“I’m fine. Bad dreams. They’ll pass.” My lie sounds believable, and I climb out of bed, not ready to face any further questions.
Today is… after.
We never planned this far. We certainly didn’t think we’d be here with no magic.
“Do you think the others will be up?” I go to freshen up.
“Maybe,” he answers. “Only one way to find out.”
“They are your friends. You don’t need to be nervous.”
“I do.” I squeeze his hand. He doesn’t understand. He can’t. But it doesn’t quell the drive to see them all, to try and explain.
He opens the door, and everyone’s already there, just like they were last night.
And as I step in, the room falls into quiet.
“Thank you for coming,” I start, needing to show my gratitude to break the ice. “And I’m sorry I vanished last night, but…” It should feel like a victory, but it’s not. The girl whoacted yesterday seems no more than a whisp of a shadow within me now. “I’m sorry to all of you. I don’t remember all the finer details, but I remember being frightened for you all. Scared about what I might do.” I drop my head and wring my hands together.
“You don’t owe us an explanation, Ever.”
I look up at Lyle. So many unspoken words hang between us. Questions bubble up from our recent interactions. Saying goodbye. Returning and insisting she come. In the end, they should have stayed—her and Kalan.
He’d be alive now if I hadn’t made her come. Perhaps.
“Is it really true? You… don’t have magic?” Capella asks. She’s sitting on the floor, her back propped up against the chair.
“True.” I drop my eyes again.
“How? I mean, people don’t lose their power. Did something happen?”
I died. Ten had to sacrifice himself for me.
I don’t say the words. We haven’t talked about how much we would share, but I don’t need them to pity or feel sorry for us.
They fought. We all did.
I pull a deep breath in and force a smile. “You’re all safe. That’s what matters.”
“Your brother?” Calix stands up and looks directly at me.
“Is dead,” Ten answers. “He paid his price.”
Calix looks between us both and bows, before I find Kyra’s eyes.
Tears shimmer as she looks at me, and I break from Ten and go to hug her. To hold her and tell her how sorry I am for her pain. She returns my embrace, more vigorously, more earnestly than I’d have thought possible.
A scuffle at the door precedes it opening. “Pardon the interruption. The Maker has sent word for you, Miss Hart. She would like you to join her in the Great Hall.”
Just her name seems to turn the tide of my mood, throwing kindling to the burning embers of my anger. She wouldn’t act yesterday. It was as if she were giving up, content to fold everyone back into their old lives.
“Now?” Ten asks.
“Yes, Master Ciro.”
“I’ll take you.” Ten looks at me. “We’ll go together.”
I push open the imposing doors, unalarmed if I insult with my entrance this time. Ten waits outside, along with several Warrior officers. They scurry like ants around the halls of the Chamber residence.
