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As I stared at Grimnor, watching the way it sparkled whenever Luminor rotated closer to it, a solution quietly, nervously snuck into my thoughts. One that seemed obvious, albeit fraught with uncertainty. It took me several moments to work up the courage to say it out loud.

Raising my voice above the bickering, I said, “Isn’t it possible that we could…balancethe two worlds, as Lorien claimed he wanted to do?”

The arguments slowed to a stop, silence settling like a blanket of snow over the room, creating a quiet so deep it was almost eerie.

“What would happen if we truly tried to do such a thing?” I said into the chilly silence, studying my reflection in Grimnor’s dark blade. “Could the worlds both exist together, as they once did?”

I could hear the frown in my brother’s voice as he said, “It’s been thousands of years since they existed that way.”

“Yes, but Aleksander and I have managed to weave our power together to balance things around us over this past week, and to bring life…together. And without even really trying.” I braced myself before letting my gaze trail toward the Light King. He was watching me with an expression that was equal parts doubtful and curious.

I steeled myself and kept going. “That has to mean something, doesn’t it? So much about this legend of the Vaelora and everything concerning them has been skewed andrewritten…so maybe it’s just another lie, the claim that only one world can survive at a time.”

“Noctaris is a breath away from eternal death and damnation,” Thalia said, as though I needed reminding. “Now is not the time to experiment.”

Gritting my teeth, I swallowed down my response. Our words seemed destined to chase circles around each other. I had half a mind to move to action instead—to grab the swords and storm out of the room. But as I started to reach toward them, a cold wave of pressure rippled over me, raising the hair along my arm and clenching my muscles into stillness.

“There’s a shield protecting them and suppressing their power,” my brother explained. “We need to make sure you’re ready to handle the full effect Grimnor will have on your magic before you draw it out; otherwise, we may end up in the same dangerous situation that followed your birth.”

So much power to potentially changeeverything…yet it still remained out of reach, even after I’d come so far. Frustrated, I looked around—though what other answers I was hoping to find, I wasn’t sure.

There were guards at the door, I noticed.

Likely in case Aleksander and Zayn decided to try anything to get to Luminor—but I couldn’t help feeling as if they were there to cage me in, too. I felt trapped. Backed into a corner with a strange mixture of power and despair swirling around me.

“Once you step fully into your magic, Grimnor is yours for the taking,” my brother assured me, “along with a crown, and the loyalty of the ones in this palace and all who fight for it.”

“How long do I have to prepare to take it?”

“The next Equinox is in just under four weeks, according to our calculations,” Thalia said. “This will be the easiest time to both reach and manipulate the Aetherstone—perhaps theonlytime—and likely our last chance.”

Four weeks.

I bowed my head, fighting the urge to sink to my knees.

“Less than four weeks to prepare to change the fate of an entire lost world,” Zayn said with a disbelieving little chuckle. “No pressure, though.”

Phantom nudged his snout under my chin, urging me to lift my head and see the shadows that had started to swirl around Grimnor’s blade. They looked remarkably similar to the ones that often rose from my skin.

I watched them circle around Luminor, the light blade glowing brighter in the same breath, ribbons of its magic taking on a more solid shape. I expected the air to rumble as those ribbons collided with Grimnor’s shadows, but no violence came of it—they merely weaved in and out in a dance of clearly powerful yet peaceful precision.

Balanced.

As if responding to the plan I’d spoken of minutes ago. Light and dark, dark and light…I might have been born of this lower realm, and I’d never truly belonged to the one above…

But I still didn’t want to see anything happen toeitherrealm.

“I will do what I can to fix the Stone and its wayward power,” I said, quietly but firmly, “but I am not saving one world at the expense of another. I will fight for both, or I will not fight at all.”

Thalia and Bastian exchanged a worried look.

Zayn appeared mildly amused.

I paid the three of them little mind, my eyes automatically trailing toward Aleksander.

He was watching the same twisting of light and dark that I’d been watching. Like we were kids once more, enjoying the show of shadow puppets on the walls looming so impossibly high before us.

Slowly, his gaze fell to me.