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He moved back as the fire quietly hissed in pulsing waves over the paint, revealing an image beneath. Not five keys. Five women. Each one bearing unique symbols on their foreheads. Each one different. Each one special. Each one powerful.

Kross slowly returned to the wall, studying them. One hand lifted, then pointed. “This one is calling me.”

It was the one bearing the broken crown symbol on her forehead and fear in her gaze.

“And the others?” the angel of mothers asked.

“The others...” Kross murmured, voice echoing with finality as he peered at each one. “...are daring me to come.” He moved from one to the next, reading, weighing, judging. He paused, looking halfway over his shoulder. “They want to kill me,” he marveled quietly. “Before I can kill them.”

The angel of mothers stepped forward, sliding her fingers over the woman holding fear like a shield. “This one... I know where she is.”

Kaos tightened his hold on Jaxi as Kross stood before the woman on the wall, gaze locked with hers as if he was seeing her. “She’s not just calling...” he said in quiet realization, “...she’s collapsing.”

He faced Larena suddenly. “You must take me to her,” he said, flames rising over every inch of his skin. “Now.”