Three days later, we were being driven deep into the country in a sleek limousine. Dustin nodded a few times as Darius explained his rights and responsibilities as a recognized member of the Albion Torr, but you didn’t need to be a telepath to know he wasn’t listening. He never raised his eyes, his face was motionless and slack except for his slight frown, and all his responses were slow in coming. Eventually, Darius gave up. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a card.

It was a brand-new suit, so I had to assume that he’d been carrying some in his suit during the fire. I was surprised there weren’t any burnt edges.

“Mr. Walman.” That particular note in the vampire’s voice could make a name sound like a command.

Dustin looked up.

“This is my card. If you ever have any questions or concerns, call me. Leave a message. I’ll make sure that you have the help you need.”

Dustin’s fingers closed over the card, but Darius didn’t let go.

“Don’t lose it,” he said.

Dustin nodded.

The vampire released his grip. Dustin pulled out his wallet and put the card inside. I couldn’t help noticing that he still had his Setlan on Lee student ID.

Darius sat back. “We should be there soon.”

I nudged Dustin with my shoulder. “It’s okay. They promised they’d call and write. And Wes is threatening to bring them all up to visit you on the weekends.”

Dustin smiled sadly. “He says it’s because he wants his power back.”

I had to think about that for a second.

“Was he lying?” I asked.

“Yes, but even if they do come visit, it won’t be the same, will it?”

“No,” Conrad said, “it won’t be.”

Dustin looked up at the wolfman. Conrad was watching him with his soft, yellow eyes.

“But that’s not always a bad thing,” Conrad said, “and you’d know better than anyone if they care about you. That’s what matters.”

Their eyes stayed locked for a few seconds. I would have given my right arm to know what was passing between them.

What would it be like to know—not just hope—that someone cared about you? Or respected you?

“We’re here,” Darius said.

The limo pulled off the already dubious dirt road onto a rutted drive.

Circe was standing in front of her small, two-story, stone house. The yard around it was wild with plants. A border collie, looking almost as old as the witch and twice as brazen, sat beside her. Circe’s arms were folded across her chest. She was smoking her pipe and smiling.

Darius got out first.

“Good evening, Mr. Vasil,” she said.

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“Good evening, Circe.”

“You’re flying out tonight?”

“We’re driving directly to the airfield from here.”

“You should slow down a bit, old man. It’s not good to be always rushing.” When I got out, Circe said, “It’s good to see you again, Emerra.”

“Hello, Circe,” I said.

Dustin emerged.

Circe’s smile turned into a grin. “Dustin Walman. There you are.”

I thought I saw her eyes water, but if they did, they were dry by the time she stepped up to him. She looked him up and down and took her time doing it. Her face radiated approval.

“I’ve been looking for you,” she said.

Dustin had started edging toward me, but he stopped when he heard that. “You’ve been looking for me?”

“Everywhere and always. You burned that place to the ground, didn’t you? Good boy.”

“Do you know me?”

“Better than you’d think, but not so well as I will. You’re Dustin Walman. Kind-hearted. Deep. You think you’re lost, but I assure you, you’ve just been found. You think my pipe stinks, and you’re the only man in the world who’ll ever get me to stop smoking.”

She blew a bit of smoke right in his face.

He coughed. “How?”

“With a rather neat little psychic trick, but if you think I’ll tell you, you’re crazy. Figure it out on your own. Take your time. I’ll try to enjoy every pipe I have left.”

She winked at him.

“Circe,” Darius said, “the Torr—”

She waved him away. “Never mind them. Never mind whatever they think they have to do with this. This is between me and my apprentice.”

She said to Dustin, “You’d better know, I’m a farmer and a gardener, so as of today, you’re a farmer and a gardener. There’ll be no more math or language lessons, but you don’t need anymore of that anyway. Most of what you’ll be doing is chores, but you’re welcome to use as many of your powers as you want to get them done. In the evening, if you’ve got the time and energy, I’ll teach you what I can about how to handle your abilities and when you can safely ignore the Torr, but most of that won’t matter because what you really needed was peace and quiet and some time in the country. You’ll think I’m annoying, and I’ll think you’re entitled and impertinent, and we’ll like each other very much.”

She turned. “I’ll go get some water started for tea. You’ll want some. You have a minute to say goodbye. Then come right in. Don’t bother knocking.”

She went back to the house. The dog followed her after huffing at the interlopers.

Darius got out Dustin’s trunk while Dustin turned to me.

“Is that what I’m like?” he asked.

I laughed. “Not yet. Maybe never. Circe lives a bit left of time. But who knows? Maybe with some practice.”

He didn’t look excited about the prospect.

“I’ll keep in touch,” I told him. “Us weirdos have to stick together.”

“Okay.”

My stomach sank when I heard how dismal his voice was.

“Unless you don’t want me to?” I said.

“No! No, I-I do. I just—” He made a face. In a quiet voice, he admitted, “When you leave, that’s it. All my friends are gone. At least, for a while.”

“Not all of them.” I nodded to the house.

He looked even more uncertain.

“Hey,” I said. “She says you’ll like each other, and she hasn’t been wrong yet. Can I hug you?”

He rolled his eyes, but he’d called me his friend, and there’s a price to pay when you unthinkingly make friends with a loud, obnoxious American.

I held him tight. “Take care of yourself, Dustin.”

“I will,” he promised.

I let him go, stepped back, and blinked away a few tears.

Darius put Dustin’s trunk down beside him. “Your trunk is rather heavy, Mr. Walman. Do you think you have enough control to manage it?”

“I think so.”

The box rose a few inches into the air.

“Thank you,” Dustin said. “Thank you both.” He waved and walked toward the open door.

Darius and I got back in the limo, and the count told the driver to take us to the airfield. I sat next to Conrad and leaned against him before remembering that I didn’t have the excuse of needing to squint at a shared six-inch screen. I tried to muster enough energy to sit up.

“I don’t mind,” the wolfman said.

Thank god.

I dropped my head back on his arm. “Am I annoying you yet?”

“Not yet. Are you tired?”

“She should be,” Darius said as he settled back into his seat. “Three days is hardly enough for her to recover from what she’s been through. Not to mention the sleep deprivation she’s endured.”

“Rub it in, why don’t you,” I grumbled into Conrad’s sleeve. Despite the many washings, it still faintly smelled of smoke.

The Torr hadn’t been able to find a plain flannel shirt in Conrad’s size. He’d decided he’d rather wear the old one than do without.

They hadn’t been able to replace my Avatar shirt either. That made them seem a bit useless to me—but they had replaced Olivia’s luggage with something nicer, so at least she couldn’t yell at me for long.

I had a feeling Olivia would never loan me anything ever again.

I smiled.

“You’re happy?” Conrad said.

“I’m glad to be going home.”