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With a snort, the Combat teacher said, “Since arriving in this world, Jennings has never been a ‘child’. If I’d known everything, I would’ve continued her training myself so she can get out there and do what she has to do.” A thoughtful pause. “I think she’s in much better hands with the Meyarins, though. That Zain sure knows what he’s doing.”

That much was true, so Alex didn’t say anything. But she was touched by the thought of Karter semi-offering his time again, even if she would have hated every moment of his drill-sergeant regime.

“It’s natural that you want to protect her, Headmaster,” Maggie said. “But now more than ever, Alex is capable of looking after herself.”

While the teachers didn’t know about Alex’s trip to the past, she’d told them of her Meyarin blood and her heightened, as well as trained, abilities. Having not witnessed her in action and therefore struggling to believe her claims—because even in the past week of Combat classes she had been careful to switch off her Meyarin-ness and fight as a human—they still understood what Maggie was referencing.

“You are a student at this academy, Alex, and I have a responsibility towards you,” Darrius said. “If you do this—if you go out there—I can’t guarantee your safety.”

A burst of laughter escaped Alex. “Where was this concern when you sent me off to Meya the first time, Darrius? How’s that hindsight treating you?”

He flinched, and for a moment Alex felt awful. She didn’t blame him for what had happened, not at all. With everything she now knew, she had no doubt Aven would have found a way to return to Meya sooner or later. She just would have preferred it was later. And if Darrius had never asked her to visit Meya the first time, though he’d certainly had his reasons, then the following events wouldn’t have spiralled as far—or as quickly—as they had.

Darrius, Alex knew, was only human. He couldn’t have known what was coming. But this time Alex had forewarning of what to expect, and she was determined to use that knowledge to her advantage.

“Don’t you get it, Darrius?” she said quietly. “From here on out, you can’t guarantee my safetyanywhere. You just have to trust that I’m doing what needs to be done and, hopefully, it’ll lead to a time when we’reallsafe again.”

She held his eyes, watching as the emotions passed over his weary, lined face. Guilt. Fear. Sadness. Resignation…

… And then, finally,hope.

It was the last that Alex focused on, and she sent him a small smile, relieved when he returned it with a slight nod of acceptance.

“Hunter is right,” Darrius said, sitting taller in his seat with his new resolve. “Flips, Jarnocks, Shadow Walkers and Dayriders. If you want to warn the mortal races and bring them on board as allies in this war, they’re the ones you need to convince.”

“It will not be easy,” Caspar Lennox said. “The Jarnocks and Flips keep to themselves, their territories far enough removed that they will not believe in the danger. And my race, in particular, is known for being obstinate and detached. We are unmoved by the plights of humans, so if you fail to convince the elders of Aven’s intent towards all mortals, then they will be of no aid.”

From what little Alex knew of her stoic Shadow Walker professor, that didn’t come as much of a surprise.

“The Dayriders are even worse than us,” Caspar Lennox continued, a sour note to his lyrical voice. “An imperious, overbearing race, the lot of them. You would be better to count them out of the equation, for all the good reasoning with them will do you.”

That certainly didn’t bode well.

“Don’t listen to him,” Maggie told Alex, looking strangely amused. “Shadow Walkers and Dayriders have been on opposite sides of the same coin since the beginning of time.”

And here I am, hoping they’ll agree to work together, Alex thought woefully. Aloud, she said, “Well, let’s try to be optimistic and believe this’ll be a case of, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’.”

If the doubtful looks in the room were any indication, she had her work cut out for her.

“I know you have to do this,” Darrius said, “but I still don’t like the idea of you going out there alone.”

“I’m not going alone.” Alex motioned to Jordan, D.C. and Bear, who had remained silent for most of the meeting. “They’re coming with me.”

A weighty pause.

Then came Hunter’s dry voice. “Well, I feel comforted.”

Alex wasn’t sure which of her friends she heard grumble with offence, but she thought it might have been all three.

“A never-before-seen alliance between the mortal races rests on the wits of four teenagers,” Caspar Lennox said, shadows swirling around him as he shook his head. “I, too, struggle to find comfort in this.”

“Have a little faith,” Fletcher said, his lips twitching. “If anyone can do it, it’ll be Alex and her friends.”

Karter grunted. “Stubborn as an ox, Jennings is. They won’t stand a chance.”

It was another one of those not-quite compliments that Alex wasn’t sure how to take, so she just offered a smile to the room.

“Now that we’re in agreement,” she said, “tell me everything.”