“We both do.”
“What am I supposed to tell people?”
“The costume story seemed to work.” Zara finally looked up. “I’m sorry. About the influence. I’ll be more careful. I promise.”
Ramona studied her face. The genuine remorse there. The way Zara was holding herself like she expected to be yelled at.
“Okay,” Ramona said.
“Okay?”
“You apologized. You’ll be more careful. And honestly, I could use the raise.” Ramona managed a weak smile. “Just… try not to magically compel anyone else today?”
“Noted.” Zara looked back at the thread. Reached out slowly and touched it. Her fingers passed through just like Ramona’s had, but she shivered. “Does it feel any different to you? Stronger?”
“No. Same as always.” Ramona frowned. “Can you feel it normally? The tether?”
“Not physically. It’s just… there. Background presence. Like knowing someone’s in the room with you.” Zara’s hand hovered over the glowing line. “But this is… I can almost feel it now. The heat of it.”
Ramona held her hand out, the light glowing above her open palm. “Strange.”
“Very.”
“We should go home,” Ramona said. “Maybe everyone will be out.”
They weren’t out.
Felix, Posey, Kashvi, and Cammie were all sitting on the couch and around the coffee table in the living room when Ramona opened the door. All four heads swiveled toward them in perfect synchronization. Eight eyes dropped to the glowing thread connecting Ramona and Zara.
“Don’t ask,” Ramona said before anyone could speak.
Posey’s eyebrows were somewhere near her hairline. “Of course.”
“Crystals,” Zara added.
“Crystals and a glowing magical rope,” Kashvi said slowly.
“So, this is the tether? How romantic,” Cammie said. Zara took a step closer to Ramona, farther from Cammie.
“Uh-huh.” Felix was grinning. “And how long does this last?”
“Could be until tomorrow afternoon,” Zara said, holding some of the tether slack in her hands. It seemed the longer the tether was visible, the more tangible it had become.
“Oh, this sounds like fun,” Posey said. “Do you have to stay close together? What happens if you have to pee?”
Ramona shuffled away from the curious looks they were getting, back down the hall toward her room. “We’re going to my room now. Please pretend this is normal.”
“Nothing about you two has been normal since day one,” Felix called after them. “Why start now?”
Ramona dragged Zara down the hallway and into her bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind them.
In the privacy of her room, after checking that the fox hadn’t returned yet, Ramona finally let herself really look at the thread.
It was beautiful, actually. The golden light pulsed gently, like a heartbeat or a breath. Where it disappeared beneath her sternum, she could feel a warmth that wasn’t uncomfortable. Just… present.
“Can I try something?” Ramona asked.
“What?”
