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Then the horn blasts again, and she jumps. “We can’t talk about this now. We need to get back.”

She’s right. And it will give me time to think of a strategy.

I grab her hand, and we run.

The streets are empty at first, but as we get closer to headquarters, there’s a lot more activity. People are hurrying to safety—or what they perceive as safety. I’m thinking it’s just an illusion.

And headquarters is organized fucking chaos. The guards at the gate salute as we hurry past. We pause for a moment; the courtyard is filled with activity. Thanouq has been preparing for this, and he’s done a good job. Everyone seems to know what they need to do. No one stops us as we hurry past them, probably assuming we have somewhere important to be.

Amber tugs on my hand and we head to the side of the building where a door leads into the section where Hecate has her rooms. Amber drags me past the kitchen and to the staircase that leads to the Mirador. She pulls free of me, and I reluctantly let her go and fall in behind her as she takes the steps two at a time, racing up the narrow spiraling staircase.

Finally, we emerge into the open air. Hecate has gotten here first, and she’s standing at the parapet, staring down over the land.

“Josh?” Amber asks.

“Winter is taking care of him,” Hecate replies, not shifting her gaze from the view below.

I take Amber’s hand again, and she doesn’t fight me. I can feel her trembling as we step closer to the edge and stare out over the land beyond the city.

My stomach drops.

It looks like all of Hell has arrived.

The enemy stretches across the land, an unending tide of darkness. Shadowguard stand in perfect formation, their red eyes burning like embers. Behind them, creatures writhe and shift—twisted horrors of smoke and flesh.

And beyond them—men. Thousands of them. Mortals who have chosen to fight for darkness.

Cowards.

Traitors.

Amber steps forward, gripping the stone of the parapet so tightly, her knuckles turn white. I watch her, but she doesn’t even blink. Just stares down at the end of the world.

I’ve fought wars before. Seen battlefields piled so high with bodies we had to climb over the dead to keep fighting. I know what it looks like when the odds are unwinnable.

This?

This is something else.

Behind us, Hecate’s voice cuts through the silence. “You need to leave.”

Amber doesn’t turn. “What?”

“You need to leave the city,” Hecate repeats. “Before it’s too late. Before they totally surround us.”

Amber lets out a sharp laugh. “Not happening.”

“You’re not ready. You need more time. More training.” Hecate moves closer, her face unreadable. “Besides, it’s you they want. That’s why they’re here. Only you know the location ofLucifer’s Mirror. Only you can free him from Hell. If we lose, if you’re taken…”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Amber replies. “But no. I’ve run for the last time. This time I stand, and I fight.”

Hecate exhales slowly, as if she expected that answer but hates it anyway. “How can we prevail against that?”

“Have a little faith.”

Hecate turns to me. “Tell her it’s impossible. She might listen to you.”

Maybe I should be arguing. I should be the one telling her to get the fuck out while she still can.