I stood beside my father and held out my palm.
Close the portal.
My shadows came, but they were shaky at best. My hand trembled and sweat poured down my temples.
"Help us!"
Screams erupted from the cathedral. I recognized that voice—Serenity!
I whipped around to see lights flashing in the cathedral. Shadows moved in front of the windows.
"Joy, you need to concentrate," Morden said as he held out his shadows that were racing toward the portal.
From inside the cathedral, a blond-haired figure with bloody golden wings flew up toward the broken window—Serenity?—but she was faltering as if hurt.
Another scream tore through the night. My head whipped toward Enzo. Our eyes locked, and in that instant, we both knew. The portal, the queen, the stone—none of it mattered if our friends were dying.
Gunnar’s face paled. “Ebony! Hades, she’s inside.” He and Hades leapt into the night sky.
"Go," Tinker Bell cried out as she faced the Unseelie guards. “Alice and I will help Morden."
"Joy, no," Morden reached for me, but I pulled away. I had to get to the cathedral. The battle out here meant nothing if everyone inside was dying. That's where this would be won or lost.
Enzo grabbed my arm. "You need to stay here."
I shook my head. "No. We do this together—that's the only way they can't separate us again." I looked back at my father."Work with Tinker Bell and Alice. Close the portal. I have to help Serenity."
Enzo and I ran for the cathedral, side by side.
