“Then we blow it sky-high,” Tessa said, rubbing her hands together.
“It sounds like you don’t even need me to make a plan this time,” Kieran remarked.
Nox gave him a lazy smile. “I’ll always need you, Kieran.”
“What say you, oh mighty Alchemist?” Tessa asked Milo, propping her elbows on the table to face him.
“Someone’s got to stay behind,” Milo said. “I’ll keep a team of Alchemists here to ward the Keep. We can’t leave it unprotected.”
“Are you sure?” Nox asked.
“You know I don’t like fighting.” Milo smiled pensively, hints of the grief he still bore shining through. “Silas wasn’t a warrior either. He taught me protection is just as powerful as destruction. I’m where I’m meant to be.”
Tessa reached for his hand across the table. “He would be so,soproud of you.”
“We’ll need more people,” Kieran said. “If this it to be where we make our stand, we cannot do it alone.”
Nox nodded. “Already three steps ahead of you. Everett, evaluate who among the refugees is fit to fight, and we’ll give them the choice. Tessa, get everyone outfitted with weapons and protection charms. Milo, we’ll need at least one strong fire quartz and an Alchemist who can activate it when we’re ready.”
I shifted on my feet, my eyes glued to him taking charge and doling out instructions. I knew this was serious. I kneweverythingwas at stake, and we were walking straight into the arms of the enemy.
But, Fates, if watching Nox in his element wasn’t the hottest thing I’d ever seen.
The faint shimmer in the air was the only warning before Arowyn popped into existence in the space next to me. I let out a yelp and jumped to the side.
“Well, it’s good to see you too,” she quipped, but I didn’t miss the way she reached for the table, her legs unsteady as she tried to get her balance.
When Nox looked at her with a raised eyebrow, she nodded. “It’s done.”
I barely had time to wonder what that little interaction was about before Nox squared his shoulders and said, “Good. Everyone knows their assignments. We leave in twenty-four hours.”
The room sobered even more at his words, if that was possible. Eyes wandered, exchanging glances mixed with trepidation and resolve. We were all in this together, and that bond we’d formed snapped stronger into place at the thought of what layahead of us.
Nox cleared his throat. “This is what we’ve worked for. This is what we’vesurvivedfor. Each and every one of us, in our own ways. Scarven thinks he’s built a world he can rule through fear, and has tried to break us down bit by bit.” His navy eyes met each of ours, and I felt my shadows stir in response. “Maybe parts of ushavebroken. But we used every loss, every wound, every scar to forge something new. Somethingunbreakable. And you?—”
He cut himself off. He swallowed hard, the emotion in his voice making my own throat clog. After taking a breath, he continued, “Before the Order, I was heartbroken and lost, driven by ego and vengeance. But each of you came into my life and made me a far better man. When I need to be put in my place—” He motioned to Arowyn, who let out a soft laugh, and then he cast a look at Milo. “Or when I need a reminder that goodness and innocence still exist in the world.”
Nox’s gaze settled on Everett. “As much as I wish you had never been through what I went through, you give me strength because of it. You give me joy,” he added, reaching out to squeeze Tessa’s arm. She hastily wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “And loyalty—” He clapped a hand on Kieran’s shoulder.
Then he turned to me, eyes burning through to my soul. “And you give me peace.”
Taking in the room, he said, “Whatever happens tomorrow, I want you all to know that fighting with you has been the greatest honor of my life. And that’s something he can’t take from us.”
My heart swelled. I had to swallow the lump in my throat as I watched everyone’s spines straighten, their eyes brighten, their faces settle into steadfast resolution.
“Practice that speech in the mirror, did you, Nox?” Arowyn’s words broke the weighted tension, and a chorus of chuckles rang through the workshop.
“Through flame and ash,” Kieran said, nodding firmly at Nox.
“Preferablyourflame andScarven’sashes,” Tessa added.
Everettsnorted. “I could drink to that.”
I traceda circle on the mug of hot tea in my grip, staring at the sunrise out the window of Nox’s chambers. His windowsill was large enough for me to curl up on with a warm blanket and a pillow propped at my back. There was frost on the glass, and when I exhaled, puffs of hot air clouded the inside of the window.
For just this moment, I didn’t want to think about Scarven. I didn’t want to think about the bond, or the scar still marking my thigh, or my uncontrollable, violent shadows, or the fact that tonight…everything could change.
We might not come back from this.
