“What’s wrong?” Zephyr asked, taking a seat next to me on the couch.

  Dimitri had woken me up multiple times in the middle of the night hogging the bed, so I’d decided to sleep on the couch. Zephyr had momentarily woken me at 6AM, which was the time he usually woke up. He’d kept quiet, running the TV muted with subtitles to not disturb me. One of them had figured out how to set up a subscription, and it had been one of Zephyr’s favorite pastimes after he ran out of books to read. Maybe I should've introduced him to ebooks.

  I’d tried and I’d tried to fall back to sleep, but I just couldn’t. So I had been sitting on the couch for the past few minutes, watching the TV without actually watching it.

  “I thought you weren’t an empath,” I muttered.

  “It’s very obvious something is bothering you. I know Finn and Dimitri’s bickering has dampened your mood the past few days, but you seemed uncharacteristically down yesterday when you returned with Maverick. What happened?” Zephyr asked.

  “Maverick didn’t tell you?” My eyebrows raised slightly. He seemed like the type of person who liked spreading people’s personal information. Especially mine.

  Zephyr shook his head.

  “There were these two girls I had been seeing since we arrived in New York. Maverick doesn’t want me seeing them anymore in case they’re connected to the Magus of Historia.”

  “Do you think they are?”

  “No.” I quickly shook my head. “They’re just normal people.”

  “Maybe Maverick would be assured if one of us went with you.”

  My mind immediately went to Aidan. Out of the four…five? Lumi would likely get along with Aidan the most. But Aidan was also the weakest. He wouldn’t be able to protect me if something went wrong, and Maverick knew that.

  I shook my head. “How have you adjusted to this world? You originally came here to see what a magicless world is like, right?”

  “Your world is quite different from Etheria. More different than I expected.” He straightened his glasses. “Here, someone would be able to conceal their magic with more ease than, say, Meridia. With how much technology your people possess, it may even be possible to use magic in public without anyone batting an eye.”

  “Kind of like we did at the magic show.”

  “Precisely.” He smiled, shifting in his seat ever so slightly. “But your world is just too noisy for my liking.”

  “I can’t blame you.” I sighed.

  Zephyr felt like the only sane person to be around lately. Aidan would have too if he ever spent any time away from the TV. I knew as soon as he woke up, I’d be forced to move over so he could take his usual position. And I’d thought I was addicted to games. Hmph.

  “Why don’t we go somewhere today?” I asked. If I were with Zephyr, I was sure Maverick wouldn’t mind.

  “Where?” He raised an eyebrow quizzically.

  “Elaina, I don’t know how to drive!” Zephyr protested as we neared the SUV in the parking garage.

  “That’s okay. I do.” I held up Maverick’s car keys—my finger in the key ring as my thumb pressed the button to unlock the car.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea…” He protested, but got in the car nevertheless.

  “Trust me, I have a whole entire driving permit. That’s even valid when I have another driver— I mean, an adult in the car! …You’re an adult, right?” I turned to him, my foot on the brake as I tried to figure out how to reverse in this car.

  “I believe so!” His last word was rushed and drawn out as the SUV sped into reverse. Thankfully, it was one of those cars that brakes when you’re about to hit something, so we didn’t hit someone’s electronic car that’s prone to fires anyway.

  A shift of gears later, we were speeding out of the parking garage. And then suddenly stopped. And then nearly hit the wall— Oh hey, this thing won’t go into another lane if the turning signal isn’t on! No wonder Maverick seemed like he was such a good driver!

  Another stop. This time, I heard Zephyr’s head hit the headrest.

  “Is there a reason we’re stopping so much?” Zephyr asked. Was it just me, or did he sound absolutely terrified right now?

  “Yeah, it’s called the brakes are more sensitive than I thought,” I replied.

  “I see.” He straightened his glasses before placing his right hand on the door pocket and his left hand in the cup holder, both gripping to the point where his knuckles turned white. Hmph! He made it look like I’d bribed my driving instructor.

  “Don’t worry; where we’re going will be much faster.” I smirked, plugging my phone into the car so I could pull up GPS.

  “Dear Goddess above…”

  Driving was harder than I expected, but at least I had cool technology to prevent me from crashing! We arrived at our destination in one piece. So did the cars around us.

