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“Because they won’t be leaving with the Mist King. They’ll be leaving with Niamh, Toryn, and Alastair.”

I arched a brow. “How do you figure that?”

“You and I are going back to Albyria. Did you bring the Mortal Blade?”

“You think Oberon is alive?”

“If he isn’t, where’s the body? I didn’t see one, and I was in the room when the fire started.” She stepped close and tipped back her head. “We need to make sure, either way. Because if he’s still out there…”

I nodded. “He could still bring back the gods. Can you tell me exactly what happened up there?”

While Val and Nellie gathered the humans in the square, Tessa told the story of how she escaped from a flame-engulfed castle. She’d put Oberon on the spot, revealing the truth about his powers to the courtiers. A smart move. So smart it had actually worked…until Oberon had somehow destroyed the whole damn city with his power.

“The gemstones,” I said when she’d finished filling me in. “The barrier worked because he’d poured all his power into the gemstones inside the chasm. And when he pulled his power back out to prove his strength, the barrier failed. There was nothing left to keep the mists out.”

“It makes sense,” she said. “But he still somehow lost control of it. There was an explosion, and the fires started. He vanished in the smoke.”

“He could still be up there, hiding out.”

“Look at the castle. It’s all on fire, except for the Tower of Crones.”

“Where his previous wives are,” I murmured, gazing up at the city. Even through the mists, the conflagration was clear. It consumed every inch of the castle, splashing light onto the singular tower that held strong. Only magic could protect a building that way.

“If Oberon is still in that city, he’s in the Tower of Crones, Kalen. And he might have his power now, but so do you. Together, we can take him down, once and for all. You use your mists to weaken him, distract him. And then I stab him with the blade.”

“It’s too dangerous,” I said with a shake of my head. This was the second time she’d escaped his grasp. I couldn’t risk him getting his hands on her again, especially knowing just how desperate he must be feeling. His entire city was crumbling down around him. His reign had turned to ash. “You should go with the others. They can take the mortals to Endir before traveling on to Sunport, where we can get you all on a ship to the human kingdoms. It will be safe for you there. All of you.”

The meaning of my words was not lost on her. “I’m not leaving Aesir. Not until Oberon is dead.”

“Tessa…”

“No.” She pressed her palms against my blood-drenched chest but did not even react to it. She just took me in, accepting all the violence and darkness that my armor represented. “You told me everything, and I can’t walk away from it now. The prophecy. What will become of the world.”

“But this is not your burden, love,” I said quietly to her, all too aware of the many eyes and ears that surrounded us. “You can leave this place and never again think of fae and blades and cruel kings. Go live your life. Be happy. And it isn’t as if we can never speak again. I can still visit you in your dreams.”

“It might be my burden more than you could ever imagine,” she whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“Kal,” Niamh said, striding over to us with her sword propped against her shoulder. “Time to go before more pookas show up.”

Behind her, Toryn and Alastair stood with about a hundred humans. They all looked terrified. Val was doing her best to reassure them, but it was clear they were only going along with this out of fear. Not because they wanted to trek across the bridge to Endir.

“Perhaps they’ll calm down when I’m no longer here.”

She glanced up at the city. “You shouldn’t go after Oberon alone.”

“He won’t be alone,” Tessa said. “I’m going with him. With the Mortal Blade.”

Niamh arched a brow. “You think I’ll just hand the Mortal Blade over to you, of all people?”

“I won’t use it against any of you. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I swear it.”

“Fantastic.” Niamh unhooked a sheathed dagger from her belt and tossed it to Tessa, followed by a small pouch. “Glad we mined some of Oberon’s gemstones before he took all his magic out of the ones in the chasm. I think there are eight in there, so use them sparingly. We won’t be able to get any more now. So don’t stab anyone unless you absolutely have to. That’s the real one, by the way. Be careful with it.”

“I promise you won’t regret this,” Tessa said with a smile of surprise. “Thank you for trusting me, Niamh. Even though I don’t deserve it.”

She gave Tessa slight nod. “I heard what you said to Kal. Your words were laced with truth. It’s enough for me.”