Bridget closed her eyes, the image of Marin jumping in front of Nylah like a knife to her gut. Quietly, she confessed, “When I went to find her yesterday, she said she was working toward a future where we win. This must have been part of it.”
Don’t blame yourself.Is this what she had been talking about? Had she seen the cost of protecting Nylah and chosen it anyway?
Cade stared out at the horizon, jaw taut. No stars were visible through the dark clouds. “Everything I’ve done has been with the sole intent ofmaking sure you don’t lose your family like I did… Now I did that to Stellan.”
Bridget’s hand tightened around his. She knew those words would haunt him longer than anything Vega could conjure.
“At least you’re safe now,” she whispered. “And we have the Bloodstone. No one can use it to break the curse on the Sanguis anymore.”
He nodded faintly.
“We’ll take it back to the vault tomorrow. It’ll be sealed and out of reach from anyone else Vega tries to use from Iegorus.” His voice dropped. “But that doesn’t mean it’s over. You heard what Marin said. We still have to find the crown. Vega won’t stop.”
Cade looked at her, eyes rimmed with exhaustion, but something steadier beat beneath it.
“Then let’s start right now,” Bridget said. “Let’s make sure her final wishes come true.”
She leaned in and pressed her forehead against his, eyes fluttering shut. She didn’t know how they’d find the crown—or if Stellan would ever be willing to help them again. But for now, in this fragile moment between grief and what came next, she let herself breathe and hope that fate wasn’t in complete control.
The palace halls were quiet as Bridget followed Cade to Stellan’s room. Her boots echoed softly on the stone floor as they entered the east wing, past shuttered windows and darkened sconces. Every room they passed felt like it was holding its breath. They didn’t dare look into the ruined courtyard as they passed.
“What if he's not there?” Bridget asked. There was a chance he wouldn’t even speak to them. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t blame him. She couldn’t imagine what she’d be doing if it had been Nylah taken in the courtyard.
“Then we track down Castor and Cassia and figure out a new plan,” Cade said, shoulders tense. “If you really were the last person to see the crown, then there has to be a way to access your memories.”
When they reached Stellan’s door, they both hesitated. Cade took a deep breath, then knocked. Once. Twice. “Stellan?”
Silence.
Bridget reached for the handle and twisted it. Without any resistance, it popped open.
The room was dim, lit only by moonlight streaking through the tall windows. Stellan sat in a chair by the fire that had long since gone out, Marin’s cloak clutched in his fists like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to the earth. His shoulders were hunched, his head bowed. He didn’t look up.
“What are you doing here?” Stellan asked, his voice low, hoarse, and frayed at the edges.
Cade placed a hand gently on the small of Bridget’s back, guiding her forward before stepping in behind her and quietly closing the door. “We need your help.”
Stellan gave a bitter, hollow laugh. “Is that right?”
He finally turned to face them. His normally sharp blue eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with red, his expression carved from grief.
“If you hadn’t noticed,” he said, voice rising, “my daughter just died. The girl I swore to a dying man to protect.” He shook his head slowly, eyes shining with anger and sorrow. “You’ll have to come back later.”
Bridget stepped forward. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
Stellan’s gaze snapped to her. “Important?” he echoed, the word sharp with disbelief. “Is that what this is? Some mission that suddenly outweighs the fact that Marin is gone?”
Cade flinched, but Bridget didn’t. Even though she wanted to. Her chest ached just looking at him. “She died saving Nylah,” Bridget said quietly. “And I will never forget that. I will never stop being grateful. But Marin didn’t give her life so you could disappear again. She asked us to find the crown. Like she said, Vega won’t stop. We should try before she sends someone else.”
Stellan looked away, hands balled at his sides. “No.”
The word hit like a door slamming shut.
Cade reached for Bridget’s arm, a silent plea to stay back, but she shook him off and stepped forward, her voice rising. “This is what she wanted.”
“How would you know anything about what Marin wanted?” Stellan snapped.
“I spoke to her yesterday,” Bridget said. She hated that her voice began to shake. “She told me about her visions... About how she had mastered decoding them and was using them to work toward a future where we win.” She hesitated, but the words pressed on her chest like a weight that needed to be set down. “A future whereyouwould be happy.”
