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Thought maybe he replied, “With my dying breath” against her hair. He cleared his throat and added, “You be careful, baby Alabath.”

Jezebel stepped back. “One day you’ll realize I’m all grown up.”

“Not today,” Cypherion said, joining our group out of the darkness. He wore his brown leathers with the Mystique sigil stamped into the thick material and a band of knives strapped across his chest beneath his cloak. Intimidating to most, soft to Jez as he clapped a hand to her shoulder and smiled down at her. “You may be eighteen now, but you’ll always be baby Alabath to us.”

My sister rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. “Yes, well, I’ll be fine here.”

“She will be.” Malakai stepped up and draped an arm over her shoulder, and that one small gesture inflated my heart. Watching my sister with these boys who had protected me—us—all our lives, the ones I would die and kill for, reminded me that despite the darkness we faced, there was a world in which it would all be okay. A future I could almost reach out and touch.

“Are you ready?” I asked Cypherion. Vale stood behind our group, whispering a low goodbye to Esmond and Gatrielle. Like Cyph, she carried weapons, though her lone short sword and pair of three-pointed daggers paled next to his cloak of blades.

“We are,” Cyph said with a grim nod, gesturing Vale forward.

“Rina?” I asked, noticing she wasn’t here yet.

“I went to the infirmary to say goodbye,” he said.

“You two find what you need to fix the readings,” I instructed, looking between them, “and then come home.”

“Of course, Revered,” Cyph said. “We’ll be back before winter is thickest.”

I hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Second.”

He grumbled about still not wanting the title as he stepped away to say goodbye to Malakai and Tolek.

I turned to Vale, embracing her. She recoiled at first, surprised, but then her arms came around me.

“Get your answers, Vale,” I whispered. “I know how it feels to think your gift is working against you. Stay true.” I pulled back. “And keep an eye on him.”

The Starsearcher held a longing silence after my words, nodding slightly.

Tolek, having come over to give Vale his own well wishes, added, “Maybe get him to relax again.” His brows pulled together as he evaluated Cypherion.

“I will,” Vale promised, her eyes locked on our friend. “We best be off.”

When he was atop his horse, Cyph said, “Have fun killing a queen without me.”

“Jealous?” Tolek asked.

Cypherion rolled his eyes, and that was that. They left together on two horses, and we looked after them until their forms melded into the night, my chest tightening.

“Shall we?” Barrett asked when they were gone. His wolf, Rebel, sat eagerly beside him.

“Before it gets too late,” Dax advised. He stood at Barrett’s shoulder wearing enough blades to rival Cyph and two gruesome axes on his back.

A lump was in my throat again as I faced those remaining behind. Malakai and the Bodymelders. Mila and Lyria.

“Wait!” Rina ran down the path, thank the Spirits. I would not leave without saying goodbye to her, though I’d been with her all afternoon and had the ingredients she carefully measured out stored in my pack.

But when she stopped before me, I looked her over—leathers sculpted perfectly to her lithe body in place of the skirts she normally preferred.

“Santorina?” I asked, gesturing to her clothing.

“I’m coming with you.” Her brow set in determination.

A mixture of delight and terror raced through me. “What?” I looked at Esmond and Gatrielle, who nodded. “Aren’t you needed here?”

“We can manage,” Esmond confirmed.