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LYSANDER

Ezra is asleep on my chest. I smooth dark strands of hair off his forehead, my heart full. Plato and Lilian lounge next to us, chatting about Lilian’s family. Orion and Felix are showing Larch how to play some human game that involves catching and throwing a flying disc. One of my pink books lies abandoned in Ezra’s hand and a faint snore sneaks out of him.

It’s the perfect moment.

As the shadows lengthen, I start to get antsy. I should wake Ezra, but I long to hold onto this peace for just a few more minutes. Tension creeps into the others as well — Plato pretends to be relaxed, but his shoulders tighten as the conversation dies off.

“It’s almost time,” I murmur.

Plato nods shortly. Lilian sits up, the orange light glinting off her glasses.

“I still think you should leave,” I tell them.

“Ezra would kill me for leaving you alone.” Plato’s dark eyes are fierce. “We stand by you. That was the plan. More of us means more magic, and that’s what they want.”

“If you get hurt —”

My cellphone pings loudly and I jolt, scrambling to open it.

They’re here.

I meet Plato’s eyes. “They’re here already. We were supposed to have more time.”

He gets up and heads across the clearing, signaling to Orion.

Lilian inches closer. “Is it happening?”

“Yes.” I’m torn — putting a wildling in danger goes against my very instincts, but it was her choice to stay. Instead of revisiting my worries, I shake Ezra awake. “Ezra. You have to take Felix and go.”

He groans, rubbing his eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. What time is it?” He looks around. “Shit, Lys, we need to get you out of here. It’s almost dark.”

“Get Felix,” I tell him. “Go to the truck.”

“I shouldn’t have fallen asleep.” He gets to his feet, pulling me along with him. “What’s the matter? C’mon, I’ll drive you home.”

“It’s too late.” Orion appears out of nowhere.

“If they hurry—“ I protest.

“There’s no time! We need to get to the pool house.”

“What’s going on? Are the Watchers coming?” Ezra looks around. “Where’s Fitzie?”

Felix’s sharp exclamation slices through the clearing. “What the fuck are those?”

I don’t even have to turn and look to know, but I do.No — not with Ezra still here.

Orion hisses a curse. A shudder rolls up my spine.

Azeroths.

Not just one or two — a mass. Moving like one entity, they stream through the trees at the far end of the field.

Orion grabs the knife Ezra used to cut the cake and yanks his amulet off. Shadows burst out of the illusion like billows ofsmoke, filling the clearing. The knife lengthens into a shadowed blade. Orion’s inner fire ripples down its edge.

“To the pool house,now,” he booms, his voice expanding with his shadows to fill the entire clearing. Felix’s choked gasp sounds somewhere off to the side.