Bram’s fingers tightened around mine. He didn’t say anything, but I could feel his pain through our bond.
“Will do,” Rowan stated. “Anything regarding our agents and their missions is Sabine’s business, but as the Council Head, I should be around more for the severity of this threat. I do apologize for not being as active with these missions as I’d like to. However, there happens to be a horde of drakes that have come out of hiding in Blezen that need my attention at the moment.”
“We understand.” Dad tapped his fingers against the table. “Sabine has been very helpful.”
“I intend to continue to be. The next site to sabotage is in Sandstone Springs,” Sabine informed us, scanning her notes on the tablet in front of her. “The cult has moved up the timeline, according to our intel. The ritual is scheduled to take place in two days. That means you need to carry this out tomorrow.”
A ripple of unease passed through the room.
Tomorrow?
Sabine folded her hands together in front of her on the table. “This site is different from the others. The cult has been fixated on it for years. They consider it crucial for their advancement—much more so than the others. Hence why they moved up the ritual date. There will be more agents accompanying you because we expect more pushback from the cult. They’ll be expecting us now. I’m sure they know of the spy, but it seems they aren’t sure which cultist is a spy. That works in our favor.”
Dad dropped the dark magic siphoning artifact on the table with an audible thud. “I will not let my daughter be the sole vessel for the dark magic at the site,” he stated. “This relic will share the workload. I want to ease her burden. Killing dark magic isn’t easy for her.”
“I’ll take the relic and make sure it doesn’t all land on your daughter to take care of,” Jesper offered, glancing at Sabine, who nodded in agreement.
“See to it that she’s not having to do it all herself.” Dad slid it over to him before moving his gaze toward me. “You don’t have to go on this mission, Pandora.”
Silence stretched through the rest of the members as they looked between me and Dad. The idea of sitting back and letting the supernatural agents fight a battle meant for me, made my stomach twist.
I met Dad’s gaze with pure determination. Vengeance magic sparked through my veins. “Iwantto go.”
Dad sighed. “I figured, but I wanted to at least give you the option not to.”
Rowan nodded, his usual intense expression softening. “Thank you for everything you’ve done to help the agents in this matter, Gravesend.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “It’s my purpose. The Fates blessed me with the power for a reason. Thishasto be it.”
Hunter’s hand found my thigh, and Bram squeezed my hand tighter.
“Speaking of the Fates…” Rowan shifted, glancing toward the far end of the room. “I have someone who needs to speak with you.”
“Who?” I asked as the doors opened.
“Blair. She’s the seer the Supernatural Council has always confided in,” he explained as a figure in a midnight-black cloak walked in.
Her heels clicked on the marble as she approached, and her presence was intense. I couldn’t sense much of her soul, though. It was there, but there was almost no emotion or want for anything within it. The sheer weight of her magical essence pressing down on her soul left little room for anything else.
“Pandora Gravesend, you are essential in preventing the dark magic plague from consuming all demons,” she stated simply, her glowing white eyes latched on me. “If the demons are lost to dark magic, soon Kalista will be ruled by the Veil.”
My breath hitched. They were nothing like Hunter’s white eyes, which had a gray ring around them. No, hers were completely white. It felt like she could see everything—my past, my fears, my dreams…
“You have achieved a lot, but there is more. There will be a cost, of course,” she continued. “One you must come to terms with.”
My mates bristled around me.
Dad’s hand twitched on the desk. “No, Blair. You know I respect you, but damn it. Youhave to knowwhat she’s been through. She’s given enough.”
“I know.” Blair sighed as she stood at the front of the room. “Unfortunately, she’s fated to give even more. I’m sorry, Death. The Fates have spoken.”
All of my mates let out low growls.
“Give what?” A low growl erupted from Hunter’s chest as he pushed back against the table and stared at her.
Blair waved her hand to dismiss him. “That is not your concern, Hunter Darkmore. It is hers and hers alone.You five—” She pointed at each one of my mates. “You will have to pick up the pieces of her heart when it’s fractured again. That is all I can tell you.”
My pulse hammered, echoing in my skull. “What do you mean?”
