Walter hovers at the front, pulsing with that strange purple light. Mouse stands beside him — panther-sized, violet eyes gleaming. Bob’s form is massive, sharp-edged, flanked by shadows I don’t recognize.
Shadows that look like Bob.
Shadows that look likeValkyries.
And behind them—
Thousands.
Hundreds of thousands.
So many they block out what’s left of the daylight. So many I can’t see where they end. So many that the weight of their presence makes my chaos magic whimper and go quiet.
They’re not looking at the God.
They’re looking ather.
I move without thinking. Slow. Quiet. Careful, like any sound might shatter whatever fragile balance is holding this moment together.
Kaia is still facing the God. Still hovering. Still radiating power like she’s become something more than human.
She doesn’t see them.
She doesn’t know.
I reach up — her wings are too high, but her hand is close enough — and my fingers close around her wrist.
Gentle.
Trembling.
She looks down at me. Violet eyes blazing with power I don’t understand.
I pull her down, she lets me. I lean in.
Right at her ear.
“Kaia.”
My voice is barely a whisper.
“Look.”
Chapter 41
Kaia
Finn’s fingers close around my wrist.
Gentle. Trembling.
I look down at him — his green eyes too bright, his face pale, his chaos magic curled tight against his skin like it’s trying to hide.
He tugs, and I let him pull me down. Let my feet touch the ground. Let my wings fold against my back, still humming with power I don’t fully understand.
He leans in. Right at my ear.
“Kaia.”
