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I pushed away from him, stumbled to the washroom and immediately vomited into the sink.

Again and again I went back to that sink, until there was nothing left in me to throw up. Even then, I wanted to keep going, until I somehow managed to expel whatever bond I shared with Lorien.

Aleksander followed me after a moment. He didn’t speak. He merely held my hair back, and then helped me into the shower after I collapsed into a sweaty, panicked heap on the cold tile floor. Once I was clean, he dried my scarred skin and squeezed the water from my hair, wrapped me in a blanket, picked me up, and carried me back to the bed.

I was exhausted, but I couldn’t even think of going back to sleep.

The sun was rising. Still barely penetrating the gloom that had overtaken the sky, but enough cool light filtered in to highlight the beads of the bracelet I’d placed on the nightstand.

Aleksander’s gaze shifted between it and me, questioning.

“I took it off last night,” I explained. “Which is probably why Lorien’s voice was able to reach me. Our connection is part of my magic. Not shackling myself with that bracelet makes my power stronger, but it leaves me vulnerable to things like this, I guess.”

He picked the bracelet up, turning it around in his hands, tracing the markings on the beads with a thoughtful touch. I shivered as if he were touchingme—which brought to mind a slew of daunting questions. Was there no undoing my connection to it or my other bracelets? Had I worn them too long? Was I really so inseparable from them?

“I’m sorry I attacked you.”

Aleks glanced up at me, giving me that slight, sly smile of his—the one that accented his dimples. “It wouldn’t have been the first time you’d stabbed me.”

I exhaled a deep breath. “Yes, but I thought we were past that stage in our relationship.”

“Me too.” He shrugged. “Idolove that you’re full of surprises, though.”

I huffed out a quiet laugh. His face brightened briefly at the sound, but his smile faded as his attention shifted back to the bracelet. “Nova, if wearing this keeps you safe from him…”

“I think we’re well past the point ofsafe, regardless,” I said, quietly.

He looked ready to disagree, but I took the bracelet and slipped it back on, causing him to fall silent—at least for the time being.

And, at least for the time being, I would pretend this piece of jewelry could actually shield me from everything I faced. I needed to be able to think clearly, anyway; to not risk Lorien invading my mind as I worked out the final details of our battle plans.

But the time was fast approaching when I would no longer be able to shy away from him, or from any of the other horrors looming on the horizon. When I would have to face it all—and wield whatever power I could, whatever the risks.

Aleks and I both knew that moment was coming, even if we didn’t speak of it.

And if it came down to keeping this world or myself safe, we both knew which one I would have to choose.

A short time later,Aleks and I strode confidently into the palace training grounds, side-by-side, escorted by several guards.

My brother waited at the entrance of these grounds, surrounded by our various allies and fellow leaders. He regarded us calmly as we approached—ignoring the immediate confusion and commotion that rippled through the rest of his company as they caught sight of Aleks.

Bastian was expecting us, because he and I had made a decision last night: We were going to attempt to pass through the Nerithys Gate this evening. We would enter that in-between realm and make our way to the Aetherstone, controlling whatever we could to hopefully salvage and restore what was left of our world. And whatever danger awaited, whatever traps Lorien had set, we would face it all head on.

All that was left to do was convince the others of our plan—a plan that would require them to trust both meandAleksander, whether they liked it or not.

I squared my shoulders, bidding my brother and the others hello with a curt nod. Aleks did the same, and then we both proceeded to ignore them, instead turning our attention to the small army of soldiers running drills across the sweeping training grounds.

They looked more and more alive every time I saw them, the light in their eyes returning; their movements becoming morefluid; their voices less like whispers of wind and more like the confident chatter of seasoned warriors.

But their numbers seemed lower than they should have been.

“Are we missing some?” Aleks wondered quietly.

My brows pinched together in concern as I tried to do a quick headcount. Some were clearly not here; were they simply resting, or was something more sinister to blame?

Was this another symptom of Grimnor disappearing—of the protections over this palace failing?

My power, along with Aleksander’s, had initially brought these soldiers back, but it was the steady magic flowing through the halls here that had allowed them to continue awakening and regaining their humanity. Perhaps some of the weaker beings were already losing their grip on that humanity again.