Tallah has just finished speaking when the air beside me ripples, turns black. I leap to my feet, but not out of fear. The moment Piers strides through, I throw myself into his arms and hug him to me.

"You idiot," I whisper in his ear before leaning back and hitting him hard in the shoulder. He rolls with the punch, letting out a squeak of protest while I hug him again. "What are you doing here?"

Piers grins at me when I finally ...