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I wouldn’t give Kakias the chance to string it out. We had a plan now. Remove the queen. Disable the forces. End this before anyone suffered anymore.

We were going after Kakias.

And this would be over.

Spice and citrus surrounded me. It took a few inhales of that steadying scent for my brain to catch up, to realize I was no longer before the wardrobe but cradled on the rumpled bed. I had not even noticed my hand being pried from the door or the arms supporting me.

“Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful mind,” Tol soothed.

Sucking in a ragged breath, I said, “She can’t keep doing this.”

“She won’t.” His thumb dragged across my jaw, gently tipping my face up to him. “This is ending.”

I shook my head. “They’re prepared for a long war, Tol. They can’t suffer again. Not like last time.” I looked into those chocolate eyes, counted the amber specks, and tension fell from my shoulders. “When I was inducted as Revered, I vowed to protect and guide the Mystiques. I won’t fail them.”

Tolek sighed, pressing his lips softly to my forehead. “And you won’t, but you are only one warrior, Ophelia.” I frowned up at him. His quiet laugh had me relaxing further. “You are one magnificent warrior; do not misunderstand my meaning. But even that vow cannot be upheld by one person. You can’t control everything.”

“I don’t like that,” I huffed.

A crooked grin spread across Tolek’s face. “I know you don’t. What you can do, though, is focus on what is in your control.”

Running a hand over my necklace, I surveyed the room. The drawers hanging open, contents rifled through. The remnants of our weapons and things I’d spilled during my flurry.

I told him of everything I’d discovered and planned for in the infirmary, and Tolek was thrilled—confident—but when I finished, I said, “We need a contingency plan. We need to prepare for every move the queen might make and then expand our expectations beyond that.” She had surprised us too many times already. I would not give her another chance.

“Let’s find them, then.” Tolek slid me off his lap and leaned over the side of the bed to grab his pack. Pulling out a worn journal, he flipped to an open page. “Tell me every worry you have, and we’ll figure it out together.”

I pursed my lips at all the doubts and fears that had poked through since leaving the infirmary and being hit once again with the force of this war. They plunged me toward a cliff’s edge, poised to fall, but Tol’s words pulled me back from the panic. He tempered me, somewhere between the buzzing euphoria of having a plan and the cold realization of the camp’s permanence.

“Come on, Alabath,” Tolek encouraged, shaking his journal at me. “Be a good girl and come plan the demise of your enemies with me.”

I laughed, but it was a wicked smile that met his own. “Okay,” I began. “Let’s start with how we are going to destroy the queen.”

Tolek’s gaze ignited, and that fire curled my toes against the bedding. Perhaps it wasn’t normal for us to react such a way to these murderous intentions, but I quite liked it. If I was to wield death blows, he’d smile as he placed the sharpened blade in my hand.

And I would take every weapon offered as we walked together into this darkest battle.

It was ending. Even if it killed me, Kakias would not live to wage another war.

Breath of lungs and threads of heart.

Vale’s meditative words from the interrogation in the Labyrinth repeated through my head as we met our group on the western border of the war camp.

Night had fallen hours ago, true and deep, unlike the early hours of lingering dusk we’d had earlier. The army was settling in, extra guards on watch and all others stealing a few hours of rest, trysts, or peaceful stories before the fires.

From here, I could make out the highest peaks, where shadows stood resolute; I scanned the land beyond the vast ridges of the range. Bows in their hands, quivers on their backs.

“You’re ready to join them?” I turned to Jezebel, trying to gauge her feelings.

Her emotions were guarded. “I’m as ready as I can be. Ricordan’s rebels will arrive tomorrow and they’ll be able to help me if anything goes…” Her words trailed off, and I swallowed past the pain of that possibility. A cool breeze whipped our hair around our faces.

“You are an incredible warrior, Jezzie.” I placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her to me. “This power you hold is a gift. We are going to decipher what it’s for—who it’s from. But this is your purpose, and Father would be proud.”

She nodded, a tear I knew she did not want to let go slipping down her cheek. “Thank you, Ophelia. I love you.” She wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed tightly. “Be safe.”

“Stay true,” I said, kissing the top of her head. Over her shoulder, I met Erista’s resolute stare. The Soulguider nodded at me, and we exchanged a silent promise to help my sister. Erista tonight, and the both of us once this mess was cleared up. We’d discover the true reason behind Jezebel’s powers.

When Jez pulled away, a shadow hovered over us. “Tolek,” my sister muttered. Then, she was launching herself at him, too. Locking her arms around his waist. I thought I heard her mumble a “take care of her” into his leathers.