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Freedom from Zalindov. Once upon a time, Kiva never could have imagined such a concept.

But now...

“I don’t know what to say,” she said, her voice cracking as she took in her friends, all of whom seemed pleased with her reaction.

Except for Cresta, who drawled, “To repeat, we didn’t do it just for you.”

The reason didn’t matter. For too many years, Zalindov had plagued Kiva’s thoughts and haunted her nightmares. Knowing future inmates might be spared the same suffering, that there could be lifeafterZalindov...

A weight lifted from Kiva’s shoulders, replaced by a sense of rightness, ofjustice.

But not just that. As she looked up at the limestone walls, she suddenly realized that, with or without the coming changes, Zalindov no longer held any power over her. It was in her past — and it would be remaining there.

She had survived.

Now it was time for her tolive.

Feeling that settle somewhere deep within her, Kiva looked at Jaren, at her friends, at her brother, and asked, her voice thick with wonder, withhope,“What happens now?”

It was Jaren who answered, leaning in to whisper three perfect words right into her ear:

“Now, we dream.”