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“I’m not sure. I haven’t heard Filip speak of the Treefolk before.” Yelena shook her head. “What could he possibly want from them? They are a calm, peaceful people.”

“Aldercrown is enchanted.” Adelina’s mind spun, recalling Ironpine’s words. ‘The charm stops us from being exposed to such otherworldly magic. Dark magic.’ “Yes, Aldercrown is protected from dark magic—how would Filip get through it?”

A haunted look appeared in Yelena’s eyes.

“What?” Adelina’s stomach knotted and churned as nausea flooded through her.

“He would need something to break through the enchantment.” Yelena’s voice was thick with worry.

Adelina’s mind darted back to the conversation she’d held with Ironpine. ‘There was a time when many nether wielders joined forces—such a significant amount of power is more than enough to overcome clans of the forest. And with the help of the astral wielders they’d enslaved…’

“Filip wouldn’t be able to break through the enchantment with his power alone.

When the Treefolk were enslaved during the War, the magic of many nether wielders was used, as well as astral wielders.

Filip doesn’t have access to any astral wielders except me, and I certainly won’t help him.

” Adelina’s words tumbled from her mouth. Heat rose in her cheeks.

“The most frightening part is the nether wielders.” Yelena crossed her arms. “There’s his father, Antanov, but he is too sick to be of use.”

“Veles is responsible—he’s keeping him weak to ensure Filip stays in line,” Adelina said. “Unless… ”

A cold, sickly sensation flooded through her body, and her heart leapt into her throat. Sweat formed on her nape. “Oh, dear gods.”

A sudden light-headedness swept over Adelina. She rubbed the back of her neck to rid herself of the forming tension.

“What is it?” Yelena said.

“Veles. It’s got to be him.” The words tasted sour in her mouth.

“A God of the Underworld would surely be powerful enough to rip through the enchantment. The barrier between planes needs to be torn for Veles to have physical form in this realm, but there’s no stopping him interfering if it works in his favour.

He wants to dominate the living realm, so this does him a service.

If he succeeds, he will be able to roam this plane and could bring countless demons with him.

And we have Zmey, the dragon, to worry about. ”

“Even more reason for us to learn the spell. We must do everything we can to prevent that vision from becoming reality.” Yelena pointed to the piece of paper on the table.

“Maybe the Zorya sisters wanted me to see this vision?” Adelina shrugged. “Or if it wasn’t them, it could’ve been Svarog.”

“Either way, we need to stop Filip.” Yelena grabbed a stack of books. “We’ll have to train in the prism world, regardless.”

“The quicker we learn this damn spell, the quicker we can stop him,” she said through gritted teeth as she rose from her chair and stepped into the prism world—the manicured lawn of Kirovo Palace sprawled ahead .

“We’ll use these books as objects to overcharge,” Yelena said as she rested them on the grass.

“Your magic is free from the talisman, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Instead of firing your magic like a whip, you need to concentrate on the object in front of you.

Imagine you are pouring it inside the book, allowing the pages to absorb your power. ”

Adelina nodded as she read over the spell again. The words she needed to say were rather simple, but controlling her powers would be the test. She’d grown used to it lashing out at whatever she set her mind to.

Setting the page aside, she positioned herself opposite the first book. Straightening her back, she cleared her throat. “ Merindasriel tyrasnerael.”

Like most astral spells, the syllables were clumsy in her mouth. She repeated it several times until she was familiar with the shapes and sounds of the words.

Her magic bolted from her wrist in a stream, incinerating the book. Ashes and tiny fragments of burned pages remained. She jolted backwards, casting a wide-eyed look at Yelena.

“It’s all right,” Yelena said. “It will take time. Try again with another one.”

Grabbing a book from the pile, she set it in front of her.

Adelina closed her eyes and cleared her mind, which was difficult seeing as Aldercrown burned in the distance.

Encouraging her magic, it grew and swelled inside her, warming her limbs.

Instead of the golden embroidery she was familiar with, she coaxed her astral power into the form of water.

With the clear image of streaming liquid in her mind, shining brightly with sunlight, she opened her eyes and aimed for the book.

The book jutted on the ground as it absorbed the light. Several sparks burst from the cover, but not fire.

“There you go!” Yelena chimed.

Adelina’s magic disconnected, and the golden light faded. A sudden dizziness washed through her, and she stumbled.

