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S ilence replaced the sounds of the waning battle as Cora and Teryn found themselves on Centerpointe Rock. The wide plane of weathered stone stood at the center of a vast valley. Outside the valley slumbered the silhouettes of hulking hillsides.

The night was even darker here than it had been at the castle. Cora blinked to adjust to the change in light. She had only a moment to orient herself before she was barraged with irritated relief that wasn’t her own.

You’re here! I can’t believe you made me stay away . Valorre darted down one of the hills and onto the field, practically bowling her over as he leaped upon the rock.

“I’m sorry,” she said, caressing his neck, not bothering to mention that he was the one who’d insisted he be at Centerpointe Rock when she attempted her feat.

Just like Teryn, Valorre had feared her being alone during this endeavor. Yet, without knowing exactly when the ambush would begin, it would have been impossible to guarantee Cora could reconvene with Valorre before worldwalking to the rock. So they’d decided he’d come here and wait for her as soon as he’d accomplished his important duties.

“Are your brethren safely back home now?” she asked.

He tossed his mane, radiating arrogance. Of course they are. I’m highly capable. I guided the last pair of unicorns through the Veil yesterday morning. I’ve been waiting ever since. Do you know how worried I was about you?

“I have some idea,” she said, giving his neck a final pat. As much as she wanted to enjoy her reunion with her companion, she didn’t have time to waste.

Teryn squeezed her hand. “Are you ready?”

“I have to be,” she whispered back. With a trembling breath, she sank to her knees and pressed her hands to the surface of the rock. Her insigmora thrummed from her palms to her biceps, tingling every line of ink. Her magic rose like a tide in her blood, echoing the pound of fae magic that sang back.

She felt the mora pouring from the rock, sensed the well of magic that was available to her.

It was vast.

Terrifying.

Everything inside her told her this magic could destroy her. Could flay the skin from her bones should she try to harness it.

When last she was here, during the battle, she hadn’t sensed anything like this. But she hadn’t been Queen of Lela then. Now she was.

She swallowed hard, feeling deeper and deeper into that magic.

A gentle hand fell on her shoulder. Teryn crouched beside her. “I may not have the kind of magic you do, but use me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me anchor you. Let me help. You are Queen of Lela and I am its king. I may not have what it takes to push the mora back, but I too have fulfilled every qualification necessary to be King of Magic. We can do this together.”

She nibbled her lip, hating the thought of involving Teryn in this.

I may not be a Roizan , Valorre said, scraping a hoof on the rock , so I cannot act as a vessel to harness the mora . But use me too. If it feels like too much, send at least some to me. Let me take some of the burden while you work .

Between the warmth of Teryn’s palm and her connection with Valorre, some of her terror eased. The strength of the mora felt less like a thrashing, cresting wave, and more like an unfathomable yet tepid sea. She could do this. She could lean on those she loved.

“All right,” she said.

Then, refocusing on the thrum of magic against her palms, she spoke to the mora . “I am Aveline Corasande Caelan, Queen of Lela, Queen of Magic. Heed my edict. Move at my command.”

Ailan whirled this way and that, waiting for Darius to reappear.

He didn’t.

Her stomach sank, telling her everything she needed to know before her whispers confirmed it.

North.

Look north .

There he was, the lone figure upon the farthest cliff she could see. Fanon’s squad had kept the fighting relegated south of that point, as was his directive. With his abilities as a skyweaver—giving shape, form, and pressure to air—he could forcibly push back anyone who tried to get too close. Yet she couldn’t see any sign of her consort in the fray, and now the one person they needed to keep off that cliff was there.

Alone.

His stillness told her he was waiting for her.

With no other option, she gestured for Uziel and climbed back upon his shoulders. She didn’t take her eyes off her brother as her dragon flew her to him, landing on the coastal road not far from the nearest skirmish. From the buzz of mora humming through her, she knew Cora had yet to send the magic back through the Veil. However, she sensed…something. The mora wasn’t moving in reverse yet, but it was reacting.

She had to keep her brother distracted long enough.

She dismounted her dragon, chest heaving with rage, and closed the distance between her and Darius.

He met her blade with a speed and fury he’d kept at bay until now. “Always, you underestimate me. Did you truly believe I couldn’t sense the mora ? You think you’re that much stronger than me? You’ve always thought too highly of yourself.”

It took all her strength to parry his strikes, to knock back his blade, to whirl to face him whenever he moved through space. Even with the tear so close, even with the tingle of the mora fueling her, fatigue was settling into her bones.

Or was it the crushing whisper that foretold of her defeat?

She pushed through the heaviness in her limbs, the tightness in her chest. She’d succeeded in getting under Darius’ skin with her comment about Mareleau and Ferrah. Before that, her blow to his breastplate had made him vulnerable. All she needed was one chance. Just a moment to plunge one of the collar’s talons into his skin and sever his head from his neck.

That was all it would take.

Then it would be over.

She would win.

You won’t.

You won’t.

You won’t .

Her whispers didn’t taunt, they caressed. Like a mother laying a child to sleep.

She swung her blade.

Darius disappeared.

Reappeared behind her.

But she was too slow.

His blade slashed open her thigh.

She cried out as she lost her footing. With a weapon in both hands, she struggled to catch herself as she fell to the slick grass. She planted her good leg beneath her, fought to rise to her feet, but Darius was there.

His blade soaring toward her throat?—

It stopped mere inches away.

Ailan’s gaze darted to the most welcome face she could ever hope to see.

Fanon.

Her consort.

The love of her life.

Fury twisted his features as he marched toward them, his invisible restraints freezing Darius in place.

But her brother’s surprise wouldn’t last long. He could worldwalk free in the blink of an eye.

Ailan took her chance and threw herself at her brother, hooking one edge of the talon into his calf before closing the collar on its hinge.

Darius’ eyes went wide. He blinked. Once. Twice.

With a thrust of her sword, she pierced Darius’ abdomen, pulling it free just as Fanon dropped his skyweaving in exchange for a swing of his own blade. It arced toward Darius’ neck, aiming for a clean and decisive beheading...

Freed from Fanon’s restraints, Darius could now reach for the collar.

It didn’t matter, for it would be too late.

Fanon’s blade would strike before Darius’ fingers even met the tines…

Yet it wasn’t the tines of the collar Darius sought. Instead, he whirled around, closing the distance between him and Fanon. He pivoted, swung his blade…

And cut Fanon’s hands off at the wrists.

His blade fell impotent to the grass below.

Ailan called out her consort’s name, the agony in her voice like razors in her throat.

She was too distraught.

Too distracted.

Too haunted by the blood pouring from the ends of her consort’s blunted wrists…

That she didn’t see when Darius removed the collar from his calf.

Didn’t see when he disappeared.

Or sense when he reappeared, just behind her.

She didn’t even feel the slice of his blade.

Her whispers soothed her with a final caress.

Last Breath has come at last .