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He frowns in suspicion. “I guess going to see bougie rentals isn’t the end of the world. I can tell you right away Ezra won’t like this, though. He doesn’t do handouts.”

“Just find something you like,” I tell him.

He sighs. “Okay. Give me your number. I’ll work this out.”

He opens something else in my cellphone and taps a message out. Then he hands it back to me and pulls out his own device. It buzzes in his hand.

“This isn’t mine,” I tell him. “I’m borrowing it from Syril.”

“Hon, you need a phone. Just keep it. No one’s gonna care that you’ve pocketed a five year old brick.” He takes my device back. “Don’t you have Ezra’s number? Here, you’re gonna need this.”

By the time I get it back to the table, I have two new contacts —Felix FitzsimmonsandBest Boyfriend You’ll Ever Have.

“Teach him how to text,” Felix tells Ezra when we get back to the table. “It’ll be disgustingly cute, I can tell.”

I send a tiny image of a heart to Ezra in the morning. His reply is quick.

I want to bite you right now

I haven’t figured out the nuances of crafting my own messages, so I just send him another one.

I hate Fitzie so much.

I stuff the cellphone back into its little bag, blushing.

Today is the midsummer festival and the boat race. I’m a ball of nerves for no reason. Okay, that’s not true. One reason is the other message on my cellphone, which is from Felix:Come find me when you get there.

The other reason is the lake itself. Even the thought of the deep, dark body of water makes my stomach churn. Sitting on top of it in a tiny boat? What was I thinking?

But I’ve already told everyone I’m doing it, and I can’t back down.

The boats are already lined up on the green bank, surrounded by monster children. Midsummer is a festival for the family. Young nymphs chase each other across the green. Riiga and kelpie kids race in the shallows near the shore. Even some of Plato’s cousins are rolling around in the grass, locking horns and play wrestling.

The lake stretches to the base of the mountains, shimmering with the breeze. Sunlight sparkles off the ripples. It looks so placid and innocent, perfect shades of blue hiding its sinister depths.Waterspirits live in there,I remind myself. Unfortunately, the thought of living underwater is maybe even more horrifying than what we’ll be doing today, and it only makes me squirm with discomfort.

Ezra slides an arm around my waist from behind. “Everything okay?”

I tear my eyes away from the lake. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

I have a feeling he’s not convinced, but he follows me down the hill without pressing.

This part of the lake is within the lamia royal family’s territory, though Lord Regent Aryllix won’t be making an appearance today. He was, however, kind enough to loan the land out. Picnic benches have been claimed by monster families. Others have their own pavilions, flying the pennant of their kingdom or another bright ribbon of color. Costumes are everywhere, monsters dressing up like other monsters — respectfully, of course, since the event is about cross-cultural sharing. Faun children bound past us with siren camouflage painted on their cheeks. A nymph wearing dragon horns walks arm in arm with a minotaur in a skintight shirt that shimmers like a lamia’s scales. I even spot someone wearing fairy wings.

“Over here!” Orion appears out of nowhere with Felix in tow and waves us toward the staff pavilion, which is decorated with purple, green, blue and silver panels — one color for each kingdom.

Antoinette, Larch, Lilian and Mara are already there. Lilian is in bloomers and a tiny, frilly top, a lacy umbrella in her hand, and she smiles shyly when she sees me. Larch warms his stony skin in the sun, wearing only a pair of tiny shorts. Mara’s lifeguard whistle hangs around her neck next to the amulet, sunglasses perched on her nose and a book in one of her four hands. Even Antoinette looks relaxed, sipping on an icy drink. I hang back for a moment, suddenly hesitant.

A hand on my elbow startles me and I almost yank back before realizing it’s Felix.

“I want a drink,” Felix says. “Come with me to the drinks tent.”

He steers me away. I look back at Ezra, but he’s already chatting to Mara, grinning and flipping his sunglasses through his fingers.

“Alright.” I follow Felix to the other pavilion.

He searches through the cooler, huffing and sighing. “No regular soda? Ugh. I guess I’ll drink the no-sugar stuff.”