The shadows in the pit lowered in soft, reluctant coils, settling deeper into the darkness below, and a path appeared along the right side of the chamber where only a wall had been moments before.
It was lit by pale blue sconces that flickered to life one after another.
Twobble stared at it. “This is deeply unsettling.”
The Priestess smiled. “The way out is open.”
Keegan didn’t move, and neither did Celeste.
My daughter stared at me with such betrayal that I felt it slice through places no magic could reach.
“I’m not leaving,” she whispered.
“Yes, you are,” I said softly.
And I realized there was no deeper bond than that between a mother and her daughter.
Her jaw tightened. “No.”
“Celeste.” I stepped toward her, and the Priestess allowed it. “Listen to me. You’re going to go with Keegan and Gideon. You’re going to find Grandma and Grandpa and Bella and Caleb. You’re going to get everyone out of here. I need you to help with this.”
Her lips pressed together so hard they went white.
“And then what?”
“Then you tell Stella I expect tea when I get home.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and Celeste gasped and slapped a hand over her own cheek, horrified.
The pendant at her throat flashed bright silver, absorbing the tear before it fell from her jaw. The moonstone pulsed once, and the shadows recoiled from the light.
The Priestess’ smile faded a fraction.
I cupped Celeste’s face carefully, wiping the dampness from her skin with my thumb before she could panic further.
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry.”
“No, baby. Don’t you ever apologize for loving me. It’s taking everything I have not to do the same,” I whispered next to her ear and straightened.
Her face crumpled, but she breathed through it, swallowed hard, and forced the rest of the tears back with a strength that made me both proud and furious at the world for requiring it.
Keegan stepped close enough that his hand brushed mine.
“I will come back for you,” he said, voice low.
“I know.”
“No, Maeve.” His gaze held mine with the intensity of every promise he’d ever made me. “I will come back.”
“That is a hope,” the Priestess said lightly. “But my guess is she won’t want to leave.”
Keegan’s eyes didn’t leave mine. “It isn’t hope.”
The words wrapped around me, warm and terrible.
Twobble sniffled loudly and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I would like to make a formal complaint about all of this.”
