“I totally understand,” I said quickly. “You’re right to be concerned.I’mconcerned about it myself.”
“We’ll do it.” Atlas stood like he’d made the decision for everyone. “That’s all I needed to know.”
“But—” Ranger X looked between us. “Maybe we should gather some extra help. Alessia said it will take a lot of power.”
“No time.” Atlas tapped a finger on the book. “What materials do we need for the spell?”
“Atlas, don’t be hasty,” Ranger X said. “I’m not saying ‘no’. I’m saying we should take a breath and assess the risks.”
“I’m saying we don’t have time.” Atlas’s face was pale, and he winced. I wondered if he was feeling more through those brotherly bonds that he wasn’t sharing with us. “Silas is fading.”
I could feel it too, the hope waning. The longer we waited, the harder it would be to retrieve him. The more stress it would put on all of us.
Not to mention that I was sure this was our only option. I was more certain of it than anything in my whole life. We needed to propel the spell forward before I began doubting my barely-scraped-together confidence.
“She cares about him.” Atlas lowered his voice and nodded toward me. Then he nodded at X. “You trust her intentions. I trust her not to hurt my brother. What more can you ask for?”
“The power,” X argued. “We need more power.”
“You’re right.” Atlas gave a firm nod of agreement, surprising everyone with his sudden change of heart. “I was too hasty. You’re right. Why don’t you head back to Ranger HQ and round up as much support as you can spare. I’ll stay here and help Alessia get everything ready.”
Ranger X looked relieved. “It won’t take me more than thirty minutes.”
Then the serious Ranger was gone, and I felt a wisp of pain flare through me.
“What the hell?” I whirled on Atlas angrily. “We don’t have thirty minutes. Youknowthat. I thought you were on my side.”
“I know.” Silas’s brother met my gaze grimly. “That’s why I sent him away. We must do this now—just the two of us.”
“But—” I gestured toward Ranger X’s retreating figure as he disappeared behind the stone wall of Wisteria Cottage. “You lied to the head of the Ranger Program?”
“You know as well as I do this is the only way to get Silas back.” Atlas’s words were tense. “You feel it. I can see it in your eyes. My brother is fading fast.”
“What should I do?”
“You tell me what to do,” Atlas said. “This is your plan.”
“What if it doesn’t work? We are going to need a lot of power.”
Atlas studied me carefully. “We both know that you have more than enough. Can this plan work?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
Atlas put his hand on the text. “Do it.”
Millie was watching from the cottage. When I glanced over at her, she busied herself in preparation. She bolted the gate to the stone wall, then she began wandering around the edges, muttering some charm I suspected would buy us more time in case Ranger X—or someoneelse—returned early. I could always count on my new friend to have my back, and that loyalty was both novel and lovely. I didn’t take it for granted.
We needed time. We needed space. We didn’t have enough of either, but neither did Silas.
“I’m going to use your bond,” I told Atlas. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know if it will hurt. I don’t know what to expect. It’s an old spell, judging by the notes, and I don’t know how often, if ever, it’s been tested.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Atlas said dryly. “To sacrifice myself for my dear brother.”
I wanted to ask what had happened between them, but there was no time.
I only nodded and put my hand on Atlas’s. I was surprised by its warmth, by the humanity of it. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but not this. Nor the tenderness in his expression as he looked at me and nodded, those blue-green eyes telling me he understood that neither of us might make it back. And yet, we had to try.
I closed my eyes, muttered the ancient words.
