“If it helps, you won’t need to worry about having to fight me. Kalan is sure my brother is still alive, so it’s him and the army that the Usher will bring. Don’t underestimate their thirst or desire for power. Their fight is a distraction. Remember that, too. My brother is powerful. He doesn’t need touch to magnify his powers. He does not bend to the rules of Aslendrix. He’s been feeding the lie and growing his army for years, using individuals who feel hard done by or aggrieved about their magic to recruit their allegiance.”
“How? He’s only a kid, like you.”
“He’snothinglike me.” Ever holds General Aster’s stare.
“When?” He cracks first.
“He took me on a new moon, when everyone was incapacitated. That won’t work here, because it puts everyone at a disadvantage. When would you attack?” she asks.
They share a moment, and I let my mind run over the scenario, stacking the information to come up with the best attack strategy I can. “If they’ve been planning this for years, they won’t waste any more time. We don’t know what condition Fenix is in, if he’s alive, but Ever and Fenix cancel each other out. So, they’ll start as soon as they can, before we can shore up defences or turn people to our side. They know we’ll sound the alarm.”
Cetus turns the key on Ascella’s door, locking her in, and gives it to Calix.
“Wewill protect Kirrasia. You,” he points to all of us, “stay out of this fight.” His words land with the weight of his position—the General of our army.
I watch him leave, the instruction to stay out of this jars against everything in me as I count another dozen seconds in my head to ensure he has left, before turning to Calix.
“We’re not?—”
“Like fuck. He might be my father, but there’s no way he’s keeping us out of this. Ever?” Calix turns to her.
“It’s not my decision what any of you do.”
“We know that,” Kalan answers. “But we haven’t come all this way to sit and hide.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
Ever just looks at him, and then to Lyle. She might have wanted her to come with her, to keep her safe, but I doubt Ever would want her to fight.
“We can sort all of that later. Cal, can you get food and drink for Kalan and Lyle? They can hide out?—”
“In my room,” Ever answers. “They can use my room.”
Lyle’s body turns rigid, and she edges away from Kalan, visibly uncomfortable with the choice.
“You can talk out your differences and your grievances.”
“Ever—” she starts.
“No. We are all on one side.” She walks off towards her room, glancing at me as she goes, her eyes locked on mine, before stopping and shoving the door open and stepping inside.
I linger at the threshold and watch as she goes to her bedside table to retrieve something.
“This is yours.” She holds something out and waits for Kalan to open his hand. “Thank you for this, but I think you should take it back.”
He turns the piece of jewellery over in his hand. “No. I gave it to you. It has served you well. It hasn’t been mine for a very long time.” He places it back on the table.
“Fine. Talk. Both of you. We’ll see you in the morning.” She walks past me but doesn’t go far. Just in front of my door.
I close Kalan and Lyle in, even though it might be a mistake to keep them locked in close quarters, and take a deep breath.
I cross the hall and lean against the other side of the door jamb to Ever.
“Am I staying with you?” She smiles.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight, Ever. I had a duty to speak with Cetus. Now, there’s not a chance in Zuns I’m leaving your side.”
She keeps her pale green eyes trained on me, and without even thinking about it, my mind opens up to her. It’s there… beating between us, the familiar tension that we were never able to escape from.
“Do you remember, you wanted to stay locked inside your room once?” I muse over our first new moon day here.
