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I grew unnaturally quickly, you mean. Like some sort of monstrosity.

Not a monstrosity. Her voice was firm, even angry. You are my child. My daughter. The love of my life. I wanted to help you. To ensure that when you landed, wherever you landed, you would feel … more prepared. More complete.

What memories did you give me? Which ones, exactly?

The memories that any young woman might have. I filled in some gaps. I gave you a few extra years of experience, of life.

Years? I gaped. You what? You donated years?

I have lived for a very long time, she pointed out. I have countless experiences. I suppose at the time it seemed selfish to keep them all for myself when you had so few.

I thought of my first kiss. The first boy I’d slept with. Parties I’d snuck out to and attended. Had any of it been real?

There is a part of me that wonders, Orcades said, her voice very small, if we were pulled to this world. Perhaps I did not stop the top after all. Perhaps it was sheer hubris to think I had anything to do with this. Perhaps something wished for us to stop here.

I suddenly felt afraid.

And that makes me terribly concerned for you, dear heart. The thing about prophecies is they always seem to have an awful way of coming true—no matter how you try to avoid them.

Yes, I said, with a lump in my throat, I’ve found that to be the case as well.

Your fae powers, she whispered. In Aercanum, you were so strong. But here …

Here I had no elemental powers. I had my rider’s physique. I had whatever Blake’s blood had done to me. That was all.

I worry that while you grew weak on the voyage, I took something from you that I did not intend to take.

My powers?

I could feel her nod. I worry that in my great need to survive, I stripped them from you. And now that is why I find myself … so …

You’re not easy to kill, I said softly. And I’m glad for that, Mother .No matter how you got that way.

Yes, well.

There was an awkward silence.

Now, as for all that is going on here. This terrible mess with Molindra and Lunaya, she said, her voice picking up speed. The Veil Guardian has not fallen. There is still time yet. But with this other muck with the dwarves and their dragons—

The dwarves? I exclaimed. What about the dwarves?

Oh, Marcus and Catherine are up to something. They could not bring the Veil down with Molindra and me alone. They’ve seemed to realize their error and are searching for some work-around.

What does that have to do with dwarves? The dwarves don’t have dragons, do they? How could they underground?

I’m not entirely sure. You know, I don’t know much about dwarves. But I feel quite certain dwarves were mentioned. I could hear the fatigue in her voice. I believe Lunaya overheard something, in fact.

I felt a pang of guilt. How is Lunaya? Is there no way to bring her back?

The poor girl longs to return to you all. But she is bound here, her life sewn like a thread to her triad.

Pretty fucked-up triad, even for highbloods, I remarked.

Yes, she’s trapped in an unnatural marriage. My great fear is that things will become worse for her.

So there’s no way to save her? No way to save you? I demanded.

Focus on stopping Marcus and Catherine. But not alone. Not just you. You have your friends, you have Blake?