"They're stabilizing him," one of the healers announces, and the relief that floods through Nesilhan nearly buckles my knees.
She lets out a sob—half laugh, half cry—and presses Zoran's hand to her forehead. "You're fighting," she whispers. "Of course you're fighting. You stubborn ass."
Elçin sinks into a chair, her sword clattering to the floor. Blood seeps from a dozen small wounds. Yasar leans against the far wall, his clothes torn and scorched. For once, there's no sardonic commentary. Just exhaustion.
We look like what we are—survivors of a massacre, barely held together by sheer stubbornness and rapidly depleting reserves of power.
"We can't win this war," I say quietly, the admission costing me more than any spell I cast tonight. "Not like this. Not against Taren's endless reinforcements."
Everyone turns to look at me. Emir's expression is carefully neutral, but I can see the agreement in his eyes.
"Then what do you propose?" Elçin asks, her voice rough with exhaustion.
The answer comes to me with the crystalline clarity of desperation. "The Twilight Eclipse is tomorrow night. Both courts' magic will weaken. The Veil Between becomes accessible—the only time it's possible to cross safely."
Understanding dawns across Nesilhan's face. "Banu," she breathes.
I nod. "If she's truly trapped there, tomorrow night is our only chance to reach her. And if we can free her..." I pause. "The fae have power that predates both courts. Power that doesn't play by the same rules. If anyone can help us turn this war, it's them."
"You're talking about entering a realm that exists between life and death," Emir says slowly. "A place where reality itself becomes fluid."
"I'm talking about survival," I counter. "Ours, and everyone in this gods-forsaken realm who's counting on us to stop Taren's butchery."
"I'm coming with you." Nesilhan's voice cuts through any further debate. It's not a request. Simply an immutable fact.
I turn to face her, ready to argue. But the look in her eyes stops the words in my throat.
She's not asking for permission. She's informing me of her decision.
And looking at her now—bloodied and exhausted but unbowed, her grip still fierce on Zoran's hand—I realize that arguing would be pointless. We made a promise. Together. That was the word we chose.
"Together," I say, and she nods.
"I'm going too." Elçin pushes herself upright, wincing. "You'll need someone who understands the old magic. My people have stories about the Veil."
"As do mine," Yasar adds quietly. "And my fire-shadow magic might be useful in a place where normal rules don't apply."
I want to refuse him. But he's not wrong. In a realm of impossible physics, his particular brand of wrong magic might be exactly what we need.
"Fine," I say. "The four of us will enter the Veil tomorrow night during the Eclipse."
"My lord—" Emir starts.
"No." I cut him off before he can volunteer. "I need you here. Someone has to hold the Shadow Court together if we don't make it back. Someone has to protect Zoran while he heals. Someone has to keep Taren from walking through our front door."
Understanding and frustration war across his face. He wants to argue, wants to point out that protecting me is his duty. But he's also tactician enough to recognize the truth.
"How long do we have once we enter?" Elçin asks.
"Three hours," I say. "The Eclipse lasts exactly three hours. When it ends, the Veil closes. Anyone still inside..." I trail off. The Veil isn't a place meant for living things.
"Three hours to find Banu, free her, and get out." Nesilhan's voice is steady despite the impossible odds. "While fighting whatever horrors the Veil throws at us. Simple."
The sarcasm in her tone is so sharp I almost smile. Almost.
"He's stable," the lead healer announces, and I watch the last of the tension drain from Nesilhan's shoulders. "Critical, but stable. The next twenty-four hours will be crucial."
"He will survive," Nesilhan says with absolute certainty. "Because I'm going to tear apart reality itself to find the one thing that might actually save all of us. And then I'm coming back here and he's going to meet her."
