Sophie rubbed her head, trying to build a mental pros-and- cons list. “What would you do?” she asked Fitz. “If you were the one having to make this choice?”

He brushed his hand through his hair and stared out the window. “Honestly? I don’t know. I’m sure it would take our Cognate powers to a whole other level—but I would never want to put you in more danger just for that.”

“I feel like there has to be a gadget I could make that would give you more control than a pair of gloves,” Dex mumbled. “I wonder what would happen if I made some tweaks to two nexuses—one for each wrist.”

He started mumbling to himself, switching to a techie language no one else understood as Sophie focused on Biana. “What about you?”

“I think . . . if you do it, that means it’s on us to step up,” she said quietly. “We’re the ones who get stronger, so we need to work harder to protect you.”

“And I know I speak for your currently absent bodyguard,” Grizel said, slinking out of the shadows, “when I say that—should you choose to take on this ability—you must make every effort to keep it secret.”

“I agree,” Mr. Forkle said. “But the decision is still yours, Miss Foster. And we will support whatever you decide.”

Sophie stared at her hands, trying to imagine all the crazy ways being an Enhancer would change everything.

Then she thought about Wylie.

And Brielle.

And Kenric.

And Jolie.

And all the nights she’d lost sleep, worrying about her friends and family. All she’d wanted was to keep them safe—and here was a new, important way.

“Trigger the ability,” she whispered. “I can handle it.”

SIXTY-SEVEN

LAST CHANCE TO change your mind,” Mr. Forkle told Sophie as he held his fingers a hairsbreadth from her temples.

She took a deep, calming breath as her friends squeezed her hands.

“Do it.”

The second his fingers pressed down, warmth flooded into Sophie’s head. The sensation felt strange—like sunshine tickling her brain—but also soothingly familiar, taking Sophie back to the other times she’d had her abilities triggered. She’d barely been conscious during those moments, so she’d never experienced the moment when the talent clicked—like someone flipped a switch, sending new currents of energy pulsing from head to toe. Her heart raced just as fast, her breaths shallow and frenetic—until the rush settled into her hands and turned warmer. Threads of heat seemed to weave together under the skin of her fingers, forming a thin layer that felt inherently right. She hadn’t realized how empty her hands had been without it. But now she was exactly as her body meant her to be.

“Feels like it already worked,” Mr. Forkle said as he backed away, sinking into the chair and rubbing his sweaty temples. “But perhaps we should test it to be sure?”

Sophie offered Fitz a hand. “Care to try it out, Captain Cognate?”

Fitz beamed his movie-worthy smile. “I’d be honored—though I’m not sold on that nickname.”

He reached for her hand, his touch as warm and gentle as ever. Their fingers twined together and . . .

“Whoa. It’s like . . . having all the fog shoved out of my mind—which is extra weird because I never thought my concentration was cloudy.” He let go of Sophie’s hand and creases settled across his brow. “Ugh. And now it’s all fuzzy again.” He took her hand and his face relaxed. “Wow, this is going to make me want to hold your hand all the time.”

Biana rolled her eyes. “Easy now, big brother. Let go of my friend or I will drop you like we’re playing bramble.”

Fitz blushed and did as Biana ordered.

Sophie was sure her cheeks couldn’t get any redder as Biana grabbed her hand and instantly turned invisible.

“This is so crazy,” Biana’s disembodied voice whispered. “I don’t even have to try to keep the light away. It just glides through me like I’m made of glass.”

“My turn!” Dex said, rushing closer as Biana reappeared.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t treat Miss Foster like she’s our shiny new toy,” Mr. Forkle warned.

“Right,” Dex mumbled. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Sophie said. “I’m curious too. And who knows, maybe you’ll suddenly know how to build one of those Lodestar symbol gadgets. Or those special nexuses to replace the gloves like you’d been talking about.”

“Oh, that’s true!” Dex’s palm felt a little sweaty as he wrapped his fingers around hers and closed his eyes. “Wow, my brain feels like it’s working on a hundred things at once. It’s . . . I can’t keep up with it all—o”

“Are you okay?” Sophie asked as he stumbled back, rubbing his head.

“Yeah, just info overload. I bet it would’ve been different if I’d been holding whatever gadget I wanted to work on, since my ability always focuses on something specific. Instead I got this random mix of, like, memories and blueprints and . . . I don’t even know. So many good ideas—I’m afraid I’m going to forget them all.”

“Here,” Biana said, handing him a notebook and pen from one of Alden’s desk drawers. “Maybe make some notes?”

“Good idea!” Dex dropped into a chair and scribbled furiously.

“It doesn’t hurt when you’re passing the power to us, right?” Fitz asked Sophie.

“No. All I get is a tingle in my fingers. And it doesn’t feel like it drains me either—but that might change if you hold on for a long time.”

“Your body will give you cues to let you know if you’re pushing yourself too hard,” Mr. Forkle assured her. “Though I do think you should try to rest now. Triggering an ability is an exhausting process—and you’ve had a very long, very challenging day.”

Sophie wanted to protest, but as soon as she stood, her head felt twirly. And by the time she’d made it back to the guest room, she barely managed to change into her pajamas and grab Ella before she collapsed into the giant bed.

It was a dreamless, dead-to-the-world kind of sleep, and she might’ve kept it up forever if someone hadn’t shaken her awake.

When she opened her eyes, she was staring into the face of a stuffed sparkly red dragon.