“They’re coming,” Stellan said behind her.
Cassia turned to see him standing in the center of the courtyard, eyes trained on the growing rift. His face was pale.
“The Sanguis,” he continued. “All of them. Including Vega.”
Cassia’s stomach twisted. “We have to run.”
But her words were drowned out by a sound she hadn’t expected: a broken sob. Her father was kneeling at Cade’s side now, his hands cradling his son’s face. Tears cut tracks through the grime on his cheeks. His lips moved in silent denial.
Then he looked up. Straight at Stellan.
“Help me,” he whispered.
Stellan hesitated. His hands clenched at his sides.
“Please,” Deckard rasped. “The spell. The one you refused when Riker died.”
Cassia’s blood ran cold. What in the hell was he talking about? She turned to Castor, searching his face, but he looked just as stunned. Nylah stood frozen beside Delphine, pale and wide-eyed. Delphine wrapped an arm around her without speaking.
Stellan stepped forward slowly, his expression carved from stone. “There will be consequences. Not for you, but forhim.”
“I know,” Deckard said. “But at least he’ll be alive. Take it. Take my life in exchange for his.”
Cassia couldn’t breathe. Her father, usually unmovable and unshakable, was begging.She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t evenwantto believe it. But then Stellan knelt. One hand on Cade’s chest. One on Deckard’s heart.
A tremor rolled through the courtyard. Moments later, magic began to hum between them, white-gold and flickering. The wind stirred violently as energy pulled into a spiral, bending the broken air around them, even as the courtyard continued to splinter. The earth groaned beneath their feet.
Cassia turned away, unable to look. Grief threatened to snap her spine in half. She turned toward Bridget, still curled against Cade’s chest. Her fingers were locked in his shirt as if letting go might make it final.
“We need to move before the Sanguis come through,” Castor said, his voice tight with grief. “The stone… Nylah, do you have it with you? Lead us out.”
Nylah’s trembling hand closed around something in her pocket. Her face crumpled. “I—”
“I can do it,” Delphine said softly. “I’ll take her to Finn and Archer first, and then come back for you and Cassia.”
Cassia looked up, startled. Blood stained the bottom of her nose from her trip with them here. She’d felt the weakness in her body as they’d moved through space.
“What?” Nylah turned to her. “But—”
Delphine’s gaze lingered on Nylah’s tear-streaked face. Her jaw tightened. “I can do it.”
Another roar tore through the stones. The fissures widened. Cassia watched Stellan draw the last threads of life from her father’s body. For a second, his eyes locked with hers. And suddenly, sheunderstood.
Their conversation from earlier came hurtling at her with full force. She’d never acted fast enough in her life. For anything. Had never done what it took to truly save something or make a difference.
But now she could.
Wordlessly, she reached into Nylah’s pocket and pried the Tuathan stone from her curled fingers. The girl didn’t resist as she slipped it free and walked toward the two stone thrones. If she was going to attempt the curse, she didn’t want anyone near her in case destruction followed in her wake.
“What are you doing?” Castor asked, his voice shaking.
“Delphine, get Nylah out. Then come back for Bridget and Castor,” Cassia said, already pulling a blade from her belt.
Delphine hesitated, but only for a second. She wrapped her arm around Nylah’s waist. Nylah screamed, “No!I’m not leaving her—”
A pop of magic cut her off as they vanished. The ground rumbled again. The crack in flat stone widened. For a split second, Cassia thought she saw a hand trying to claw through.
She took one step forward and faced the cracked gate, still splintering open. Stellan still knelt between her father and Cade. Tears blurred her vision as she watched life slowly fade from her father. He drew a shuddering breath. Then his dark gaze met hers. His lips opened slightly, like he wanted to say something, but his eyes glazed over. Cassia’s heart fractured with a soundless scream as his body stilled. Seconds later, Cade’s chest began to rise with slow, shallow breaths. But he didn’t open his eyes.
