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Avera didn’t fight the claws that grabbed and lifted. Couldn’t. Once more she’d been bespelled and she knew by who: the guardians.

They’d come for her and now carried her off across the lake, away from Griff and her friends, towards a destiny that terrified.

Dawn broached the sky as they were still crossing the deadly waters and Avera hung limply in Gunther’s grip. What else could she do? The guardians obviously had some plan that involved her.

And Zhos.

She caught sight of the mountain of stone atop which rested the castle she’d once called home.

Rather than fly to one of the towers or the courtyard, the dragons—all three of them, each carrying a guardian—landed in a cave on the far side of the mount she’d not known existed.

Avera was released and she stood there, shaking with rage—and fear—as the guardians disembarked, wearing the veils that hid their lying faces.

“Why did you kidnap me?” Avera shouted.

“Because it’s almost time for you to fulfill your part.”

“I was already planning to try and end Zhos, but now because of your meddling I have no one to help me.”

“They are not needed. Just you, as you will be the one to destroy that foul creature.” Kachezi raised her veil and gazed at her with eyes that had turned milky white. “And so shall the little tiara, with no thought to her own life, save the world.”

A chilling premonition.

“Why should I believe a word you say? You’ve lied about everything,” she cried out, her voice cracking with emotion.

“We had no choice. Explaining our reasoning, even telling you what we saw, would have changed outcomes. And we can’t allow that to happen. We have only this single chance to get it right.”

“And so you justify using me.” She shouldn’t have been surprised.

“For a good cause. Your sacrifice today will save thousands.”

Sacrifice… not a word anyone wanted to hear.

“Are you going to tell me what I’m supposed to do, or am I supposed to guess?” she asked sarcastically.

“You’ll know when the moment is right.”

“Not helpful,” she muttered.

The air began to sizzle, and the sky darkened despite there being no clouds.

“It’s almost time,” Opal stated. “Quickly, we must get her to the top of the tower.”

Avera held her breath rather than protest as Gunther once more grabbed her and vaulted from the ledge, the dragon winging his way upward. The other two mighty beasts flanked him, each of them holding a guardian on its back.

Would they help her with Zhos? What did they mean by sacrifice? Would it be her blood this time that would be used to paralyze it? Would she be expected to wound herself? It was one thing to make a small cut, quite another for her to slice with deadly intent.

The dragons winged higher and higher, the lake below receding, its poisonous waters sparkling. To think she’d always wondered what caused them to turn acidic and it turned out it was because of the rift. What kind of toxic world did Zhos live in that dust could do such a thing?

The dragons flew above the parapet and toward the tallest tower, a space not quite large enough for the three, especially since it appeared occupied.

She recognized Benoit. The man stood there slack jawed and gaunt, no longer the dashing consort with a smarmy smile.

But she saw no guards. Then again, was there a need, seeing as how Zhos also awaited?

The sight of the squat figure brought a chill to Avera.

Gunther deposited Avera before perching on the stone rampart. The other dragons roosted on either side. The guardians slid from their backs and drew back their veils as they moved to stand a few paces from Zhos.

Opal clasped her hands in front of her. “We’ve brought the queen as requested. Now for you to uphold your end of the bargain.”

Avera’s mouth went dry. What bargain?

Zhos cocked its head, but its gravelly voice emerged from Benoit’s mouth. “I told you I wanted her dead.”

“As if you’d have believed us if we claimed we’d done it,” scoffed Opal.

“You could have brought her head,” was the dry reply.

“Much better for you to see it happen in person, I’d think.” Opal’s reply was chilling.

Avera wanted to protest but instead listened. What had the guardians done? Promised her death in exchange for what?

“Kill her. Now,” Zhos/Benoit barked.

“With what? We don’t have weapons.” Opal and the others held out their hands. “You have claws. Do it yourself, seeing as how your minion puppets have failed.”

Zhos growled. “You are trying to trick me.”

“Trick you how? We brought you the queen. Surely you can deal the killing blow?”

Avera pursed her lips. What was Opal trying to accomplish by goading it?

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” the Benoit puppet growled. “You know what her blood would do to me.”

“Then have the false king do it. We’ve done our part. Now you uphold your end. The rift is about to open. Kill her and begone as promised.”

Avera frowned. They’d offered her life in exchange for Zhos departing? And it agreed?

“I will gladly leave this cursed place. Eons trapped. I have no interest in doing that again,” Zhos complained while making Benoit shuffle forward. The puppet king pulled a dagger, a ceremonial one inset with jewels, more pretty than practical. Despite that, it retained a sharp edge.

Avera saw nowhere to run. Not that she would. If it took her death to rid them of Zhos, then so be it.

She bit her lower lip as Benoit shuffled to a stop in front of her.

“Kneel,” the monster ordered.

Avera wanted to do anything but.

I do this for the world.

She knelt and shivered as it cackled.

“At last, the source of my nightmare dies,” it whispered.

The arm with the dagger lifted, and Avera couldn’t help but raise her head to stare at the sharp edge glinting in the sun.

Before it began its descent, a dragon dropped abruptly from the sky, muzzle first, rocketing for the tower. Strapped to Argent’s back, looking grim, was Griffon.

“Kill her,” Zhos screamed, seeing the bargain unravel.

