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This time the Shadow listened to her, surrendering to her control.

The disorienting force abated instantly and Alex fell to her knees as the ground became steady under her once more. She opened her eyes and they widened in surprise. The Shadow Ring had done exactly as she’d ordered, delivering her directlyto Raelia, but it wasn’t the Raelia she’d been expecting. Instead of the snowy landscape, she was in a moonlit clearing.

Moonlight.

As in, nighttime.

What…?

Not only was it nighttime, but there was also no trace of snow. The landscape looked exactly like it had the very first night Alex had stumbled upon the clearing months ago.

“Enter in, if you dare,

As one who’s been to Meya;

Be strong of mind and pure of heart,

For your journey began at Raelia.”

Alex jumped to her feet, swayed on the spot and pressed a hand to her throbbing head. She knew who the singing voice belonged to, even if she couldn’t see the owner.

“Lady Mystique?”

“Hello again, Alexandra,” the old woman said, appearing in the middle of the circle.

“How—how did I get here?”

“You activated the Shadow Essence in your ring,” Lady Mystique said. “A dangerous undertaking, especially for one so full of Light. But you managed to gain control over the Shadow, and now you’ll be able to do so with much less resistance in the future. Two Walks remain in your ring. Use them wisely.”

Alex shuddered at the idea of ever having to use the ring again. “What I meant was, where’s the real Raelia?”

“You’ll be back there in a moment, child,” the old woman assured her. “But I wished to speak with you, to give you a warning, before you’re reunited with your friends.”

Alex wasn’t sure she could handle any more bad news. “What is it?”

“It won’t take long for Aven Dalmarta’s power to rise again, despite Meya’s best efforts to resist,” Lady Mystique said gravely. “There are too manyGarsethhiding out in the city, ready and willing to serve him. King Astophe and Prince Roka will need all the help you can give them.”

“Me? What can I do?” Alex asked. “My part in all of this is over. I was supposed to keep Aven from getting through the doorway, and look how well that turned out.”

Alex was barely holding her emotions together. It was as if shock had finally settled on her and she was completely numb. She couldn’t think about anything, least of all what Aven was going to do next.

“Alexandra, listen to me,” Lady Mystique said. “Your role has barely begun. You have much left to do, more than you can possibly imagine. You must—”

“No,” Alex interrupted with a firm shake of her head. “Imustnothing. In the last hour I’ve given Aven free access to Meya, I’ve watched a classmate die and I’ve been attacked by my best friend—who I’ve now lost to my worst enemy. I’m sorry, but I can’t have this conversation right now.”

The old woman’s face softened and she reached out to take Alex’s hand in her own. At her touch the throbbing pain in Alex’s head disappeared, along with all the other aches from her fight with Jordan.

“I know you don’t want to hear it,” Lady Mystique said softly, “but it’s important that you listen to me. You must train, Alexandra. You must train with the Meyarins.”

Alex stared at her. “What?”

“You must build your stamina,” Lady Mystique continued. “You must learn how to call upon the Meyarin blood in your veins at a single thought, without hesitation. It won’t take Aven long to realise how you managed to escape him and why youfight so well. He’s cunning, dangerously so, and when the time comes, you must be ready to face him—and win. You can only learn so much with a human instructor, regardless of how capable your Karter is. You need to learn how to use your Meyarin abilitiesfroma Meyarin.”

“That’s not—I can’t—” Alex took a deep breath and tried again. “I don’twantto fight Aven.”

“I know, child, I know,” Lady Mystique said, squeezing Alex’s hand. “But when the time comes, you may be the only one who can.”

Alex struggled to control her emotions, overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility she felt resting on her shoulders.