Calypso bowed her head to me, murmuring, “I am sorry it took me so long to get here. I had some trouble finding you.”
Before I could respond or ask questions, she cut Max’s bonds. Max drew her sword, pushing Myrine’s guards away from Sera and Calypso. They stepped out of her way. Calypso had the wisdom to squint warily at them.
Whatever this was, it had to end. I had to end it. “This is not the fight you want, Myrine. It’s not the fight I want either.”
Myrine stared at me, not an ounce of shock on her face. None of her people had moved to fight back. They’d just let Calypso do what she meant to. The whole thing was terrifyingly odd, but I wasn’t going to fight it. Not until Max and Sera were safe with us.
Myrine could keep the rest of her secrets. My desire to know why she’d stolen the swords from us to begin with wouldn’t be satisfied with some story of ancient tests, meant to purify the heroes for their divine task. I was done with that sort of bullshit.
Lara moved the boat, sidling up to Myrine’s vessel. Rhiannon and Avaline helped Max, Sera, and Calypso into our boat. Myrine’s people tensed, as though they would like to attack, but she shook her head.
“No,” she said. “Ember is right. This is not the fight we want. We have achieved what we set out to. We will celebrate tonight.”
I let out a groan. “You’re going to have a fucking party over this?”
Myrine shrugged. “My child, you have won the day. Why would we not celebrate your achievements?”
She made me sick. Our people suffered here in the outer world, under the thumb of the Authority, and her goals were to test us? But that was not exactly true, was it? What about the rest of the ones she took, the ones Lara had rescued?
As though she could hear my thoughts, Myrine smiled. “We will leave your new cohort in peace to regroup, Ember. But first, tell us where we can find the child. We must take Briony to the island.”
I didn’t wait so much as half a heartbeat to answer. “No.”
Myrine raised an eyebrow. “That is not a wise choice, Ember. Give us her location.”
“No,” Ares said, taking my hand. “Briony is our family.”
“She belongs on the island,” one of Myrine’s people said, their voice full of virtue and righteousness. “Where she will be safe.”
“She belongs with us,” Rhiannon said, having collected herself. “With people who won’t treat her like a cruel experiment.” Rhiannon straightened, every inch a princess. “You can tell my mother to come get Briony herself if she wants her.”
Now Myrine’s people did tense, all of them going for their swords. Ares stepped forward. “Which one of you infiltrated my organization?”
Everyone in our boat’s head snapped towards Ares. My heart sank for them all. This was going to kill Rhiannon, though. And maybe Max too. I closed my eyes.
“Which one of you led me to believe we had the all clear to burn the mansion?” Ares asked. “Which one of you is to blame for Serafine’s injuries?”
Anger flashed in Myrine’s eyes now. “You are, Ares Necroline. You didn’t checkyourself.”
I opened my eyes. Max looked as though she might leap back into Myrine’s boat. Tears slid down Sera’s too-pale cheeks. She reached out towards Ares, taking his hand. “Leave it,” she murmured. “Your debt to me is repaid.”
He nodded once at her, but turned back to Myrine. “Surely you cannot think to make further arguments that Briony belongs with you. Not after all the misguided choices you’ve made.”
Myrine let out a little laugh, holding her hands up. “All right, all right. Keep the child. When she ascends, you will bring her to us.”
Lara stepped forward now. “We will bring herto the islandfor the proper ceremonies. Not toyou.”
Myrine smiled, clearly pleased with herself. “Only think, if we had not interfered, you would all still be… so ordinary.”
Max lurched forward now, a feral noise emanating from her chest. Calypso held her back, hugging her tightly, whisperingsomething in her ear. I caught a bit of her vile language and worked to hide a smile. She was going to fit in perfectly with us. Max finally relaxed, slumping first against Calypso, then into Sera’s arms, as they huddled together.
“Perhaps,” I said as Myrine motioned for her second boat to move off. It was a lie, but I’d gotten my way and I had no further desire to argue tonight. “But leave my people out of your future plans. That includes Max.”
“She is not yours anymore,” Myrine said as her boat retreated into the mist. Why did she need to have the last word?
I smiled at Max. “She will always be mine,” I promised my friend. “No matter who tries to come between us.”
Max took my hand and pulled me into her and Sera’s embrace as Myrine and her Maere disappeared. Our sistren crowded around us, tears streaming down their faces as our boat bobbed in the wake of Myrine leaving. Calypso stood wet and uncomfortable—apart. Sera’s arm, pale as the moon, shot out to grab the redhead, yanking her into our group.
