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Fuck.

I nod, committing the words to my memory.

To be honest, this is all too much to take in. I guess I’m in shock. I’m meeting my mother. And I have a horrible suspicion that she’s going to die in front of me. Soon. And it’s not as though I can even say I love her—how can I when I don’t even know her. But she’s my mother. And I want to cry. I blink away the tears. Crying won’t get me through this. I’m not sure what will.

I think the best thing is to not think about it at all. Except I’m going to have to come up with a plan. Because I need to get out of this cell. Then I need to get this collar off my fucking neck because otherwise I can’t cast any stupid spells.

And I need to say goodbye to Khaosti. And tell him I love him.

But right here and now, there’s nothing but the woman in front of me, so frail but still beautiful. Pain flashes across her face. I hate that I can’t do anything to help her. That all I can do is sit and watch her die.

“Tell me about my father?” I say.

A smile flashes across her face. “He was so beautiful. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him. He wasn’t mine to love. But we couldn’t help ourselves.” Her voice is low and wispy, so I have to move closer to hear her. She clears her throat and Grimlet jumps off my shoulder and scampers to the corner of the room. He comes back with a mug of water and hands it to me. I hold it to my mother’s lips, and she swallows a little. “We met in the pergola in the forest on his family estate.”

“That’s where I came through the mirror,” I say.

“Yes. It’s a special place. We married there a month after we first met. We didn’t tell anyone from court—the match would not have been popular—but the villagers all came to the wedding. They loved Lucifer.”

I remember the village we came through on our way from the forest. Seriously spooky. “What happened to the villagers when they created Hell?” I ask.

“They became shadows who haunt the village still. Evil twisted things like everything else that dwells in Hell.”

Well, that explains the vibes. She looks sad now and I wish I hadn’t mentioned it. Her eyes close, and I know the end is near.

There’s one thing I want to ask, and my hand reaches up to the amber pendant around my throat. I swallow when I think ofwhat I’ve been carrying around me unknowing all my life. “Did Hecate know what this really is?”

“Yes. But I left it up to her when she should tell you. I thought maybe you could have some semblance of a normal childhood.”

I think about my guardians, training to fight, losing them one after another. But I force a smile. “I had a great childhood.” The lie comes easily, and it’s worth it as I see her smile. I’ve felt bitter about how she abandoned me but now that I know what she went through, I can see why. And I want her to be happy at the end. When I think of how she has suffered, I want to rain celestial fire on everyone. I want to burn the world to ashes. The light is fading from her beautiful eyes.

“I don’t suppose you can get this collar off?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “My magic never recovered. And this place saps the strength from me. Zeryth instilled the very walls with magic.”

“Zeryth?”

“The sorceress who was head of the Coven of the First Flame. After the spell was cast, they split into two groups. Some, including Zeryth, followed Lucifer—they discovered that Khronus planned to destroy the coven so news of his new creation wouldn’t get out. They became the Coven of the Dark Flame. All but Zeryth are gone now.”

“And the others?” Though I suspect I know the answer.

“They fled to Valandria and became the Coven of the Lost Flame. They dedicated themselves to good deeds. But both groups and all their descendants were marked with the dark flame to show the evil they had done.”

Winter’s people. So why would she betray me to Lucifer? I guess I’ll never know now. It occurs to me that if I do this, then a lot of people will live—people who would likely otherwise die or live in slavery to Lucifer. Winter. Zayne, Josh. Thanouq, Hecate. So many.

But is it so selfish of me to wish I could live as well? And Khaosti.

Blah… If wishes were alicorns…

I have one more question. “Why did he keep you alive?”

“Because he loves me.”

That should make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Aw—my dad loves my mom. Except I’m burning up with rage. He loves her so much that he’s kept her in a dungeon for five thousand years and tortured her at regular intervals. What the fuck happened to love conquers all?

We fall silent. I don’t want to let my rage out and spoil my mother’s last moments. She obviously thinks his love is worth something. Grimlet has curled up on the cot bed in the crook of her neck. A tear leaks down his grey, stony face.

“Take Grimlet with you through the mirror…” she murmurs. “He’s been a good friend.”