Perry

The ceremonyfor Jupiter's first shift was set up in one of the spare ballrooms in the Luna estate, and the room was filled with hundreds of candles and other ritual items to help her complete her very first transformation. It was adorable to watch Arthur interacting with her, telling her what she could expect from her first shift. I was surprised to see how quickly she'd opened to him. Maybe it had to do with the environment, being away from Elclaw and the horrible energy that always permeated our house there, but she seemed to be thriving here even after just a few days. She'd made new friends with Arthur's niece and nephews, and she was speaking more than I'd ever heard her talkbefore.

Istill remainedhesitant about getting my hopes up. Arthur had already began planning for the future—our future—but the world had a way of kicking you down just when things were looking up. I'd been kicked too many times. But it was hard. Hounds of Hell, it was hard. Especially watching Jupiter with him. He was so good with her, so much more the father that she needed. Deep down, I wanted to be hopeful, and I constantly felt that feeling rising up in me like ageyser.

And what really worried mewas the lack of any word from Gregor or the Silver Sun Clan. It'd been nearly a week. Why hadn't he responded? There'd been nothing from him. It almost seemed like he hadn't even noticed Jupiter and I had gone. That should've been a good thing, but it made me nervous. The uncertainty of everything, the clock ticking towards some doom I felt was lurking there. That was probably his intention, though. That was how Gregor worked. He knew it had to be eating away at me, wondering when he'd come for us. He knew exactly how to pick at me, what would get to me themost.

"Hey,"Arthur said, coming over to me. "Youokay?"

"Mm. Yeah, I'm fine,"Isaid.

"Okay."He kissed me. "Loch told me he's on his way from the Academy, your brother is with him. We'll get the ceremony started as soon as they get here. She'sready."

Random partsof Jupiter's body had begun to spontaneously shift, which meant she was close. The candles flickered around the room, and sweet-smelling smoke floated up from their wicks, filling the room in a fragrant haze. At first, Jupiter looked uneasy about the whole thing, until Alexis arrived and reassured her with her happy-go-luckyattitude.

"Idid this,"she told Jupiter. "You don't have to be scared. It's easy. And I'll be there with you,too."

"Okay,"Jupiter said quietly. She came to me and pulled at my hand. "Daddy..."

"What is it, sweetie?"

"What if I can't shift?"

Icrouched downand stroked her hair, pushing it back behind her ear. "Don't worry about that," I told her. "You're gonna do fine. Arthur's been showing you how to do it,right?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Well,then. And everyone is going to be there with you. Even UncleDimitrius."

"Is Father going to be there?"

My throat tightened.I chewed the inside of my lip. "No,sweetie."

"Okay,"she said, and she looked relieved. "WillArthur?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Okay."She looked a little more confident hearing that, and it made my heartglad.

"Masters Loch and Dimitrius have arrived,"Stephen announced to the room. "They will be here in just a few minutes. We’ll be starting the ceremonysoon."

We changed into ceremonial robes,and Loch and Dimitrius entered not too long after. Dimitrius looked intimidated to be in his teacher’s house, and the look on his face was probably the exact same one I'd had on the first day here. He eased up when he saw me and Jupiter, and hurried over to give both of ushugs.

"Hey, there,"he said, tapping Jupiter's nose. "How's myniece?"

"I'm going to shift!"Jupiter announced. "Arthur told me how. And Alexis is going to watchtoo."

"Whoa!"he said, his eyes widening. "You're excited, aren't you?" She nodded, and Dimitrius looked up at me. "You weren't kidding!Talkative."

The family gatheredin the center of the ballroom, making a circle with their joined hands. Arthur took one of Jupiter's hands and I took the other, and the three of us walked her to the center of the circle where she sat cross-legged. We moved to the side, and Christophe steppedforward.

"We guideJupiter Houndfang across the threshold into a greater world. The wolf's blood runs within you, and tonight it will be released for the first time, in its full form. The Luna house will witness hertransformation."

"Close your eyes, sweetie,"I whispered to her. "Do what Arthur showed younow."

She squeezed her eyes shut.She balled her hands into fists and strained. I could see she was concentrating with everything she had. A minute passed, and just when it seemed like nothing was going to happen, her ears shifted and pushed out the top of her head. Then her tail followed, and then hernose.

"Very good,"Arthur said. "Keep that picture in yourmind..."