“Trina, I need you to take that boy back to Earth with you.”

  The words echoed in my head as I stared at my father. For a second, it felt like the cottage walls were closing in on me. Maybe the steam had cooked my brain, and I was going crazy. He couldn’t seriously have just asked that, could he?

  Finally, I forced the words out. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “No joke. I need you to do this. It's important. He’s important, one of the Keepers of the Tower of Light.”

  I blinked. “Right. The tower of Light, that I totally remember. Super important, and somehow not on my assigned reading list.”

  Dad grimaced. “We don’t have time for a history lesson now. Ask him if you want one. The important part is we’ve got assassins on our tail. Looks like a power play.”

  “Why Earth?”

  “I doubt anyone could follow you through that portal. I have to make it to Ranabur to deliver something important, but I promised his father I’d keep him safe. I told him I knew of somewhere his son wouldn’t be harmed. I keep my promises.”

  I grimaced. “That’s new.”

  Steam stirred above us, suddenly condensing and dripping from the ceiling like rain. One drop landed on my head, running down my temple, and I let out a frustrated hum. “Really?”

  He glared but then shifted his weight and sighed. The rain stopped, and there was just the sound of someone shutting something in the guestroom. Then quiet again. Finally, Dad said, “Maybe that’s deserved, but it doesn’t change the fact this boy is in danger, Trina. That he might die if you don’t help. What trouble can he get into on Earth?”

  I raised my eyebrows. Sure there were no assassins, but I could think of plenty of other problems. Like the fact that he was still recovering from what looked like a stab wound and didn’t have insurance. Or even ID.

  Dad tugged at his shirt sleeve before smoothing it again. “He’s a good kid. Please, Trina, just this one favor?”

  This wasn’t some teensy favor. This was a massive ‘this will be your life’ until I can figure things out favor. And Mom…

  “It’s not like I have my own place! What will Mom say if I bring home this random guy?”

  Dad folded his arms. “She’d tell you to do it. She’s been to Crithnon. She met the boy’s mother, got healed by that Light the first time around. I think she’d agree she owes it to the Keepers.”

  I remembered the story. I hadn’t realized this was the same magical healing tower, though. I’d never even been to Crithnon. Why did my parents’ connections have to be like this? Not hey, honey, here’s the house I grew up in, or that’s where I kissed my first boyfriend. No, for my family it’s here’s the descendant connected to that magical light that once saved your mom. Please escort him home so he doesn’t get assassinated.

  I let out a long breath. “So he’s like what? Some sacred guardian of this light?”

  Dad rubbed his temples. “Yes and no. He is a guardian, and at the same time… he is the Light. Crithlinor's Light. That’s what you saw before. That’s why—”

  I held up a hand. “Wait. Pause. He is the Light? What the heck is that supposed to mean?”

  Dad grimaced. “It’s complicated. You should just ask him. You’ll have plenty of time to talk, but the very abridged version is the Keepers essentially… bond with the Light. In the tower itself, it looks like some eternally burning flame, but it’s not exactly. The Keepers both guard the Light and are the Light, or an expression of it at least.”

  I sighed. “You’re right. That’s not clear at all, but given what I saw before, if he is the Light…”

  Dad nodded. “It’s dangerous. He’s dangerous, but you won’t have to worry about that on Earth. His magic shouldn’t work there.”

  I slid into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. It was damp. I’d wanted a break. Now I got… this. “He’s not going to have like… withdrawals or something from that? What if I take him through the portal and he just collapses on the ground right in front of me?”

  Dad grimaced. “I don’t think that will happen. I got trapped in a cave with his father one time. It had some ancient ward that cut off his connection to the Light. He didn’t enjoy the experience, but he didn’t collapse. The kid will be fine.”

  I groaned and rubbed my face, staring at a puddle on the floor. At least if I left I wouldn’t have to clean this place up tomorrow. I’d come here to escape the real world for a while, and somehow Dad had turned it into an international—no, interdimensional—babysitting job.

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  I looked up at him. “Fine. But if Mom is livid about me bringing home a magical refugee, you’re explaining it to her yourself.”

  Dad smiled, tired but genuine. “Deal.”

  Yeah. Sure. Like he’d ever be around for that conversation.

  I let out another breath, rubbing my eyes. “So, I guess tomorrow—”

  “Tonight,” Dad corrected.

  I stared at him. “Seriously? Light boy is asleep.”

  Dad’s lips twitched at my nickname for him, but then he slid into the chair across from me. “You can have an hour. Then we’ll wake him up. If those assassins come back, I want you both gone.”

  “But then you’ll be here alone.”

  He gave me a half-smile. “Think I can’t take care of myself? Also, Aoina and Alaron are here. Besides, they’re after Syrinthinor. If he’s not with us, they might just move on.”

  I snorted. “That seems a little optimistic, but sure, we’ll go with that.”

  “I’ll be fine, Trina.”

  I pouted. “I know. You’ll also be gone. Probably for ages and ages. Again.”

  He winced. “It’s important. You know I wouldn’t—”

  I held up a hand, cutting him off. “Yeah, I know. Doesn’t make it easier, though.”

