Page 91 of By the Flames of Her Fury

Arcadia turned to Vera. “I promise, Vera, once you have fulfilled your destiny, all of us will be able to leave. But we cannot do this without you. Odessa needs you. Our people need you.” His lips thinned. “We thought you would understand how desperate we are.”

“I—well—” Vera glanced at me, then back at him. Her expression softened. “I do, Arcadia,” she said. “I understand wanting freedom.”

Arcadia took her hands and squeezed. “Then stay, and you can give it to us. You must find the third and final amulet of the Sacred Three. Once they are united, you can finally raise us and save your friend.”

Apprehension surged through me. I didn’t trust these people, but we were backed into a corner. If we left before the portal closed, Odessa would be lost. And if we stayed…what if Vera couldn’t break the enchantment? What if we were stuck here forever?

Or what if there was more they were hiding?

I stepped toward her. “Vera⁠—”

“I’ll do it,” she said abruptly. “For your people and for Odessa. But,” she added, pulling out of Arcadia’s grip, “if any of my friends want to leave, you have to promise to get them back to the portal before it closes.”

“Of course.” Maeve nodded. “We will take them right away.”

“We must warn you, however,” Arcadia added, “that once they are beyond our borders, they will be at the mercy of the guardians again.”

The Elders and Vera turned to the rest of us with looks of expectation. Silence fell over the room. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, irritation churning through me.

“If Vera’s staying, I’m staying,” Starke said. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

“I’m staying,” Kieran growled, then looked down at Odessa. “We protect our own. I will not leave either of you here alone.”

“This is crazy,” Tessa muttered. “But Fates, I’m in. Not like we have a ship waiting for us anyway.”

Vera’s gaze settled on me. Those golden eyes sparked in challenge, heating my core. There wasn’t any question. She knew I wasn’t going to leave her.

I gave her a single nod.

Odessa sniffed, then scratched at her injury. The cut had grown more red and swollen at the edges. She let out a soft hiss of pain as her fingers came back bloody.

“We mustn’t waste time,” Arcadia said, gesturing to Odessa. “Come with me to the healer and we can find something to aid with your pain. The rest of you will be taken to the guest wing. Vera, we will find you shortly to begin your hunt for the amulet.”

The halls were filled with a nervous energy as Maeve led us through the palace and to the guest wing. We passed more floor-to-ceiling windows showing views of the estate, where everything was shadowed by the black sky. Marble arches with gold accents lined the corridors. Palace staff, guards, and more robed figures milled about, all pausing to glance at Vera as we walked by.

Rumors of who she was had spread like wildfire. Every eye was turned to her, every head bowed low. They may have thought they were honoring her, but I knew how quickly honor could turn to expectation. To manipulation. It already felt like they were keeping things from us.

We reached our destination, where Maeve promised food would be brought down shortly, and were shown to our individual rooms. But as Vera started to open her door, I stepped forward and caught her arm.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “There’s something about them I don’t trust.”

She turned to face me. “Why? They’re trying to help us save Odessa, aren’t they?”

I scoffed. “Yes, once it also fit their agenda.”

“Don’t be so cynical, Everett.”

“It’s not cynicism, it’s observation. They’re just helping her to help their own cause. They know the only reason you’re staying is for her.”

“That’s not true. I want to help them, too. They’re like me,” she insisted. “You know how long I’ve been wondering why I’m the only one of my kind.”

“Just because they have the same magic as you doesn’t mean they’re the same as you. You don’t know their true intentions. Fates, we don’t know anything beyond the stories they conveniently spun.”

“We know they’re trapped here!” she said, brandishing a hand in the air. “This is their prison. Don’t you remember what it felt like to go without seeing the sun for years? If I’m the only one who can help them, how can I turn away?”

I let out a slow breath. “I’m not saying you have to, I'm just saying you need to be careful.”

Her features were guarded. “I’ve been protecting myself for a long time. I know what I’m doing.”