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“But it was done on my behalf—for revenge against Auggy’s mother. If nothing else, I have to come to terms with the fact that my mother was psychotic.”

I don’t have an answer for that.

“She didn’t tell us how to remove the necklaces,” Ayan says heavily. “Why didn’t I ask? I let her go on about my birthright, but I didn’t ask about the necklaces.”

“Actually,” Pranmore says, stepping into the hall and overhearing the last part of our conversation, “she told us before you arrived. However, the answer is one I already suspected but didn’t want to have confirmed.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“Either Camellia has to die to break the spell—”

“Not a great loss, if you ask me,” I interrupt.

He shoots me a look. “Or I can ward the wearer so only the person working the clasp will receive the brunt of the magic.”

I mull that over, not liking that the more I think about it. “So the person who touches the clasp will die, but the wearer will not?”

Pranmore nods.

I stand up, grasping his hand. “Don’t tell Henrik.Please.”

I know exactly what that fool man would do.

“Don’t tell Henrik what?” the commander asks as he appears in the doorway.

“Nothing,” I say quickly, shooting Pranmore a stern look. “Nothing.”

“It’s about the necklaces, isn’t it?” Henrik asks, looking exhausted. “Lawrence already said Pranmore doesn’t want me to know about it.”

“Why would he tell you that?” I exclaim.

Lawrence joins us in the hall, looking like a tired monarch. “Because Henrik should make the choice, not us.”

* * *

The day has been long,and now we gather in Audra and Ayan’s quarters. Bartholomew has joined us as well. He sits next to me, looking overwhelmed by today’s events.

I stare at my clasped hands as Pranmore explains the process of removing the necklace, refusing to look at Henrik.

“So, you see, it’s not a solution at all,” Pranmore finishes. “No matter how we tackle it, someone will die.”

“Can’t you ward the person removing the necklace as well?” Audra asks desperately.

“I can, but the magic has to go somewhere. If unable to find a path to flow through, it would likely break both of the wards and kill the wearer and the person working the clasp.”

“No,” I say, growing angry. “I don’t accept it.”

“What don’t you accept?” Pranmore says, sounding less patient than usual.

“This can’t be the only way.”

“She’s right,” Ayan says. “This isn’t a solution.”

“What do you expect me to do?” Pranmore asks. “I’ve stared at the necklace for months.”

“So you’re saying we should just give up?” I demand. “Henrik should sacrifice himself to save his sister?”

“That is most certainly not what I’m saying,” Pranmore responds hotly. “For now, I believe we should leave the necklace be and focus on the source of the spell.”