She looks at Auren with something like gratitude before turning back to me.
“I arrived about four months ago.”
The words hit me sideways. Four months. That would have been—
My chest tightens as the math clicks into place. Four months ago. Right when everything started at the sanctuary.
“You’d been in the Void the entire time?” My voice comes out hollow. “Since I was a child?”
Claire nods slowly. “I lost track of how long. But yes—from when I left you until I escaped, I was trapped.” Her hands clench. “The creatures finally found me, showed me the way out. By the time I made it here, by the time I understood what was happening—” Her voice cracks. “Auren told me about the sanctuary awakening. About you. And then…”
She stops, swallows hard.
“Then you vanished. Just like I had.”
The room goes quiet.
“I escaped the Void,” she whispers, “only to lose you to it.”
I stare at her—this woman who looks like me but isn’t me, who made choices I can’t comprehend, who loved me enough to leave and abandoned me in the process.
“You left me with lies,” I say finally.
“I left you with a chance,” Claire replies, and there’s steel in her voice now. “If I’d stayed, he would have found you sooner. Would have known what you were before you had any chance to understandit yourself.” Her voice cracks. “I tried to keep him from you by staying away, by keeping him focused on me instead. I failed.”
The admission hangs between us—no justification, no defense. Just the raw truth of failure acknowledged.
My Ether stirs, silver mist curling around my fingers where they rest on Theo’s arms. The air ripples faintly between us, responding to the emotion I can’t quite contain.
The boys stay silent, but I feel them—solid presences at my back, ready to intervene if I need them but letting this be mine to navigate.
“When I was trapped,” Claire says quietly, “the fox and the snake came for me four months ago—finally showed me the way out.” She pauses, her expression distant. “By the time I arrived here, you were already gone.”
The words make something crack in my chest.
“But the raven,” I whisper. “Why didn’t you see the raven?”
Claire’s expression turns distant, almost prophetic. “I don’t know. Maybe it hadn’t found you yet. Or maybe…” She pauses, struggling with something. “Maybe it was waiting. For when you’d need it most.”
I can’t forgive her. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
But I can understand. Just a little.
“You should rest,” I say finally, my voice flat with exhaustion.
Claire nods slowly, like she knows this is the best she’s going to get. She stands, moving carefully, and turns toward the door.
At the threshold, she pauses and glances back at me.
“Be careful with the raven,” she says softly. “It always sees the end before anyone else does.”
Then she’s gone, disappearing through the doorway.
Auren lingers, his amber eyes somber. “I’ll show her to her room.” He pauses, then adds quietly, “You have until dawn. Maybe less.”
Everyone turns to look at him.
“I received word while you were talking,” he continues, his voice tight. “Phil’s forces are moving through the underground networks. They’re systematically checking known Feeder safehouses, interrogating anyone they find.” His jaw clenches. “They’re getting closer. It’s only a matter of time before they think to check here.”
