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“You forget: I didn’t accompany you on most of your clandestine adventures in the royal city.”

“Ah, that’s right—you were the grumpy, boring one who stayed home.”

“I was theresponsibleone,” I corrected, “with a hundred eyes on me at any given time. Your house was much easier to sneak out of.”

“Well, that’s true enough, I suppose.”

“But I’m glad I could keep all the attention on me so you could live your life of debauchery to the fullest.”

“Many thanks for that, by the way,” he said, grinning.

“Don’t mention it.”

He continued to quietly reminiscence about the life he’d left behind. I only half-listened—just enough to distract myself from the fears trying to rise in me. It wasn’t that I’d had no taste for questionable adventures and breaking rules back home; it had merely been impossible for me to partake without severe consequences—the reality of being the heir to a throne held by a king and queen not expected to live to see their only son grow into adulthood.

As far as anyone knew, my mother had perished in a riding accident, and my father had taken his life soon after. That was the story long ago decided upon, scripted, and eventually performed to perfection.

The truth was far more complicated. But, in short, they had been sick for a long time before their deaths. So I had been raised with the expectation that I would have to take over the rule of my kingdom at any time—and the Keepers of Light had been cruel, strict masters while preparing me for that inevitable rule.

Or what I’dthoughtwas an inevitable rule, at least.

Clearly, plans had changed.

Phantom let out a sharp bark, urging us toward him. I gave my head a determined shake. None of our memories or plans would matter for much longer if we didn’t find Nova and get the hell out of this place.

Her dog continued to lead the way. I followed closely, even as he radiated waves of cold, unsettling energy; I was getting more used to the chill of Nova’s magic—and to her beast’s magic by extension, I supposed.

I needed to keep close, too, because the farther we ventured through the dead gardens, the thicker the smoke in the air became. A strange fog was settling as well, making matters even worse. Every now and then, we’d catch a glimpse of blue among the smog—a flame flickering. Sometimes stationary. Other times, carried by wraiths careening wildly past us, racing recklessly toward some unknown target.

They all seemed to be converging in the same general direction we were traveling in, and soon, we stumbled upon an entire, organized line of them.

Phantom tore directly forward, the billowing, ghastly cold energy rushing out from him and causing a brief panic, creating an opening as the wraiths scattered.

And there, on the other side of their broken line, we finally spotted Nova.

She was eerily still, standing with her head bowed, shadows coiling and snapping around her body like living, protective snakes. Several limp wraiths were scattered across the ground at her feet. The ones who remained upright kept a wide berth, even as they calmed and fell back into a somewhat organized line. They watched her intently, hungrily, but didn’t dare approach.

I didn’t blame them.

I had no idea what Nova had done to the lifeless beings on the ground, but looking at her now…

My heart skipped several beats.

She was terrifyingly brilliant, her shadows sharp and shining with energy and casting her in an unearthly glow, making her look every bit like a goddess of chaos and death.

Except she was also…bleeding.

A reminder of her mortality pooled heavily beside her. Her sleeve was soaked in the same crimson dampness. And as I drew closer, I noticed her face was even more pale than usual; she was so obviously drained of energy that I had no idea how she was still managing to stand up.

A strange heat shot through my gut, incinerating the fear I’d felt, leaving space for something far darker to rise up. Something far more violent.My gaze swept around the area, searching for the one who had done this to her.

Where was Kaelen?

Where the fuck was Kaelen?

“This doesn’t look good,” muttered Zayn, unnecessarily.

While he stared at the blood-soaked ground, I rushed forward—