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“I’m saying that what he and Skye are asking is unfair.

No one tells me to stop using my fire because it might burn me.

And Skye? How many bones has he absolutely shattered over the years?

Ivain never held him back. Because we’re Fey.

Our magic isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are.

And it’s the same with you and your magic. Denying it is denying you .”

Taly blinked at her. Once. Twice. “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Sarina?” That earned a laugh, low and warm. “I’m serious. You banned cigars from the house because you read humans were sensitive to smoke.”

“No, I banned them because humans who inhale smoke are more likely to develop malignant tumors in their lungs, and I wasn’t going to risk losing any of our already limited years with you over something so preventable.

But you’re not human anymore. And that means we have to adapt—all of us.

As much as I disagree with her methods, I can’t argue that Azura prepared you well. ”

Sarina reached out, brushing a thumb gently against her cheek. “You didn’t endure all that you did just to let those hard- won skills stagnate because of an overabundance of caution. I won’t stand for it. If you want to scry, approach it like any other problem. Find the obstacle and remove it.”

She placed a tattered notebook on the piano between them.

“I was sorting through the mess you left for me in the basement and found some of Tess’s old notes.

She hunted Eldritch. The pages on grimbles are, unfortunately, waterlogged, but you’re a smart girl.

I’m sure you’ll figure out way to fill in the blanks. ”

Sarina turned to leave, her boots tapping softly against the floor. When the door clicked shut, the room fell silent, the only sound the gentle crackling of the fire.

Taly stared at the notebook for a moment. She pulled it toward her, flipping through the pages, running her fingers over the neat lines of cursive scrawl. This was her great-grandmother’s. Another time mage, reaching across decades.

A spark of defiance flared inside her, tiny but searing, fed by the one person she’d never expected to fan the flames.

Snatching up the notebook, she slid off the piano. Upstairs, she flipped off the dreamspindle hanging over her bed as she stalked to her vanity. The drawer screeched as she yanked it open, fingers shoving past useless trinkets. Then— there . She snatched it up and slammed the drawer shut.

“I’m a time mage,” she said to her reflection, eyes sharp with purpose. “Scrying is what I do.”

Skye and Ivain—what they called protection, she called a cage. It didn’t matter if the bars were kindness and care, she wasn’t staying behind them.

The faint chime of bells echoed as she held up the bracelet Leto had gifted her. She didn’t know how this worked, but she gave it a shot anyway. “Anyone there?” she said to the room, giving the bracelet a little shake when nothing happened. “C’mon, Leto didn’t give me instructions for this thing.”

“We didn’t expect you to call so soon,” came a chiming voice from behind her.

Taly whirled to find two faintly glowing blue orbs hovering in the room, their light casting dancing shadows on the walls.

“Speak for yourself,” said the second voice, lighter and amused. “There’s a betting pool going around. I won.”

Taly rolled her eyes. She’d missed some of the Feyries—not all of them. “I want to see Azura.”

The orbs shimmered, and their soft laughter filled the room like the ringing of bells.

“Suit yourself,” said the first one. “Though, fair warning, she’s in a mood.”

It was the same—the same shining halls, overwhelming splendor, and balmy heat.

Taly never thought she’d willingly set foot here again, but when the Feyries opened a portal through her closet, she’d stepped through it without hesitation.

Now, her palms were slick, her breath a little too shallow as she traced the familiar route to the garden.

Every step pressed on old memories, the kind she’d rather leave buried.

Was she having second thoughts? Absolutely. Did she find it ironic that, to free herself from cages, she had to walk straight back into the first one? Without a doubt. The Universe could go to hell with its poetic irony. But she kept moving forward, refusing to let her feet hesitate.

Azura was taking her tea in the hedge maze.

A wide-brimmed hat shaded her dark hair and glowing golden eyes, her poise as flawless as the pristine porcelain cup in her hand.

When she saw Taly, her red lips curved into a smile.

“Well, this is the last thing I was expecting today. Taly. Things feel… rearranged lately, don’t they?

Almost as if someone’s been tidying the Weave without asking permission.

You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? ”

Taly didn’t return the greeting. Or the smile.

She didn’t waste time answering questions that didn’t make sense.

Her footsteps crunched on the gravel path until she stopped in front of the low table, heaped high with cakes and delicate pastries.

The air smelled of roses and lemon zest, sweet enough to choke on.

Behind the Queen, Leto’s light pulsed softly. She merely inclined her head in greeting.

Taly squared her shoulders, forcing the words out before her nerves could waver. Per Sarina’s advice, she’d decided to remove the obstacle. “I need you to tell me how to kill a grimble.”

Something unexpected flickered across Azura’s face—surprise.

The Queen set her teacup down with a soft, rattling clink. “Come again?” she said hoarsely.