“Sort of,” Kade replied.
“It’s not as bad, but still bright,” Koji said. Rune was looking past Florian, though, her attention entirely focused on Soleil.
“She’s controlling the light,” she finally said, her voice uncertain. “She saw us come in and made it so we could see her. But why? What does she want?”
Florian turned again to look at Soleil, trying to stay focused and keep his vision from becoming watery. Even at this distance, he could tell her warm, bronzed skin was dull and grimy; and the dress she wore was tattered and charred, as if it too had been burned in the Blight. Her hair was loose and messy, pushed haphazardly away from her face. But her eyes were the same as he’d seen in every vision of her: a blue so pale they were almost white, the color of frothy, churning ocean water.
“She’s waiting for me,” Florian replied, the words coming unbidden. He clamped his mouth shut and shook his head before adding quickly, “I think—I think she knows what we need to do.”
“Can you tell us what we’re supposed to do?” Rune called out, making Florian wince. But the Summer Queen didn’t respond. Her eyes remained fixed on Florian, her expression impassive. He wanted to go to her, but the rational part of him was still cautious and afraid.
“It has to be the last Arrow, right?” Koji offered, though he sounded as uncertain as Florian felt. “What you said before makes sense to me, Florian. That it has to go through her heart. That’s why she’s waiting.”
Florian let out a shaky breath. Now that he was here, the thought of stabbing her through the heart felt impossible. He looked at her and didn’t want to hurt her at all—the exact opposite. His chest tightened with sorrow to see her suffering already, and to go to her only to harm her... He wasn’t sure if he could bring himself to do it.
“Fuck,” he hissed, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head. It had to be Thaddeus influencing his feelings. For him, for Florian, it only mattered that he got it right—the fear that he would do the wrong thing and make everything worse all over again was paralyzing. It had nothing to do with Soleil. That was Thaddeus, not him. He was still in control. He was stillFlorian.
“Florian,” Kade’s voice came softly, and Florian’s eyes opened, searching for him. He was standing in the same place, steady and resolute as ever. Without thinking, Florian reached for him, grabbing his arm to ground himself. Kade placed one hand over Florian’s, squeezing his fingers. “You’ve made the right call about everything so far. Keep trusting your instincts. I trust you.”
Florian nodded, forcing a shaky smile.
“I love you,” he said, ignoring how his face warmed as he said it. “Thank you.”
Kade smiled back—small and uncertain, but a smile nonetheless. “I love you too. We can do this.”
He gave Florian’s hand one more squeeze, then released it. Florian let go of Kade’s arm to retrieve the Arrow from the quiver on his hip. The metal felt warm against his hand.
“Okay,” he said shakily, turning back to look at Soleil again. Her gaze had flickered down to the Arrow in his hand, making his heart flip-flop with nerves again. “Okay. We’re doing this.”
“If we all die, I just want you guys to know this has been the most exciting shit I’ve ever done in my life, so thank you,” Rune said. Despite himself, Florian laughed.
“I agree,” Koji said, stifling a laugh, too. “I don’t regret any of this. I’m so glad to have met you all.”
“We’re not going to die,” Kade said firmly, then his expression softened. “But I don’t regret it either.”
Florian’s smile trembled, and this time he thought that the tears welling in his eyes were wholly his own. “Thanks, guys.”
He took a slow, cautious step closer to where Soleil stood in the center of the empty, expansive ballroom. She didn’t react, so he took another step. His friends’ footsteps followed him; and her gaze flashed past him to them, something in her face growing stern. Heat roiled off her in a wave. It passed over Florian with just a prickle against his skin, but he could hear the others falter. Rune swore under her breath.
“It’s too bright again,” Kade said. “I think—I think she doesn’t want us to get any closer.”
“Don’t hurt them,” Florian said, raising his voice so Soleil would focus on him again. “They’re my friends. Don’t hurt them.”
She held his gaze. He didn’t see her do anything different, but he could hear the others sigh in relief behind him as the light and heat must have faded away. Soleil’s expression remained hard, though, and he knew Kade was right—he could approach, but only him.
“You guys stay here,” he said. Without waiting to hear if they would protest, he kept walking, spurred on by the urge to keep them safe—and another urge to be closer to her. The longerhe was here, the harder it was becoming to separate Thaddeus’ feelings from his own.
Her eyes followed him, and something in her expression softened. When he reached her, Arrow in hand, she finally moved. He flinched, thinking she would strike him or defend herself, but she only reached for him. Her hands were small and warm on his shoulders as she pulled him closer. She stood a head taller than him, so he had to look up to meet her eyes this close.
“I’m here,” he said breathlessly, knowing it was Thaddeus speaking through him. This time, he didn’t stop himself. “I’ve missed you so much. I never stopped looking for you.”
Her lips pressed together in a sad, restrained smile as one hand came up to cup his cheek tenderly. But still she did not speak—he wondered if she even could. He didn’t feel the urge to say anything else. He took in a deep, steadying breath, then held up the Arrow, the wicked tip poised above her heart.
Her eyes flickered down to the Arrow, then back to his face, but he could see her expression change immediately—not fear, not anger, but sadness.
Florian’s heart felt like it was about to burst in his chest. How could this be right? How could harming her, killing her, be the key to ending the Blight?
Understanding washed over him like a frigid wave. The grief apparent on her face, the way the Arrow striking her had failed last time... He looked at the Arrow in his hand, turning it until he could read the inscription.
