‘No thanks to the people you work for,’ I reply. ‘Why are you helping us?’
His smile is soft as he glances at Brielle, then back at me. ‘Let’s just say I’ve seen the whole picture now.’
In a flurry of motion two witches appear a few feet away, and I grip my blade, ready in a heartbeat to fight. The one on the left is Hira, but I don’t let down my guard. The other one has to be another witch from her coven, and their Malefant is no friend of mine.
‘Stand down, fierce one,’ Hira says with a sigh. ‘Shayle and I helped Brielle get you out.’
‘So that’s what you’ve been doing, instead of preparing me and Kell?’ I ask. ‘Or was there another reason for your absence?’
Her mouth twists. ‘I apologise. We needed to confirmwhat you’d told me and when we realised the repercussions of the ruling council holding you …’
‘They knew they had to act. Possibly against the wishes of the Malefant,’ Brielle says. ‘I don’t expect you to trust them, truly, Mira. I just ask that you trust me and Pearl.’ She turns back to Hira as I nod. ‘What of the wards around Highborn?’
‘Down for the moment,’ Shayle says at Hira’s side. ‘But where is Kell?’
‘Prince Heath of Skylan has engaged his services,’ I say.
‘Well,’ Shayle says and whistles, ‘I had better inform Helene.’
‘It was his choice,’ I say with a shrug. ‘I wouldn’t have let him go otherwise.’
There’s a rumble of shouts from inside the arena, as though the guards are entering the tunnel running underneath where I’ve just exited. Rue turns to look before fixing his gaze on Brielle. ‘It’s time.’
She hesitates for a moment, before striding up to him. They whisper together and her eyes widen as he smiles, her hand brushing against his. A faint blush colours her cheeks. Then she blinks rapidly, turning away from him to face the hunters of her old coven. ‘Hira, Shayle. Thank you.’
They both utter a witch word and vanish. Then Brielle comes over to the three of us, ensures we’re all holding her hand or arm, and with the witch word,Traversa, the ground falls away from beneath me.
We land in a heap in the hallway of Ennor Castle, Amma there instantly to greet us. Kai barrels for Agnes, scooping her into his arms, and I have to look away when they kiss.
‘Finally! I thought that would never happen,’ Pearl mutters to me, and I smile. Then Pearl’s face lights up as Merryam runs in, kissing her on the lips and holding her close before turning to embrace me.
‘I knew they’d get you out, but I’m sorry it took so long, my friend,’ she says into my hair, her hold on me tightening. ‘If they hurt you …’
‘They didn’t,’ I murmur, relaxing into her hug, her friendship. ‘Only my pride and a few bruises. But I have to ask you, is he … did he?’ I swallow. ‘Did he make it back?’
Merryam pulls away slightly, looking at me, her features falling. ‘Mira …’
‘They’ll think twice before taking on an islander now!’ Kai says, clapping me on the shoulder.
I glance up at him, releasing Merryam, finding a grin brighter than the June sun on his face and I nod to him. ‘That they will. Those mainlanders don’t know athing.’
He grips my shoulder and bends low to whisper. ‘Thank you. For not giving up. For bringing Agnes back. I am your brother, always, Mira. Always.’
My throat thickens, tears stinging my eyes just as Caden thunders in, relief on his features as he picks me up in a bear hug. ‘Thank skies.’
Tanith and Joby appear and I start crying again,hugging them too, so utterly grateful that I’m here, that they’re all here. That we’re all alive.
Then I look over their heads, expecting to see Lowri. And him. But when they don’t appear, even when Maggie bounds up, licking my face and nudging her great shaggy head at my chest, I turn to Caden in confusion. And when I find his face falling into lines of worry, just as Merryam’s has, panic seizes every inch of me.
‘Where are they, Caden?’ I ask, dread cracking open my chest. ‘Where’s Eli?’
Caden opens his mouth, then closes it again, shaking his head. Everyone around us stills.
‘They haven’t returned, Mira,’ Tanith says quietly. ‘I’m so sorry. We believe they may be lost to us, trapped in another world.’
amoria.
A spell not often used, an act of giving that depletes a witch’s very self. Lowri pours her light, her shadow, her hopes and dreams and fears for Eli and herself into the instrument, feeling her bones grow heavy, her thoughts as formless as the fog covering Fallow. She doesn’t hear when Eli saysenough. She doesn’t sense her knees buckle, her cousin catching her before she falls. It’s only when Gracious finds them, breaks into the room and bellows in her mind that she stops. Darkness threatens, stars speckling her vision. She breathes in and out, refuses to give in.