But Avera suddenly had hope, and she sprang to her feet and slapped her hand on Benoit’s. His clouded eyes cleared, widened.

“I don’t—” was the last thing the false king said as Griffon vaulted from the swooping dragon, sword out. The swing as he landed decapitated Benoit.

Avera grinned despite the blood that sprayed her.

She hadn’t died.

On the contrary, she was very much alive because Griffon had come to the rescue.

Which made Zhos mad.

The thing screeched, a noise unlike anything she’d ever heard, full of rage and hate. It pulsed from it in a wave and soldiers suddenly poured up the stairs, spilling onto the terrace. Blank-faced men in armor, gripping weapons.

Griffon muttered, “Stay behind me. I’ll handle them.”

He would try, but there were so many. Avera snatched the dagger that had fallen from Benoit’s limp fingers.

Soldiers weren’t the only concern. The air crackled with electricity, zinging against flesh, lifting hair.

Opal shouted, “The portal is opening.”

But Zhos didn’t appear interested in trying to go through. Its eyes glowed brighter than the nimbus surrounding its body.

Griff grunted as he met the first of the charging soldiers, his blade lifting to block before swiping to land a blow as he fought men who didn’t have a choice. Whose minds weren’t their own, stolen by a spell she could break.

Avera reminded her consort, “You don’t have to fight them if you hit them with blood.” She slashed her palm with the dagger. Blood welled immediately in the cut, and she flung her hand in an arc, spraying droplets. Three soldiers stopped dead, confusion replacing their cloudy gazes.

A fresh stream of possessed soldiers pushed past those coming out of their daze. How many more behind them? Probably more than Griff could handle. Would this be how he died?

Griff suddenly yelled, “It’s time to fulfill my mother’s vision.”

“What?” It took Avera a moment to recall the secret he’d shared with her on the voyage to Daerva, the painful admission of his mother’s less than loving words.

The little tiara will stick a knife in you.

When he’d told her, Avera had huffed, I would never hurt you.

As Griff wielded his sword against their foes, through a gritted jaw he grunted, “You have to stab me.”

“No.” Avera shook her head.

“You know you have to. Cut me. Preferably somewhere non-fatal,” he huffed as his blade clanged and he pushed against the man pressing him.

Avera bit her lip but darted close enough to slash him across the arm. Griff made no sound of pain but rather shifted his balance, so his wound scraped across the soldier.

The man’s weapon dropped along with his slack jaw.

Griff used that reprieve to slash both his palms before sheathing his sword and rushing the soldiers. He began slapping and punching soldiers, his bloody fists leaving red marks wherever they struck. More soldiers woke from Zhos’ spell.

Which led to more screeching from it.

“The rift is already shrinking. Do something,” Opal screamed.

Avera glanced at Zhos who was looking over the edge of the parapet, wavering on whether or not it should attempt to jump into the rift. She could see the gash in the air and knew the same moment Zhos did that it couldn’t reach it.

“Tell the dragons to do something,” she shouted.

Lance shuddered, the chain around his neck glowing before he lunged for Zhos only to abruptly jerk to a halt.

“What are you doing?” Opal yelled. “Grab Zhos and drop it in the rift before it closes.”

Lance remained frozen in place and the thing chuckled.

It took a soldier standing apart from the rest to explain, “Did you not know that the collars can be controlled by anyone with magic?”

Zhos flicked its hand. “And right now, that’s me.”

Lance suddenly pivoted and lunged for Calixte who screeched before diving off the parapet. Lance leaped after her and was joined by Gunther. As the trio of dragons chased each other in the sky, Avera felt her hope sinking.

It didn’t help Opal stamped her foot. “Why would you do that? You claimed you wanted to go back to your world.”

“I’ve changed my mind. Thanks to you, I don’t have to fear dragons. I have three under my comm?—”

Flames suddenly engulfed Zhos as Argent swept in low and bathed it in his fiery breath. As Argent flew past, the fire extinguished and Zhos remained there, as grotesque as ever.

The soldier he’d been using as his voice, though?

Barbecued.

A glance at Griff showed him still slapping soldiers, and those he couldn’t reach were being handled by Gustav, Kreed, Monty, and Simhi. When had they arrived?

“The rift is closing!” Opal screamed.

And quickly, too. The air went from electrified to normal.

Zhos cackled, a sound that needed no one to translate.

Avera saw red. They’d missed their chance to rid themselves of Zhos. The next portal wouldn’t open for a thousand years. Too long. And they still didn’t have anything that could kill it. Nothing from Zhos’ world she could even think of using as a weapon.

Except…

The idea hit Avera suddenly and she didn’t bother to think it through thoroughly. She didn’t have time. A distracted Zhos paid her no mind as more soldiers came to the fray. As fast as Griff dispelled them, more took their place.

Avera ran for the creature causing all the trouble, her bloody hand upraised.

It had a moment to turn and see her coming. Its eyes widened but it didn’t move fast enough to avoid her bloody slap.

The cut on her palm still oozed, and when it came in contact with Zhos, the creature froze. Good. This would make the next part easier.

Actually, not easy at all. Despite Griff coming to the rescue, she still saw only one way out of the situation.

She had to die so everyone else could live.

Before she could change her mind and lose this chance, she hugged the foul-smelling Zhos, and with a grunt of exertion, heaved them both over the parapet, sending them plunging to the poisoned lake below.