  Zephyr wobbled a little as he exited the car, and I had to all but drag him ahead. “What’s that?” He pointed ahead.

  “That is an amusement park.” I winked. “You need a little more excitement in your life beyond books and cooking.”

  “You’ll find cooking for five very picky eaters to be more ‘exciting’ than it looks.”

  I rolled my eyes and continued to drag him along.

  The line to get in was longer than I expected. I ended up buying tickets ahead of time online so we could enter right away. Once we were in, it was a matter of finding what to ride first.

  “Anything you see that you’d like to try?” I asked.

  Zephyr stared at the people who were riding in a cabin being repeatedly flipped upside down by the large mechanical arm it was attached to. “Not that one.”

  “Honestly? Same.” I chuckled. There’s only so much upside down a girl can handle.

  So I took him to a rollercoaster that had several loops!

  The line was obviously very long, meaning Zephyr got to witness the riders in front of us take their turns. “Are they in pain?” he asked after hearing them scream.

  “Probably not unless they have motion sickness. Do you have motion sickness?” I asked.

  “How would I know?” It came out as a genuine question.

  “Good question.” I facepalmed. “Well, we’re about to find out.”

  The rollercoaster came to a stop, several people looking dizzy but mostly smiling. One of its riders stumbled out, falling flat on her face. I shielded Zephyr’s eyes with my hand, blocking the image out. From where we were lined up, we would be sitting at the front. I offered to go in front so Zephyr wouldn’t feel the full force of each dip.

  “This is safe?” he asked. I turned behind me to see him analyzing the restraints.

  “Yeah. They’ll check to make sure you’re properly strapped in before we go—” The sound of a bell ringing cut me off as the rollercoaster began moving. “Or not.” I swallowed, quickly checking to make sure Zephyr fastened his seatbelt correctly. He did.

  The rollercoaster started its very straight ascent, my back and head forced against my seat. I never liked being in this position on a rollercoaster. It paused at the top for not even five seconds, letting us briefly catch a view of the park, before plummeting back down—and here comes the first loop! It immediately spiraled us into a second loop, a couple of dips, and then another loop. Screams filled my ears, my own included, as we were sent plummeting down once again. I glanced at Zephyr, whose eyes were wide and lips were parted in a straight line.

  The ride was over before I knew it. I got out of my seat and helped Zephyr out of his. He was as pale as a ghost, and I couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty.

  Meh. He’d get over it.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, letting him hold onto my shoulder for support.

  He nodded.

  “What do you want to ride next?” I asked.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  He pointed to the popcorn stand.

  “That’s not a ride. That’s popcorn.”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “I would like that very much. My stomach feels… not whole.”

  I sighed, shaking my head before leading him to the popcorn stand. One overpriced popcorn later, and color returned to Zephyr’s face.

  While we were munching on our overly salted snack, I noticed one of my favorite rides as a kid. A version of Tilt-A-Whirl. Except instead of spinning on a circular track, it spun on a rollercoaster track. Now this, I had to try!

  As soon as the ride started, I regretted my decision. Popcorn and spinny rides didn’t mix well. My stomach instantly began churning as we spun up and down the rollercoaster track. Two minutes felt like eternity as every 360-degree motion felt like my insides would leave my body. Zephyr’s cheeks were puffed out, and his already gray eyes somehow looked duller.

  “Elaina…” he said, pained, pausing for several seconds. I honestly thought I would vomit before he finished his sentence. “I don’t think I like amusement parks.”

  “Same…” I swallowed hard, hoping to keep the popcorn down.

  Wait, what was I saying? I loved amusement parks. I couldn’t wait every year when my family would go to that overpriced movie-themed amusement park! I loved the thrill of rollercoasters, the unhealthy food, the colorful themes of each ride…

  But more than anything, I loved the feeling that I could do anything—be anything. Amusement parks gave me hope.

  “Maybe we’ve just been riding the wrong rides.” I gently grabbed his wrist this time and led him to one of the slower rides, once the spinning ride stopped.

  Several dozen swings suspended several feet in the air may have been terrifying looking from the ground, but up high, where it was spinning slowly, it was actually relaxing. Even for the stomach.

  “There exists a mythical creature in Celut that can fly. Many Celutians are skilled at riding these beasts. I wonder if this is what riding one feels like,” Zephyr said quietly.

