“He’ll penetrate your shield like that.” Kai snaps his fingers. “You don’t know the extent of what he can do.”
“Not if he’s incapacitated. We outnumber him. All we have to do is get him alone.”
“You think he’s showing up here solo? He’s going to have an army with him, Jace. Use your big-boy military brain,” Serena goads.
He takes a deep breath, attempting to maintain his composure. “I’mtrying. Tohelpyou.”
“I don’twantyour help. In fact, I don’t even want to see your face.”
“Serena,” Mar warns.
But she continues, “I don’t want your plans, I don’t want your help, I don’t wantyou—period. So just get out.”
He recoils as if she’d slapped him. He’s even got the flushed cheeks to go with it. He opens his mouth and then closes it, grappling for words, his eyes a cocktail of misery and pain. Then without so much as a goodbye, he stalks from the room.
Kai blows out a long breath. “Harsh much?”
“It’s better this way. Trust me.” Serena leans forward, pushing her hands through her hair. “I’m not going to let Kylian get away with this. He is not coming for our home. And I fully intend to be the one to walk away from this fight. But just in case?—”
She gets to her feet. Mar holds up a hand to stop her. “No. We are not going there.”
“Absolutely not,” Sorscha adds, shifting to the edge of her seat.
“Look, if I don’t say this now, I might regret it.”
Serena’s lips curve into a sad smile.
“I used to think that living my life alone was the best way to protect myself. I thought the more you love, the more there is to lose. And I couldn’t fathom losing anyone else that mattered to me. I was broken when I came here. Maybe I still am. But I also found strength I didn’t know I had. Strength in all of you. Because now there is a reason to fight. I never realized how lonely my life had been, how empty it was, until I met you. Until you showed me that love isalwaysworth the risk—worth the pain. So even if this all goes up in flames, you need to know that I don’t regret a single moment of the time I’ve had with you. And I promise I will fight like hell for more of it.”
We all just stare. And this girl doesn’t think she could be queen?
“Cousin.” Sorscha lifts a trembling hand to her mouth, springing out of her seat and throwing her arms around Serena’s neck.
“Sorscha.” Serena catches her and holds tight. “I need you to trust yourself and know how much you’re worth. You’re so strong, and brave, and you are going to make an incredible queen?—”
“Hush! This is not goodbye. I refuse to allow it.” She sniffles, tears leaking down her cheeks.
Serena smiles, planting a kiss on her forehead, which only makes Sorscha sob harder. “Thank you. For being my friend. For being the sister I always wished for.”
“We are family,” Sorscha manages to get out. “I would do anything for you.”
A tear escapes down Serena’s cheek. “Ditto.”
She deposits the shaking princess into Eaton’s arms and turns to embrace the rest of our friends. Even Cece, to whom she sincerely apologizes for breaking her nose.
“I refuse to take part in this ridiculous sob-fest.” Mar’s steely gaze remains fixed on the opposite wall, fingers locked around her crossed knees.
“I would expect nothing less, but I’m hugging you anyway. Don’t worry, you don’t have to return the favor.” Mar stiffens as Serena bends to wrap her in a hug. “I want you to know I’m going to do everything I can to free those witches. So that they don’t have to choose.”
Marideth finally looks at her, a sad glimmer in her eyes.
“Be happy.” Serena straightens and glances around at everyone. “All of you. No matter what happens.”
“It’s sounding more and more like you don’t intend to be the one to walk away from this fight, savior.”
“I promise you, Kai.” Serena moves toward him, taking his hands. “I will fight and claw and kill my way back to all of you. If it’s the last thing I do.”
In their eyes, I see the echoes of their trauma. They forged a bond in Kylian’s clutches, their loyalty so deep it’s fused into their souls. I can read it as theycling to each other.
