“Be careful,” Zara insists, taking one last look at us. She binds the stranger’s wrists, keeping Magda close as she moves them both farther into the Forge.
Amaya channels Death. The portal is wobbly, but after a moment it rights itself. She shoots me a proud grin.
Draven’s hand lifts, the tattoo on the back glowing as he checks it. He nods to Scorpius, Malik, and Fable. “Ready?”
“What’s waiting for us?” Malik asks.
“He said the seraphs would be invading the palace. Prepare yourselves for a fight,” Draven tells them, and everyone exchanges a dark look.
Draven’s eyes snag on mine briefly before he rushes through with his friends.
I turn to mine. Wynter looks lost to his grief, furious tears drawing paths through the blood down his face. Amaya is being held by Cleona, but she looks to me with determination in her gaze, holding that portal strong. Ember stands like a shade of her former self, no light limned in her at all as she stares into that dark portal.
“You don’t have to—” I start.
“I’m with you,” Wynter insists. “He killed Felix.” He says it simply, like there is no other option. And I realize he’s right.
“For Felix,” Cleona and Amaya say.
I nod at them and turn to Ember last.
“Not all changelings are traitors.” Her eyes spark with fire.
We turn and march through the darkness, and I pray to the gods and stars to keep us all breathing until morning.
33They Hold No Power over Me
The World card signifies an ending of the Fool’s journey. She may be afraid to close the book, to see the end through, but only by completing the cycle, and overcoming fear, may the journey end.
WE EXIT ATthe front lawns of the palace. It’s an area I’ve never seen, having only been to Court at the Autumn Equinox, the one night the castle went unwarded. Kasper is sprinting in the opposite direction across the lawn, where it stretches into the dark forests in the distance.
“Where is he going?” Amaya asks.
“He’s probably signaling to his allies,” I reply, and turn to Draven. “The seraphs will be here soon.”
“We need to rouse the castle,” Draven croaks.
The others shoot a questioning look my way. “My mom is … important,” I tell them. I glance to Draven and he gives me a careful nod. “King Altair thinks there’s a possibility she could put an end to the Curse and he’s here to take herhostage.” Our friends break out into murmurs, all of them confused.
“Why would he think that?” Scorpius asks.
“What’s it matter?” Wynter challenges him. He points after Kasper, still sprinting away from us. “We need to kill him and protect Rune’s mom.”
“It’s just a surprise to us,” Fable says, glancing between me and Draven.
“We don’t have time to explain all this.” Draven growls, “Listen to Rune.”
I roll my shoulders and meet the others’ eyes. “This goes beyond Kasper. The seraphs want war with the mortals, and they will go through Sedah to make that happen. If they get their hands on a cure for the Curse, they’ll force Sedah into joining their war against the mortals to gain access. It’s a lose-lose scenario. Sedah may not have always been our home, but it is now. We need to hold the line until backup arrives.”
“We’ll follow your lead, Rune.” Malik nods to me. He puts his fist over his heart, and one by one, to my stunned surprise, the others follow suit. I take a deep, steadying breath.
“We keep our highest Arcana users at the front, phalanx our formation, and let the lower Arcanas stay in the wings.” I turn to Ember, and gone is the far-off look in her eyes, but instead a steadfast resolution lines her very bones. “We need weapons. A lot of them.”
“On it.” Ember summons the Star and begins to work, crafting swords and daggers and starlit bows.
I turn to Draven as the others gather around her, making requests.
“Someone needs to warn King Silas and move your family and my mother to safety. You’re in no position to fight.”
