“Oh, good,” Tani muttered.“I was worried this might not be apocalyptic enough.”
Tani sprawled in Aunt Alice’s antique armchair like she owned it.When Voss shot her a look that could freeze vodka, she waved a hand.
Voss didn’t rise to it.“There are fractures,” he said.“Not just at your tree.Across multiple boundaries.Places that were stable are… slipping.”
“Like Faery,” Tani said, all humor gone.“Same damage.Same signature.Like someone carved a hole straight through reality.”
“Yes.Exactly.”Voss turned back to me, and I wished he wouldn’t.“Last night wasn’t a random breach.It was an assessment.A confirmation that the grimoire answered you.”
My stomach tightened.“So he came because of the book.”
“He came because you lit a signal,” Voss said.“And because whoever is pushing on the veil is looking for leverage.”
“Not a what,” Tani said softly.“A who.”
Voss’s voice dropped lower, grimmer.“Someone is doing it.Someone is prying open the seams between realms.Feeding on the strain.Using it.”
The dread in my stomach rolled, then pitched.I swallowed hard.Voss didn’t elaborate, which meant no one—not even Tani with her fairy intelligence network—knew who that someone was.Which meant we were all fumbling in the dark.
Could this someone be the one who sent the shadow-things?
And if so… why me?
“I can’t worry about that right now.”
I pressed cold fingertips against my temple and rubbed hard enough to hurt.Because I couldn’t.I physically, mentally, emotionally could not worry about interdimensional invasions or shadowy puppet masters pulling strings.Not when there was a crossing hemorrhaging rot in my backyard.Not when the solution was right downstairs, purple and waiting.
“You should worry about it,” Voss said, voice sharp as a blade’s edge.
“I can’t.”The word came out harder than I meant it to.“I won’t.Right now I have to seal that crossing.I have to get the potion.”
I moved before anyone could stop me, heading for the basement door.My mind narrowed to a single point.Get the potion, get to the tree, seal the crossing.Everything else could wait.
“It won’t help, you know.”
I froze.Turned.“Why not?”
“Because the contamination is already here,” he said, and the word contamination made my stomach twist.He walked toward me with a purposeful stride that saidI know things you don’t.“The rot doesn’t politely stay inside a hole once it’s been open long enough.”
“What does that mean?”My voice came out thin.
“It means,” Voss said evenly, “that after my call to the Council, I was formally assigned to this case—and I won’t be leaving until the threat has been neutralized.”
“You’re not staying here.”Owen moved instantly, stepping in front of me like it was instinct, not thought.“I won’t allow it.”
I bit back a laugh.Completely wrong moment—but, goodness it was endearing.
“There is a real threat here, sir,” Voss said, unblinking.“I have to stay and guard her.”
“I’ll protect her,” Owen shot back, crossing his arms.
“You’re not trained to guard her,” Voss countered, puffing up his chest like that was going to impress anyone.
“Oh my god,” I groaned.“Is someone about to draw a line on the floor?”
“And what about me?I’m a queen.Shouldn’t I be guarded?”Tani stuck out her bottom lip, arms crossed in mock-petulance.
“The entities aren’t hunting you,” Voss said, deadpan.
