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Caspian runs a hand through his long, dark hair, then looks up at me. “So this is what you’ve been doing all this time. Meditating with a rosebush.”

“I wanted to determine if I could feel anything,” I continue. “At first, I felt nothing. Not even a prickle of magic. I knew no natural heat or force would melt this ice.”

“I definitely tried when you first sent me back,” Rosalina says.

“Then one day, all of a sudden, I felt a spark. A tiny current through my veins, and a drop of water fell from a single petal,” I say. “The next day, I melted a whole leaf. It began working quicker when Rosalina started her garden. I do not know if I was connecting to a sliver of magic in the Vale, in this world, or something else.”

Rosalina narrows her eyes and looks away from me.

“Why did you even want to melt the ice?” Dayton asks. “We destroyed the other portal because we didn’t want a way into the Vale.”

“Because you knew,” Rosalina says softly. “You knew I’d return, so you wanted the way open for me.”

“Yes, my Rose,” I reply. “Though the way is not open. I’ve melted the ice, but the gate between worlds remains closed. I need your help to connect to the Vale.”

Rosalina steps back, looking down the path we came. “I–I don’t have my magic anymore, Kel. I lost it when Castletree fell. You know this.”

“And I lost mine. Yet the ice melted. I need your help.” I hold her gaze. “Feel for it, Rose. There is magic here in this world. It is faint and scattered, like dust motes in the sun. But I think if you try, you will feel it. You will feel at home.”

Rosalina shakes her head, stepping away from me, and I realize how much fear she must have pushed down to call the meeting. “I thought you said the way was open. Kel, why would you bring me here if we didn’t⁠—”

“I said we’re going home, Rosalina. I need your help.”

Her eyes flicked. “What if I can’t?”

“You certainly won’t if you don’t try.”

Her chest heaves, but I don’t break her gaze. Won’t let her back away from this. She cannot be afraid forever. Not where we’re going.

“We’ll do it together.” Farron takes her hand. “All of us.”

I sigh. She could have done it on her own.

I know, Farron replies. But sometimes a little help doesn’t hurt. Thought you finally realized you need us, Kel. He gives me a wink as he settles in the dirt beside the rosebush. The other princes follow his lead.

“You too, Wrenley,” I say.

She hovers in place.

“Come on.” Dayton smiles up at her. “I didn’t teach you water magic for nothing. Let’s see what you remember.”

She huffs and sits beside Rosalina.

The princes dig their hands in the dirt and wait. But my gaze is only on her. Rosalina trembles.

I kneel beside her and take her hand. It’s cold. Slowly, I guide it to the soil beneath the bush, pressing her palm to the earth. Her thumb runs over the metal band on my finger.

The wedding ring.

“Take us home, Rose.”

She closes her eyes. Tears press out beneath her lids. Then her fingers curl in the dirt.

Nothing. Caspian meets my gaze, and I register the worry on his face. He doesn’t want to see her further broken. But Anya made this portal, and only her blood can open it again.

Rosalina inhales. Nothing changes.

Then a slight breeze. Just the wind, or…