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Lucienne watched Ashburn and Violet sitting across from each other in Ashburn’s basement. They had changed into dry clothes. Ashburn dressed in sweatpants and a white cotton sweater. Violet wore a brown sweater down to her knees and a pair of loose pants, which were obviously Ashburn’s.

The Furys had a light bulb in the kitchen only. The natives had complained that the light provided by the outsiders was like a firebug’s compared to the gods’ light.

“Ungrateful lot,” Kian had said.

Lucienne noticed the lighting in the basement; it didn’t come from candlelight or any man-made bulb.

“Tell me everything, Ash,” Violet said. “I want to know what happened to you.”

So do I,Lucienne thought.

“You always want to know everything.” Ashburn smiled.

He has a stunning smile.

“The fading of the gods’ light is because the system failed,” Ashburn continued.

“System? What’s that?” Violet blinked in confusion. “You talk differently since you’re returned. And you haven’t told me how you’re able to walk. Are you . . . are you still you, Ash?”

“I’m not demon-possessed, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Ashburn sighed. “But something happened to me. I now know words and things I couldn’t imagine I would ever know. I’m even able to know that my parents are drinking rice wine with the neighbors and gossiping about the outsiders at this very moment. No one invited my parents to their homes before I was gone. My mama and papa are finally having the normal life they’ve always wanted. My return will take that away from them again.”

“Your parents are weak. They should have more backbone.”

“Don’t disrespect them, Violet,” warned Ashburn. “You don’t know what kind of burden they’ve been carrying because of me. As their son, I should have given them joy, but all I’ve brought is trouble, sorrow, and . . .” his tone turned bitter, “. . . curse!”

“Ash!” Violet gasped. “You’re never a curse! You’re the brightest and kindest boy in the kingdom. Everyone else is too dumb and snooty to see that.” She stared at Ashburn attentively. “Ash,” she whispered, “have you become a warlock, like the outsider witch queen?”

“She isn’t a witch,” Ashburn said with a dry chuckle.

Lucienne’s heart skipped a beat. How did Ashburn know about her? They hadn’t met yet. “But no, it’s not like that,” Ashburn continued. “What happened to me isn’t magic. It has to do with high physics.”

“Phy . . . what? I don’t understand.”

“It’s a kind of force. The concept is even beyond the outsiders’ understanding of quantum physics. It’s hard to explain in words, but I can use an equation, similar to Einstein’s.” Then, over Violet’s more troubled, confused look, Ashburn sighed, “I shouldn’t bother you with this. I really don’t know why all this crap happened to me.” He put his head in his hands in dismay.

A farm boy from an isolated town knew about Albert Einstein and could write equations of higher math? Lucienne drew a sharp breath. The Eye of Time must have transferred part of its power to him. A stab of jealousy mingled with anger parched her throat dusty. Those powers should have been hers. They were supposed to be hers. Only she was a few hours too late.

“I’m truly a freak now,” Ashburn told his friend.

Violet placed her hand on his shoulder. “No matter what you are or what you’ve become, I’m always on your side.”

“I know.” Ashburn lifted his head and gazed at her, removing the girl’s hand from his shoulder and clasping it in his long fingers. “I couldn’t come back to you earlier. I was trapped in another plane.”

Lucienne’s heart raced. Did he mean Eterne? The rest of Ashburn’s words were a blur. “Long story short: a crazy eye from Hell Gate tricked me, but we’ll get to that later.”

He stole her birthright and lied through his teeth about the Eye of Time choosing him instead of the Siren. Lucienne’s nostrils flared. He had doomed himself to be her enemy.

“When I saw you jump off the bridge,” Ashburn continued, “something awoke in me. It’s like my consciousness moved into full swing. I couldn’t let you die. All of a sudden I could see through time and space. At that moment, I opened a rift between them and dove into the crack before they merged again. It was one of the most terrifying and mesmerizing experiences I’ve ever had. Next thing I knew I caught you and fell with you. I was on this side of the world, and my legs are good as new.”

“You came back for me, Ash.” Violet was full of tears. She reached out to touch Ashburn’s face, but he rose and turned away from her, his eyes scanning the walls.

“Ash?” Violet rose to her feet, too.

Did he see the hidden camera? Lucienne’s body tensed on the pilot seat. Kian had buried it well. No naked eye could spot it.

“We’re being watched,” said Ashburn, his shoulders stiffening.

“Who?” Violet looked around, her hands curled into fists. “Who’s spying on us?” Then a realization came to her eyes. “Gods, the witch queen has a Sky Eye. She turned it on the king and scared the crap out of him.”