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I was nothing more than a broken girl everyone was trying so desperately to save. And I couldn’t come up with a single reason why their struggles had been worth it.

I could feel them life-binding with me again—always trying to fix me.

But none of it was enough. Maybe they should’ve let nature take its course.

I should’ve been long dead. Buried next to my parents back in London.What price were we willing to pay so I could go on living?

Were the lives of all those innocent people the cost of extending my own?

The thought drew a visceral response. Pain rose like a tide, spilling out in the form of tears.

I smelled the acrid smoke before we arrived. A macabre welcome to what awaited us. The sun had fully risen by the time we reached what was left of Whisperhold.

“Put me down. I need to walk. I need to stand on my own feet while we face this,” I said to Nico, his unwavering grip still locking me against him.

He paused mid-stride, drew a deep breath, and then gently set me on the ground.

The three of them looked me over cautiously, watching to see if I would simply collapse under the weight of everything.

But I lifted my chin up. It was the least I could do.

I had to see what had been sacrificed to save me.

Songbirds were drowned out by the moans of the injured.

The only thing left standing was the skeletal frame of our cabin.

Smoke lingered in the morning light, settling over the carnage and cloaking the few survivors that remained.

A wave of shouts erupted as we approached.

Fiona emerged from the haze, her face streaked with soot and blood.

She pulled her bow from her back, knocking an arrow and pointing it straight at Nico.

“Traitor!” she shouted, fury and anguish twisting her features.

Lucius and Luca stepped in front of me as Nico raised his hands calmly.“I am not a traitor, Fiona. I’m on your side.”

“Liar! You said you’d fight with us. That you’d fight for us. But now Levi is dead. They’re all dead!” she cried. Tears tracked through the ash on her cheeks, her bowstring trembling.

“We did fight beside you. We should’ve done better—and I am truly sorry. But we couldn’t let them take her. She’s more important to Hiraeth than you realize.”

“Being your fated doesn’t put her life above all others,” she spat back.

“She’s not just my fated. She’s fated to all seven of us.

We don’t yet understand the ways in which she’s woven into our future.

Please—give us a chance to explain,” Nico pleaded.

“We’ll make this right. We’ll avenge Levi and all those who’ve fallen today.

But we can’t do it if Johan divides us. We have to stand together. ”

Fiona’s voice cracked. “Many were taken. Sawyer among them.”

“And we’ll get them back. Let us tend the wounded, regroup, and come up with a plan.”

Fiona’s bow clattered to the ground. A choked sound escaped her lips. Nico stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace as she broke down.

Shouts echoed from the other side of camp as more sentries returned.

I felt the cold caress of his shadows curl around my ankles just before Jase emerged from the smoke.

His black hair was a mess, and blood trickled from a gash on his cheek.

The sword at his side still dripped with the blood of his enemies.

“You!” Lucius snarled, storming toward Jase. He grabbed the front of his leathers, getting in his face. “You were supposed to be on watch! Where the fuck were you?”

“It was a diversion,” Jase snapped. “They lured our sentries north. Engaged us there while a second wave hit the camp.”

“Not good enough. Why didn’t you send word?”

“I did. Obviously, he didn’t make it back alive. What do you want from me, Lucius?”

“A reason to believe you’re on our side.”

“You better watch yourself before you say something you can’t take back.”

“I’m not hiding it. I. Don’t. Trust. You.”

“If that’s the case, maybe you should’ve been out there risking your hide instead of chasing shadows.”

“You bastard. You’re the one who kept me from her! I should?—”

“Enough!” Nico thundered. “We don’t have time for your sibling rivalry.” He turned to Jase. “How many losses did you suffer on the front lines?”

Jase shoved Lucius off and straightened his battered leathers. “More than half. Some tucked tail and ran. Fucking cowards.”

“Damn,” Nico muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Jase, gather what’s left of the sentries—anyone well enough to fight.

Get them fed and armed. Luca, get Maxfield.

Help him with the wounded. Lucius…” he paused, giving his brother a warning look, “aside from keeping your damn mouth shut, keep an eye on Mic. Johan clearly has a plan.”

“Behold!” a thunderous voice bellowed across the ruined glade.

We turned to find Amos striding into view, kicking a shackled male ahead of him.

“The Divine has found me a traitor, and we are not pleased,” Amos declared.

“Ahh, you saw that, didn’t you? That kick was for you,” he added with a manic grin, addressing the sky.

“Amos, what’ve you got?” Nico asked as the sage shoved the bruised prisoner to the ground.

“This one begged to speak with you. Claimed he came to plead for forgiveness. But between you, me, and the Divine—I don’t trust him. He reeks of Johan’s stink.”

“You’ve done well, Amos. Go get yourself a drink—you’ve earned it,” Nico said, clapping a hand to his back.

“Aye. All’s well that ends in a good drink. I’m sure there are a few sorry souls happy to join me before they meet the Divine.” Amos ambled off, flask already to his lips.

“I have a message for you,” the prisoner said, his hollow tone sending a chill up my spine.

“Is that so? Well, you have our attention. What’s so important that you’d risk your life to deliver it?”

“The king grows tired of your games. The rebellion ends now. On the next full moon, all ringleaders from the Raven’s Hand, and those conspiring in Dunharrow, will be added to the gallows—alongside your brothers. The king will spare the misguided... if you offer yourselves in trade.”

His voice was cold. Deliberate. His dark eyes scanned us with hollow malice, as though savoring every word. “If you refuse to lay down your lives, we’ll start the executions. The innocent will take your place. One every day… until you surrender.”

“You’re bluffing,” Nico growled. “Johan wouldn’t risk an all-out uprising.”

“The people you claim to love will trip over themselves to deliver your heads to their rightful king,” the male said, a slow smile curling his lips. “You’re a foregone conclusion, Nico, son of Artos.”

I felt the chill of Jase’s shadows wrapping around my ankles, coaxing me backward. Something about this male—the vacant sound of his voice, the glint in his eyes—it all screamed danger.

“Let’s see about that,” Nico hissed. “You’ll be happy to tell us everything you know... while we flay the skin from your body.”

“Nico!” Fallon called through the haze, running toward us, arms waving frantically. I stumbled back instinctively, legs moving of their own volition.

The prisoner looked up with a sneer. “You have until the full moon,” he snapped, “unless this is the end for us all.”

His shackled hands reached into his shirt. Sunlight flashed off the golden solric as he pulled it from its hiding spot.

“Get down!” Lucius roared and then his body slammed into mine, shielding me just as the world exploded.