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I looked down at my magic-boosting cat. “Ready, Angel?”

She meowed.

“We’re all ready,” I told Cadence.

“Good,” she said. “Then let’s nail those bastards.”

Cadence’s gaze snapped to the book in her hands. She traced her index finger across the text on the page. The letters, glowing and golden, clung to her skin. She dragged the tangled strand of symbols all the way down the page. Then she flicked her fingers, pushing the letters off the edge of the book.

The golden swirl of symbols streaked around us like a comet, flinging reformed runes every which way. They stuck in the air like little lights dangling from a tree.

There was a blinding flash of golden light, and then we were all standing inside a foggy rainbow cavern. It looked a lot like the ancient library—at least before Sierra and Nero had brought down the ceiling on it.

The fog swirled, and then I saw Sierra. She was standing opposite Mordon. He had his hand extended to her. And here, in this dream, he didn’t look like Vertigo. He looked like himself: a tall, lanky man with dark hair and pale skin. Actually, he kind of looked like a stereotypical vampire.

“Come on, little angel,” Mordon coaxed Sierra. “It’s time to go.”

She folded her arms over her chest. Her chin lifted upward, totally defiant. “No.”

Her posture reminded me of Nero’s. So absolutely confident. So totally steadfast.

“Come with me,” Mordon said, stretching out his arm even further.

“No.” Sierra sniffed the air and declared, “You stink.”

I laughed.

Mordon didn’t hear me. Nor did Sierra. Neither of them turned my way.

“They can’t see us, Leda,” Cadence told me. “We can work unhindered for a time, but we won’t be able to stay here for long. We need to find the telepathic thread that Mordon wove between himself and Sierra.”

So we split up and started searching the foggy abyss.

“Come on, little angel.” Mordon called to her like she was a pet. “Come with me.”

Sierra took a step back. “Mommy and Daddy say stay away from strangers.”

“Coming with me is the only way to save your mommy and daddy.”

She pushed his hand away. “You hurt them!”

“Only to get your attention,” Mordon said silkily. “So we can be friends. So we can do great things together.”

“Don’t believe a word that lying weasel says, Sierra!” I hissed under my breath.

I knew she couldn’t hear me, but I did hope that some part of her couldfeelme here with her, especially with Angel boosting my magic.

“You bad man!” Sierra told him. “Evilman!” She kicked him in the shin.

He leaned over, cradling his leg, snarling, struggling to contain the curses spilling out of his mouth.

“Way to go, Sierra!” I cheered her on.

Mordon glared at her. “You’re even worse than your mother.”

“Good.” Sierra planted her hands on her hips, chest puffed out, looking victorious. “Mommy break bad guys. Sierra break bad guys too.”

I’d never felt so proud in all my life.