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They pride themselves on ignorance.

As if they can will themselves to be above us.

Before I reach the museum, Miranda’s scent changes direction. She has gone toward the market square. Good. That gives me chance to get to Nova.

I race up the steps and shift back, pull open the door, race through the museum, past Thornfield’s office to Mack’s room.

When I push open the door, Nova is crying. She’s sitting in the armchair by the fire sobbing. Snow is next to her, head resting near her feet, his breath shallow.

Tanner is mopping Mack’s brow with something that looks like water but smells different.

Nova looks up at me, and I rush over to her, pulling her into my arms. “He’s getting worse. Have you seen Miranda? What’s happening with the elixir? She should have finished it by now.”

I swallow hard. How can I tell her?

She sees it in my eyes instantly; that I’m hiding something from her.

I glance over at Mack.

“What is it?” Nova’s tone changes. Her eyes start to dry. Sparks simmer on her skin. “What is it, Sam?”

She stands up slowly, then puts her hands on her hips, staring at me.

Tanner looks over.

Mack groans, and his eyes flutter, but he doesn’t wake up.

“It was all a lie…” I scrape my hands through my hair and breathe out heavily.

“What was?” Nova’s cheeks flush, her eyes narrow.

“Miranda’s the one who stole the scepter.”

There is a long moment of silence. Snow tilts his head and blinks up at me.

“Sam… that’s ridiculous.” Tanner laughs, but even as he does, he studies my face and his expression drops. “She wouldn’t…”

“No, she wouldn’t. But she’s not herself. She’s something else.” I shake my arms, trying to jolt the pieces into some kind of sensible order so I can explain to them what I saw.

When I reach the part where I dragged the old man, Yuri, back into his house, Nova begins to pace. “What is she? Why would she…?”

“Did he tell you anything? Did he tell you she took the scepter?”

I nod. “He’s pretty scared now he knows she’s not really Miranda. He thought he was doing her a favor in return for some of Nova’s blood⁠—”

“Nova’s Blood?” Tanner’s eyes flash. The water in the jug on the beside table shudders.

I shake my head. I’m not explaining it properly or in the right order. “She told him she was going to lure Nova here. She needed something from him. A gem stone that will help her cast a spell to immobilise Nova. He’s a black market dealer. He’s been looking for months. She’s had it planned ever since Nova won the fight against the Shadow King.”

“She stole the scepter to get us to come here?” Nova asks, her mood changing again, her shoulders drooping as she sits back in the armchair.

“She didn’t tell him that, but it fits. Doesn’t it? The AMA didn’t steal it. Someone had to get in here, right under Lucien’s nose, and take it. And didn’t anyone think their username for the auction was a little on the nose?”

Nova inhales sharply as if someone has just thrust a knife into her chest. “The elixir. If she stole the scepter…” She turns to look at Mack. She slams her hand over her mouth. “She hasn’t been trying to help him at all.”

I shake my head. Guilt, and dread, and fear, and grief swirl in my stomach like acid and ice. “There is no elixir. Yuri laughed when I mentioned it. She’s been keeping us hanging while he worked his contacts for the gemstone.”

“There is no elixir?” Tanner sits down hard on the bed that was Kim’s. He leans forward and rubs his palms over his face, sighing. “There is no elixir.”