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Dante pulled me into a strong bear hug. I struggled to get free but couldn’t. In my defense, it was a totally unfair fight. He was way bigger than I was.

“You’re pretty strong,” Bronte told him.

“And mean,” I added as Dante released me. “One time when we were six, he rolled me up tightly in a blanket, like a burrito. I couldn’t get out. I was stuck there for over two hours before our mom finally found us.”

Dante chuckled. “And you should have heard her shouting for help.”

I bristled. “I wasn’t shouting for help. I was shouting atyouto let me go.”

“Shouting?” His eyes twinkled. “Or crying?”

“Hey, it was an emergency! I really had to pee!”

“I think youdidpee a little when you were stuck in that burrito.”

I blushed. “I was only six!”

Dante laughed so hard, he nearly tripped over Nevada as she joined our little cluster of madness.

“I got him back the next day at school, though,” I told Bronte.

She looked intrigued. “How?”

“She glued his butt to the seat of his desk,” Nevada told her.

I gave my eyelashes a mysterious flutter.

Bronte’s big blue eyes went even bigger. “How?”

Dante’s knuckles cracked. “She coated my chair in superglue.”

Bronte looked at him, spellbound. “How long were you stuck there?”

“Well, he had tosit inat recess.”

I cracked up at my stupid joke. And so did Dante.

He wrapped his arm around me. “I love you, my mini sister.”

“I love you too, my annoying brother,” I shot back.

We hugged each other, laughing so hard that the other kids were staring at us like we’d totally lost our minds.

But Bronte was watching us like this was the most enthralling tale ever. “Do you have any more stories?”

“Of me and my brother driving each other crazy?” I snorted. “Sure. Tons of them. I’ll tell you some of them later.”

Classical music started streaming through speakers tucked inside the trees positioned all around the grassy hexagon. A woman dressed in a smooth, navy-blue pantsuit lifted her hands in the air. Her shoulder-length red hair was streaked with hints of grey.

“Warm greetings to our new Apprentices!” Her smile was serious but friendly. “I am Melanie Meyer, Governor of the Fortress. Welcome to the Castle.”

CHAPTER3

THE SIX TRIBES

Governor Meyer had our undivided attention. Thirty-one of us were standing here, at the crossroads of the six castles, and not a single person made a peep. People didn’t blink. They didn’t fidget. They just waited for Governor Meyer to pass us the keys to our future.

“I know you’re all still a little shaken after yesterday’s attack at the Garden,” she said, her smile small but sympathetic. “But it is a potent reminder of the threat we are all facing. And the reason that the Castle exists.” She spread her arms, indicating the buildings all around us. “Yes, the Castle is majestic—just like its Knights—but it is also strong. And so are all of you. You were chosen for a reason. Because you are the best and bravest of your year. So stand tall, young Apprentices.” Her voice rose higher and so did we. “For soon you too shall join the honorable ranks of the Knights of Gaia!”