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"So, what now?" Fenella asked, still feeling lightheaded and overwhelmed.

"Now we practice," Kyra said. "Together and separately. We hone our abilities until the Fates provide us with the missing piece we need to find Khiann."

36

AREZOO

Arezoo hadn't expected the café to be buzzing with activity at seven-thirty in the morning, with patrons forming a long line to the counter, and Wonder and Aliya working at a pace that seemed inhuman.

Well, to be fair, neither of them was entirely human. Both were part aliens, and not even from the same species.

Not for the first time, Arezoo wondered if she was dreaming, and this was an elaborate fantasy that her mind had created.

"Don't look so terrified," Wonder said, glancing over at her while simultaneously brewing espresso, steaming milk, and taking an order from a tall, intimidatingly handsome immortal in workout clothes. "The chaos will subside once the morning rush is over."

Arezoo nodded, not really knowing what to do or say. So far, she'd been busy staying out of the way of Wonder and Aliya's well-coordinated dance, hoping someone would tell her what to do.

"Here you go, Henry." Wonder handed the guy a cup. "Extra shot of espresso, just the way you like it."

Henry offered Arezoo a friendly nod. "New recruit?"

"This is Arezoo," Wonder confirmed. "She just started today."

"Welcome to the village." He smiled. "Don't let these two work you too hard."

"I want to work hard," Arezoo said, hoping the translating earpieces were not messing up the communication for her.

She'd learned that literal translations from English to Farsi and the other way around often didn't convey the same meaning.

As Henry walked away, Wonder gestured toward the growing line. "Just watch me for a little while, and once you get the hang of it, I'll let you start taking orders." She offered her a dazzling smile that was nearly blinding.

Wonder was a tall, dark-haired beauty with olive-toned skin just like Arezoo's, but she was so much more beautiful that it was disconcerting to look at her and make the unflattering comparison.

Arezoo secretly hoped that the transition would transform her into a stunning beauty like her new boss, but she knew that, realistically, that wasn't possible. The starting point was too far off.

Aliya was also gorgeous and a little intimidating. She was only half Kra-ell, but the Kra-ell side was definitely winning. Her big, dark eyes could barely pass for human, and she was tall and incredibly thin like the pureblooded Kra-ell.

How were they so strong with those long and lean limbs of theirs?

Nature was indeed wondrous, and conventional wisdom wasn't always right.

"Ready to try the register?" Wonder asked during a brief lull.

Arezoo nodded. "I think so. It looks easy."

No one used cash in the village. The only form of payment was the clan-issued credit card, and people just tapped it against the display after Wonder or Aliya entered the ordered items. The touch screen was intuitive, with pictures of the various drinks and food items making it easy to navigate.

A monkey could have done that after watching them do it for five minutes.

"It is," Wonder said. "I'll handle the coffee while you take orders and Aliya serves the tables. Just call out the orders clearly so I can hear them over the machines."

The register was not a problem. It was the interactions with the customers that were stressful.

Everyone was nice, and they were patient with her, but Arezoo had never worked with customers before.

"You're doing well." Aliya leaned against the counter during a brief pause in the rush. "Getting used to all these new faces isn't easy, and remembering everyone's names is even harder, but you will eventually be able to greet everyone by name." She leaned closer to whisper in Arezoo's earpiece. "Do you know what mnemonics are?"

Arezoo nodded. "Things that help you remember other things."