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“You don’t have any deathstone,” Scarlett said, turning to her.

Juliette gestured across the way to Cethin and Kailia. “I’m sure her Majesty would let me borrow some.”

“I would,” Kailia agreed simply, resting her chin on her palm while she observed.

“I thought the three of you were…close,” Cethin said carefully.

“We are,” the Wraiths all answered in unison.

“If you are wondering if they are always this ridiculous, the answer is yes,” Azrael muttered, thumb and forefinger rubbing at his brow in annoyance.

“What if a sacrifice is the only way to end this?” Callan suddenly asked. He’d been half-listening to the conversation around him, mulling over something Nuri had said.

“No,” Scarlett said firmly.

“Nuri is right,” Callan insisted. “This could end far quicker if the Maraan numbers were taken down to two. Countless lives would be saved. Would a sacrifice to end this sooner rather than later not be wise?”

“No,” Scarlett said again.

“It is not solely your decision to make, Scarlett,” Callan said with a sad tilt of his lips.

“There is another way,” she said, dread seeping into her tone.

“We are out of time,” Callan countered.

“We’re not,” she insisted, her voice breaking. “We’ve all been making sacrifices. We’ve all given enough.”

“You’re right,” Callan agreed. “But what if… What if only a few had to give a little more to end it all? So that this?” He made a wide sweeping gesture with his hand. “This can truly be the last time these people have to do this. Your people. My people. This world.”

“Then it will be me,” she said vehemently. “Not three mortal kings when their people need them most.”

“The realm needs a guardian, Scarlett. That is you.”

“This world needslight, Callan,” she answered, two tears slipping free. “And that isyou.”

“What if the sacrifice was not three but one?” Razik suddenly interrupted.

“It is still one too many,” Scarlett snarled.

“It’s a valid argument that needs to be heard, Scarlett,” Eliza said gently.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. She turned pleading eyes to Sorin. “Tell me we can figure something else out. Tell them.”

There was so much love and pity in Sorin’s eyes as he looked at his wife, bringing up a hand to cradle her jaw. “Let’s hear what Razik has to say, Love.”

She shook her head, and Callan knew Sorin was saying more down their bond. He left him to handle the High Queen and turned back to Razik. “Tell us what you are thinking.”

* * *

They turned down a passage of the Necropolis that would take them to the center where the mirror gate was. There were only a handful of them. Most of the Fae had been too drained to come with, their magic reserves depleted. The Wraiths were here. Drake and Hale. Cyrus and Cassius. Razik and Eliza.

They did not slow their steps, the Wraiths leading the way. They prowled straight down the passage and into the center of the Necropolis.

Ezra had been right. Tava was here. She was off to the side with Balam, her fingers twisted around the amulet at her throat. They’d told Balam Drake had picked it up for her as a gift. She was in a dress of deepest green, her golden hair unbound and flowing around her shoulders. Her turquoise eyes went wide when they appeared, a hand covering the small gasp that came from her.

The Maraans all turned as seraphs converged on their company, but they didn’t make it very far. Cassius and Razik had a line of dragon fire drawn between them, causing the seraphs all to pause. Orvyn and Idris stepped to Alaric’s side, but Balam stayed planted next to Tava, tucking her behind him.

“My Wraiths,” Alaric said, a vindictive smirk filling his face. “All of you together again. Well done, Nuri.”