Jamie simply gaped at her, speechless, still not quite able to believe she was actually standing in front of him. He hadn’t realized just how broken he had been without her, how lost.
She raised her eyebrows at him, waiting for an answer.
“I’m a rubber ball, I always bounce back,” Jamie said eventually, regaining use of his tongue.
“That’s Rob and we both know it,” Emma retorted, and then her face softened. “You, baby brother, are a lot more sensitive.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Isn’t that proof enough that I’m tougher than you think?”
Emma shook her head and hugged him again. “Tough? That’s funny coming from someone who fainted at the sight of me. But, I’m so glad to see you, thick skull and all. But you need to get back.”
Jamie shook his head. “No, not until you tell me everything.”
“I will. Meet me here tomorrow night. Twenty minutes past midnight. I’ll make sure the corridor is clear and this door unlocked.”
Emma shoved him toward the door. “Now get out of here before you get us both into trouble!”
***
Emma was as good as her word, and the next night, Jamie found his way to the empty side room without trouble. She was waiting for him, sitting cross-legged on the floor. The light from the open door cast a golden, honeyed glow over her. Her long blonde hair was pulled from her face into a messy ponytail, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and heart-shaped chin. She looked up as his shadow fell across her, blue eyes dancing with familiar mischief. She patted the ground next to her, and he settled beside her, carefully pulling in his long legs.
“Where have you been?” he asked. “We thought you were dead.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
For a second, Jamie felt a flash of anger at her offhand apology. Did she not realize the amount of heartache her disappearance had caused? The risk that they had all been willing to take to get her back? But he had always found it impossible to stay angry at Emma, especially now, when he was filled with relief that she was alive.
Jamie shook his head. “I never believed it, you know. That you were gone. I could still feel you, the glow of your life, forever connected to mine.”
Emma rested her head on his shoulder. “I know.”
“So why didn’t you send word?”
“I couldn’t, they’ve had me trapped in this place.”
“Are you a prisoner?”
“No.” Emma sighed. “Not a prisoner, as such. More like a guest, kept under lock and key.”
“Sounds a lot like a prisoner to me,” Jamie said doubtfully.
“Except I’m not trying to escape.” Emma shuffled around so that they were face to face. “You’ve met the Archivist,” she said. It wasn’t a question, more a statement of fact. Jamie nodded nonetheless.
“He’s ancient.”
Jamie lifted his eyebrows. “You could say that.”
“Well, he’s dying. And it’s time to find his replacement. Archivists are chosen, much like the Council. The Source chose me.”
“What?” Jamie exclaimed.
Emma nodded. “I was chosen last year, and since then, they’ve been training me slowly to take his place. I couldn’t say no, but I didn’t really want to. The Archivist is the keeper of all Gifted knowledge. Can you imagine it? Once I take his place, I’ll know everything. I’ll be able to lay bare every secret of the Council. We’ll finally have the ammunition to take them down. Once and for all.”
“But—”
“No buts, Jamie. I’m fine. I’m safe. They won’t hurt me—I’m too precious a commodity to them. And this is the best chance we have. We’ll finish everything, and then we can walk away. You’ll settle down quietly with Ally, and I’ll travel the world, stopping by every so often to spoil rotten the horde of children you and Ally will have.”
“Ems…”
She looked up at the doubt in his voice. “What is it?” she asked.
Jamie fell silent, unsure of what to say.
Emma poked him gently in the ribs. “Spit it out, baby brother. It can’t be that bad. And I know about Ally and the Elemental Trials. They keep me locked away, but I hear enough to know she kicked ass.”
The corners of his lips lifted in a small smile. “Yeah, she really did. She fell into the Between, turned out to be powerfully Gifted, won the Elemental Trials, and through it all, she drifted further and further from me.”
A crease appeared between Emma’s eyes. “What are you saying? You and Ally have been together forever. You’re the most sickly sweet couple I’ve ever set my eyes on. My teeth start rotting immediately just being close to you two.”
Jamie shrugged helplessly, as much at a loss to explain it as he had been months ago, the intervening time doing nothing to improve his understanding. “I guess things change. You know what they say—the only constants in life are death and taxes. But they should really add change to the list.”
Emma swept his doubts away with a quick sweep of her arm. “This will pass. You and Ally are meant to be, soul mates and the like—however ridiculous that sounds. You’ll find your way back to each other.”
Jamie shook his head. “I don’t think so. Sometimes, I wonder if I ever knew her at all…”
Emma fell into silence, reaching for his hand and entwining her fingers with his.
Jamie smiled suddenly. “Do you remember the wasps?” he asked.
Emma looked up, a flash of empty confusion crossing her face before she smiled brightly. “Of course,” she said. “You got stung and cried like a little baby.”
Jamie studied her face closely, searching for the joke. There wasn’t one to be found. He shook his head slowly. “No, the day Ally got stung.”
The same empty look shot across her
