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“Your family is crazier than mine, and that’s saying something,” Gideon said with a chuckle.

A quick knock at the door and I was tense again.

“Come in, Kley!” Gideon called out. “You missed some fascinating founders gossip.”

She walked in, and I frowned, taking in the bags under her eyes. “Really?”

I hadn’t noticed those at a distance.

“Hardly.”

Already standing next to the kettle, close to the door, I levitated her saucer to her, taking the other two and placing Gideon’s on his desk before returning to mine.

“Lucian was trained byhis grandfather,” Gideon shared, his tone making no secret of who he meant.

I expected further expressions of shock, but Kleos didn’t so much as blink. She seemed too exhausted to muster the effort.

“Well, you were trained by yours, and my grandmother taught me to brew potions,” she replied, bringing the cup to her mouth.

Kleos hummed in appreciation, eyes opening up.

“Oh, this isgood! And the cup!” Lifting it up, she looked at the teal porcelain with its golden art deco design. “This looks like it’s worth more than what I earn in a week.”

“That’s Lucian’s. Make it a month.”

I rolled my eyes, though it was an antique, so he might not be wrong.

“Oh, gods, don’t let me break it. I’d better sit down.”

She started to move toward Gideon’s guest chair, but her cousin interrupted her. “Actually, Lucian’s the one who wants you.”

The utter asshole left it at that.

Clearing my throat, I explained, “Your enchantment. The one you placed on Gideon’s pen last week. I would very much appreciate if you could tell me how to do it. I have a lot of duplicates to handle.” A supplementary excuse came to mind. “Oh, and I owed you this.”

I retrieved small glass container filled with purple liquid, brilliant silver particles floating inside.

Kleos gasped, crossing the room to sit onmyguest chair.

It hadn’t seen a single backside in six months. She should have dusted it first.

“Oh my, that’s a ton of it! I found some blooms the other day; a dozen of them gave me like, a few drops. And you were right. It did helptremendously.”

Then why did she look worse for wear?

I shrugged. “It was a very good cupcake. And as I said, we have plenty in the Underside.”

“Thank you, Lucian. Of course, I’ll enchant a pen for you.” She extended her hand expectantly.

“I’m rather intrigued. I’d prefer if you told me how you did it.”

“No.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“There you go again,” Gideon muttered under his breath.

“Sorry. The rules are the rules. I don’t give away my secrets,” she told me primly. “If you want something I’ve invented, you’ll have to come tome.”