Never had Aideen been so relieved to see Kira and Lila, even though Kira was marching towards her with a storm in her eyes. Aideen could picture lightning crackling around her with her fists clenched. But at least she was alive.

Kira had stopped texting her after Aideen had sent a text explaining that the Paladins might have survived, and it was unlikely, and why on Earth was Kira asking this? It didn't take a genius, merely a cynic, to assume the worst.

The rest of Sunday night she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, only to stare up at the ceiling and feel like she was about to vomit as she checked her phone for the millionth time to the end of the text thread. Ansel was all but forgotten in the wake of worrying about her friends. 

"We need to talk, now." Kira's eyes flashed golden, like she was about to cast a spell or spit flame. There was something truly fierce and dragon-like about her expression, that sent ice water down Aideen's spine.

Still, she couldn't help but let her shoulders sink and her relief show. "Thank the Progenitors—I'm so happy to see you, Kira, I was so worried—"

"I needed you." Kira crossed her arms over her chest. "I ran into Paladins."

"The Paladins?" In spite of the texts and everything, Aideen still couldn't believe it. The dragon-hunters were from an age of myth and legend, like the Progenitors and Abraxas Ananta himself. The idea that they still were around in the modern age was unfathomable. 

Clearly Kira disagreed.

"They stalked me into the bathroom and I had to jump out a seven story window!" Kira hissed. 

"What?" Aideen fumbled with the strap on her messenger bag. "How did you—"

"I transformed, then I floated—but that's not important!" Kira pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why didn't you tell us that the Paladins were still around?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Aideen noticed that Lila looked strangely green at this. 

"Because I didn't know." Aideen's voice sputtered out as her throat went dry. "Lady Grandmother never told me."

"Then the Council of Crowns didn't want us to know, or—" Kira cut off her eyes went wide. She ducked, trying to hide behind Lila, a considerable task given that Lila was the shortest of the three of them. 

"What's wrong?" Lila asked. 

"Don't look—"

Aideen couldn't help herself, she looked over her shoulder. Over by the water fountain, she saw none other than Ansel from the bookstore, filling up a sticker-covered water bottle. Somehow, across all the students passing through the hallway, his eyes locked onto hers, so he smiled and waved.

Aideen waved back, only for Kira to snatch her hand and pull her back around.

"He's one of the ones who chased me out a window!"

"Oh." Aideen's chest pounded as everything suddenly felt far away. She looked back over her shoulder, but he'd moved on and joined two other girls, a redhead and a blonde as they moved down the hallway.

"Don't look at him!"

"Don't look at who?"

The three girls whirled around and Kira nearly threw her books at the lanky blonde boy who'd somehow gotten behind them without any of them noticing. He caught Kira and her books, and helped her upright herself.

"Don't do that Galileo!" Kira clapped a hand over her heart. "You scared me!"

"Oh, I'm sorry." He frowned, and pushed his apple-red glasses up his nose. "Everything okay?"

"Oh, just some scary movies we watched on Saturday, that's all." Aideen tried her best, most winning smile. "Kira got a little spooked, that's all."

"Liar," Kira sniffled. 

"Anyway, we'd better get to class," Lila said, right before the bell rang.

"I'll walk Kira to homeroom." Galileo placed a hand on Kira's shoulder. "If you still want me to—"

"Of course!" Kira said quickly. She immediately perked up, tossing her high ponytail over her shoulder. "I'll see you guys at lunch, okay?"

Aideen waved her off, but as she followed Lila to homeroom, she still couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach. 

She should have known what Ansel was. She'd seen the lightning bolt amulet, she knew what it meant. But she let herself be a fool for a boy with blue eyes like blue jeans and a dimpled smile. 

If there was any consolation, she supposed it was that he didn't know what she was. 

They could never meet again. She knew that. But for some reason, the thought made her impossibly sad. 

As soon as they walked into homeroom, Mr. Hathaway beckoned them over to his desk. 

Lila took the lead. "Everything alright, Mr. Hathaway? Was there something wrong with the formatting of my assignment or—"

"Oh, no, it's not about any assignments," he assured her. "The office called for both of you, actually. A representative from a prestigious scholarship program is waiting for you. I believe she also called for Kira Drake. Anyway, she's waiting up for you at the front office."

Aideen caught Lila's eye meaningfully. 

So this had to be someone from the Council of Crowns.

Lila wondered if this had anything to do with what had happened to Kira on Sunday. She suspected it did—and maybe even her visions. "Thanks, Mr. Hathaway."

"It's no problem." Mr. Hathaway smiled encouragingly. "Good luck to both of you."

"We'd better not keep her waiting." Aideen grabbed Lila's arm. "Let's go."

Waiting at the front office, with Kira already by her side was none other than Lady Rana, from the day that had upended Lila's life completely. Unlike before, the dragon lady would not have stood out in a crowd of ordinary human women. She wore a jade green blazer and skirt combination with an ivory ruffled blouse and a tasteful amount of subtle golden jewelry. Perhaps the only extravagance beyond the ordinary businesswoman was the golden hairpin securing her jet-black locks into an airtight bun.

