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Andthatwas when she hit him, slapping her hand to his shoulder—hard.

“Good. So don’teverpull another stunt like you did today,” she ordered with a glare. She pointed to the room where she’d just left her friends and said, “They need you,”—she pointed towards Kaiden’s closed door—“he needs you,”—she pointed to herself—“andIneed you. So noble sacrifice or not,never again. Is that understood?”

He raised his hands. “Don’t worry. Kaid has already ripped me a new one. Consider the message delivered, loud and clear.”

Alex eyed him carefully to gauge his truth, then repeated, “Never again, Declan.”

His face softened. “Never again, Alex.”

And with that, she drew him in for another hug, before finally letting him go and venturing into her room to ready herself for their final meal in Vardaesia.

The feast was just as trying as Alex knew it would be. Worse, perhaps, because she and her friends were put on display like dancing monkeys, with what felt like the entire population of Vardaesia wanting to engage them in conversation. Since they’d had a whole week to do so, Alex couldn’t fathom why they’d chosen to wait until the final night, when she was desperate to leave. As Kaiden had said earlier, they’d been away from home for long enough. Not to mention, they were returning empty-handed, and without anyone having been told they were venturing to Tia Auras in the first place. There were some long conversations still to be had tonight, after an even longer week of trials. The last thing she wanted or needed was to be stuck at an otherworldly dinner party that seemed to have no end in sight.

As the hours continued to pass, it took everything within Alex not to lash out at the revellers and demand that they hurry up and finish celebrating so she and her friends could finally depart. While Bear had joked earlier about her drawing A’enara, she was a fraction away from doing just that. And she wasn’t alone, for she saw Jordan’s hand fisted tightly around his butter knife, and D.C. speared everyone who approached with a hellfire look that Alex hadn’t seen since her early days at the academy.

“Easy,” Kaiden said into her ear for the millionth time that evening, yet again sensing her restlessness. “It’s getting late— they have to be done with us soon.”

She gritted her teeth but somehow managed to paste a polite smile on her face when yet another immortal came up to their table and offered congratulations on a “truly exciting” week. Earlier that evening, Alex’s friends had decided it was best they speak on her behalf after she’d snapped at one of the first Tia Aurans who had treated them like celebrities, so she happily allowed Declan to divert the newest immortal’s attention and sweep him up in conversation.

“I swear, if we’re not out of here in another hour, I’m going to call Xira to come and rain fiery hell on this place,” Alex grumbled to Kaiden, not even caring if the nearby immortal ears were able to hear her.

Seated along rectangular tables that had been set up in the throne room of the Vardaesian palace in the style of a banqueting hall, there had to be hundreds of immortals in attendance for the feast. At the very top of the room sat Saefii, Calivere and Tayros, relaxed and visibly enjoying the festivities. Then again, it wasn’ttheirworld that was threatened by darkness. There was no reason why they shouldn’t be having a grand old time.

Attempting to shake aside her bitterness, Alex cast her gaze across the room and over the rest of the assembled Tia Auranswho were eating and drinking the mountains of unidentifiable but delicious items laid out along the tables. Her gaze snagged on one particular group of immortals who were given a wide berth by the others, showing that they were either really important—or really not. And since Alex recognised them, she knew they fit into the latter category. But she would have gladly chosen to sit with any of them over the crowd of pretentious, fawning Tia Aurans.

“Look,” Alex said to Kaiden, pointing surreptitiously towards the group and resolutely ignoring the desire to wince at the sensation that swept through her as she did so. “It’s our helpers.”

They were all there—Sorin, Latania, Enka, Kantor, Anais and Zaylin. Raife and Aes Orsa were with them as well, speaking quietly to Zaylin, the three of them set slightly apart from the others in the group.

Sensing Alex’s gaze, Zaylin looked up and caught her eyes. Neither of them had seen each other since the final task that morning, when Alex had refused to kill the immortal woman. Looking over at her now, Alex wasn’t able to read the expression on her face. But shewasable to interpret the slight upward jerk of her chin as a summons.

Knowing that anywhere was better than the heavily trafficked table she’d been seated at for hours, Alex turned to her friends and, for the benefit of the immortals listening, said, “I’m going to stretch my legs. Back soon.”

Kaiden quirked a brow, having watched the byplay between Alex and Zaylin, but said nothing other than, “I’ll save you some cake.”

Admittedly, the otherworldly equivalent of cake was truly food of the gods, so Alex readily accepted his offer, even if she hadn’t felt like eating much else during the feast. Angry at the Tia Aurans as she was, her feelings didn’t extend to snubbingtheir desserts just for spite. Doing so would only be punishing herself.

With a quiet word of thanks and an even quieter apology for what only he would understand, she took off and made her way through the crowd, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible even if it was mostly a lost cause. But since the desserts arrived just as she wandered off, the Tia Aurans’ attention was thankfully diverted, with only a few calling out greetings, praise and the occasional whispered taunts as she walked by.

She found it interesting that the race was so divided in what they felt for the humans, in what they felt about the battle Medora faced. But regardless of whether they were pro-mortal or anti-mortal, it hardly mattered. The line had been drawn, and Saefii had made it clear that her people would be remaining where they were. So the rare taunts meant nothing to Alex; indeed, they were easier to ignore than the unending adoration.

Weaving through the tables to finally reach the edge of the throne room and arrive at Zaylin’s side, Alex said with dry mockery, “You summoned, Your Highness?”

Raife responded before Zaylin could bite back in response to her sarcasm, his lips twitching with humour as he said, “I wish we’d had longer to get to know you, Alex. I think you would have fit right in with us.”

It was impossible for Alex not to appreciate the compliment for what it was. Regardless, she said, “No offence, but I’m more than ready to get out of here.”

“You did look to be crawling in your skin over there,” Aes Orsa observed.

Looking at her now after having seen the youthful representation of her sister only hours ago, it was remarkable to again note their resemblance. Alex wondered how close they had been before Lady Mystique was sent to Medora. Shewondered if her loss was felt, or if whatever she’d done that had led to her being exiled with the Meyarins meant her sister was pleased to be rid of her. But since that was hardly the kind of question she could ask, she knew she’d never know the answer. She also knew it was ultimately none of her business, even if her curiosity left her wishing to know more.

“Frankly, I’m surprised they haven’t asked us to do a song and dance routine yet,” Alex replied. “You’d think they hadn’t all been watching us for the entirety of the week, the way they’re treating us tonight.”

“You had it right this morning,” Raife said, “when you spoke of being entertainment. They’re just trying to get as much out of you as they can before you go.”

He, at least, had the grace to look ashamed. But there was no reason for it, since he had never treated her like the majority of the other immortals. None of those she now stood with had. One, in particular, had considered her the very opposite of entertainment, yet she’d remained oddly quiet for their conversation thus far.

“Everything okay, Zaylin?” Alex asked. “I presumed you called me over for a reason?”