  “You’re making me want to visit Celut more and more.” I sighed. “It sounds like its own kind of amusement park.”

  “You have to remember that a lot of what we know of Celut may very well be fiction.” Zephyr smiled at me.

  He smiled, and everything felt perfect. It felt like I took a time machine back to when I was a kid. For just this moment, it was the two of us soaring in the sky, living in the present, no fears or worries. We were safe, we were together…

  “Elaina?” Zephyr asked, a look of concern on his face.

  “Huh?” I asked, snapping out of my thoughts.

  “You’re crying.”

  “O-oh?” I closed my mouth. How long had it been since I’d felt this much peace? Since I’d felt in control of myself? Like I wasn’t being dragged from place to place, avoiding people and wondering when my magic would next explode.

  This would be the last moment like this that I’d have.

  Dinner was as heated as usual. Finn was at least joining us this time, as he had been each night since he and Dimitri had gotten into an argument. They’d at least learned to be civil. Well, if launching peas across the table with magic was civil.

  “Please stop playing with your food…” I sighed, exasperated.

  “The peas are overcooked. It would end up in the garbage anyway,” Finn said, launching another pea at Dimitri.

  “You’re certainly not accusing me of joining in this pettiness, are you? I’ll have you know I won’t stoop to this bastard’s level.” Dimitri wiped his mouth with his napkin a little more viciously than usual, as Maverick caught a rogue carrot flying across the table.

  “Please, if you’re going to fight with your food, at least make it a show.” Maverick smirked.

  “Please no—” My words came too late. A steak in my face, mashed potatoes in Aidan’s hair, and two cucumbers stuck to the lens of Zephyr’s glasses.

  “I hope you appreciate how long I spent on that.” Zephyr excused himself from the table.

  I stood up to follow him, but Finn grabbed my wrist, shaking his head at me and mouthing the words “give him space.” Fine—I’ll just talk to you after dinner.

  The rest of our meal was silent and less messy. Aidan wordlessly took his place on the couch, Dimitri retreated into my room as usual, and Maverick disappeared to who knows where. Come to think of it, Finn was missing too.

  Jerk! He knew I wanted to talk to him!

  I raced all over the apartment, tearing the place apart. He obviously hadn’t gone into my room, but I checked there anyway. I checked Zephyr and Maverick’s room, or tried to, anyway. Zephyr confirmed Finn wasn’t in there and noted he wished to remain alone.

  Finn and Aidan’s room seemed the most obvious place to look, but it seemed a little too obvious, so I saved it for last. As I thought, not in there.

  Had he teleported out the door and walked the rest of the way?

  I sighed, sitting next to Aidan.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, not bothering to tear his gaze away from the TV.

  “I’m looking for Finn,” I answered, annoyed.

  “Did you try the balcony? He’s been out there lately.”

  “We have a balcony…?”

  No answer. Huh. All this time, I thought it was just a window! I pulled the handle after finding it and walked out into the chilly New York night breeze. Sure enough, Finn was out there— Sitting on the railing?!

  “Don’t do that! You’re going to fall!” I snapped.

  “If I do, I can catch myself in time. Trust me, I’m something of an expert.” He smirked.

  “You’re turning into Maverick more and more every day. Why did you run away when you knew I wanted to talk?”

  “I didn’t run. I opened the door and walked out.”

  “You did…? I could’ve sworn you used magic to—” Now I felt stupid.

  “You wanted to talk about Dimitri.” He frowned.

  “Yes. Why do you two hate each other? The real answer.”

  “The answer I gave you the other night wasn’t a lie.”

  “But it also wasn’t the full truth,” I said, feeling more confident in myself this time. If I ever wanted things to go back to normal, I had to do this. I wanted my friends back.

  He sighed, a sad smile on his face. “Sorry, Ella. I’ve caused you so much stress over something so childish…” He ran his fingers through his hair, a tell that he was nervous. “The truth is… He rubs me the wrong way because we’re the same.”

  “The same?” I blinked.

  “We’re both the sons of prominent lords.”

  “You’re a lord?!” I practically shouted. That was the last thing I expected him to say! He doesn’t even act like one!

  “Ouch.” He scratched the back of his neck. “The son of a lord.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  This had him on his feet. “The difference is that I don’t intend on going back.” He gripped the railing tightly, to where I was sure his knuckles were turning white.

