Brynne tapped into her thoughts:What kind of bird?
Aru grinned as she answered her. Then she sent a message to both Brynne and Mini.New plan. We have to work together. Mini, do you remember what the key looked like? We need aduplicate.
On it!came Mini’s reply.
The swan pecked at Mini’s violet force field. The bird made one, then two cracks in it, and finally the shield splintered. The swan was waddling past Mini toward Aiden’s hiding place when Aru ran forward and shouted:
“Did you know some peopleeatswans as a delicacy?”
The swan lifted its webbed foot. Aru stepped back. The swan drew closer as she retreated,matching her step for step. All the while, the bird’s narrow head swayed back and forth.Foe or food?it seemed to be asking.
“Would you rather be a swan burger or a swan panini?”
The swan hissed.
“Oh, sorry. Swan pasta, maybe?” Aru taunted. Then she telepathically asked Mini,How’s the decoy coming along?
Nearly ready.
Just as the swan let out an outraged squawk, Mini shouted, “Look whatI’ve got!” She waved a perfect replica of the key in the air.
The swan paused. It looked at the hedges, then at Mini. Then it squawked something that sounded a lot likeWHAT FRESH BETRAYAL IS THIS?
Now,Brynne!Aru ordered.
In a flash of blue, Brynne changed from an elephant to a regular-size swan. She swooped down low and snatched the fake key from Mini’s outstretched hand. Then, with twopowerful pumps of her wings, she shot off into the sky.
The swan let out a strangled cry—meaningMY BABY!—and took off after Brynne.
When Aru was sure the swan was gone, she and Mini ran over to the hedges. Aiden clambered out of his hiding spot, his face pale.
“That was a total Slytherin move,” Aiden said to Aru, dusting himself off. Sparks of electricity shot off Vajra and Aiden quickly added,“Not that that’s bad.”
“Is that your House?” Mini asked Aru.
Yes.
Aru shrugged. “Maybe? I dunno. I’d totally pretend to be Hufflepuff just to stay closest to the kitchens, though.”
Aiden stared at her. “You’re bizarre, Shah.”
It didn’t sound like an insult. For a split second, Aru felt that same tug of … something.
Aiden touched the watch at his wrist. His camera bag and camera returnedto his hip. He lifted the camera to his eye, toggling one of the switches.
“I see Brynne,” he said.
Aru squinted up at the sky, but all she saw were two birdish specks.
“Where’d you get an enchanted camera?” asked Mini, awed. “Is that legal? Because according to the Otherworld Transportation Security Guidelines—”
“Not this again,” groaned Aru.
“—you’re not allowed to bring a purchased enchantedobject back into the mortal realm unless you’re over the age of eighteen.”
“How do you even know that?” asked Aiden.
“I like rules,” said Mini primly.