  Silence hummed between us, and the only sound was water dripping to the floor. Finally, Dad let out a long breath. “I’m sorry, Trina. I’ll try and make it up to you.”

  “I’m going to force you to come to one of my intramural kickball games. Something entirely ridiculous. That’s my price. Deal?”

  Dad smiled, softer this time. “Deal.”

  “And you have to sit by Mom the whole time.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “And buy me gelato after.”

  “This feels like it’s turning into extortion.”

  “You love gelato.”

  He snorted. “Fine. You’d better do a fantastic job taking care of that kid, and if you do, I’ll stay for a whole week.”

  I grinned, then pranced over and pulled him into a hug. He groaned, but a moment later, his arms came around me too.

  For the next hour, Dad and I just talked, about me and my job, about his latest adventures. I prodded him about what he was taking to Ranabur, but he just got tight-lipped, and I gave up. An hour wasn’t even close to long enough, but I knew that pushing for longer would be a lost cause. Dad wouldn’t budge, not on this. Not when he was worried about me and everyone else’s safety.

  All the steam had condensed and dripped to the floor by the time Dad stood to wake Syrinthinor. He opened the door carefully, and a soft glow emanated from the room. “Is that… him?” I asked in English just in case Syrinthinor was awake.

  Dad just hummed in affirmation. “Told you. He has an… odd relationship with the Light. Some of it’s just unconscious.”

  The light pulsed for a moment, then someone in the room groaned. “Morning already?” a tired voice asked.

  “No, but it’s time to move,” Dad said. I sighed and gathered my stuff. It’s not like I had brought much anyway, just a backpack. I put it on before slipping my cloak over top.

  Syrinthinor finally emerged. He did not look like he should be going on a hike through the woods, but at least he wasn’t falling over anymore. Dad stowed things from Syrinthinor’s pack in the house. He wouldn’t really be able to use the rest of his clothes on Earth anyway without looking like he was going to a Renaissance fair.

  Finally, we were ready to go. Dad insisted on walking us to the portal himself, of course. “Escort to the gate,” he called it, like this was a formal procession instead of two half-awake people and one overprotective parent hauling a satchel full of whatever was left from Syrinthinor’s bags.

  Aoina and Alaron flanked us from behind, watchful silhouettes against the trees. The forest smelled of wet pine and cooling ash.

  Dad kept glancing at Syrinthinor. Not hostile, exactly. It was more the look of a man realizing he’d just handed his car keys to a teenager who barely knew what a stop sign was.

  “Your side feeling fine?” he asked for the third time.

  “I’ll be fine,” Syrinthinor said, voice still rough. “Thank you, Lord Torrik.”

  “Just Torrik,” Dad muttered, then added a little too sharply, “Earth’s a different place, but you should be safe there. Just don’t—” Dad hesitated, then finished all at once. “Trina’s your guide. That doesn’t mean she owes you anything. She’s my daughter, and—”

  I groaned. “Seriously, Dad? He’s bleeding, not flirting.”

  Dad shot me a look that said he could be both. I almost laughed, but something about the way his jaw tightened told me he meant it. It’s not like I’d ever really had a dad to glare at my prom dates. Not one that was present. It was weird to see him like this, but also… nice in a way.

  I glanced at Syrinthinor. His face was bright red, and I almost burst out laughing.

  Dad stared him down. “Don’t have to worry about that, sir,” Syrinthinor said. “I would never.”

  Dad looked slightly appeased. He glanced back at me. “It’s a long trip. I trust you, Trina. But I’m still allowed to worry.”

  I shot him a look. “That’s basically your brand.”

  He exhaled through his nose, almost a laugh. “Fair.”

  The cave entrance came into view, a dark wound in the cliffside. I pulled the lancing device from my pocket. I turned it over in my fingers, suddenly aware of the weight behind this tiny thing. “You’re sure they can’t follow us? I know it’s keyed to intent and blood or whatever, but are we positive there’s not another way through?”

  Dad grimaced. “As sure as anyone can be when dealing with magic that predates written history.” Then, quieter, “We’ll linger here for a day, recoup, and watch the portal to make sure. By then you'll be almost impossible to find, even if I'm wrong.”

  Syrinthinor bowed his head. “Something gets through, I’ll protect her.”

  Dad’s jaw tightened. “You won’t have your magic to protect her, but… see that you do.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Wow, nothing awkward about this at all.”

  That broke the tension; Dad finally smiled. “Go on, before I change my mind and lock you both in the cellar.”

  “What if I prefer that?”

  Dad let out a huff. “Trina.”

  “Fine, fine.”

  Syrinthinor stepped up next to me. I pricked my finger and pressed it to the stone. Gold light bled through the cracks, rippling into the familiar liquid shimmer. The cave filled with a soft rushing sound as reality bent.

  I turned back once more. Dad’s face was half-shadow, half-light. He gave a small nod, nothing dramatic, just steady, like he always was before a fight.

  “Kickball game,” I reminded him.

  “Gelato,” he answered.

  And then the light took us. The world folded, the same pull through my chest as always, only this time, it hurt a little more to leave.