  I motioned with my head for him to continue, but I was sure my thoughts gave that away more than anything.

  “We both grew up with strict fathers. Dimitri embraced this and willingly went above and beyond to gain his father’s favor. I, on the other hand, obeyed simply to stay out of trouble. My sister was independent, never seeing eye-to-eye with our father. When he realized he couldn’t control her, he doubled down on his efforts with me. And then it happened. I started hearing other people’s thoughts.”

  “I can’t even imagine what he must have been thinking, a man like that…” I bit my lip.

  “It wasn’t just him. The servants, the soldiers, my teachers… They all saw a naive, stupid kid, his father’s puppet that would one day succeed him. They saw me as little more than an empty shell with occasional emotional outbursts. I couldn’t take it. Deep down, I always knew they were thinking that. But then to actually hear it? I can’t imagine a worse fate. I packed my things and was about to run away when Sylvis came. She offered me the chance to learn to control my magic, and I jumped at the opportunity. Father thought it was some prestigious school, never having suspected that I might have magic.”

  “And you haven’t been back since, have you?” I asked.

  He shook his head.

  I felt awful for him. He was always so carefree and aloof, I never would have expected him to have endured something so terrible…

  “It wasn’t all terrible, Ella. It only started being terrible when my magic awakened.” He glanced towards me, a hint of sadness and longing in his eyes.

  “Does anyone else know? At the manor, I mean, that you’re the son of an heir?”

  “I imagine some do. I’ve cut my hair and changed my name since, so I’m not sure that the newer members know. Still, nobody ever speaks of it.”

  “I remember Aqua mentioning your hair.” He looked puzzled and slightly taken aback. Oops. Was I not supposed to say that? “What’s your actual name?”

  He paused as if hesitating whether or not to tell me. “Fabin.”

  “Fabin… That’s an interesting name.”

  He pouted his lips. “You can just say it’s weird. I know you’re thinking it.” He crossed his arms.

  “I-I’m trying to not think it’s weird, okay? What’s it like being a lord?” I asked, quickly trying to change the subject.

  “Son of a lord.” He sighed, correcting me once again. “It’s a lot of pressure—a lot of expectations. You have to bring honor to your name, of course.”

  “Prominent house, you said. That leaves… Dignitas?”

  Finn nodded. “Lancesten is under his control.”

  “So you were living right under your father’s nose as your new self?!” No wonder he’d looked so nervous when we had been in town.

  “I guess you can say that.” He scratched the back of his head. “The arranged marriage part wasn’t fun either. You’re expected to marry someone of another house, which is why many lords and ladies choose to birth several children.”

  “Wouldn’t it be funny if we were arranged?” I laughed.

  He turned away and went dead silent, and I could’ve sworn I saw his cheeks flush.

  No way…

  “Marriages are usually arranged at birth. You were born a few seasons after me, and seeing as both our houses are prominent, it only makes sense we’d be arranged. Of course, you going missing kind of changed things. I ended up being arranged to someone from House Innovia. She was nice, just not my type.”

  I couldn’t believe it. First I was the daughter of nobility— No. First I was an immortal, then I was the daughter of nobility, and now I was supposed to have been married to my best friend?! Things were just too weird.

  “How long have you known this?” I asked.

  “Basically since we met. It didn’t seem like the type of thing to drop in the middle of a casual conversation.” He chuckled.

  “No, definitely not.” I smiled, shaking my head.

  “You’re not mad at me?” His question wasn’t wondering, but rather incredulous that I wasn’t.

  “I mean, you were right—it’s definitely not the kind of thing you could easily bring up. You’re telling me now, and that’s all that matters.”

  He nodded and turned his gaze back to the city in front of us. I stood by his side, also watching the city that never seemed to sleep.

  Fabin Dignitas

  Ethel Dignitas.

  Elaina Dignitas?

  “Trying my name out?” He winked at me and I instantly flushed. “Whoa, there.” He grabbed my wrists and lifted them off the rails. I looked down to see the metal slightly discolored and my hands red. Oops…

  “What else am I supposed to do?” I pouted. “Names are weird.”

  He laughed. “You better not let that boyfriend of yours catch you.”

  Boyfriend… Right…