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“Do you understand now, Harlow?” she whispered urgently, her face full of an anguish I couldn’t even hope to understand.

“I will always love the boy your father used to be, but something broke inside him. My Nico and the monster known as Nocta are not the same person. You need to forget everything he told you, and you need to leave – not because he told you to, but because you and I both know that the others look to you. Take them far away and train until, together, you have the strength to defeat him. And don’t come back until you do. ”

I shook my head furiously.

“No. No, there’s got to be another way,” I said, my brain churning so hard I could almost hear it sizzling. “Opie won’t want to leave, and –”

“Nor should she. She’ll be far safer here, away from you. I’ll stay behind to watch over her. Tarquinius will protect this place to his last breath.”

She wanted me to leave Opie behind. I shot to my feet.

“No frucking way. I’m not doing it. Sorry, Phyllis. I like you, and if there was anyone I would trust with her, it would be you.”

“Don’t you understand?” she asked again, her face so grieved it twisted something inside of me. “She has no magic, Harlow. If he thinks you are still here ... if he comes to Neverthorn again and wants to punish you once he realizes you won’t turn to him, she’s a sitting duck.”

“Nope.”

She stepped forward and grabbed my shirt, dragging my face down to hers. “Until you and the rest of House Phoenix are strong enough, no one can protect her or any of the rest of us from him. He is that powerful. You all need to grow stronger and then come back to face him.”

“But he didn’t kill her. He could’ve and he chose not to.”

“For now . Who knows why? To gain your trust? To twist your mind into thinking he’s the hero and not the villain?

” She let out a low snort. “He’s good, so very good at manipulating people.

He almost had you. But surely you see it now.

He’s the game master and we’re just all pieces on the board.

He proved the prophecy a lie and shows up, blasting through every ward we have, to get to the Coliseum.

He wants you on his side, so he tries to convince you he’s someone else.

Someone who cares for you and wants to do the right thing.

It’s all lies to bring about whatever his end game is. ”

But her words echoed his. Perhaps one day, you will fight for me.

She pursed her lips and then shook her head.

“Until you and the others have everything you need to defeat him, we are at his mercy. So again, I tell you. You need to gather your housemates and leave this place before you’re separated.

Use your powers, your skills, your resources, whatever it takes to hide so he can’t find you for long enough that one of you is strong enough to find and wield the Grym Dunaras.

Liam can go with you. He can help draw out the rest of your Quirks without interference.

He knows something is amiss here at Neverthorn.

He is in full agreement that House Phoenix will be unable to flourish separately, and he agrees that it’s best you all go.

He’s ready and awaiting your decision.” Tears streamed down her cheeks now, unchecked.

“Then, once you’re all as powerful as your destinies meant you to be, you can come back and protect the innocents at this school . .. like I never could.”

I knew she was right. But ...

“I literally can’t.” I pulled back and threw my hands up in the air. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t. I’m still bonded to Typhon, remember?”

I was angry at him for not speaking up when Tarquinius had delivered his edict about House Phoenix leaving and splitting up, but part of me still felt connected to him, because I was. And I feared and hoped in equal measure that I always would be.

Phyllis leveled me with a hard stare. “I can help you break it – the potion I gave you before was just to numb it – we couldn’t have cut it when you were still in the school. He would have known. This one ... this one will cut all the bonds.”

I hesitated, heartsick.

“I will guard Opie with my life.” The way she said it – solemn, truth ringing in her voice – I knew she would.

“We have to do it now. Tonight.”

“I know. Before the wards are done being fortified. Before Tarquinius has made it official that House Phoenix is going to be split.”

Barely time to do the job, never mind say my goodbyes. But right was right. I had to do it, and just pray to every god that I didn’t fruck this whole thing up. Which, given my track record, seemed unlikely.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Good.” She nodded and let out a shaky breath. “Good.”

She leaned over and grabbed another book from the pile. This one, I recognized.

“Your father’s journal. So far, I’ve never been able to open it. It’s rune-locked. Somehow, I feel like if anyone can find a way, it will be you. You’re good at getting into things you aren’t supposed to,” she said with a sad smile.

I accepted it gingerly and nodded. “Thanks.”

She stared at me for a long while and then cleared her throat. “Now the last thing to do ... break the bond with Typhon.”

I squinted at her, not loving the apprehension on her face. “Okay?”

“But you’re not going to like it ...”