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‘Audra told me to stay with you and Wren. But I was never very good at listening.’

‘I tried to save you from that fate,’ Audra said now. ‘But what was done cannot be undone. I thank you for answering my summons now, despite everything.’

Anya simply dipped her head.

Audra went on. ‘Whether you believe in such things or not, the prophecy binds us together. We are in the end of days… and a dawn of fire and blood is upon us at last. For too long, those who oppose the same evil have fought against one another instead ofthe enemy. For too long we have been divided and weak, played against each other like pawns on a chessboard.’ Her hands came to rest on the hilts of her daggers. ‘It’s time we were allies. It’s time we faced the war aheadtogether.’

Silence fell as the different factions glanced around the room, Audra’s words washing over them all.

It was Cal who eventually said, with incredible dryness, ‘We’re going to need more drinks.’

Kipp clapped him on the back. ‘Best idea you’ve had yet.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

WILDER

The tension ebbed away as the discussion of liquor took priority. That, at least, was something they all had in common. The conversation, however, was interrupted by the sound of a deep bark.

Suddenly a giant dog was upon Wilder, its tail wagging so hard it hurt when it hit.

He stared at the enormous mongrel, frozen in shock.

‘Dax!’ Thea exclaimed, showering the dog with ear scratches and belly rubs while the creature gazed at her with unadulterated adoration.

Wilder’s chair scraped as he stood, looking to the door in disbelief.

Malik’s huge figure took up the entire frame.

‘Holy shit,’ Torj’s voice sounded from the fire.

But Wilder kept his eyes on his brother, speechless. He’d been more than surprised when Malik had travelled to Tver for the battle of Notos, but this? Change and travel had been hard for his brother since his injury – two trips of this magnitude…

And then the wave of guilt hit him. When he’d all but declared himself a traitor, Wilder had abandoned his brother. Clapping eyes upon him now, he realised it was the longest he’d gone without seeing Malik since he’d been injured all those years ago. He didn’t even know for certain if his messages had been received at the fortress. It must have been a shock, and a huge adjustment. The shame yawned wide inside him, threatening to swallow him whole. He hadn’t even said goodbye before he’d fled with the shadow-touched. He’d let a whole year pass —

Malik took two giant steps towards him and clasped him on the shoulder before folding Wilder into a huge bear hug. He didn’t say anything, as usual, but the force of his embrace was enough to form a lump in Wilder’s throat.

He broke away from his brother, watching as Malik took another step towards Thea, where he touched the top of her head fondly and took up a place behind her. Though Wilder could still see a tremor in his fingers, he seemed to move with more ease than he had done before. Had someone been helping him?

‘Malik the Shieldbreaker,’ Dratos said, bowing his head. ‘An honour to see you again.’

Malik didn’t respond, but his mouth twitched upward.

Wilder’s brow furrowed at that and he turned to the ranger. ‘You’ve met?’

‘A long time ago,’ Dratos replied. ‘At a wedding you missed.’

Another regret-laced realisation hit Wilder like a blow to the gut. There was only one wedding that Malik would have attended after his injury, only one other person he’d cross the seas for, even if it meant facing a thousand shadow wraiths.

Wilder tilted his head in his brother’s direction. ‘You went to Naarva for Talemir’s wedding? And didn’t tell me?’ He knew there was no hiding the hurt in his voice, and that it was of his own doing.

Malik just blinked down at him, his grip tightening on the back of Thea’s chair.

Just as Wilder was about to say more, the door banged open again and in walked Marise, his arms full of bottles. ‘I brought refreshments!’ he declared.

‘Excellent.’ Kipp was already on his feet, moving to help the wine merchant with his wares. ‘Good to see you again, Marise. I missed you at the eclipse. It’s been too long.’

Wilder’s eyes bulged, but beside him Thea shook her head and exchanged a long-suffering look with Cal. ‘We should know better by now… Kipp knows everyone, apparently.’