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“Where are the humans who lived in the affected areas?” It was the first question I asked after we landed. “Tell me they are safe…”

Gyah had not long transformed back into her fey form, smoke still slithering off her shoulders as though like called to like within the wall of storm half a mile ahead of us. We hadn’t shared a moment of relief at seeing one another, because there hadn’t been the chance. But we did share a look, one that spoke a thousand words. I had questions for Gyah, relating to Seraphine and her layers of plans. In time, if we survived this, we would discuss them.

“They have been evacuated into fey lands, as many as we could manage,” Gyah said, voice thick with tension. “I believe those were your orders, to get them into Icethorn.”

Relief swelled thick within me. “They were.”

“Any we could not reach in time are currently on their way toward Lockinge,” Gyah added. “We are trying to get as many people as possible away from this ruin, in hopes it gives us time to find a solution to this. Rafaela has promised haven in Irobel for children, women and the weak. But that blessing will only last until this rot turns its attentions to the seas and passes over them.”

“Which is looking to be soon,” Althea added. Her brow had furrowed as flame-filled eyes settled on the rolling mass of darkness. It swallowed up the sun, spoiling the sky in clouds of dark grey. “There is no power strong enough to battle this back. This is chaos incarnate. I have tried with my own magic, and the wall only seems to feed on it. But you, Robin – youwillsucceed.”

Gyah stiffened, placing a hand on Althea’s arm. “He has no choice but to beat this. We are all relying on you, friend.”

I rolled my shoulders. “Thanks for the reminder.” I flashed a pathetic grin at Gyah, one she gave me back, whereas her golden eyes revealed the concern she harboured inside for me.

I felt Erix’s and Duncan’s eyes bore into my skin. If I was brave enough, I would’ve looked at them in return, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the ruin as it raced toward us. Billowing clouds spat out of the mass, roaring and spitting, devouring fields. As it touched the earth, it leached the colour, draining the very ground of the life it held.

No, not draining.

It was taking the power back.

It was Duwar who made this world, and it would be Duwar who’d destroy it.

“Althea and Gyah, you should leave now for Wychwood,” Duncan said, voice raised above the sky-shattering roar of Duwar. “Gather a council, perhaps for any outcome. If Robin is unsuccessful, the doom falls back into our hands. We cannot waste time in searching other avenues.”

“It won’t be good enough,” Gyah snapped. “There is nowhere we can hide from this.”

“I will fix this,” I said, turning my back on the ruin to face my allies.

I took my turn drinking them in, smiling naturally, as if death didn’t race toward us. Althea, the fierce warrior. Gyah, the loyal protector. Erix, the guardian of my heart. And Duncan, the man who had hunted me down and captured my love. Four of the most important people in my life. People I’d give my life for, over and over.

“Robin, ready?” Erix asked, speaking for the first time since we arrived here. He was haunted by the possibility of his greatest fears but daring to admit them aloud.

“I am,” I said to him, then swept my gaze over the small group. “And it’s all going to be okay, I promise.”

Duncan’s eyes filled with tears, but this time he held them back, showing me the strength that I willed him to have. “You’ve got this, darling. Show that fucker exactly who you are, and what you are capable of.”

The sky roared louder as the storm of ruin closed in. I could see Gyah’s urgency to leave in her inability to stand still. Althea too. “Althea, let’s go.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “You need to leave. Get as far away as you can. Remember… I will see you soon.”

Gyah’s jaw tensed, lips pursing as she regarded me. “You better, Robin.”

I nodded, smiling through the prick of tears behind my eyes. “I will.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Althea said, looking at me like I was crazed. She waved a hand, gesturing for us to make a move. “If you are to face this, you do it with all of us behind you.”

“Oh, Althea,” I said, grasping her hands and squeezing. “We both know that Gyah is never going to let you put yourself in any more danger than you’ve already faced.”

“The princeling is right,” Gyah said, tears spilling over her lips and curling down her chin. “But may I remind his lordship that if he doesn’t come out of this alive, I will personally find his corpse and punch him in the dead face.”

“If anything is enough motivation to beat this, that would be it,” I laughed, sweeping my eyes over them all. “I won’t fail because I know what I am fighting for –whoI am fighting for.”

“Comforting words, Robin,” Gyah said, clutching Althea, who’d paled rapidly, colour draining from her face. “But if you survive this, I’mstillgoing to beat the shit out of you.”

“What for this time?”

“Scaring me,” Gyah replied. “Always scaring me.”