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I stiffen. “Everyone is fucking sorry,” I snarl. “What fucking good does being sorry do?” I press my lips together, but a whimper escapes me. “He’s only eight. It’s not fair.” I can’t stand the thought of Josh there. Maybe locked in a dungeon with no light, like Khaosti had been. If Khronus would do that to his own son, what would he do to Josh and Zayne?

“I’ll get them back,” Khaosti says. “He’s my father; I’ll do whatever I need to get them back for you.”

But something hardens inside me. And suddenly I’m furious with everyone. Winter for betraying us. Khronus for being an asshole. The gods for being fucking useless. And Khaos for being his father’s son. That’s hardly fair. But I don’t feel fair.

I feel like I’m back in fucking Hell.

And it was all for nothing.

And I want Zayne. He always looked out for me. Now it’s time for me to look out for him. Iwillget them back. I look at Khaos and see the worry and sadness on his face. I don’t want to leave him. But there’s no way I’m taking him back to Astrali. His father will end him this time. And I have to go. I can’t bear the thought of them at Khronus’s non-existent mercy for a second longer.

I push myself to my feet. “No, you won’t. I can’t risk it. Besides, he’ll kill you this time.”

He opens his mouth to argue, but I raise my hand to stop him. “He won’t kill me. He wants my powers. He wants me to make mirrors. I have some bargaining power.”

“My father does not bargain.”

“But he’ll keep me alive.”

“Then I’ll come with you.”

“Did you not hear me? He’ll kill you. And I don’t want you to die.” I try to think of what will convince him. “I have to go, and I have to go now because I can’t leave Josh and Zayne there a moment longer than I have to.” I search inside myself to see if I have the strength and the magic to do this. I think so. Just. “But you have to stay. You have to find a way to help me. But don’t rush in unprepared. Make a plan. Find your father’s weakness. He has to have one. Then come and save me. Be my hero, not a sacrifice.” Something occurs to me. “You need help. Go to Earth; use the mirror I made. There’s a group there—wolf shifters. A place called Glenhaven Cross near the Scottish border. They have nothing to do now that the shadowguard is gone—tell them you’re Khendril’s brother.” I run out of words. I can’t think of anything else to say. Then I catch sight of Grimlet. He’s standing huddled beside Winter’s body. “Look after Grimlet,” I say. “Be his friend.”

Then I step back. Khaos reaches a hand out to me, but a hopeless expression crosses his face, and it drops back to his side. And I know he sees this is the only way. Even if he hates it.

“Just stay alive,” he says. “Whatever you have to do, stay alive, and I will come for you.”

I nod. Then I turn away, whisper the words of a spell, and a mirror forms in front of me. I step toward it, but at the last minute, I look back. “I love you.”

And then I step through.

Epilogue: Khaos

“You must learn patience,” Khendril says.

“But what if I want something right now?” I am only six. Patience is an alien concept.

He shakes his head. “You must learn to pick the time and place of your battles.”

We are seated in the garden of the palace. The sun is setting, turning the sky to purple and gold, and the scent of jasmine lingers in the air.

“That is—if you want to win. Do you want to win, Khaos?”

I nod. “Always.”

“Then learn patience.”

He sounds as though he’s speaking to me here and now. But it’s just a memory. My brother is dead.

All the same, the words resonate in my mind. I must be patient when every cell in my body screams to go after her. To save her.

Now.

I love you.

Her last words to me echo through the still night air. It was only hours ago, but it seems like forever.

I never meant to fall in love. It was the last thing I expected. In my experience, love leads to pain. A few moments of euphoria, followed by a world of loss and emptiness.