Yelena gripped her arms and steadied her.

“It’s unsurprising you feel weak,” she said softly. “You’re shifting some of your magic out of your body and into an object. It will likely have an adverse effect on you.”

“Will I be strong enough to do this on multiple objects?” Adelina rubbed her throbbing temples. “I’ll need to overcharge a dozen or so swords or items belonging to the guards.”

“We’ll stay here for a few hours. Overcharge as many of these books as you can. You’ll have to take frequent breaks to regain your strength, but over time, it will be less tiresome,” Yelena said.

“How do you know all this?” Adelina frowned. After all, the spell was written in an ancient tongue used to conceal nether magic.

“I know a lot of our history,” Yelena said. “As you know, astral wielders did the same thing during the War, and I did a lot of research to better understand it for when Filip eventually found you.”

“Thank you,” Adelina said, sensing the truth in her words.

∞∞ ∞

Adelina spent the next several hours in the prism world, infusing her magic with a variety of inanimate objects, from books, ink pots, and quills, to random plates and mugs brought from the kitchens.

In between practice, she sat to eat and drink, regathering her strength before returning to her work.

Yelena stayed with her the whole time, offering words of encouragement, and by the end of it, Adelina didn’t have a single doubt over where Yelena’s loyalties lay.

Sitting with her back pressed against the wall of Yelena’s office, Adelina rubbed the side of her head. “What are we going to do about Aldercrown? We can’t let them die.”

“Filip knows you’re training in the prism world—you could speak to him,” Yelena suggested. “Ask him what he needs the Treefolk for.”

“While he may give me answers, he may still deploy his troops, especially if it’s beneficial for him to send them.

He’s doing all of this because of Veles.

” Adelina groaned. “He says he wants power for himself, he wants to rule, but he has no clue how much of a pawn he is. Instead, he thinks he’s a king.

Veles is using him, and I know that what’s in store for Aldercrown is to serve a greater scheme than he has in mind. ”

“You’d best not say anything of the sort to Filip—he does not like being referred to as a pawn.

” Yelena placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not sure there’s anything more you can do to help, not without risking your parents’ or Damir’s lives.

Besides, you’re learning this spell quickly.

If we kill Filip, Veles will have no emissary, and the vision will be unlikely to come true. ”

“What’s stopping Veles from simply allowing another demon into the living plane?” Adelina asked.

“It doesn’t work like that. There has to be a balance. Filip exists in this realm because of you. You share the same soul, you are each other’s balance. Another demon can’t roam the living plane without the barrier being down,” Yelena explained.

“Even if we do kill Filip, Veles’ plans will have contingencies, and his contingencies will have contingences.

” Adelina rose. “He’s not going to let Filip’s death destroy his desire to rule the living plane.

We should overcharge a bunch of the guards’ weapons as we planned.

It’ll blow up the palace, but it’s the only chance we have at stopping Filip.

Do you know if there’s a way I can contact Svarog?

Maybe he can help the Treefolk—after all, the balance of nature is threatened.

He’s presented himself to me in a dream, in the test too, but can I bring him to me? ”

“I know the ritual the Seer performed for the test,” Yelena said. “We’ll have to do it at night, so we don’t raise suspicions.”

“Are you okay?” Adelina frowned as she stared at Yelena—her eyes darkened, and shadows circled them.

Yelena shook her head as she sank into her desk chair. “Nikolay fooled me for months. Olga too. She would be alive if it wasn’t for him.”

“We don’t know for certain.” Adelina didn’t want to remind her it was she who killed Olga.

“Although, there is a possibility Filip will know about your letters if Nikolay has been relaying information to him. Do you ever leave your office for long periods of time? It’s likely Filip has come in here to see them as evidence. ”

“There’s no need for him to come looking.” Yelena waved the matter away. “If we suspect Nikolay is betraying us at this very moment, he’s probably been resending the letters to Filip with a decoding guide, for gods’ sake.”

“He’s incriminating you.” Adelina’s mind reeled. “Why in the realm hasn’t Filip arrested you? Of course, I don’t want him to, but surely, he would’ve thrown you in the dungeons, or worse…”

“He wants to see how it all plays out.” Yelena placed her hands on the table. After a minute of staring at the door, she lashed her arm out, hurtling all the coded letters into the air. They fluttered to the floor. “Damn it. Always one step ahead.”