"Excellent, all three of you are here." She turned to the lady working the office front desk. "All the paperwork's been signed?"

"Yes, ma'am." The office lady had a dazed look—Lila suspected some kind of enchantment was at play.

"Right then, the three of you should follow me." Lady Rana started for the door, the clicking of her heels on the floor reminiscent of claws. "Do keep up."

She escorted the three princesses out to the parking lot. Once she'd assured herself that the parking lot was empty, she created golden fire with her hand. She strummed it into a wide circle, another portal, and then let it go. "After you."

Kira practically scurried through the portal. Aideen followed in poised strides, every bit the graceful princess. Lila sighed and followed. She knew she should try to be more like Aideen, but then again, why did she care what the Council of Crowns thought?

She'd never wanted to be Pendragon in the first place. 

They entered the same room where they'd made their vows, where Absinthe sat at the head of the table. The same key figures were there before—Lord Rhodri, Lord Absalom, and of course Lady Rana. But there was someone new—well, not quite new. Lila did remember him from before.

Lord Ajax sat towards the end of the table with a smirk, practically leaning on the table in an ungentlemanly fashion. Something about his eyes oddly gleamed with not-quite-malice as the three princesses entered. 

The portal closed behind them, and Lady Rana looked like herself again, a dragon lady as she took her seat. 

Absinthe rose from her seat. "Thank you, Lady Rana. I call an emergency meeting of key members of the Council of Crowns to discuss the situation."

Lila reluctantly took her seat between Kira and Aideen. 

Absinthe continued. "The Paladins have discovered the heirs of the Ananta line, and have come to Goldwater Harbor to stop any of them from becoming the Pendragon and breaking the curse."

"Are they here to kill us?" Lila asked.

Immediately she felt Kira glaring at her, a silent yes.

"That's a little unclear." Lord Rhodri shifted uncomfortably in his seat and glanced down the table. Lord Ajax sat up straighter at this and folded his arms over his chest.

"We merely want to take precautions." Lord Absalom folded his hands into a small steeple in front of him on the table. "I have argued that we should have gotten your introduction done and over with and have you all moved into the Jade Palace by now."

He glanced toward Absinthe meaningfully before looking back to the princesses. "But the situation has removed any leniency we might have had. The situation has become quite urgent."

"But maybe we could reason with them?" Lila stood up. "We could hear their grievances, work out a treaty or—"

Lord Ajax laughed, a derisive sound. Suddenly Lila understood exactly why he hadn't been allowed in the room before.

"Or they'll take the opportunity to force you to give up your powers, or sabotage the competition, or convince all three of you to leave the Trial by Fire so the curse remains for another generation." Lord Ajax then shrugged, his expression more contemplative. "Of course, they could also just kill you. That works too."

Absinthe and several other members of the Council of Crowns glared at him.

"Perhaps we should redirect our energy to more productive topics." Lady Rana looked to Lila. "Ultimately, we're looking into relocating you. You would have more time to train, and would gain more specialized mentors. And we would try to place you in a location that doesn't have any Paladin scouts nearby."

Jinn still didn't know. None of her family knew.

Lila couldn't let them tear her from her family, her friends, her life with no explanation. But she still wasn't ready to explain. There were so many secrets in her family, it seemed.

She didn't want the dragons to take everything from her. Not yet.

"That won't be necessary," Lila decided.

Everyone stared at her. She slipped into her fierce persona, sophisticated and charismatic with passion simmering just beneath the surface. Her frilly outfit became a uniform of a military officer, brought to a higher standard by her mere conviction and presence.

"We will always be in danger from these dragon-hunters, will we not?" Lila arched an eyebrow. "They'll want us dead for certain if we do become Pendragons, any of us. I see this as a challenge from— from above, that is." She looked to Kira, knowing the difference in her friend's faith from her own. "It's in our best interests to deal with this threat now. If we are to become leaders, we need to learn how to negotiate with our enemies and make friends of them."

She could see the subtle changes in expressions in the Council members— and the awe and agreement in Kira and Aideen. They knew it was a good idea.

"It is a test outside of our sacred trials," Lila added. "A way for the Council of Crowns to have a better idea of who may be the best-suited to the everyday tasks of leadership."

"I'll agree to it," Absinthe said. "But it is clear that we will need to move a little faster in your education. I'll tell Lady Anagharad to begin your spellwork at once. We will also begin planning your introduction."

Lord Absalom glared at Absinthe.

But Lila felt as if she were on fire. Not glowing, but brilliant, drawing the perfect audience and drawing eyes of awe and fear.

The best part, however, was the knowledge that they would be staying in Goldwater Harbor. Lila knew that for all the Paladins had frightened her, if she ever got her hands on a bow and arrow, they would be infinitely more afraid.

She would become a dragon. And she would never be a frightened little girl again.

Because she would be the Pendragon.