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“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, water spiraling around her fingers as she hovers them near the orb.

“And deadly,” I add, my eyes fixed on the shifting glow reflected across her features. “This is what will breach the Night Court’s wards. What will allow us to finally bring the fight to them.”

The reality of it settles over me as I speak the words.

Because this isn’t just an object of power. It’s a declaration of war. With this Ember, we’ll cross a line that cannot be uncrossed.

Sapphire’s eyes meet mine, fierce determinationglowing in their depths. “We’re really doing this. Starting a war.”

“They started it,” I correct her, and my hand covers hers, ice meeting water in a dance as familiar as breathing. “We’re just finishing it.”

The Ember pulses between us, its ancient fire casting long shadows across the cabin. In its light, I see the future stretching before us. Not the doomed ones from the visions in the Cosmic Tides, but something new. Something forged in our own image. Something where we don’t survive by fate—we survive by force.

Because whatever stands in our way, we will destroy it. This is what we’ve become now. Not just husband and wife, not just Summer and Winter united, but something more. Something even the gods should fear.

Because for Sapphire, there’s no line I won’t cross. No enemy I won’t destroy. No fate, no matter how cruel, I won’t defy.

The Night Court may have started this war—but we are the storm that will end it.

ZOEY

Dusk brings a surreal calm.

Because this is the night I’m going to choose which human will become my personal blood source for when I’m turned into a vampire.

“Are you ready?” Aerix asks, his wings extending behind him as I finish getting dressed.

I nod, smoothing down the black silk dress I’ve chosen. It’s elegant enough to assert my status, but not so gaudy as to prance around the barns looking like I’m going to a party instead of choosing one of the humans there for possible death.

“I am,” I say, meeting his midnight eyes, both terrified and exhilarated for what’s to come.

He studies my face, cold air swirling around us as he takes my hand. “You’re perfect,” he murmurs, satisfaction evident in his voice.

“Only because you made me this way.” I give him a soft smile, drawing strength from his touch.

He brushes his thumb across my knuckles, his eyes glowing with dark pride. “Every artist needs their muse,” he whispers. “You were always mine, Zoey. And after you’re immortal, the entire Night Court will see my completed masterpiece.”

“Then let’s create something the Night Court will never forget,” I tell him, and he draws me to him, his lips claiming mine, his fingers tracing lines across my back that make my entire body shudder with desire.

Aerix pulls back first, his wings flaring before folding against his spine again.

“Not yet,” he says, his voice rough with an edge of frustration. “As tempting as you are—and believe me, you’re very, very tempting—we need to finish this first.”

I huff in annoyance, but he’s right. We need to get this next part over with.

So, I let him lead the way out of the palace, where Nyx joins us, carrying us on her back as we prowl across the blood moat’s bridge. The courtyard is beginning to stir with night fae going about their evening routines, but they step aside as we pass, eyes downcast.

Word must have spread about what I did last night.

Good. Let them talk. Let them fear me. Let them see that I belong to their prince now.

The path to the barns takes us through a section ofthe Night Court I’ve never visited—past the artisan quarter where fae craftsmen work. Then, eventually, we’re making our way through a series of increasingly sparse gardens, until we reach a tall, dark stone building with narrow, barred windows.

“The barns,” Aerix says, his voice neutral as he pushes open the heavy iron door.

“I thought they’d be… wider,” I say simply.

“Why build out when you can build up?” he says with a deadly smile, helping me off Nyx’s back, opening the doors, and leading me inside. “It takes up less space this way.”