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The Light Keepers…

Those were the dangerously powerful beings who essentially ran Aleksander’s kingdom. So did he know about any of this history? Again, it seemed impossible that they could have hidden the truth so thoroughly…

But they’d put an imposter on his throne, and he claimed he hadn’t seen that coming, either. So, maybe it wasn’t improbable that he was oblivious to whatever grander schemes those Keepers were concocting.

“It’s a lot to take in, I understand,” said Bastian, gently. “But you were always meant to come back here. You were a princesshere before you were adopted by the King and Queen of Eldris—two rare, Above-world allies to our cause. Your true crown has been kept safe, deep inside this palace, ever since you left.”

I was staring at his nose again. And then his eyes—they had the same deep-set look as mine. His high cheekbones, his bow-shaped lips, the particular way of tilting his head and arching his brows. Such silly, small things we had in common. And yet…

“You really are...him, aren’t you?”

He gave me another sad smile. A slow, yet certain nod. The weight of all our lost years seemed to settle between us, crushing down all the things I wanted to say. It seemed unfair to be forced to make sense of him—ofus—and all our broken pieces whilealsofacing the earth-shattering revelations he’d just dropped at my feet. If all he was telling me was true…

Where was I supposed to start when it came to making sense of it all?

He rolled some of the tense weight from his shoulders. He seemed to be bracing himself, as though he’d only just skimmed the surface and he was preparing to dive deeper.

I couldn’t bear the thought.

“I have to go.”

“Nova, wait just a moment—”

I didn’t wait. Icouldn’twait. The gravity of the situation hit me, all at once, and I wanted to crumble underneath it—but I also didn’t want an audience for that particular breakdown. I called Phantom to my heel and headed inside.

But as soon as we stepped through the massive wooden door, we found ourselves facing another obstacle: Thalia.

Phantom bristled at the sight of her, a low, uncertain growl escaping him.

She darted a gaze toward the dog, but ultimately seemed unbothered by him. “You’re finally awake,” she said, her eyes sweeping over me, assessing. “That’s a relief.”

Shedidlook relieved, but I wasn’t in the mood for niceties. My confusion was swiftly turning to anger that made my voice sharp. “Why did you bring me here?”

She seemed taken aback by my tone, but recovered quickly. “Because you asked me to bring you to Luminor.”

Luminor.Of course—the whole reason I’d descended into this dark world to begin with. With everything else that had happened, it had slipped my mind.

I gave her a skeptical look. “…It’s here?”

She nodded curtly.

It wasn’t enough to assuage my anger. “So you truly did know where it was, but youalsoknew the truth about this realm all along.”

She didn’t deny it. I hadn’t expected her to; I was getting used to her unapologetic attitude.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded.

She lifted her chin. “I had to make certain you weren’t working for the Keepers of Light. Youoryour companions. Those Keepers of the Above believe this world is entirely dead—and it’s imperative that theycontinuebelieving that, if we want to keep it safe long enough to carry out our plan to save it. A plan that we fully intended to involve you in, once you proved yourself trustworthy.”

“What kind of plan?”

She didn’t seem prepared to elaborate just yet, which did nothing to quell my irritation. Our silent standoff lasted long enough to allow my brother time to catch up.

“Whatplando you have to save this world?” I asked, again, alternating my glare between the two of them.

Thalia folded her arms across her chest, and her expression darkened and closed down, as though she wasn’t entirely convinced I was trustworthy, even now.

Bastian laid a hand on her arm. I was surprised when she didn’t shrug it off; his relentless calm seemed to soothe even her prickly nature.