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I rolled my eyes. “So dramatic.”

“Now you’re being hypocritical.” I glared at her for a moment before we both smiled softly. “I’ve been wondering if there might be a way to rework the ritual the queen did that night. If gathering the ingredients and bringing the magic back to life could help us connect with it and siphon it from you, but I’m not sure how it would work. I wrote briefly to Esmond to see if he had any ideas, though it’s difficult without being able to put much in writing.”

I nodded. “I’ll try whatever you advise, but in the meantime, I promise I’m telling you the truth.” I wasn’t entirely fine, but there was nothing to be done about it, so why bother her with it?

As if on cue, a bolt of pain speared through the scar. I bit my lips, nearly drawing blood as a soft knock echoed on the door. Santorina called that it was open, and Tolek and Cypherion entered. The former caught my expression before I could wipe it away. He came to stand beside the bed, eyes sweeping over me, landing on my arm and immediately understanding.

“Just because that scar isn’t the largest threat over us, doesn’t mean you need to say it’s okay.” And I swore in that sentence, Rina sounded more defeated than anything. She was a healer—a damn good one—and this was her greatest challenge yet.

“Don’t push the pain away on account of everything else,” Cypherion said. “Or Santorina won’t know what she’s working with.”

“We’ll find an answer, though,” Tolek promised. Whether it was to us or himself, I couldn’t be sure.

Unease twisted its way through my gut, but I gave them a genuine smile. “Thank you all. For being here. For fighting this fight with me.” Tolek’s words from Brontain echoed through my mind. This was all of our battle, but they were not required to be here. They were choosing me. This. And no words could express my gratitude for that.

“I’ve actually had some thoughts about the emblems. A theory I want to try tonight.” Giving Tolek a look with raised brows, I added, “If you’re up for it.”

“Oh, Gods be damned,” Santorina muttered.

“This can’t be good.” Cyph dragged a hand over his face.

Tolek met my stare with my favorite smirk. “I’m up for anything you’ve got, Alabath.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ophelia

“Ophelia, this feels like a horrible idea.”

I ignored Rina’s warning, continuing to pull velvet curtains across wide windows.

“Santorina, by now you know that won’t stop any of us,” Tolek chided from the wicker chair before the fire, journal in hand to record what we were about to do.

At my request, we’d been given a wide, nearly empty room typically used for formal dinners. Cypherion and Tolek had pushed the table and chairs up against the peach stucco walls. Jezebel and I were drawing the thick teal curtains across clouded glass.

Privacy. What we needed if I was truly going to attempt this.

“Why am I the only one who tries to dissuade the reckless decisions?” Rina muttered, only half-joking, and fell into one of the chairs beside Tolek.

“Because,” Cyph began with a huff, shoving a side table in front of the double doors at one end of the room, “the rest of us know by now we have no other option.”

Cypherion was striding across the room, boots echoing on worn tile, when a knock sounded at the door he’d just blocked. Immediately, his accusing blue eyes turned to mine. I shrugged a not-so-convincing apology.

He grumbled something unintelligible under his breath, but it sounded like, “Always testing me.” Then, he opened the door and came face-to-face with Vale.

The Starsearcher’s eyes widened, spine straightening. “Hi,” she breathed.

Silently, he stepped aside. Vale walked forward with a furtive look over her shoulder as Cypherion blocked the doors again. When she looked at me, I shook my head softly, telling her to give him time. He’d come around.

I still didn’t know what had happened between them, but Cypherion was the most level-headed warrior I knew, and if he was allowing himself to be fueled by emotions right now, it likely meant he didn’t know how to process them. Once he figured it out, he’d be better.

At least I hoped so, for the sake of the Starsearcher before me with the downturned eyes, and for Cypherion. Bottling up this rage wouldn’t do him any good—I would know. Vale may have tricked us, but she’d been trying. Trying to read, trying to help, trying to apologize.

Besides, I may not totally trust her, but we needed her.

“Okay, Alabath,” Tolek said, springing up from his chair and jogging to my side. He placed a hand on my lower back. “Now that we’re all here, walk us through the plan.”

“Right,” I said, eyes flitting to Cyph one last time. “I’m going to try to summon Damien.”