“I can’t leave my people,” I snap. “My father never treated this kingdom fairly and I refuse to abandon them as their queen.”
Maines walks forward, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the dim town behind us. “Briar, they left. Most of everyone in Daramveer has abandoned their homes. No one is left to help and there is no kingdom to rebuild right now.”
I scan the dock that leads back to the cobblestone streets. No lights flicker in the homes and the night sky is entirely black—except for the glow of the moon and the stars—showing no signs of life except for us.
She continues, “After the fourth trial, they started leaving. It was too much for them to witness. Daramveer has been deserted. The House of Hedro remains, however. The healers refused to leave their patients or work. I’ve placed Eden in charge. She will care for the House and what she can of Daramveer.”
I feel the bile rise in my throat, and I almost spill my stomach on the dock beside us. “No! Eden is in on all of this. She helped my father five years ago when he performed the ritual on me to resurrect Kalix. She’s been assisting them this entire time. She’s known everything!”
Shock travels through Maines as she staggers backward. “Gods! We need to go back then. I can’t leave those poor people.”
Oak grabs her arms, stopping her in her tracks. “We can’t go back. We would never make it in time, Maines. You know that. We must leave now!”
Maines lets out a sob, knowing he’s right.
Oak embraces her. “We will fix this and put both Greats back to rest. We will rebuild Daramveer together, but we must live to do that!”
Only dread fills my core as I gaze out at the sea, my dreams feeling all too real. The darkness before me now mirrors the darkness behind me—the wasted kingdom of Daramveer, which I devastated. I turn, expecting to see my kingdom burning as I have on so many nights before, but it’s not. It’s silent, barren, and hopeless.
This is real—a nightmare I have no chance of escaping.
A crack of lightning streaks across the sky as a storm rolls in from the deep sea. Rain begins to cascade from the night sky like the Gods above weep for us. They sense our hopelessness andour sorrows. I tilt my head back, allowing the rain to slap against my face.
My senses sharpen, and my darkness beats against my chest like an animal trapped in a cage.
Run.
Oak’s voice quivers, "You guys… we need to leave."
A thud shakes the dock as we spin to see Rohhit rising from the hard landing. Lightning dances around his fingertips, and a blinding light forms at his back like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Oak’s mouth drops open. "That’s… not Rohhit, is it?"
No one needs to answer for him to understand what happened. Who stands before us is different from Rohhit. He’s been trapped deep in his mind. A prisoner now in his own body and the Great Wiitch controlling it. His face is the same. His familiar dark eyes, sharp jawline, and messy blonde hair—but who truly stands before us is no friend. I say a silent prayer, hoping that he holds on until we figure out how to help him.
Carobon’s voice snakes through our mind, "An army is being raised—my army—and you will all fall to my power. Shadow Wielders will be a part of the forgotten. Why do you side with them, Lumor Wielder?" He points directly at Oak.
Oak’s eyes grow wide, but his voice remains steady and harsh. "This is my family, and I’ll fight to the death against you to save them—I swear to you that." He steps in front of Maines.
Carobon’s eyes lower. "That’s an unfortunate future you’ve just sworn. It will be a shame to lose a Lumor Wielder to such horrors."
Maines grabs Oak’s hand, her eyes fluttering, as if she cannot blink fully.
"How about a trade?" Carobon echoes through the darkness. "Bring Kalix forward, and I will spare each of your lives."
His hand moves slowly from Oak’s direction and lands on me. Kalix within me responds, her magic beginning to bubble like smoke. She’s begging to break free as I grit my teeth, keeping her down. She wants to fight. And for the first time, Kalix and I have something in common.
Silas steps before me, ready to challenge Carobon or die trying.
Carobon’s head tilts to the side, his brows tightening, and he smells the air. "You." He studies Silas. "Willing to risk your own life for Briar Blackbyrne, for Kalix. Typical."
Silas closes his eyes and inhales deeply, drawing his magic forward. "I will stop at nothing to protect her. To protect my friends and family. You have no idea what I’m willing to do for her."
Black shadows begin to rise from the wall. A mountain of shadows creeps higher and higher, creating a wall between us and Rohhit. The impenetrable wall of darkness drowns out all light, providing us only a moment of safety.
"You have to go now," Silas cups my face. "I can hold him off, but only for a little while. You all need to run."
My legs almost give out. A huff leaves my mouth. "I’m not leaving you. I’m fighting with you, beside you, from now on. Do you understand? We will do this as one."
