Conrad Edison and the Anchored World (Overworld Arcanum Book 2) by John Corwin

said. "I want to go here for the food."
    Ambria licked her lips. "It was wonderful."
    As if on cue, two golems appeared. One cleaned away the dishes, and the other dropped off small plates with dessert, and platters with cups of dark tea.
    "It's bread pudding!" Max shouted with glee.
    After reveling in our gluttony, we returned to the stadium and resumed our magic practice.
    "Are you certain we're safe here?" Max said. "What if Conrad's parents come through here on their way back from the crack in the world?"
    "I doubt they'd bother coming in here." Ambria waved a hand around at the towering remains of the fallen goliaths. "Besides, we have plenty of places to hide."
    I agreed. "They probably have a secret way of coming and going. I doubt they'll want anyone to see them until they're ready with their devious plans."
    Max shrugged. "Well, if you say so. Just don't blame me if they show up and kill us."
    Ambria rolled her eyes. "Enough dilly-dallying. Let's practice."
    After we'd successfully completed the exercises listed in the study guide, Max flopped spread-eagled onto the ground. "Finally!" he said. "I'm so tired of studying."
    "Yes, well rolling in the dirt certainly won't help," Ambria noted dryly.
    I hopped on my broom and climbed into the air for an overhead view of the boulders. During practice, I couldn't help but glance around for signs of Evadora, but even from this vantage I realized she hadn't come back to spy on us.
    We flew back down to the house and parked our brooms in the foyer. Ambria went upstairs and returned a moment later. "Blue isn't here," she said in a worried voice. "I wonder where she went?"
    Max shrugged. "Probably hunting cats."
    Ambria grimaced. "That's awful! Do lycans really do that?"
    Max was too busy rummaging through the pantry. He came up empty handed. "I'm starving, and you're out of groceries."
    "Because you eat everything," Ambria shot back.
    "Do not." He took the lone remaining slice of bread from the breadbox on the counter and took a bite. "Let's go to a restaurant."
    After dinner, Max left for his Uncle Malcolm's since he didn't like staying with his parents, and Ambria and I flew our brooms back to the house. I kept a close watch on the streets below, wondering if another of my parents' demon assassins hunted me even now.
    "Your parents worry me," Ambria said. "Whatever they're planning might affect our schooling."
    "I'm certain it will." As we flew over our street, I glided down for a landing. "I wonder if Galfandor will help us this time, or if we're on our own."
    She shook her head. "I don't understand that old man. You'd think he'd want a safer world for children."
    "I'd like to know what he's thinking." I landed my broom on the front lawn.
    "Hello, Conrad." Harris Ashmore waved from the other side of the stone wall separating our yards. "Who's your friend?"
    Ambria's eyes widened. "What's my last name, Conrad?" she whispered. "Help me think of something, fast!"
    I drew a complete blank. "Her name's Ambria," I said, hoping the conversation wouldn't drift to last names.
    The red-headed boy I'd seen with Harris yesterday ran up beside him. "Where's Cryberius?"
    I didn't like his tone, or the nickname they'd given Max, so I said nothing.
    "Why do you hang out with Max Tiberius?" Harris asked in a curious tone.
    "Because he's our friend," Ambria shot back. "Why do you hang out with a ginger who gets his jollies making fun of other people?"
    "Because I'm his friend," the other boy retorted.
    The curly-haired girl I'd seen them with came around the corner of the house. "Hello," she said. "I'm Lily."
    Ambria's hard gaze softened. "I'm Ambria and this is Conrad."
    Harris pointed to the other boy. "This is Baxter."
    Lily stepped beside Harris and looked me up and down. "Are you taking the entrance exam tomorrow? Harris said he saw you studying earlier."
    "Yes," I replied. "And you?"
    "Of course she is, and I am too," Baxter said. "If Harris is going to save the world, we've got to be