I quickly found the source of that delicious scent. Several glass French coffee presses rested atop one of the tables. Steam curled from coffee cups the Searchers sipped while sitting and talking quietly with one another. Monroe poured coffee into Tess’s cup. She wasn’t crying now, but her face was tight with grief. Adne was with them, a guitar in her lap. Connor was there too, looking a bit haggard. I was surprised to see Silas sitting next to Monroe.

The mood of the room made it clear the Searchers had gathered to mourn their dead. As much as the coffee’s scent enticed me, I didn’t want to interrupt them. I had started to turn when I heard my name.

I looked over my shoulder. Monroe was beckoning. I approached the table hesitantly.

“Do you need something?” the Guide asked.

“No,” I said, uncomfortable now that all their eyes were on me. “I wasn’t sleeping well and I smelled the coffee.”

“From upstairs?” Connor asked.

I nodded, shifting on my feet.

“Neat trick.” He smiled, taking a flask from his belt and adding its contents to his coffee. Whiskey, I guessed, from the sharp, peatlike scent of the amber liquid.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I said.

“You aren’t.” Tess gestured for me to sit, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and pushing it in front of the empty chair beside her. “Please join us.”

“We’re just sharing stories,” Adne said. She idly strummed the guitar strings. “About Lydia and Grant.”

“You could offer a story if you’d like,” Monroe said. “It’s how we honor the dead and keep them with us.”

“Me?” I frowned, though I took the seat and wrapped my hands around the warm coffee cup.

“You saw Grant more than we did.” Silas had a notebook open in front of him, but he looked up from his writing. “You must have a story you could share.”

I thought about Mr. Selby. What could I say? He’d been a good teacher. But somehow “Big Ideas was my favorite class” only sounded lame.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I really don’t think I can.”

“No worries,” Connor said, taking a swig of his spiked coffee. “I don’t think I can take any more tales of woe tonight.”

“Don’t be a boor.” Silas had put pen back to page. “Show some respect.”

“Lydia was a fighter,” Connor said. “She’d think we were fools to mope over her.”

“Connor,” Monroe chided, looking at Tess. But she shook her head.

“He’s right.” Tess smiled. “We’re all terribly disappointing to her right now, I’d guess.”

“You could never disappoint her.” Adnereached out and touched Tess’s cheek.

Tess’s eyes glistened, but she kept smiling.

Adne smiled too, but she wasn’t looking at Tess. “Hey, sleepyhead, ever hear of a comb?”

I turned to see Shay hastily running his fingers through his hair, though it didn’t do much to fix the mess of soft curls. He’d pulled on jeans and a T-shirt, but other than that, it was clear he’d just rolled out of bed.

“Sorry,” he said. “I had some bad dreams and couldn’t get back to sleep. Then I smelled coffee. . . .”

“Like peas in a pod,” Connor said.

I glanced at Shay, wondering if he was still angry. He dropped into the chair between me and Adne. When he offered a sheepish smile, I knew he was sorry we’d fought. So was I. I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

“I couldn’t sleep either.”

He put his arm around my shoulders.

Silas was eyeing us.

“What?” I asked, not caring for his scrutiny.

“I’ve been weighing competing theories about the Scion,” he said. “I can’t decide if it’s more likely that your turning him enhanced his skills or sapped them.”

“What skills?” Shay asked.

“You have innate power,” Silas continued. “Because of your heritage.”

“My heritage?” Shay was frowning. “You mean all that knights and demons stuff you were talking about before?”

“I mean your father, of course.” Silas tilted his head, squinting at Shay’s face before he turned back to his notebook, scribbling furiously.

I sat up. “Are you taking notes on him?”

“Of course.” Silas didn’t raise his head.

“Knock it off!” I slapped the pen out of his hand.

Silas gaped at me.

“You know.” Connor grinned at me. “I think I kind of love you.”

“I was merely recording my observations.” Silas went after his pen. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I’m not an opportunity,” Shay sputtered. “I’m a person.”

“You’re the Scion,” Silas countered. “It’s imperative that we have a full grasp of your potential before we make our next move. Anika has put me in charge of gauging your ability to carry out the necessary tasks.”

Monroe sighed. “I don’t think she meant for you to notate all your interactions with Shay, Silas.”

“Yeah.” Connor slugged back more coffee and refilled his cup. “Why are you always such a freak?”

“You’re a knuckle dragger.” Silas sat down, glaring at Connor. “I like me more.”