Ellie scanned the landscape as she flew beside Elkay.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?"

Elkay nodded.

"Of course. I know where Costa Rica is. We'll be able to reach Barry before Spurr, no problem."

Ellie frowned.

"I think we're lost."

Elkay snorted.

"Oh, Ellie. Have a little faith in me."

"I see the London Eye."

Elkay's ears drooped as she spotted the streets of London below.

"Oh . . . Yeah, I think we might be lost."

Ellie sighed and leaned to the side, turning herself around.

"Follow me. Once I get my magic back, we can teleport to Costa Rica. In the meantime, let's reduce the distance a little."

They flew in silence until they reached the ocean. Elkay started humming to herself as they soared over the tumbling waves. Ellie rolled her eyes and fell back. As she did, a voice entered her head.

'Hello.'

Ellie frowned.

'Julia Spurr . . .'

'Ellie Sattler. Now that we've got the pleasantries aside, please listen to what I have to say.'

Ellie beat her wings harder to catch up with Elkay.

'By all means, tell the dragon, but if you do, you'll never hear my side of the story.'

Ellie scoffed.

'I'm not interested in hearing your side of the story.'

'That's why you're living a lie. You've been misguided by the dragon. Don't you ever wonder about her past?'

'All the time. She's telling me more every day.'

'Has she brought up Zebil?'

'Once or twice.'

'Ask her about him. Ask her about what he did. I promise you won't get a straight answer.'

Ellie snuffed.

'You don't know Elkay. She confides in me. She'll tell me anything I want to know.'

'Try her.'

Ellie flapped up beside Elkay.

"Spurr is telling me to ask about Zebil."

Elkay blinked.

"Spurr wants to know about Zebil?"

"No. She says there's something I need to know. Something to do with Zebil."

"What about him? His parents? He doesn't speak to them anymore."

'Ask her about the time he visited the novel canon.'

"She's telling me to ask you about the time he visited the novel canon," Ellie repeated.

Elkay stiffened.

"Nothing to tell. I mean, we slept together . . ."

'After he drugged her with Moly, of course.'

Ellie's eyes went wide.

"Is that true?"

"Is what true?" Elkay asked.

"Were you drugged?"

"Drugged? When?"

"You know when."

Elkay's ear twitched.

"Ellie . . . There's context. Neither of us knew who the other was, and-"

"You're apologizing for him."

Elkay folded her ears back.

"We all make mistakes . . ."

Ellie's jaw dropped.

"You mean to tell me that you've been dating a-"

"Don't say it."

Ellie turned around.

"I need a moment alone."

Elkay grabbed her with her tail.

"Don't go. You know Zebil. You've hung out with him for the last few months. You know he's a good guy. He would never hurt a fly unless I asked him to. The thing is, he got really drunk-"

"That's not an excuse."

Elkay gulped.

"Yes, I know. I just . . . Well, it wasn't him, you know?"

Ellie stared into the dragon's eyes.

"Elkay, nothing good can come from this."

"Something good did come from it."

"What?"

Elkay gave her a pointed stare. Ellie felt her heart drop.

"Oh god . . ."

'You see? She's keeping secrets from you. This isn't even the worst.'

Ellie frowned.

'She told me when I asked. She's not keeping anything from me.'

Spurr chuckled.

'You're so naïve, Ellie. You think she's a different person, but she really hasn't changed one bit. She does this every thousand years or so. She oscillates between extreme confidence and extreme dependence. She doesn't love Zebil, and she doesn't love you.'

'You're wrong.'

'We'll see.'

Elkay looked at Ellie anxiously.

"You're talking to her, aren't you? What's she saying?"

"Nothing important."

"What is she saying?" Elkay asked, more sharply.

"Drop it."

Elkay gulped and focused her attention on flying. Ellie flew above her and landed on her horns.

"Zebil never told me."

"He's not proud of it. It's taken him forever to get over what happened."

Ellie twisted her mouth.

"Didn't he only find out that it was you recently?"

Elkay nodded.

"Doesn't matter who it was: once you do something like that to a person, it stays with you forever."

Ellie nodded.

"I'm sorry. For both of you."

"Oh, don't be. You were well worth it."

Ellie winced.

"God, don't say that."

"It's true. All pain heals eventually, but love stays forever."

Ellie smiled. The moment didn't last long, however, for Spurr's voice once again entered her mind.

'You'll see how wrong you are tomorrow. I'll be waiting in Costa Rica.'