Ulysses''s attitude left Valerian a little unsettled, his feelings a tangled mess.


    He just couldn''t wrap his head around it. Why was Ulysses acting this way?


    He could''ve sworn Ulysses used to really like Lisette. The guy was always looking out for her, treating her with nothing but kindness.


    But now? It was obvious he couldn''t care less. Heck, it even seemed like he was actively annoyed with her.


    Had Lisette done something to tick him off?


    That didn''t sound right.


    Valerian nced at Lisette, suspicion in his voice. "Did you and Uly have some kind of falling out?"


    "No, not at all," Lisette replied, baffled, watching Ulysses walk away. She''d always bent over backwards to keep her brothers happy. She needed their support to hold her ce in the Jewell family.


    "Are you sure?" Valerian pressed, still frowning. He didn''t get it. Ulysses used to be just like him, always quick to defend Lisette. And yet now, the way Ulysses had looked at him, the coldness in his eyes... It made Valerian downright uneasy.


    "I''m sure," Lisette said, furrowing her brow. "Maybe he''s just got the wrong idea about something. Or maybe Callie said something to him. I''ll talk to him when I get a chance."


    "That''s probably for the best. You know, he used to be your biggest fan." Valerian knew that out of all of them, Ulysses had always cared most about Lisette. Which made this sudden shift all the more bizarre.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Calliope and the rest of


    the gang were strolling through town, taking in the sights. It was a small ce, sure, but it was lively, with folks selling homemade pres and cinnamon rolls at little stands lining the street.


    Every now and then, a parade would pass by-marching bands, kids in costumes, people tossing candy-and the whole street would buzz with excitement.


    After a while, a big parade float rolled by, and the group paused to watch. The air was filled with the crackle and pop of fireworks, and the crowd pressed in close, everyone jostling for a better view.


    Calliope was tucked safely under Ss''s arm, the fireworks were loud, and Ss gently covered her ears, shielding her from the stray sparks and the noise. His jacket ended up with a few burn holes, but he didn''t seem to care.


    Across the way, Norton shot a nce at Ss, then at Mavis. After a moment''s thought, he turned to her. "Hey, Mavis, does all this freak you out?”


    Mavis shook her head. She''d seen worse—actual gunfire never fazed her, let alone a few firecrackers.


    "Didn''t think so," Uriah said, nodding.


    But then Norton slid closer, covering


    uj


    Mavis''s ears with his hands and shing her a grin. "Come on, what girl wouldn''t be a little spooked? Even if you''re not, this noise can mess up your hearing. Gotta dook out for you!"


    He winked at her. "And watch out for those sparks. You don''t want your dress getting scorched."


    Mavis had never been this close to anyone before, and she felt a little awkward. Still, Norton was easy to talk to, and he quickly distracted her from the chaos.


    Uriah stared at Norton in disbelief, fuming. Norton was always ready to swoop in at the perfect moment. How did he do it?


    Uriah thought, She''s my protégé. There''s no way she''d be scared of something like this.