Just as Raen had warned, I'd been suspended from work. I'd been idle at home for over a week now, and only Lilly occasionally managed to drag me out for walks. Saturday had arrived, but it made no difference. Just another empty day stretching ahead.

  I drifted through the apartment like a ghost, unable to settle on anything. Several times I'd almost contacted Raen or someone from the team to see how the investigation was going, but I didn't have their personal contacts. And showing my face at the Enclave felt impossible.

  Sharp, insistent knocking at the door. I recognized Lilly's impatient rhythm. Probably another attempt to force me outside. I didn't want to go anywhere, but ignoring her was pointless.

  "Still wallowing," she said accusingly, taking in my unbrushed hair and wrinkled clothes.

  I shrugged and shuffled toward the kitchen. She followed.

  "Get dressed. We're going to the lakes."

  "I don't want to."

  "Alice, enough already." Lilly's voice sharpened. "So your plan failed. That's not a reason to give up. And it's definitely not a reason to stop brushing your hair. Pull yourself together. Go make yourself presentable."

  "What's the point? I'm suspended anyway. I don't want to go out, and I have nowhere else to be."

  "Fine. Then let's go to a bar and get drunk."

  "Isn't it a bit early? It's noon."

  "Perfect! That gives us almost a whole day to get properly wasted and make bad decisions about the night!" Lilly said with enthusiastic brightness.

  More knocking. Louder this time.

  I looked at Lilly in confusion. She shook her head. "Don't look at me. I'm already here!"

  I opened the door without checking the peephole.

  Raen stood there in casual clothes — comfortable pants and a light sweater. I'd never seen him outside of work attire.

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  "Arcanis?" The word caught in my throat. My mind immediately registered that I should have made myself presentable this morning. Acute embarrassment washed over me as I stood before him looking like this.

  "Hello, Alice." His eyes traveled over me, and he frowned. "No plans today, I take it?"

  I made an indignant sound and stepped aside to let him in.

  "No plans at all, Raen," Lilly appeared behind me. "Why? Do you have a proposal?"

  "Hello, Lillian. Good to see you. Actually, perfect that you're both here. My invitation extends to you both."

  We looked at him questioningly.

  "My sister has a house near the lakes. Her whole family's there now, and I'm heading over. Barbecue, wine, guitar music by the fire. I'd very much like you both to join us. Fresh air, beautiful scenery..."

  We answered simultaneously.

  "No." That was me.

  "Absolutely!" That was Lilly.

  Raen's gaze bounced between us, uncertain.

  "I don't want to impose," I said, tugging my stretched shirt lower, suddenly aware of the stain on my sweatpants.

  "Don't be ridiculous." Lilly grabbed my arm and dragged me back toward the kitchen. "Give us a minute, Arcanis!"

  In the kitchen, she grabbed both my shoulders. "I swear I will boycott you and refuse to feed you ever again if you refuse to go."

  "Lilly —"

  "Bathroom. Now." She practically shoved me toward the door. Then called out to Raen, "Alice will be ready in twenty minutes. Make yourself comfortable in the living room, please. Oh, would anyone mind if I brought my cat? I don't often get to take him outdoors."

  "Uh... a cat? Don't they prefer staying home?"

  "My boy loves walks."

  "Sure, bring him," Raen said after a pause. "Fair warning though — there are two girls there, five and six years old. They'll smother him with attention."

  "Perfect. Busty loves attention." Lilly sounded delighted as she left.

  I stood under the hot water, letting it wash away more than just the past week's lethargy. Fine. The house on the lakes it is. I'd wanted to talk to Raen anyway.

  Twenty minutes later, I emerged in clean clothes — comfortable pants, a simple shirt, and a soft pale blue sweater. My hair fell in loose blonde waves around my shoulders.

  Raen was studying the arcanegraphs scattered throughout my living room. Me alone. Me with my parents. Me with my cheerful grandfather. Me and Lilly. Me and Busty.

  He was so absorbed he didn't notice me at first.

  "I'm ready."

  He startled.

  "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

  "I was distracted. You have a lot of arcanegraphs." His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary.

  "Yes." Looking at the familiar faces made me smile. "That's my parents, as you probably guessed. And my grandfather. And that's Busty —Lilly's cat."

  "Ah, so that's who I'm about to meet?"

  "He's like her child," I explained. "She loves taking him on outings. Though honestly, the fresh air is good for him."

  The front door burst open.

  "I'm here! Ready to go?" Lilly called out.

  "Ready," Raen said, looking at me.

  A flutter of nervous anticipation stirred in my chest. What had seemed like another dreary day was turning into something entirely unexpected.