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She considered the words of the prophecy he knew, and then the words of the full prophecy, and realised that what he’d said was true. It only spoke of what would happen in the case of the Tia Aurans joining them. But then there was that last verse, theone he didn’t know—‘If, however, darkness wins, there is no strategy, to keep from all that will be lost, and so will always be.’

… And yet, it still didn’t specifically say that without the Tia Aurans, darkness would win. Just thatifdarkness won, all would be lost.

Alex raised a hand to massage her throbbing temple. Looking at Athora, she said, hesitantly, “What if—What ifyoujoined us?”

He shook his cloaked head. “My time has not yet come.”

“But—”

“I was banished along with Aes Daega,” Athora reminded her. “I’m no longer considered a native of Tia Auras, and thus cannot fulfil the requirements of the prophecy.”

It had been worth a try, even if Alex had already presumed as much.

“I will say this, Alexandra,” Athora said, his monotone shifting to inject a shade of emotion into his words. “I’ve never known anyone who has failed so spectacularly as you.”

Alex sucked in a sharp breath. His uncensored opinion was the last thing she needed to hear, considering what she was about to face.

“But,” he said, talking over her when she opened her mouth to offer her own choice words, “I’ve also never known anyone who has had more tenacity of spirit. In spite of everything that has come against you, past and present, you have never given up. So I know that if there’s anyone who can do the impossible, it’s you. Today is the day you show this world what you’re made of. Don’t let them down.”

And then he was gone.

But in his place was Kaiden, as if Athora had just been waiting to swap the two of them over.

With a breath that hitched in the middle, Alex rushed forward and threw her arms around him.

“Are you okay?” she whispered. “What you did—with Lena—and then with Aven—that could have—”

“I’m fine,” he gently interrupted her broken sentences. “It didn’t feel so great at the time, but I’m better now.”

“Why didn’t you nullify Aven and stop him from using— from using—” Alex couldn’t bring herself to mention Blink’s gift, a wave of sadness engulfing her at the thought of her departed friend.

Kaiden moved his hands soothingly across her back as he said, “I figured I’d only have one chance with the element of surprise, and helping everyone escape was more important than avoiding a little pain.”

A little pain?Alex would never forget the sounds of his screams, the way his skin had changed colours and his lips had turned blue, the gleeful tone in Aven’s voice as he speculated about melted organs.

Shuddering, she tightened her grip on him, holding him all the more closely until finally she was able to accept that he was real, he was safe, and he washere. Only then was she able to pull back enough to look at him, while still remaining in the circle of his arms.

“Do you know what’s happened?” she asked. “What Aven has offered?”

Alex wasn’t sure how long she’d been down in the cavern. All she knew was that, unlike most of the rest of the Library, time passed as normal while she was in the underground room, just as it had for her parents in their Ancient Egyptian environment, which meant the clock was still ticking down to noon in the outside world.

“I was in the Med Ward when Dix was brought in by her parents,” Kaiden answered. “The commotion when she reunited with Jordan was enough to wake most of Medora, and in amongst her apologies, she explained Aven’s proposition.”

Her throat bobbing, Alex whispered, “Then you know what I have to do next.”

He tilted her chin up so that their eyes met. “With him, or with me?”

Yet again, she found herself amazed that he knew her so well. “Both. But with you, first.”

Kaiden stroked his thumb along her jaw. “I understand why you think you have to do it. I just wish you weren’t doing it for the reasons that you are.”

“If I don’t—If I can’t—” Alex took a breath and tried again. “If Aven manages to succeed, it’s bad enough that my bond with Xira means he’d die with me. I can’t handle thinking the same about you.” Another shuddered breath. “Aven knows I’ve Claimed you now, so he won’t try a second time. Not today, at least. And if—if I don’t make it, you’ll just have to make sure that you two don’t cross paths again.”

Easier said than done, Alex knew, but she prayed that wasn’t a problem Kaiden would have to face.

“Are you sure—”

“Yes,” Alex interrupted firmly, not allowing him the chance to change her mind. This was one life that would be spared, even if her own wasn’t.Especiallyif her own wasn’t. “You remember what to say?”